"Ishan where are you taking me bro?" Ishan completely ignored Mayank. He took him to an empty bench in the ground where they could sit calmly without getting disturbed. Ishan settled down and removed his bag from his shoulder. "Ishan what are we doing here?" Mayank asked finally.

Ishan still didn't answer him. "Sit" he ordered patting the empty space beside him. Mayank knew how stubborn Ishan is so he just sat down quietly. "Now will you tell what are we doing here?" Mayank asked again. Ishan stared at his face without saying anything.

"Ab bolega bhi kuch" Mayank said getting impatient.

[Now will you say something?]

Ishan finally spoke up. "You tell me what is going on?"

"Bro you dragged me here all of a sudden without even saying anything-" Mayank started but Ishan cut him. "Gotcha. I didn't bring you here without saying anything. I clearly told everyone where I was going. Ya I know this wasn't place I mentioned though but still. Now tell me what were you thinking when I told everyone that mom wants to meet me?" Ishan asked.

Mayank looked here and there as if he is caught red handed but didn't know what to say. "It's no-" Ishan cut him off.

"Oh please. Not your damn excuses and I am fine and nothing has happened. I want the fucking truth" Ishan stated. "Ishan please" Mayank said with a pleading look. Ishan sighed. "Look Mayu trust me I have no interest in forcing you to tell me something or I really am not enjoying breaching your privacy. Being my close friend doesn't oblige you to tell me anything. But I can't see you like this" Ishan stopped for a moment to look at Mayank's face who was trying to avoid his gaze.

Ishan held his hands and started again. "I know you are in some trouble. You are not fine and I just want to help you. And if you don't want to tell me about it. Okk fine. I get it. I completely understand. But Mayu you don't have to lie to me that you are fine and there is nothing wrong. Because you clearly are not fine and you are some deep shit. Being this close to me atleast I understand that much by now. I get it. Completely. Tell me when you are ready. I don't wanna force you into something" Ishan's speech came to a hault and Mayank finally looked up.

Ishan let out a warm nodded assuring him that he meant every single word. A smile came on Mayank's face though small but completely real. Mayank hugged him which Ishan gladly returned.  "I am there for you no matter what. And whatever it is I know you will solve it. And if you can't then I am there. We will see what has to be done" Ishan said.

________

"So how was your test? I don't have to be ashamed to call you my roommate right?" Shubman said teasingly taking noodles from Abhishek's plate making the latter frown.

"Tujhe noodles itne pasand hai to tu bhi yhi order kyu nhi karta hai? Hamesha meri plate se kyu khaata hai tu hnn?" Abhishek asked making an irritated face.

[If you like noodles so much why don't you too order them? Why do you always have to eat it from my plate?]

Shubman took his time devouring the taste and then spoke. "Well mera sandwich khaane ka hi mann tha. Par noodles dekh kar mera mann kar gya khaane ko. So I ate. Aur sirf taste hi kia hai. Itna drama nhi kar. Here you can taste mine as well. I don't mind" Shubman replied casually.

[Well I wanted to eat sandwich only but seeing noodles I felt like earing. So I ate. And I just tasted. Don't make a fuss. Here you can taste mine as well. I don't mind]

"Oh shut up. Pehli baar thode hai. Tu hamesha hi aese hi karta hai. Aur taste to tujhe achhe se pata hai inka. You love these noodles" Abhishek said.

[Oh shut up. It's not first time. You always do this. And taste you know it too well. You love these noodles]

Shubman ignored him and kept eating his sandwiches taking noodles from Abhishek's plate occasionally in between. Abhishek didn't even bother to stop him because he knew there is no point. He ain't gonna stop. They finished their food and Shubman finally spoke.

"I like something more than these noodles" Shubman said smiling. "What?" Abhishek barked. "Well your irritated face and especially when I am the reason" Shubman said giggling. Abhishek sighed and shooked his head.

"Kutte paal rakhe hai maine" Abhishek said.

[I have kept dogs]

"At least I am better than your good for nothing boyfriend" Shubman said standing up and picking their empty utensils making Abhishek groan. "Ugh don't even remind me of him. By the way talking about my boyfriend, they are sitting over there" Abhishek said pointing towards their table. Shubman turned around and frowned.

"He is not there. In fact not even Ishan" Shubman said turning back to Abhishek who also noticed the two of them are missing. Abhishek raised his eyebrows as if trying to ask where are the two people in question but Shubman just shrugged.

