A plan in making

It's mid June and a scorching hot day in Mumbai. The players are a little grateful that they are Indians and are born and grown up tolerating this heat. Unlike the light skinned Brits who are touring in India for a Test and ODI series with red tomato faces. But nonetheless, they are already dying to fly to Dharamshala for their next Test.

Sitting right now on ice buckets or on chairs or simply on the grass in between their practice sessions, literally everybody is busy chugging down cool water or electrolytes and fanning themselves with wet towels over their head. The coaches can see the rapidly emptying bottle from the ice. It's not like they can prohibit the players much regarding their intake of cold water, it's more like they are allowing them this liberty after a real hard practice session.

It is KL who first broaches the topic.

He is sitting on the grass, his muscled legs spread across the grass, at least three plastic bottles are lying around him and a wet towel over his shoulders.

"Tell me it's going out of hand. I KNOW y'all will say too it's going out of hand!" He speaks out to the group all sitting together while having this deadpanned expression on his face, looking ahead probably nowhere in the vast stadium of Wankhede.

"What's getting out of hand Rahuliya?" Siraj asks tiredly. Honestly, he also wanted a break to only savour the cool sugary drinks down his throat, not about whatever Rahul is trying to bring up.

"That Shub has gone a little more sweet on our Ishan?"

The distinct chatter and laughter of the ICT drops down sharply the moment the words come out from KL's mouth. So much so, even KL turned around to look at the group. No doubt that expressions of various degrees of shock, sympathy, defeated and downright raised eyebrows conveying 'really?' are thrown at him once he looked at them.

"WHAT?"

"Nothing." Virat snorts. "Just that you took long enough."

"Never took you as a tube-light Rahuliya." Siraj quips as some of the boys laughs out, before all them turn their head to look ahead at the scene unfolding in front of them. 

Shubman and Ishan are sitting a little apart from the team on the grass, talking and engrossed in their own world. Shubman is massaging Ishan's right palm while a sparkly-eyed Ishan is talking about God knows what, while sipping on the last bottle of electrolytes left that Shub had taken from the ice basket some minutes ago.

Some of the team-members make faces or some others just cringe over how utterly and pathetically lovesick Gill looks while gazing at Ishan.

"I can bet my whole annual salary that Gilly is hearing none of the words Ishu is rambling." Hardik tuts.

"No shit, Harry."

"But aren't they always like this?" Ash asks.

"Yeah" KL frustratingly says, "but after the IPL break it has only increased. It was not like this before. It's a little different now."

"See they are already best friends and they have met after a long time. They were not together during the IPL, then there was a two weeks break.."

"I agree" Virat interrupts Rohit, "but their interactions are different now. Not only did Shubman come to take the last bottle for Ishan, have you guys noticed how he always serves Ishan's plate during dinner." He looks just in time to see Ishan snuggling into Shubman's neck and giggling. "Or lunch now."

"In these past matchdays, Ishan always made sure to give his bat and a hug before Shub goes out to bat."

"Yeh kaunsi star Plus serial hain re?"

"Bro I'm telling you it's official in between them. They are together." Shreyas whistles.

"What do you mean? Together?" Jas asks, clear question in his eyes.

Shreyas tilts his head, his eyes cunning. He does not say anything, just brings his two hands together with his fingers interlocking together while Jaddu makes kissy noises next to him.

"THIS!" Half of the team shouts, "This is what we mean."

And the chaos descends like a broken dam.

"Bro you think so? They are officially together?"

"Maybe? But don't you think they would have told us. Shared with us? We are like a family."

"Maybe they are not ready to confess."

"Confess to us? Or to confess to each other?" A wild Surya Kumar Yadav suggests in the most serious voice he can muster. He has been quite this whole time, but now this whole thing is a conspiracy theory to him.

All eyes are on him and he dutifully takes the centre stage.

"Guys, think. They are together after confessing to each other and all. They are just hiding it from us. Okay? Then don't you think they would have been a little subtle with each other?" He explains as if to a bunch of high school kids.

