The mega auction for IPL 2022 had been concluded a few hours ago, and a core group of the Indian cricket team had conferred for a video call. It had started between Rahul and Mayank to discuss the progress of their respective teams-Mayank found it hilarious and a little sad that PBKS was no longer his best friend's team, too-before they'd added Hardik, who added Rohit and Jassi, who were no longer his teammates, and they kept adding more till Shikki, Yuzi and Ash (now teammates), Jinks and Kuldeep (with their franchises exchanged) and Virat and Bhuvi and Jaddu, still in their own, old teams, were all part of the raucous call.

"What do you guys think," Hardik posed the first question gravely. "Of transience and permanence?"

"You mean the definitions?" asked Bhuvi dubiously.

"No, he doesn't, Bhuvi," said Ash drily. "I think he means which we'd prefer, given the choice."

"Exactly," said Hardik. "Jinks, you go first."

"I'm neutral," said Jinks cautiously.

"You're always neutral," said Hardik in disgust. "Don't you get tired of always walking on the middle path?" he added with genuine curiosity.

Jassi quelled him with a glare.

Nobody spoke against Jinks bhaiya in front of Jassi. This rule was, by now, well known, so Hardik changed track.

"Virat, you?"

"Permanence," said Virat without a moment's hesitation. "I hate change. God-I hate change."

"And yet you've ensured everything changed a month ago," said Rahul nastily, because he was the only one who'd still not got over his captain giving up Test captaincy.

"Let's not go into that now," said Rohit quickly. "So you're saying you prefer permanence too, K?"

"No, there's no such thing. I like change," said Rahul.

"Captain of Lucknow," whispered Jaddu suggestively.

Everyone snickered as Rahul flushed.

"You like change too, Jad," said Rohit, promptly sticking up for Rahul. "That's why you have a new hideous hairstyle every year."

"And new horrific beard style," added Ash.

"And you know the sad part, Jad," said Virat. "You could actually look good if you kept your hair and beard like a normal human being."

"What a heart touching compliment on the eve of Valentine's Day from my best friend," drawled Jaddu.

Rohit coughed.

"Did you say-best friend? I'm your best friend, Jad."

"You're both my best friends," said Jaddu magnanimously.

"Sure, and I'm nobody," Ash commented to the ceiling above his head.

Everyone joined in, shrieking, Shikki claiming Rohit as his best friend, Virat protesting saying he was individually the best friend of Rohit, Shikki, Jaddu...

"Wow, Virat bhaiya," said Yuzi. "You're really big-hearted."

"Yuzi!" protested Kuldeep.

...Jinks, Bhuvi...

"Don't deviate from the point," wailed Hardik.

"Which point are we talking about again?" asked Rahul.

"He must mean the transience-permanence thing," said Mayank helpfully at once.

"I just realized most of you are unqualified to answer this question," announced Hardik.

"And why's that?" asked Rohit.

"Because all of you have either known permanence or transience. When it comes to IPL auctions, at least," explained Hardik.

"I've known both," pointed out Rahul.

"Four years with a franchise isn't permanence," scoffed Hardik. "So as the only person who's known both, I say I prefer-" He paused to build up the suspense.

"Kul and I've known both," put in Yuzi, spoiling the suspense.

"Shh, Yuzi," warned Shikki, feeling a Hardik-tantrum coming on. "You think you prefer...?" he prompted Hardik.

"Transience!" declared Hardik. "Because life's all about trying new things!"

Everyone launched into a discussion about the merits and demerits of the theory; Jassi said quietly, "Wonder how long you've needed to think up that line."

Jinks noticed something in Jassi's tone. "Which one d'you prefer, Jass?"

"I don't care either way," said Jassi flatly.

More than one of his friends, of course, noticed the tone now, and Jassi swiftly made up an excuse about his mother calling him for dinner to leave the video call.

"What's bitten him now?" asked Yuzi, astonished.

"No idea," said Virat anxiously. "Does anyone have any idea? Have any of you been bothering Jass? Have you, Ro?"

That made everyone laugh.

"No, Virat, I have not been bothering Jass," said Rohit in a sickly-sweet voice.

Jinks messaged Jassi a 'everything fine?'

Before Jassi could see the message, he deleted it and resent a 'everything fine, kiddo?' thinking Jassi would be likelier to confide at the address.

'Absolutely,' Jassi replied back.

**********************

Jassi had kept his phone on silence after dinner, trying to read one of his very old comics, but his brain was drifting.

