Stuck With You (1)

Stuck with you because of them.

Shubman : You’re standing way too close.

Ishna : What’s the matter? Afraid you might actually like it?

Shubman : As if. I just don’t want your stupidity to be contagious.

Ishan : Too late. You’ve been stuck with me for how long now?

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Ishan : I swear to God, Mayank, if you don’t explain why I’m being dragged to your date, I will scream

Ishan sat in the café, arms crossed, glaring at his best friend.

Across from him, Shubman sipped his black coffee, unbothered as always, while Abhishek and Mayank shared a knowing smirk.

Mayank : Arre yaar, it's just a double date

Ishan : Double date my foot.

Ishan : More like a matchmaking scam.

Abhishek : We just thought it’d be fun if we all hung out together.

Ishan : I swear, y’all are using me,

Mayank : Arre, kya baat kar raha hai? We just wanted to go for a cute double date-

Ishan : where Shubman and I are very conveniently the ‘other couple’? Be original, at least.

Ishan glancing at Shubman, who looked unbothered  scrolling through his phone.

Ishan : Aur tu, why aren’t you saying anything?”

Shubman : Because I don’t mind.

Ishan : *his mouth fell open* You WHAT?

Abhishek :  *smirked* See, Shubman doesn’t have a problem. Why are you overreacting, babe.

Ishan : Main overreact kar raha hoon? Tum dono har baar mujhe zabardasti kheench laate ho, and suddenly I’m the problem?

*Shubman finally lifted his gaze, his sharp eyes meeting Ishan’s*

Shubman : We’re literally just going to eat. Stop being dramatic.

Ishan:  *scoffed*Dramatic? Tumhe pata bhi hai ki main-

Before he could finish his rant, Mayank holds his hand and started dragging him toward the restaurant’s entrance.

Mayank : Chal, baby. Let’s get you something sweet before you combust.

Inside the restaurant, they were sitting beside each other.

Ishan : Bhai, can you stop looking so perfect? It’s hurting my eyes,

Ishan muttered.

Shubman : *raised an eyebrow*

That sounds like a ‘you’ problem.

Ishan : Shameless.

Abhishek snorted, while Mayank giggled.

Abhishek : Shub, you handle him so well, yaar. I’m impressed.

Ishan : tumhe impress karke karega ky-

Shubman : Not that hard. You just let him talk and wait for him to get tired.

Ishan : *dramatically clutched his chest* How dare you?!!!

Mayank : Bas bas, tum dono pehle order karo.

After some unnecessary bickering over the menu

("No, you can’t order only fries for dinner, Ishan.")

("Watch me." ),

they finally got their food and settled into their seats.

As expected, Mayank and Abhishek started getting lost in their own world.

Whispering  and giggling, while Ishan sat there, aggressively stabbing his fries.

Shubman : Why do you look like you’re plotting their murder?

Ishan : Because I AM.

Shubman *smirked*: I’d like to see you try.

Ishan Acha? You think I can’t?

Shubman :  think you’ll try, fail miserably, and then come running to me for help.

Ishan : Why are you like this?

Shubman : Balanced. Sensible. Unlike you.

Ishan made a face but, for some reason, didn’t feel like arguing anymore.

Maybe it was the way Shubman was looking at him.

Unbothered yet attentive.

Maybe this stupid matchmaking plan wasn’t so bad after all.

Ishan : I’m leaving.

*Ishan announced, standing up*

Mayank : Toh jaa na.

Ishan : Excuse me?

Abhishek : You wanted us to stop forcing you into these ‘dates,’ right? Toh theek hai, jaa. We won’t stop you.

Ishan : You guys are just going to let me go? No emotional blackmail? No guilt-tripping?

Mayank : Nope.

Ishan turned to Shubman, who was sipping his drink like this wasn’t a huge betrayal.

Ishan : Aur tu? Koi objection?

Shubman : Nope.

Ishan : You want me to leave?

Shubman : I don’t want anything. I just don’t care.

Ishan : Unbelievable.

Shubman : What now?

Ishan : You’re supposed to stop me, Shub. Where’s the dramatic ‘mat jao, Ishan’? Where’s the passion?

Abhishek choked on his laughter, while Mayank actually cackled.

Shubman : Why would I do that?

Ishan : Because we’re fake third-wheeling this date together! And if I leave, you’ll be alone with these lovers. Do you really want that?

Shubman : No.

Ishan : See?! I knew it-

Shubman : But I’d still survive.

Ishan: I can’t believe this. Tumhe meri zaroorat hi nahi hai?

Shubman : Did you just admit that you need me?”

Ishan : Wait. No-

Shubman : Too late.

Abhishek and Mayank burst into laughter, and Ishan groaned, flopping back into his seat.

Ishan : Fine, I’m staying.

Shubman *smirked* : Didn’t ask.

After dinner, Abhishek and Mayank predictably ditched them, using some f excuse about “alone time.”

Ishan sighed dramatically as he and Shubman walked out of the restaurant.

Ishan : You see this? This is emotional manipulation. They forced us into a date.

Shubman : We had dinner. That’s it.

Ishan : Acha? Toh kal se main tujhe officially date pe le jaane lagun toh tujhe farq nahi padega?

Shubman : you’d actually do that?

Ishan : Uhh…

Shubman : Say it, Ishan. You want to take me out on a date?

Ishan *panicke* : I-I want food. That’s what I want.

Shubman : Sure.

Ishan : Can you stop handling me like I’m some annoying kid?

Shubman : But that’s exactly what you are.

Before Ishan could argue, a car zoomed past them, splashing water from a nearby puddle.

Ishan yelped, jumping back.

But before he could react, Shubman had already stepped forward, grabbing Ishan’s wrist and pulling him close, shielding him from the splash.

For a moment, there was silence.

Ishan : Oh...

Shubman looked down, still holding him.

Shubman : You good?

Ishan : Yeah. Just… unexpected.

Shubman : Next time, pay attention.

Ishan : Uh-huh.

Shubman *smirked* : Lost your words? That’s new.

Ishan : Shut up.

Shubman chuckled, finally letting him go.

Shubman : Come on. I’ll walk you home.

Ishan, for once, had no complaints.

Later that night, Abhishek texted Mayank.

Abhishek: Next step- group project. Force them to work together. Let’s see how long before Ishu loses his mind. 😈

Mayank : I give it two hours before Ishan throws something. Or confesses his love. No in-between. 😂

And with that, the chaos was just beginning.

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Thank you so much for reading!!!

Hope you'll like it🎀

I will update the next chapter soon. 🙏

Byee~

Take careee~