Which brought Virat back to the present day. For the first time, Virat wished there was some subtle way in which he could let Rohit know how much Rohit's constant presence had mattered in his life.

After the match, when they had returned, Virat was thinking of anonymous letters... letting Rohit sleep for a whole day without annoying him...giving him an endangered species as a pet...

A hand waved right in front of his eyes, and breaking his trance, Rohit asked, "Where are you lost?"

"Seems to me like every memory of mine, cricket related or not, for the last 11 years has something to do with you, Ro," said Virat without thinking.

Rohit stared at him, surprise clear on his face. "That's what you were thinking about for the last couple of hours?"

Virat felt his cheeks going red. "Kind of..."

"That's so awesome!" cried Rohit, enthusiastically giving him a hug. "Happy friendship day, and I've got a friendship band for you, too."

"Friendship bands went out of fashion since we passed sixth grade, Rohit," said Virat, shaking his head.

"Please," begged Rohit. "Won't you still wear it if I give it to you with love--and yes, upload a picture on Instagram too?"

"Friendship bands are cringy," said Virat, wrinkling his nose in disgust, but Rohit looked so over-the-top hurt that he hastened to say, "All right, all right!"

Rohit smirked and pulled out something from his bag and slipped it on Virat's wrist.

Virat looked at it curiously and his expression swiftly turned to one of dismay.

"That's not fair, Rohit!" he began, but Rohit cut in, saying, "You're a rhino activist, too, from today. Now pose for the picture."

"I'm not going to post a picture wearing a rhino band," said Virat, looking like he was about to throw up.

"You promised!" reminded Rohit triumphantly.

Virat gave up trying to protest and let Rohit take a photo and upload it from Virat's phone.

"I'll remember that you tricked me on friendship day," grumbled Virat sourly.

"I'll remember that you became a rhino activist for me on friendship day," countered Rohit sweetly, and that made Virat laugh and that made Rohit throw his arm around Virat as they walked back to the hotel, together as always.