Is This Love? [Shubman Gill x Ishan Kishan]

Twelve Years Later – 2036

The warm rays of the morning sun stream through the large windows of Ishan and Shubman's home, casting a golden glow on the living room walls adorned with cricket memorabilia and family photos. The air is filled with the delightful sounds of children's laughter and the aroma of homemade cooking.

Ishan stands in the kitchen, cradling their daughter, Mehar, in his arms. She babbles softly, her tiny fingers grasping at his shirt. He smiles down at her before placing a soft kiss on her forehead.

"Aman, baitha ja! (Aman, sit down!)" Shubman calls from the living room in Punjabi, laughing softly. Their four-year-old son, Aman, is a bundle of energy, dating around the room with his toy cricket bat. "Putt, tu kuch thod na dae. (Son, don't break something)."

"Daddy, tusi mera shot dheka? (Daddy, did you see my son?)" Aman exclaims, running up to Shubman and tugging at his hand.

"Haan, but chal apa backyard di vich khelde aa (Yes, but let's play in the backyard)," Shubman compromises, ruffling Aman's hair affectionately.

Ishan makes his way over from the kitchen to the living room, gently bouncing Mehar to keep her calm, "Lagta hai ki ghar mein ek aur cricket star aa gaya hai. (Looks like there's another cricket star in the house.)"

Shubman nods before gently taking Mehar from Ishan's arms before placing a kiss on his cheek. He turns his attention to Mehar, "Mehar loves Daddy right?"

"No, Daddy!" Aman protests, trying to jump up to Mehar's level, "Mehar toh paji ko jyaada pyaar karatee ho! (Mehar loves brother more.)"

Ishan laughs at Aman's mixed Punjabi and Hindi before kneeling down to pick him up, "Daddy ke saath tum cricket practice karenge ja raho? (Are you going to practice cricket with Daddy?)"

"Yes!" Aman exclaims, hugging Shubman's legs.

"Okay, we'll go," Ishan agrees before placing a soft kiss on Aman's cheek. He turns to Shubman, "Mummy 30 minute mein aa rahe hain, you head to practice. Main aur Aman practice ke end mein aayenge, Ma Mehar ko take care karlege. (Mom is coming in thirty minutes, you head to practice. Me and Aman will come at the end of practice, and Mom can take care of Mehar)."

"Arre, Mehar koh bhi le aao, she needs to see Daddy in action too, right?" Shubman says before placing another kiss on her cheek. She looks up at him with wide eyes and pulls at his ear, "Ouch, inda nahi kareda meri jaan. (Ouch, don't do that)."

"I'll see," Ishan nods before putting down Aman. He watches Shubman as he carefully places Mehar down into her playpen, "Have fun at practice."

Shubman playfully rolls his eyes, "You know I never do."

"Aman, Daddy ko bye kaho," Ishan instructs the young boy, softly grabbing his free hand and making him wave. "Kaho 'bye daddy, love you!'"

Aman puts his toy bat down before turning his attention to Shubman, "Bye Daddy, love you."

Shubman chuckles softly before kneeling down and pulling Aman into a hug, "Bye, putt. Papa de naal raat nu aayn, theek a? (Bye, son. Come with Papa tonight, okay?)"

"Okay, Daddy," Aman agrees before placing a sloppy kiss on Shubman's cheek. "Daddy mainu call karyo ponch ge. (Daddy call me when you get there.)"

"Okay, meri jaan," Shubman agrees before standing up and giving Ishan a quick kiss on the cheek, "Bye, I'll see you later."

"Bye, babe," Ishan replies before watching Shubman leave the house, dragging his practice bag alone.

He takes a deep breath and looks around the room, biting back a laugh when Aman picks up his bat and begins to drag it along with him around the house. He had retired from cricket after they won the ODI World Cup last year, Shubman serving as the Captain. It felt like the perfect way to say goodbye to cricket and focus on their domestic life. Shubman stepped down as captain but still plays for India when he's picked to be on the squad and it works out perfectly for them.