Part 31

“Shubman sounds like that song yk badi baat cheet industry ke logo se. Bhyy Yaar Ek aisa shubman to mai bhi deserve karta hu ” Mayank laughed as Ishan told him about the leave that he got without even hassle.

Ishan scoffed over the phone,”Tch, kuch bhi . Ye choro aaj pata hai kya hua , there is this girl called chia or kia. Jo bhi uska naam hai and she went all huha when she found out that Shubman is married to me. I think she likes Shubman”

“Accha, so what are you going to do about this chia girl?” Mayank asked over the line.

“kya karu mai , mujhse kya matlab. She likes Shubman, not me.”

“Abe Tera pati hai wo . Tujhse hi to matlab hoga!”

“Chilll bhai. Even if she likes Shubman, I don't think he likes her and even if he does like her…”

Ishan paused in his speech , the sudden uneasiness supplanted his nonchalance. I don't care. He couldn't complete the sentence.

Do I care?

“Oh hello!? Ishan !? Hellooo” Mayank sing songed after hearing the abrupt pause and chuckles to himself knowing the apt reason for the pause.

Even if Ishan doesn't understand himself, Mayank understood him.

Ishan ended the call , his breath heavy as he clutched the phone in his hand before languidly walking towards Shubman’s cabin again to discuss the condition of his mother, oh who is he kidding! This is just a pretext to confront him about chia . But the ward boy stopped him as Shubman was seeing patients at this moment.

“Oh okay , I will wait here” saying that he was sitting in the waiting area , when a little girl pulled on his pants . He looked down and smiled at the girl clad in a purple frock who waved her hands at him.

“You're pretty!” She remarked excitedly.

Ishan blushed at the compliment, “oh am i ? Thank you but you're more pretty! “ she cutely hid her face in her palms and laughed.

Ishan fawned at the cutesy act and looked to see if her guardians were nearby or not. “Beta aap ke  ya papa kaha hai?” . He asked, thinking she got lost but she shook her head.”Momma went to do something and asked me to stay here and don't roam”

She said while rummaging through her bag and pouted at something.”oh no . I only have one kinder joy left.” She looked up at Ishan and then at the kinder Joy as if weighing her options when her eyes sparked as she got an idea.

“You like chocolate?” She asked as she broke the kinder Joy in two halves and gave the chocolate side to Ishan .

Ishan looked at the half part and chuckled,

“Thank you baby but why?”

“Oh it's because it's my last birthday hehe. Mere pas bas ek hi bacha tha and I wanted to give one to my doctor uncle and you too. He doesn't like chocolate so aap chocolate wala le lijiye” She lowered her voice and whispered “uncle is a bit weird. Who doesn't like chocolate hehe”

Ishan's smile faltered a bit at the  last birthday. That moment He remembered that he is in hospital and everyone is having their own set of problems here.

“Don't say that it's your last birthday baby, the future is uncertain and yes your doctor uncle is a bit weird hehe”

the girl pouted at the reassuring words” but everyone says that Papa is alone up there and wants me to be with him .” She asserted and smiled “but no biggie. Doctor uncle said that i will get to eat chocolate all the time up there and play all day  , also no bitter medicine hehe” She then heard her mother and waved a goodbye to a desponded Ishan , running towards her mother.

“Bye pretty uncle!!”

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Ishan squirmed, opening his eyes , he saw a tall and dark figure towering over him.”mummahh!! Am i going to die !!?is that the devil—” shubman placed his palm on  Ishan mouth to stop him from screaming and disturbing other people.

“Why are you screaming?”

“Oh to tum the . Mujhe laga koi grim reaper tha”

Ishan said in relief and stood up from the hard seat . His back was hurting after sitting for so long there.Shubman shook his head while smoothing Ishan's cloth which had wrinkled a bit.

“Stop watching and reading weird stuff idiot”

Ishan pursed his lips at the ‘idiot’ before rolling his eyes, “what does it have to do with you? At Least I don't read depressing books like you do”

“A person needs to be mature to read and understand those “depressing” books. Sad that you can't relate”

“Tumhare kehna ka kya matlab hai ! Mai mature nahi hu !?” Shubman nodded.”exactly what I mean”

He grabbed Ishan wrist before dragging him to the rooftop.  “Oye mister kaha!” Ishan whined as soon as he stepped on the stairs. “Going to throw you from the top”

Ishan scoffed at the remark , “I will annoy you after becoming a ghost and will even ruin this stethoscope of yours”he pointed at the stethoscope on Shubman White coat.

Shubman glanced at the stethoscope and remembered why he was even going to the rooftop. His face turned Sometimes it's too hard to be a doctor.

