Chhupa Hua Chand ₊˚⊹♡

╰┈➤Chhupa Hua Chand – “A love hidden yet always there, like the moon behind clouds”

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Shubman Gill was not one to share.

Never had been. Never would be.

From his favorite toy cars to his favorite seat at the park, everything he liked was his.

And everyone knew better than to mess with his things.

But then came Ishan.

A tiny, messy-haired boy with big brown eyes and the audacity to waddle straight into Shubman’s life as if he belonged there.

"Shubii!!"

Ishan squealed, arms wide open as he ran to hug the older boy.

Shubman barely managed to hold his ground before Ishan collided with him, wrapping his tiny arms around his waist.

Shubman’s first instinct was to scowl, push him away, and scold him like he did with everyone else who dared to invade his space.

But this was different.

Ishan smelled like baby powder and something sweet... like the candy he always drooled over.

His tiny hands clutched Shubman’s shirt, and when he looked up, his chubby cheeks were flushed from running.

Shubman : Kitni baar bola hai, mat chipka kar.

he muttered, prying Ishan off him.

Ishan only giggled.

Ishan : I like Shubu. Shubu is soft

he said, snuggling back into him.

Shubman :  Main soft nahi hoon

he huffed, trying (and failing) to look serious.

Ishan blinked at him, confused.

Ishan : Toh fir kya ho?

Shubman : Main bada hoon. Tumse zyada.

Ishan gasped, dramatically putting a hand on his mouth.

Ishan : Ooooh, toh tum mere bhaiya ho?!

Shubman recoiled as if he’d been offended beyond words.

Shubman : Bhaiya?! Main tumhara bhaiya nahi hoon

Ishan : Phir kya ho?

Shubman opened his mouth to answer but stopped.

He didn’t know the answer himself.

All he knew was that he liked having Ishan around, and he didn’t want anyone else to take him away.

He grabbed Ishan’s wrist and pulled him behind.

Shubman : Bas, tum mere ho.

Ishan blinked, processing Shubman’s words before grinning widely.

Ishan : Mera bhi Shubu

he said, hugging him again.

Shubman let him, patting his head like an older, wiser person.

His claim had been made.

Ishan belonged to him.

The neighborhood kids were gathered at the playground, their laughter and chatter filling the air.

Ishan sat in the sandpit, humming to himself while building a crooked sandcastle.

Shubman sat nearby, pretending not to watch over him.

Everything was fine until Rohan, a slightly older boy, walked up to Ishan.

Rohan : Your toy car looks nice

He said, pointing at the small red car in Ishan’s hand.

Ishan smiled, always happy to make friends.

Ishan : Haina? Shubu gave me

Rohan : Can I play with it?

Ishan, being the innocent baby he was, nodded and handed the toy over.

The moment Rohan snatched it, Shubman’s head snapped up.

His eyes darkened as he watched Rohan dare to touch something that belonged to his Ishan.

Before he could react, there was a crack.

Rohan had broken the car.

Ishan’s eyes welled up, his lower lip trembling.

Ishan : To-Toot gaya...

he whispered.

That was all it took.

Shubman stormed over, snatching the broken car from Rohan's hands.

Shubman : Tujhe kisne bola chhune ko?

he growled, his eight-year-old voice sharp and furious.

Rohan : Woh toh bas-

Shubman : Bas kya?

Shubman stepped forward, his small fists clenched.

Shubman : Ishan ki cheezein bina puche chhune ki himmat mat karna

Ishan, meanwhile, sat frozen, his teary eyes darting between the two boys.

Rohan : Sorry, Shubman...

Shubman : Ishan se maafi maang!!

Rohan turned to Ishan.

Rohan : S-Sorry...

Ishan sniffled but nodded.

Ishan : Thik hai...

Shubman wasn’t satisfied, but he let it go for now.

He turned to Ishan, crouching in front of him.

Shubman : Rona band karo, Baccha

he said softly, wiping Ishan’s tears.

Ishan : *hiccupped* Par Shubu...toot gaya...

Shubman took a deep breath before placing the broken car in Ishan’s lap.

Shubman : Main naya la dunga.

Shubman : Aur koi cheez mat dena kisi ko. Tumhaari cheezein sirf tumhaari hain. Jaise tum sirf mere ho.

Ishan smiled through his tears and clutched the broken car.

Shubman : Shubu best hai!!

Shubman smirked, ruffling Ishan’s fluffy hair.

Damn right, he was.

It was a quiet afternoon in the Gill household when a sudden wail broke the silence.

Shubman, who had been peacefully coloring in his book, instantly shot up.

He knew that cry.

It was his Ishan...