He shouldn't have spoken shortly in the video call-now everyone would keep asking him what was wrong, when in reality nothing was wrong, and without any reason, he just didn't have a good feeling about this auction, and was that too hard to understand?

The door opened and his sister looked in.

"I told you I'd pick up the car tomorrow, di, it's already very late today-"

"Oh, no-I wasn't about to send you off now," said Juhika. "Here, Harry's on the line, wants to talk to you."

Jassi frowned as he had no choice but to accept his sister's phone.

"What?" he said ungraciously.

"Happy Valentine's Day, darling," said Hardik in a spectacular voice.

"I hope you mean this for Natasha and not my sister," said Jassi drily.

"I mean this for you," said Hardik, wounded. "You, and you alone."

"Stop trying to act smart with words," said Jassi.

"Wish me back," wheedled Hardik.

"No," said Jassi firmly. "If that's all you had to say, I'd tell you good night and-"

"No!" howled Hardik. "I wanted to say-er-"

"Waiting, but not for long."

"That you don't seem excited!" said Hardik quickly. "About the formidable Jasprit Bumrah-Jofra Archer pair, of which you're a half. The whole cricketing world is psyched. Sanju Manju even said it's a mouthwatering prospect."

"Did he now?"

"Yes, and Rohit is thrilled, too. MI being dormant for the first day, saving up for Jofra and all..."

"So I heard."

"And imagine if MI got into a tie," sniggered Hardik. "Who'd bowl the super over?"

"Dunno."

"Look how unexcited you are," said Hardik triumphantly, like he'd just proven a point.

"Yeah, if that's what the whole world wants, it must be a great thing, then. Jasprit Bumrah and Jofra Archer. Nobody asks what I want."

"You don't-um, like Archer?" asked Hardik, astonished. "You barely even know him. I mean, yes, he smirked after knocking Smith unconscious with that bouncer, which means he's probably a shit human being, but he wouldn't be a bad guy to have on board."

"He's going to be great for our team," said Jassi. "But I don't care if it's him or it's Boult or it's anyone-the only one I do care to have in my team is you, Hardik, but you-you like transience, don't you? Adds interest to life, doesn't it?"

Uh-oh, thought Hardik.

"It's like-I don't know why we even talk to each other, you feel happy over stuff that gives me weeks of misery, you don't care that we're going to be playing against each other two months later. We're going to be playing against each other-and we've never even thought of something like that. Well, maybe you have, or maybe you just don't care-"

"I care, Jassi," Hardik felt compelled to break in.

"No, you don't," said Jassi angrily. "You hadn't even thought of it that way!"

"I hadn't," admitted Hardik. "But now that I do, I don't like it either."

"Gujarat picked you a month back," said Jassi nastily. "And you think of it today."

"You've been my best friend for eight years," said Hardik, taking care to copy the tone. "And you think playing for different IPL teams is going to be the end of us."

That successfully silenced Jassi.

"So what if we're going to play for different teams, Jass? So what if we'll be playing against each other two months later? What will change?"

"I-I just meant-"

"If you get me out someday, will I stop loving you? If I hit you for a six, will you stop loving me?"

"N-no, of course not-"

"In 2018, Virat's team dismissed Rohit in the 90s and celebrated. Last year, Rohit and you and I defeated Jinks and Shikki and Ash's team in the final. And Mahi bhai and Jaddu have broken the hearts of every other team in the table. Is that so bad?"

"That's different," said Jassi. "They've all always been playing for different teams. You and I have only ever played with each other."

"That's why I'm saying it might be fun to try something new," said Hardik, and added impishly, "We never got to deciding on who'd come off on top in an over of you bowling to me. The competition isn't intense enough in the nets."

Jassi couldn't help a grin.

"So, I challenge you to the same for the first leg of MI vs GT. GT...? We're GT? How...weird," said Hardik, frowning.

"Life's all about trying new things, Harry? You've got to suffer a little weirdness to enjoy that."

"Point," said Hardik solemnly.

The door opened again.

"Can you please call him from your own phone?" said Juhika impatiently. "What the point of hogging my phone for a call is, I don't know."

"Oh, yes-sorry, di, I forgot," said Jassi in alarm. "I'll call you back from my phone, Harry, wait a second."

"I'll wait ten," said Hardik generously.

Jassi grinned and was about to cut the call before he paused.

"Happy Valentine's Day to you, too," he added. "I love you."