"Where are you going without meeting me huh?" Shubman raised his eyebrows. Ishan grinned widely while hugging him.

"When did you reached ahemdabad?" Ishan asked.

"Our flight landed just an hour ago so I came to meet you. But you were busy practicing." Shubman replied.

"Yeah we have to practice hard. After all Gujarat Titans is a tough competition." Mayank replied while shaking hands with Shubman.

"Mumbai Indian is also a very great team. It won 5 times." Shubman replied while showing his dimple smile.

"And this year we will be getting 6 wins." Ishan grinned widely.

"Calm your horses down Ishan, we won the past year and we want to continue this legacy from now." Shubman chuckled.

"Let's see whose legacy is gonna win." Ishan hummed while crunching his nose.

Shubman laughed lightly and pinched his nose.

"Yaah it hurts" Ishan pouted and slapped Shubman's chest.

"You stink" Shubmam retorted.

"No shit sherlock. I was playing what do you expect me to smell like?" Ishan huffed.

" I expect you to smell like... " Shubman grinned while giving a pause and both Mayank and Ishan furrowed their eyebrows while Shubman took a step closer to Ishan.

"Mine" He finished and both burst into fits of laughter.

"Stop being such a sap" Ishan giggled and slapped his shoulder.

"Don't you like my cheesy lines though?" Shubman winked and Ishan shook his head.

"Oh I love them so much babe" Ishan said and pulled him into a dramatic hug.

" But I will love it more if you will notice me too. Hello guys you know I also exist." Mayank said sarcastically. 

Both laughed and Ishan crunched up his nose lightly.

"You are coming in between two lovers monkey" Ishan joked while pulling away from the hug.

" Yes its not a good thing to come between two lovers Mayank" Shubman butted in while smirking.

"Shubi you came in between us when we were going to shower. You ruined our intimate moment. Who is the biggest blocker?" Mayank snickered.

" Don't call him shubi" Ishan said and elbowed Mayank.

"It hurts you maniac" Mayank whined.

"Good, it was supposed to hurt." Ishan chuckled and Shubman also smiled at their banter.

" Why are you guys still here?" A sudden voice came and the trio turned around to see Rohit coming their way.

"I was going but then Ishan's lover came and we had to stop." Mayank said seeing their captain smile slightly.

"You both go and get a shower. After that you all have the whole day for the chit chat but let's not get an infection while standing here being all sweaty." Rohit said and everyone chorused a yes sir while straightening their back.

Rohit sighed and went inside their changing room.

"We should go, shubi wait a bit I will be back soon." Ishan said and pulled Mayank with him.

Shubman hummed and went to meet the other players.

---

"Shubi" Ishan spoke while running towards Shubman.

Shubman looked back at him and opened his arms just in time when Ishan jumped at him.

"Look who decided to notice he has a best friend as well" Shubman said when they departed from the hug.

"Rohit bhai kept me busy this whole week I am sorry" Ishan said and Shubman still acted angry with him.

"I am sorry Shubi I was gonna come but as you could see we were still practicing." Ishan pouted.

"Like you even know when I was going to land. When I came the first question you asked me is when I landed to ahemdabad." Shubman deadpanned and Ishan smiled sheepishly.

"I am sorry na Shubi please forgive your bestfriend, I missed you so much." Ishan spoke in almost whiny tone. It was an unusual scene for others because they have heard mostly Ishan's deep voice but this tone, it was solely reserved for Shubman.

"I can see how much you missed me huh. You didn't even picked my call Ishu." Shubman said acting angry but he was already melted after Ishan's tone.

" I am sorry babe I seriously couldn't pick it up between the matches and practice. The schedule was very hectic." Ishan said slightly pulling him closer.

"Yes and when we got free we had to prank the members too." Mayank spoke suddenly from behind.

"What? Ishu you did pranks on rohit bhai without me?" Shubman raised his eyebrows.

"No, most of them were on me and Bumrah." Surya spoke from beside.

