It's Kuldeep, who else?

This part is mainly an attempt to humor, like a filler, since the main plot line is covered.

The cat is out of the bag, Shub and Ishu are doing gulu gulu in secret..

~

All comes down to Shreyas and KL to live with this deadly secret. Who would have thought that a late-night billiard session would have been a "waqt badal diye, jazbaat badal diye, zindagi badal di" moment for them?

They had watched with shot out eyes how Shubman had literally carried Ishan like a koala, kissing the living Diwali lights out of him, probably to their room. They don't have to think much as to what they would be doing next.

In the dim lighted corridor, the two team-mates had looked at each other, unable to speak a single word or even make any sound. They had just listened to each other's thoughts and walked along the corridor with shocked demeanour for their respective rooms. First, they reached Shreyas'.

"Talk to you tomorrow bud." Shreyas had broken the trance for them. KL only nodded and walked ahead

Hardik is fairly surprised when he sees KL literally sprinting to take the spot beside Shreyas in their team bus. It's generally them who share seats. Little does he know what they are talking about.

"Fuck what was that?!" KL exclaims the moment he drops beside Shreyas in one of the back seats.

The entire bus slowly fills up.

The duo keeps a keen eye on their recently discovered couple who take their seats ahead of them.

Good! They can observe them this way.

Obviously, Ishan snuggles into Shubman the moment they take their seats. What's new in that?

"So, all this time?" Shreyas wonders whether he wants to be still shocked or giggle out.

KL is still shocked. "Damn Iyer! How're we this blind? It was just in front of our salad!" He mock-screams.

"Are we surprised though?" Shreyas reflects, suddenly serious.

KL thinks on this. "I don't think so. I am not surprised they are together. I am more surprised that none of us caught on it. Like how?"

"Hmm true. No one knew. The babies sorted it out within themselves only."

"We have to tell the other members Shrey!" KL wildly suggests.

"WHAT NO! No Rahul Bhai!"

"But why?"

Shreyas sighs, "We can't out them like this, bhai. It will be wrong."

"Out them? Out them how? THEY ARE ALREADY OUT AS IT GETS!" Both of the look forward to see Ishan neatly snuggled under Shubman's chins sharing a very comfortable silence in the chaotic bus.

Couples.....

"You know what bhai?" KL turns to see Shreyas, a wicked smile on his lips.

"What?"

"Leave it be. We keep our silence alright?"

Shreyas shakes his head at the blatant ayyein expression on KL's face.

"I couldn't sleep a blink, yesterday night. The scene was playing repeatedly in front of my eyes—"

"Trauma. It's called trauma, Shreyas." A haunted look on KL's face. He also clearly didn't get his beauty sleep.

"Yes, and I am feeling generous enough to share that trauma among the team hehe." Shreyas laughs softly as the understanding slowly descends upon KL.

"Let them find on their own and have their own tale of trauma to share."

Later on, when Ishan had insisted on saying that he is feeling comfortable enough to wear a light scarf around his neck on a blazing day in Delhi, saying "It's fashion!", many might have been surprised. Maybe except Shubman.

And Shreyas and KL who KNEW his neck must have been littered with red hickeys.

After all, Shubman's smug face had said it all.

KL can see Shreyas is enjoying thoroughly. All the teasing thrown towards, then passive aggression that he will receive from the pocket dynamo. It is worth it, KL admits though. It keeps the team lively and most importantly, hopefully it will give the young couple a sense of security that it is comfortable enough to come out to them, to the ICT family on their own terms.

~

It's ironic enough that the next person to know about them is none other than Kuldeep.

It was a bad ODI match. India had lost quite embarrassingly to England who made a whopping 412/5. India lost all wickets with 213 still to chase.

The top order had collapsed, the middle order was smashed, the lower middle order was the only saving grace, but only to a limit.

Needlessly to say, it was a gloom in the dressing room, a silence only broken by the occasional curses or the force shutting of locker doors. It was tough to accept such a defeat after coming from the high of a clean sweep of a test series just a few days ago.

There weren't the buzzing chatter or the fun and no one paying attention to what others are doing. Rohit, being the dutiful captain, did all the interviews, Virat having his back.

Amidst everyone's sorrow, Shubman's was somewhat more than anyone else.

An opener getting out at 0 is nothing new. But to a young blood, where he made the least score among all the team members, does nothing good. Its humiliating to say the least.