Virat clicks his fingers. "Right, if secrecy had been their motto, they wouldn't have been behaving in front of us, like they are behaving now." (Harry gags at the way Ishan is almost leaning on Shubman's chest and talking softly.)

Sky's eye twinkles, "that only means, they are not together. They are in love with each other-" wild groans and hooting erupts from the team. "but, either they're not aware of the other's feelings or are oblivious themselves."

Jaddu looks up, "haye Prabhu, hume mukti do.." ("Oh Lord! I pray for our salvation.")

"For that we need to act quick." Virat stands up.

"And spare ourselves from the torture." KL sighs.

"So are we all thinking the same?"

Devilish smiles and eyes shine with plans, "Of course we do!"

Ten minutes later, the team stands up, getting ready for their next round of practice. Its nearing their lunch time. Rohit calls up Shub and Ishu from where they are teasing each other and rolling on the ground.

"You two! Quick! Take your positions."

Ishan is the first one to break their own bubble with a burst of giggles.

Virat stands beside Rohit, "Aww they would be such a cute couple!" His two babies are growing up after all. The other boys shake their head in agreement.

The two babies of the group came running to their captain, smile plastered on their face.

Shubman says, a light urgency laced in his voice, "What Captain bhaiya! I thought practice session is over-"

Rohit frowns, "Why? We're having a match tomorrow. Why will it be over?"

"No nothing." Shub raises his hands, "It's that Ishu was saying this morning that he feels very tired."

"Aye!!" Ishan fires up, "When did I say that?"

Before Shub can answer, Virat asks worriedly, "Why Ishu? Are you alright? Are you exhausted? Didn't you get good sleep?"

Snatching Ishan's words, Shub says, "Umm Nope!" popping the 'P', mischievous glint in his eyes.

Rohit frowns, "Why?"

"Why else but because of me hehe?" Shubman smacks tightly on Ishan's hips and quickly sprints to the opposite direction towards the nets. Leaving behind a red flustered Ishan and a choking Kuldeep on a bottle of water.

The other boys might as well get a nose-bleed.

The next day, during the match, nobody misses how Ishan prepares Shubman with his gloves and pads, a hug and an intimate good luck. Or it is not a doubt anymore, at least to the ICT boys, that it is towards Ishan only in the balcony, that Shubman has raised his bat to and done his signature bow on completing his century. Needlessly to say, Ishan was clapping the loudest and smiling the brightest.

"Saps." KL groans out loud.

.

.

.

The boys decide to start with Ishan. The baby needs the revelation first.

After the win in the second test at Wankhede, the night before they all will be leaving for Dharamsala, it all comes down to Virat to school his baby Ishu.

After the dinner, the team is lazing out in the lounge. Ishan is sitting on a couch watching a random football match on the big tv. Virat grabs the chance as Shubman is somewhere else with the coaches.

He plops on the couch next to Ishan. All the other boys nearby, might be doing something else, but ears turn towards this duo. Shreyas, though, is not that subtle with his gaze over the magazine he is reading. The hell is matters now.

"So Ishu! How it's going? Aahh! Chelsea vs. Arsenal? Classic!"

Ishna laughs. "yeah, it caught my eye."

Giving them both a little time, Virat speaks again, "Its almost 11! You won't be going to sleep? We're leaving tomorrow."

"Han Bhaiya, I will. Let Shubi come first, I will go with him back to the room."

Oh baby duck created his own pond to swim...

Virat smiles. "Shubi haan? Shubi and Ishu, Ishu and Shubi! You two make quite an amazing pair. It's so beautiful to look at you two."

The former captain notices a smear of blush on Ishan's puffed cheeks, eyes shining. "R-Really?"

"Of course, Ishu. You two are so perfect for each other. Always in total sync, on and off field. Trust me when I say Shubi couldn't find a better team-mate than you."

"Nah Virat Bhaiya, you can't say that when you yourself are there."