"You did pranks on surya bhai and bumrah bhai without me?" Shubman folded his arms and stared at him.

"It was Mayank's plan, I just helped him out." Ishan said nervously.

"Liar, wasn't it your plan when you prank called me through my father's phone?" Arjun said who was also sitting beside everyone.

"Okay one or two were my ideas but most of them were of this monkey's idea" Ishan spoke and Shubman just huffed.

"I am sorry shubi" Ishan said.

"I am going" Shubman declared and started to go out of the stadium with Ishan running behind him.

Ishan shouted behind him while holding his cricket bag on his bag which was apparently taller than him.

Everyone laughed at them knowing they will sort it out within an hour or so. Rohit was also smiling widely at the pair of dorks which reminds him of his old days with Virat. They both were also very jealous bestfriends. Virat was a very jolly person and he still us whereas Rohit used to be a bit of introvert.

Seeing Ishan and Shubman banter always reminds him of their rookie days. Maybe that’s the reason he doesn't scold them as much and let the kids goof around a bit.

---

Shubman was walking fastly or maybe his legs were a bit too long that’s why Ishan had to run to catch him but the big and heavy bag was making it difficult for him to catch up with his bestfriend.  Shubman suddenly stopped making Ishan stumble onto his back.

"Ouch" He whined rubbing his nose. Shubman turned around and his expression turning soft while he removed Ishan's hand and inspected his nose.

"Are you okay, Ishu?" Shubman asked, concern evident in his voice.

Ishan nodded, still pouting slightly. "Yeah, I'm fine. It was just a little impact." He couldn't help but smile at Shubman's attentive and caring nature. It was one of the many reasons why he cherished their friendship so much.

"I'm sorry for running away like that," Shubman said apologetically, his eyes filled with regret.

"I was just being silly. I know you didn't mean to miss my calls or exclude me from the pranks. It's just that seeing you being with mayank too much, I can't bear it. We are the ones who should be getting into trouble together. " Shubman spoke, his voice all sulky.

" Look at the big baby, I promise I won't do these things again okay" Ishan said and Shubman hummed.

"Give me your bag" Shubmam said and Ishan shook his head.

"It's okay, we are almost out of the stadium and it's not even that much heavy." Ishan replied. But Shubman being the stubborn one still took the bag from him.

" I am free for the rest of day so where are we going?" Ishan asked when they hailed a cab.

"First we are going to my favorite restaurant. I haven't been there since a while." Shubman replied.

"The gordhan thal?" Ishan raised his eyebrows and Shubman nodded his head.

" The food there is just love" Shubman grinned and Ishan hummed.

---

" Oh my god Shubi you are just so dumb" Ishan snickered reminding him of the incident which happened just a while ago.

"What happened guys?" Hardik asked seeing the chaotic duo in the corridor of the hotel.

Both Ishan and Shubman were coming back from the restaurant and were inside the hotel were Gujarat Titans was staying.

"Hello bhai" Ishan said noticing Hardik and latched onto him automatically.  It was a common thing for them and Hardik was accustomed to it as well.

"Tell me too what is so funny thing about it?" Hardik asked after he put down Ishan.

"Oh that, is shami bhai awake? I will tell him too" Ishan grinned and Shubman glared at them.

"No its nothing" Shubman huffed but the duo ignored him completely. 

"Yeah Surya and Rohit bhai are also with Shami. Wanna join?" Hardik asked and Ishan nodded eagerly.

"Perfect timing" Ishan chuckled.

"Worst timing" Shubman grunted out but still followed them behind and glared daggers at Hardik and Ishan who were very happily going to Shami's room.

"I will take my revenge too if you uttered anything about the incident." Shubman retorted.

"Oh I am so scared " Ishan deadpanned when they finally stood outside of Shami's room.

"You—" Shubman huffed and tackled Ishan to the ground and just like that both of them started goofing around again.

Hardik laughed and joined to pull them away but instead got stuck in between them.

Anyone passing through corridor would definitely look at them weirdly. But this was not at all weird for them.

It was normal. Their normal.