The constant suffering of patients and the hopelessness of not solving them .

Ishan as soon as he reached the top, he sprinted near the parapet gazing at the shimmering city from there. The modern glass skyscraper and buzzing noise of traffic . The setting sun casting a golden hue on the bustling markets.

Shubman sighed and walked towards Ishan . Without a single word, he wrapped his arms around Ishan and put his head on Ishan's shoulder from behind.

His eyes closed as he inhaled the light fragrance of Ishan .

Ishan felt the gloominess emitting from Shubman and didn't oppose his actions. From his peripheral vision he saw the usual stoic face twisted into  tiredness .

“Shubman…” he whispered his name to which Shubman hmmed still closing his eyes , his arms tightened around his waist.

“You're sad.” Ishan asked more like stated . He never thought he would see such an expression on Shubman's and seeing it , he wished to replace the sadness. Bantering with him is better than this.

“No. Just angry. Angry at myself. Why can't I save people?Why do I have to burn hope for people? Of people who have their whole life ahead , who have dreams , aspirations. Someone will lose a child , a partner , or parents . Everyday I hear people begging me to save their loved one but I can't. Why can't I?” Shubman blurted emotionlessly, opening his eyes , he placed his chin on Ishan's shoulder gazing at the glittering glow.

Ishan frowned and circled himself in Shubman's arms , so now they are both facing each other.

Ishan placed his palm on Shubman's cheeks.

“You're not God . You can't change people’s fate. It's already written. And  I am sure you do your best but life and death is not in your hands.

Don't stress over it . Everyone who comes has to go so don't think it's your fault that someone's losing their child or parents. Remember it is not your fault So Don't put yourself down Shubman.”

Shubman stared down at Ishan's and chuckled softly.

“What? Tell me, Did you understand?”

Shubman nodded , leaning his head towards Ishan and sealing their lips together.

Ishan closed his eyes , clutching Shubman's coat.

Shubman deepened the kiss as if pouring his emotions in it.

The sun hid away blushing as the passionate moment bloomed under the  golden hue sky.

Ishan's breath hardened and finally Shubman moved away, stealing a light kiss on Ishan's forehead.

Ishan coyly placed his hand on Superman's chest to create space as Shubman smiled and pulled out a half part of kinder Joy to give to Ishan.

“You might like it, one of my patients gave this to me . I don't know where the other is though”

Ishan giggled before taking out the other half part of the kinder Joy from. Hua own pocket . “I have the other half hehe. Together we complete it.”

However he stopped giggling and looked up at Shubman with anticipation,”is she really not gonna make it?” Shubman's lips turned into a line as he nodded.

“Oh” Ishan made an oh face and turned his body to look at the now bluish sky. The golden hue completely faded.

They both stood in silence when ishan spoke again,”were you sad because of her situation”

Shubman sighed before nodding .

Again silence prevailed as Shubman enjoyed the few moments of relaxation when he heard Ishan asking an out of the blue question.

“Do you like chia?”

____________________________________________

Shubman frowned,”Chia? ...I  can't like a person I don't even know.”

Ishan tiched,”sure that's why she keeps calling you shubi shubi” Ishan rolled his eyes , cringing remembering her continuous shubi.

“Are you talking about Rhea?” Shubman guessed because only she calls him Shubi except his family.

“Haww tumhe Mere bina sahi naam bataye kaise guess kar liye that means you do like her.”

Ishan accused and turned around again , jabbing his index finger at Shubman's chest.

“Because I have a brain that works perfectly. That's why I guessed” Shubman rolled his eyes at the over exaggerating reaction of Ishan's.

“And now you're even fighting to me for her”

Shubman frowned deepened as he held Ishan's shoulder, “who put this thought in your head that i like her? “

“No one ! Just tell me , do you like her or not?”

Ishan questioned again  as Shubman inhaled a deep breath before pinching his nostrils in vexation.

“Why? Are you jealous?” Shubman scoffed, raising his eyebrows at him.

“YES I AM!” Ishan gasped realising what he said and placed his palm on his mouth , shaking his head. But Shubman had already heard the truth and smirked. “Is that so?” Shubman said teasingly his body fused with a gush of happiness.

Ishan whined at the underlying question and pouted before burying his face in Shubman's chest , hiding from the teasing gaze.

“I don't like her so No need to be jealous.

I am already tied to you for life"

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Author’s note :

Oh is that a confession Mr Gill? 🤧🤭😏

Shubman: Yes, so what? 🗿

Rae: 🫠

Annnnd thank you all so much for your continuous love for this book  even though I am never consistent. 🥹I try to be but I just get carried on with some other things 🥲