"But you are special, and don't you deny that." Virat nudges him a little. "Around you, he smiles more, laughs with his dimples out, plays better. You're like his little source of sunshine."

"Stop!" Ishan laughs shyly, "What're you saying?"

Virat arches his eyebrows, "True! And its actually good. The entire team always livens up, when your opener is in good shape and mood." He smirks, "You keep him in good mood."

Shreyas just couldn't help himself. He keeps down the magazine he was fake reading, "What's the mantra Kishmish?"

"There's nothing like that. Its that we are just good friends. We like each other's company."

"And you know what good friends do?" Virat asks.

"What?"

"They go on fun little outings."

Ishan frowns.

"See we are going to Dharamshala, right? And you know how beautiful that place is. And there are so many spots to visit. We don't have any match in the next three days so you and Shubi definitely should visit those places. I took Anushka also you know? She had loved it." Virat genuinely hopes Ishan gets the meaning.

Ishan looks a little skeptical.

"What are you guys upto?"

"Nothing. Just helping you a bit." Shreyas smiles from beside him.

"Helping me?"

"ISHU?" Shubman comes in with a long whine. "Come, let's go to the room. I am very sleepy." He pulls up Ishan without another word and drags him down the room towards the door while holding onto his waist.

Ishan as if forgetting all the previous talks starts fussing over his best friend.

"Why? What happened?"

"See, Rahul Sir..." Their voices fade down the corridor.

"Phew!!" Virat huffs.

He then gives a tight knock on Shreyas' head, along with frustrated grunts from nearby team members.

"Ouch!!"

"Abbey saale! You're about to blow up everything!"

The team sees them cuddled up next day in the flight, a sense of bliss descending upon them. And obviously, who, except God could stop their hollering and laughs the next day to that, when Ishu and Shubi went out for a date in the hilly town of Dharamshala and came back to their hotel all giggles and red and puffed up and shopping bags in their hands.

"Oh you two shopped a lot I see!" Harry exclaims.

"Yeah! Shubi brought a lot of things." Ishan giggles. He is giggling so much, as if he is drunk.

Maybe he IS drunk.

Drunk in love....

"All for you baby." Shubman says back looking equally love drunk, as he pulls Ishan on his jacket towards their room.

"Well it went well I guess." Kuldeep shrugs.

By the next weeks, all of ICT are pumped up by the straight 3 test wins against England. A complete test series sweep. They have some days off for the ODI series to begin. Most of the team members are basking in the essence of the wins and enjoying a mountain view from their hotel common balcony. Thus they have some time to move their plan forward.

"So what should we do next?" Virat asks sipping on his tea.

"How about we focus on Shubi now? See from his perspective. How much is he in this" Siraj suggests.

Jaddu chuckles, "He's as deep in this, if not more."

"True." Ash nods. "Our Gilly probably fell harder."

"So you saying Ishu fell first and Gilly fell harder?" Shreyash literally giggles.

"What are you saying?" KL frowns.

"Oh you won't understand you rock. These are tropes. Fanfiction tropes." Shreyas explains.

"Fan what tropes?"

"Fanfiction tropes."

"Kyaa??"

"Leave it you won't understand. Back to the discussion."

Rohit speaks up, "It's tough you know. It's so difficult to understand what they are exactly at this point. Boyfriends or still in a state of delusion, they only know."

"Should we ask one of them?" Kuldeep suggests innocently, chewing on his croissant.

"WHAT NO!!!!" Everyone shrieks out. "ARE YOU CRAZY?"

"Then you tell. Has Ishan confessed then?"

"Me confessing what?"

The group instantly turn to see the short man standing. A cute frown on his face, deeply questioning. He comes forward with little steps to the now silent group.

"You were talking about me. Don't deny. You were talking about me confessing to someone. Who?"

"Ishu?" Virat starts.

"Who?" Ishan forces.

"SHUBMAN!" Kuldeep blurts out. Innocently.