"Well we should leave. Lecture is about to start" Shubman said and Abhishek nodded still looking at the incomplete group. Then they dispossessed off the utensils and left for their class.

_________

"By the way I know it's related to Abhishek" Ishan said. Mayank was now sitting calmly. "Ishan no. He has nothing t-" Isha  didn't let him complete. "I won't force you tell me but that's pretty clear. It's definitely something related to him. Well I assume it's not just related to him, it's completely about him" Ishan said.

Mayank just sighed. He knew there was no point lying. Ishan knew him far too much. He could clearly see through him. So he didn't bother lying even.

Ishan stopped for a moment and when he was sure Mayank wasn't gonna protest or lie any longer, he spoke again. "Did he hurt you?" he tried to keep his voice as calm as possible but the anger of even the thought that someone had dared to hurt someone close ti him was evident in his voice.

Mayank shooked his head slowly. "Yes I won't lie any longer Ishan. I am not fine. Something is going on in my life. And ya it is about Abhishek. But no he hasn't hurt me. He hasn't done anything to hurt me" said Mayank.

"Jhooth to nhi bol raha na?" Ishan asked looking for any signs of lying on his face.

[You ain't lying right?]

Mayank shooked his head. "No Ishu I swear. He hasn't done anything to hurt me. In fact it's opposite. My actions have hurted him" Mayank said in voice full of guilt. Ishan frowned.

"So what's new in that? You have been bullying him since beginning. If you have bullied him again, how is that different? Why so much guilty now?" Ishan asked clearly confused.

"It is different now. And I didn't bully him this time. I told earlier I am not gonna repeat it ever. I can't hurt Abhishek anymore. But fuck I have done it again" Mayank said holding his head in his hands shaking it violently.

Ishan put a hand on his shoulder. "Well I don't expect you to understand. We all bully and hurt others. It's quite normal for us. And I am feeling bad or guilty about it well it's okk if you find it odd and don't get it. I have no such expectations from any of you Ishan"

Ishan smiled a little. "Try me" he said softly. "Huh?" Mayank asked not getting him. "I mean try to make me understand. Maybe I will Mayank. At least tell me what you are going through. Well I don't know why you are hiding things from me. At least tell me about I will try. If not completely understand as you feel I ain't gonna get it. Till you won't even try, won't tell me, how will I get it?" Ishan asked chosing his words very carefully.

"Ishu I really don't know how to tell anyone about this. I want to trust me but I just don't know how to. I have never gone through anything like this before. And it's difficult to share" Mayank said.

"Well....take your time. But don't take too much. I might go and ask Abhishek. And if he doesn't tell me I won't be patient with him. I might end up beating the shut out of him to get the truth out and you know me very well I just don't speak empty words" Ishan said playfully making Mayank chuckle.

"Please he don't he is already angry from me and ain't talking to me" Mayank replied in the same playful tone. "Oh so he ain't talking? That's why you are upset?" Ishan asked making fist in anger.

"Well ya but you don't have to be angry on him. His anger is completely genuine. I get what he wants" Mayank said immediately to calm down Ishan.

"What he wants? I will get it for you. I can't see you upset like this and if then also he shows attitude to my friend I ain't gonna leave him" Ishan said with a threat. "No you can't do anything about it I only have to do it. And I assure you he won't be angry at your friend anymore if I do what he asking me to" Mayank said.

"At least tell me what it is?" Ishan asked done with these puzzles of Mayank. 'That's the whole matter. I don't know how to tell you guys' Mayank thought.

"Are you sure you don't want help?" Ishan asked. Mayank shooked his head making Ishan sigh. "I am not getting what are the two of you upto. But I am very worried about you. I just hope that Abhishek ain't giving you much hard time. I swear I won't think even twice to kill him. You are my friend not he and only I thing care about is what is mine and anyone trying to hurt what is mine will have to see my wrath no matter" Ishan was ranting non-stop.

"I love him" Mayank blurted out before he could stop himself. He bit lower lip immediately when he realised what he just said. Ishan stopped his rant and looked at him bewildered with wide eyes.

"Wait what?" Ishan shouted in shock. He really didn't expect this was waiting for Mayank to laugh and shout "prank" or "April Fool" but he didn't. Instead he just froze and kept looking at Ishan with fear.

To be continued

Stay tuned for next chapter