The team then went for a hasty breakfast, but they had still sent Shikhar as spy to confirm that Sofia was really leaving the hotel.

Shikhar met the team coming out of the dining room, full of positive news.

"Apparently her 'ghosts' conclusion has made the hotel owner kick her out himself," he reported, chuckling in glee.

"Mission accomplished!"

"We did it!"

"We avenged Rohit bhai!"

"One last thing," said Virat. "We should give her a proper farewell." His voice was grave.

____________

And two hours later, the ICT was hanging around in the garden near the main gate of the hotel, pretending to be listening to songs.

It was nearly noon when Sofia Hayat was spotted coming towards them from a distance, lugging two bags. Evidently, the hotel owner hadn't even bothered to send any staff to help her carry them.

"All set?" whispered Jinks.

At least five of them, who were involved in the final plan, nodded.

As Sofia spotted then, she looked shocked and horrified.

Abruptly Virat remembered how Rohit had looked shocked and horrified the day the phone call came--and now, he glanced at Rohit, and saw that Rohit was grinning widely, his eyes alight with wickedness just like the rest of the team.

Rohit no longer held Sofia Hayat in horror.

They had well and truly managed to turn the tables.

Sofia Hayat tried to ignore them as she hurriedly came by.

"Hardik, put down that hose!" said Bhuvi exasperatedly, as Hardik raised the garden hose above his head.

"Kuldeep hit me first!" protested Hardik.

Sofia Hayat froze immediately--she had finally begun to sense an incoming trick.

But there was nothing she could do as Hardik and Kuldeep grappled with the hose, cursing each other loudly, and quite expectedly, water started gushing out the very moment the hose was directed at Sofia Hayat [because Rishabh was at the far end of the garden, controlling the taps.]

Sofia screamed in helpless fury, but she had the sense not to argue with the men standing together in front of her, laughing their heads off.

Maybe she had realised that no one in the world could defeat the Men in Blue when they stood together.

Or maybe she wanted to escape this nightmare as soon as possible, at the end of which she had green hair, a blackish face (because Jinks had used 'permanent' marker), torn clothes, and now she was sopping wet too, into the bargain.

She had almost passed her tormentors when Virat fell in step with her.

"Enjoyed your stay here?" he asked courteously, as Rahul stood capturing a video in his camera.

"Shut up," she muttered.

"She must've enjoyed it," put in Yuzi. "It's one of the best hotels of the country after all!"

"You're still advertising the hotel?" said Kuldeep, slapping his forehead.

"She was being haunted, you idiots," said Shikhar condescendingly. "By--" he began.

"Gho-o-osts," wailed half of them, as the other half snorted with laughter.

"Do consult a ghost buster soon, Sofia," said Rohit with all his good hearted kindness, and everyone felt doubly pleased at how hurt Sofia looked. She clearly still hadn't got over Rohit.

"But make sure they don't bust your brain," cautioned Hardik.

"Hardik," groaned Bhuvi. "She doesn't have a brain, busted or otherwise."

Sofia Hayat reached the gate, the ICT's malicious laughter ringing in her ears.

As she was stepping out, Virat suddenly leaned towards her, his face devoid of any amusement.

"Just think before hurting one of us in the future, all right?" he said icily, his eyes flashing and his voice holding a terrible threat.

His team had fallen silent.

Sofia Hayat looked at Virat, actually shaking with fear. Then she looked at Rohit.

"I'm sorry," she gritted out.

And she vanished from their sight and their lives.

Rahul concluded the video and said, "That was intense, Virat."

"She got really scared," said Yuzi.

"Even I felt scared when he spoke in that awful tone," admitted Rohit.

Virat grinned and bumped his shoulder against Rohit's. "She'll never dream of bothering you again, Ro."

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure about that," said Rohit.

The entire team grinned as Rohit and Virat stood shoulder to shoulder, looking like best friends once again.

"You two would still be fighting two days later about a run out or a missed call or any silly reason possible," said Jinks teasingly.

"We wouldn't!" cried both Rohit and Virat together.

"Yeah, right," said Hardik superiorly.

Before either of them could say anything, Shikhar interrupted, chuckling, "Sofia will never dream of bothering anyone again. She had enough!"

"So did we," said Bhuvi, grinning. "I don't remember the last time I had this much fun."

"Change back to normal again!" Hardik begged his best friend, who promptly hit him across the head.

"Things seem flat now," sighed Kuldeep.

"Not for long," said Virat. "We start practice again today."

"Oh, Virat--" began more than one voice, groaning.

"I want everyone in the gym in one hour!" ordered the captain grimly.

No one dared to disobey him, and as they were all returning to the hotel, Rohit fell in step with Virat.

"Do I have to thank you?" asked Rohit teasingly.

"No, you don't," retorted Virat.

Rohit linked his arm with Virat's.

"I love you, you know."

Virat was silent for quite some time, he was so surprised and ridiculously pleased at his best friend's words.

"So do I," he said at last.

"I love you more."

"Rohit. We're not Kuldeep and Yuzi to be fighting about who loves the other more," said Virat.

Rohit grinned, and Virat grasped his hand and added quietly...

"I told you. They touch one of us, they touch all of us."