Of-fucking-course. It has to be Kuldeep.

Hardik and Jadeja slam their head in their hands. Virat, Rohit and KL only deeply sighs. While Shreyash, Siraj, Ash and a few others snicker.

Sky is the only one who laughed a little bit out loud.

Yes.

This is the type of drama they live for.

"WHAT?" Ishan is gaping at them.

Its on Virat to hold the reins now.

He quickly comes forward, grabs a quite shocked Ishan by his arms and make him sit on a couch seat and kneeling in front of him.

"Ishu. Listen to me-"

"and us", Shreyash quips. That earns him the deadliest glare of all times from the rest of the team.

"Carefully", Virat continues. "We understand your relationship with Shubman, and we know. No let me finish Ishu. We are a family, and we want what's best for you."

Rohit comes forward and kneels in front of him as well. A small smile on his lips.

"You should tell him."

"What?" Ishan gapes at him

"That you love him."

"Wh-What are you talking?" Ishan's face pales down.

"Oh please Ishu." Sky comes forward and sits beside Ishan. "As if we don't know how much you are pining after Mr. Gill."

"And honestly, Mr. Gill is as smitten as you are Ishan." Hardik says. "So you should tell him."

"And please spare us from the misery of watching you flirt and pine and dance around each other." KL literally begs.

The group laughs out softly. Virat takes the moment.

"So Ishu, yes, you go and do it."

Ishan only gives a small smile to his large family.

Two nights later. The night before the team will be leaving Dharamshala.

The boys have retired to their rooms early. They have flight to catch to go and start their ODI series.

It is around 12:30 or 1'o clock when KL and Shreyas are going back to their room after spending time at the hotel's billiards table.

So, while passing the dining area down the corridor, in the silent hilly night, they hear known heartful laughs coming from there.

They both are shocked, considering none should be down now, except the staff.

"Isn't that-?"

"I think so too."

Thus, they obviously peep in.

And being shocked is an understatement.

At the dining table, on one of the chairs, there sits Shubman. And on his lap, sits Ishan. Half of his body is turned towards Shubman, as he feeds the taller guy something by a spoon. It's a chocolate brownie that Ishan loves so much.

Shubhman brings Ishan's face much closer than it already is and kisses on his mouth, clearly sharing whatever was in his mouth with Ishan. Ishan giggles more at this. Shubman garbs him more tightly around his waist and get more closer to as if get maximum body touch with Ishan.

"You had to face them Shubman. They were literally acting like kids."

"Really?" Shubman laughs.

"Yeah. Kuldeep bhai straight up suggested me to propose you."

Shubhman kisses Ishan again at that. Ishan deepened the kiss. A moan escaped Ishan as his hands travelled into Shubman's hair, grasping and clutching.

"Oh baby! They should have seen you that morning, all those months ago. Sitting on my bed, wearing just my shirt, your hair tousled, neck littered with my marks, unafraid, confessing your deepest feelings for me. The beauty you were that day, oh god!" Saying this, Shubman's hands travelled under Ishan's shirt.

"Aahhh Shubi—"

Ishan let go of the spoon from his hand and made himself comfortable on Shubman's lap by fully turning towards him, his legs on either side of Shubman's waist.

"I had to Shubi. You simply had taken my breathe away and I was dying."

He rolled his hips down on Shubman's lap.

"I am glad you did baby."

Ishan tightly secures his arms around Shubman's shoulders while the other tightly wraps his hands around Ishan's waist.

Ishan whispers something into Shubman's ears, something, that quickly prompts the taller guy to stand up from the chair, while carrying Ishan in his arms. They kiss again as if its their last and Shubman carried him out from the other door.

The sharp kissing noises and the slow moans echoes through the silent corridor.

KL and Shreyas are left dumbstruck at the door.

All those months ago.

How many months ago?

The duo felt all their blood drained down. Whatever happened in front of them-

What the fuck is going on?

They need to inform the rest of ICT.

After all their plan is of no use to begin with....

~END~