Rahul had known right from the show that something bad was going to happen. He tried to convey to Hardik so many times to shut up, but Hardik didn't get the message and proceeded to say things that made even Rahul cringe.

And then, the news of their suspension came.

While half of India was condemning both of them, to Rahul's surprise and displeasure, the other half was wailing about Hardik's possible exclusion in the World Cup.

"Hardik is too precious for us, bring him back!"

"WC 2019 is impossible without our best all rounder."

"Keep cricket and personal life separate, Hardik did nothing wrong."

Hardik, Hardik, Hardik!

The entire fault was Hardik's, Rahul hadn't said a single offensive thing, but they both had to be banned, and people were taking Hardik's side, not his!

And Rahul suddenly started to feel a consuming hatred towards Hardik, unlike anything he had ever felt before.

To make matters worse, after their bans were (thankfully) lifted, Hardik was picked in the squad vs New Zealand, but Rahul himself was dropped.

The hour when the squad was declared was the darkest hour Rahul faced in his life so far. He was sure that Hardik's words had ruined not his own, but Rahul's career.

Hardik had called and messaged Rahul quite a few times during their ban, but Rahul had refused to acknowledge them.

He could never forgive Hardik for what he had done to him.

Hardik's comeback match was hard for Rahul to bear. Hardik was once again in Indian blue. But Rahul felt in his bones that he would never get that previlege again.

The next day, Rahul finally decided to confront Hardik.

___________

Hardik was going through the worst phase of his life at the same time. His teammates suddenly seemed so cold and harsh, and he could not fit in like before.

He probably never would again, Hardik was thinking in a depressing loop, when his phone rang.

Feeling happier than he had in days, he received the call and cried, "Rahul! How are you? Why did you cut yourself off like that? I was worried about you!"

"You were worried about me?" said Rahul with cold sarcasm. "Wow."

Hardik blinked in confusion. "Yeah...of course I was...why, what's wrong with that?"

"Guess who landed me in this situation, Hardik?"

Hardik's heart sank swiftly. All the guilt he had felt in the last month for Rahul receiving the punishment as well returned with full force.

"I know," said Hardik in a subdued voice. "I'm really sorry, Rahul. I can't even--"

"You're not sorry!" said Rahul harshly. "Why would you be sorry? You got off, didn't you? You're back in the team!"

"I'm sorry you got the ban as well--" said Hardik. "It wasn't your fault at all."

"Oh, really?" cried Rahul. "And you want me to believe you give a damn about that? When have you ever cared about anyone but yourself?"

Hardik suddenly felt dizzy.

When the entire team (except Bhuvi) had shunned him, he had expected that Rahul, at least, would understand.

Evidently, though, far from understanding, Rahul seemed to despise him.

"Believe me, Rahul, I am truly sorry for what happened to you..." began Hardik earnestly.

"You're not. You're not!" shouted Rahul. "You're such a sick pervert, I'm glad the world knows that now! Unfortunately, they think I'm one too, just because I went to a damn talk show with you!"

Hardik found it impossible to speak through the lump in his throat.

"And guess what? People are supporting you. You're too important to the team, apparently. Nice, isn't it? Fair?"

Rahul's sarcastic tone seemed like a peace offering to Hardik, because when they were friends, Rahul used to speak like that all the time.

And in his high-strung state, Hardik couldn't help a nervous laugh. "Are they really?"

At Hardik's laugh and seemingly arrogant comment, a blind fury gripped Rahul.

When he spoke, however, his voice was one of quiet and cold indifference. "Considering you my friend was the biggest mistake I ever did. But I've learnt my lesson."

He cut the call.

"No," cried Hardik, but the line was already dead. He immediately called Rahul again, but there was no answer.

Somehow Hardik knew that things would never be the same between them again.

__________

In spite of knowing he wouldn't answer, Hardik kept calling Rahul all through the evening.

Rahul didn't answer.

After about fifty attempts, Hardik let the phone fall from his hand on the bed.

It was no good.

Hardik knew that he had ruined not only Rahul's life, but his as well.

There was no point of anything anymore.

Hardik buried his head in his arms and tried to swallow the choking feeling inside him.

Considering you my friend was the biggest mistake I ever did. But I've learnt my lesson.

Hardik's self control gave way. He sat huddled against the bed, his body racked with sobs.

He wanted Bhuvi. But as luck would have it, Bhuvi had gone to visit a relative of his who lived nearby that day itself.

He wanted Mahi bhai. But Mahi bhai had taken rest for the series.

Maybe because I was coming back, thought Hardik, his sobs increasing at that thought. Maybe Mahi bhai doesn't want anything to do with me anymore either.

Most of all, he wanted Rahul to forgive him. Was it too much to ask?

Maybe it was...

He had ruined Rahul's career. He did not deserve Rahul's forgiveness.