Without wasting a second, he rushed towards the sound and found Ishan sitting on the floor, his tiny hands clutching a stuffed bunny, its ear half-torn.

Tears streamed down Ishan’s chubby cheeks as he hiccupped.

Ishan : Shubu… M-m-mera bunny toot gayaaa!!

he sobbed, holding up the poor, lifeless plushie.

Shubman exhaled through his nose, trying to remain calm.

It was just a toy.

Just a doll.

But then..

Ishan was crying holding his doll because it broke, and Shubman was crying because his doll (Ishan) was crying.

His throat tightened, and before he knew it, his eyes started watering too.

Shubman : Baccha, mat ro...

he mumbled, quickly kneeling beside Ishan.

Shubman : Main thik kar dunga! Pakka!

Ishan looked up at him with wobbly lips.

Ishan : Sachiii?

Shubman : Haan

Shubman declared like it was the most important mission of his life. He grabbed the bunny and examined it seriously.

Shubman : Bas ek kaan toota hai. Mummy sil degi.

Ishan : *sniffled* Par bunny dard meh hai…

Shubman : *sighed* Bunny ko nahi, mujhe dard ho raha hai

he huffed, pointing at his own teary eyes.

Shubman : Agar tum roge toh main bhi rounga!

Ishan gasped, immediately wiping his face with his tiny fists.

Ishan : Shubu nahi rona!!!

Shubman sniffed and dramatically wiped his own tears too.

Shubman : Thik hai, par tum bhi nahi

Ishan nodded quickly and scooted forward, throwing his arms around Shubman.

Ishan : Shubii  best hai!

Shubman smirked against Ishan’s soft hair.

Damn right, he was.

And if he had to fight the whole world just to keep Ishan’s smile intact, then so be it.

Shubman had faced many threats to his Ishan random kids, over-friendly uncles, even Ishan’s own Mumma, but nothing, nothing, prepared him for what was coming.

It happened one evening when they were playing outside.

Ishan, being the little hyperactive monkey he was, ran around the garden, giggling to himself.

Shubman, as always, kept a close protective watch.

And then... it happened.

A teenage boy probably 14 or 15 walked past their house, ruffling his own hair as he talked on the phone.

And Ishan stopped running.

His tiny eyes went wide. His mouth dropped open.

And then... he giggled shyly and hid behind a tree.

Shubman froze.

What. The. Hell.

He stomped over to Ishan, grabbing his chubby arm.

Shubman _ Kya hua? Kyun chhup raha hai?

Ishan covered his blushing cheeks.

Ishan : Shubu… bhaiyya accha lag raha hai…

Shubman’s brain short-circuited.

Shubman : KON?!

He whipped his head around, spotting the random teenager again.

He wasn’t even that special!

Just a tall bhaiyya with floppy hair!

What was so great about him?!

But Ishan?

Ishan was smiling like a total fool.

Shubman saw red.

Shubman : Tujhe woh pasand hai?!

he hissed, shaking Ishan’s tiny shoulders.

Ishan ' *pouted* Pasand nahi! Bas bhaiyya accha lag raha tha

Bas accha lag raha tha?!

Shubman’s grip tightened. "

Shubman :hal andar!!

Ishan :Par kyu?

Ishan whined.

Shubman : Maine bola na? Chal!!

Ishan huffed but followed as Shubman dragged him inside.

The moment they reached Ishan’s room, Shubman turned to him with murderous eyes.

Shubman : Sun.

he said, voice low and dangerous.

Shubman : Tu kisi aur bhaiyya ko accha nahi bol sakta. Samjha?

Ishan : Par kyun?

Shubman : KYUNKI TU MERA HAI!

Shubman burst out.

Shubman : SIRF MERA!!

Ishan giggled, poking Shubman’s cheek.

Ishan : Shubu jaltous ho gaya!

Shubman : *scowled* Main jealous nahi hoon!!

Ishan leaned in closer, smirking mischievously.

Ishan : jaltouse  ho!

Shubman : Nahi hoon!!

Ishan : Hoooo!!!

Shubman groaned, throwing his hands up in frustration.

Shubman : Bas! Kal se tu garden bhi nahi jayega!!

Ishan : Par kyu?

Shubman : Kyuki mujhe pasand nahi

Ishan : *tilted his head* Agar mujhe kuch pasand ho aur tujhe na ho toh?

Shubman : *crossed his arms* do whatever, i will protect you!!

Ishan stared at him for a second… then laughed.

Shubman just huffed and turned away.

Damn right, he was.

And no random bhaiyya was stealing his Ishan.

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I poured my heart into this story, and knowing that you read it makes me so happy.

Thank you for being here and for supporting my writing!

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