His frustration is understandable.

So, none of player exactly tries to stop as he just throws his bat and pads in his locker corner and storms out of the room. Honestly everyone is in their own depressing mindset to even follow what other people are even doing. Half an hour later they went back to their hotel.

Kuldeep also just wants to have a space of his own as well. He gave the most runs after all. With a water bottle in his hands, he plans to go to the small balcony a little far away from the main hall, thus most people don't usually go there.

A perfect spot for him!

But it seems like, someone, no, more people are already there.

"Don't feel so down Shub!"

"I know. It's just a game.. but a duck out? On such a day?"

"It's not even your first duck out Shub—"

"Not helping Ishan!"

"Yeah yeah I know meri jaan, here hold me—"

Ishan and Shubman, here? Kuldeep gets this primitive human urge.

Curiosity.

He stands still at the door.

"Let me settle, alright. And hug me tight. Okay?"

What are they doing?

"Okay?"

"Better?"

"Better."

Kuldeep hears Ishan giggle.

"I wanted to score big, Ishu. At least a fifty and dedicate it to you—"

"Oh babu, you always do that. It's fine. I know you will do it next time. I trust you. And I'm proud of you anyway."

"You are?" Oh God! Such radiance and hopefulness in a voice. Kuldeep gets shivers.

"Obviously Shubi! I always am. You have achieved so much.."

And in the quite night, Kuldeep hears a light smooch sound.

WHAT?

"Come here Ishu, please".

Kuldeep might faint from the feeling of sheer need in that 'please'.

And more smooching noise follows.

"Your kisses always grounds me Ishu. Feels like I am home."

Mhaw

"Comfort"

Mhaw

"And warm."

"Oh Shubi! Look at me."

Kuldeep doesn't know why he can hear the heart eyes Ishan must have right now.

"Days like these will come again unfortunately. But you've to carry through baby. You are the Prince of this game—"

"And you're my Princess?" A certain smugness in Shubman's voice.

"SHUBI!"

"Don't deny! You like it when I call you that. It's kinky."

Both laughed a little.

"But yeah. I will be always be by your side like a Princess to her Prince."

There's a little silence.

"Come here baby. What would I do without you?" Shubman says before he gets fully engrossed back to kiss Ishan senseless.

Kuldeep does one thing though. He manages to peek at least once through the door.

He sees Shubman sitting on the floor, legs spread out. On the V of his lap, sits Ishan, with his knees on either side of Shubman's waist, both of them drowned in kissing each other.

That is Kuldeep's last straw.

He somehow manages not to drop the water bottle in his hand.

Ten minutes later, when he finally enters his room, Shreyas looks up from phone.

"Arrey Kuldeep? What happened?" Shreyas snorts, "Its seems like you have seen a ghost."

"Shub—"

Shreyes frowns. "What happened to Shub?"

Kuldeep's throat contricts.

"Shub and Ishu, um" Kuldeep licks his lips.

"Yeah Kullu?" Shreyas encourages.

"Umm.. Saw Shub and Ishu.. ah.. kiss— kissing."

Shreyas snaps.

Oh, here is the next victim.

"Saw them kissing Shreyas. You won't believe me, but it's true." Kuldeep says excitedly. His eyes glazing.

"Okay okay Kuldeep. Calm down! Sit." Shreyas pulls Kuldeep to sit on the edge.

"Yes! Yes Shreyas. I saw them. They were kissing. And couples only kiss each other. That- that mean they are together. Can you believe this? They are already together. You have to undertstand that Shreyas. It's a big deal—" Kuldeep suddenly stops rambling. He looks at his roommate.

His roommate who looks so at peace.

Wait.

"You know!"

A flash of mirth crosses Shreyas' face.

"Yes I know Kullu." No point in denying this.

"WHAT?! AND YOU DIDN'T TELL US!"

And in between the banter of the roommates, they don't get to know the other fiasco going on in another room.

~

TBC

~

One more chapter left I promise. Otherwise it feels like I am dragging it too much as I had originally thought of making it an oneshot. But anyway, I want to end this story and move to a new ShubIsh story.

Peek-a-boo its going to be an mediaval style Indian royal AU. ShubIsh obviously as the main characters.

And yes, thank you for the amazing response you all provided for the last chapter. For a newbie like me, its made me feel so positive. Please leave your comments, among with other ideas, you might have for oneshots, that I could write.