Hardik imagined that Mahi bhai was in the room with him. He imagined Mahi bhai believing in him even now. As he climbed onto the bed, he imagined Mahi bhai hugging him, stroking his hair as he fell asleep.

"It's going to be ok, Harry," he imagined Mahi bhai whispering reassuringly in his ear.

Because deep down in his heart he knew that Mahi bhai would always take his side, no matter what he did.

___________

In the MI-KXIP match in IPL 2019, Rahul scored a century, with a majority of his runs coming off Hardik's overs. To Hardik, it seemed like there was something vengeful in his expression.

As his knock ended, Hardik rushed to Rahul to hug him; it was the first time they were meeting after the Koffee with Karan incident.

Later, Hardik thought it would've been better if Rahul had shouted at him again. Instead, Rahul didn't even meet his eyes and just hugged him back briefly. There was no warmth in that hug.

Hardik walked off the field, the disappointment almost too hard to bear.

It had been more than four months, and Rahul was still offended with him.

Maybe he would genuinely never speak to Hardik again. Maybe Hardik had really lost one of his best friends forever.

___________

Rahul was selected in the WC squad, after all, and Hardik's relief was almost greater than Rahul's himself.

Only, whenever the team went somewhere together, Rahul kept avoiding him. And their personal interaction was down to zero.

Rahul had to keep reminding himself to not talk to Hardik. Every time someone cracked a joke, Rahul's automatic reaction would be to catch Hardik's eyes, and he had to consciously stop himself.

But though he was quite determined that he wouldn't speak to Hardik ever again, he found his resolve breaking more than once. Hardik had been, without any doubt, one of his closest friends ever, and it was so hard to cut him off from his life like that.

__________

One day, a few of the team members were hanging around in the gym, and after they finished training, they took a picture (in which Rahul tried to ignore Hardik again), and then one by one all of them except Hardik and Rahul escaped from the room quickly.

Maybe it was a ploy by their teammates, but Rahul and Hardik found themselves alone in the same room after an age.

It had been too long, thought Hardik, suddenly feeling miserable. So long that it seemed that they had never been friends at all.

Rahul stared at his feet, seized by an awful dilemma of whether to walk away or stay.

"I miss you," said Hardik tentatively.

Rahul looked up.

"Am I allowed to miss you?"

"Yeah...I..." said Rahul. "I guess you are."

Hardik stared at Rahul, hoping desperately that Rahul would break the ice between them.

Please God, please God, please God...

Rahul looked away again, feeling awkward. What could he say to his friend after ignoring him for so long?

Hardik was horrified to find tears in his eyes. God, what was wrong with him?

I'm not going to cry, he told himself furiously. I'm not.

Rahul considered going away, but he discovered that he didn't hate Hardik anymore. Here was the perfect opportunity to make amends. Because even he couldn't fool himself into believing that he hadn't missed Hardik.

He had.

Every single moment of the day.

"I miss you too, Harry," said Rahul abruptly.

"Oh..." whispered Hardik, the feeling of relief that accompanied Rahul's words overwhelming him.

Rahul saw Hardik's tearful expression and an awful guilt hit him.

"Hardik--I'm sorry!" he cried, rushing to hold his friend.

"It's all right, never mind. It wasn't your fault anyway," said Hardik, trying to keep him voice from shaking, but it was no good.

"It wasn't yours either. And I told you awful things--things I didn't mean, I--" Rahul hugged Hardik hard and Hardik quickly hugged him back.

"I meant none of it, Hardik, believe me," said Rahul pleadingly. "About you not caring about us--and--and--that considering you as my friend was a mistake...I didn't mean them, I love you, Harry, I'm glad you're my friend..."

Hardik felt sure that he would start sobbing if he tried to speak, but Rahul misinterpreted his silence.

He met Hardik's eyes and asked tentatively, "You are, aren't you?"

"Of course I am, Rahul!" said Hardik incredulously. "And I'm so glad," he added under his breath.

"I'm glad, too," said Rahul honestly. "Nothing feels the same without you."

"Exactly," said Hardik in a choked voice.

Rahul hugged Hardik again for good measure. "For God's sake, don't cry anymore."

"Ok," said Hardik cheerfully.

Rahul was hit again by how much he had missed that cheerful voice.

He took Hardik's arm as they walked out of the gym together. "Let's never fight again, Harry."

Hardik hit Rahul on the side of his head. "Yes, sure, because I was the one doing the fighting."

And they both laughed, and a laugh puts everything right like nothing else.

__________

After India won their next match vs WI comfortably, Hardik lay on the field with his feet in the air and Rahul sat on his feet, his eyes twinkling.

Later, Rahul posted that picture with the caption, "Best seat in the house."

Hardik was quick to reply, "That seat will always be yours."

And their words held so much more meaning that they did on paper.

"I'm glad you call me your friend."

"You will always be my friend."