Set in 2016 -

"And India has once again lost their chance to qualify for the T20 World Cup as a result of losing this semi-final and having no chance of winning it. All you can see are the defeated faces of Virat, Rohit, MS, and the team. It must be extremely difficult for them. You can only imagine how they must be feeling. Especially after Virat's Mohali knock and this match's contributions from Rohit and Virat with the bat and the ball taking a wicket in the first delivery, you have to feel for them. The expression on their faces doesn't always reveal what must be going through their minds."

"And Sunrisers will win the championship... You have to feel bad for Kohli, because RCB has lost yet again. As Warner remarked, He is the man and the leader of the pack... and what a batter! However, he was unable to lead the club to victory on his own. It's the third time after reaching the finals that they haven't won the IPL, but this time it was close but still fell short. There he is putting on a brave face and hugging Warner and Yuvraj. You must feel for them, as much as for AB and Kohli."

Virat awoke abruptly, glanced around, and realised that he was on a plane headed to his new home series, which was after the IPL.

He couldn't believe that it had been two weeks and he was still having every other night the same dream or nightmare with voices in his head.

"Everything will be OK until I go to my team, my bhai, and Ro; once I am there, I'll be fine. I'll get over it. With them, I can let my guard down and cry all I want. Everything will be resolved by Mahi bhai and Ro." Virat assured himself.

Knowing that was the outcome, he didn't sleep at all after that. He arrived at the team hotel that was designated and noticed no one was in the lobby.

He picked up his keys and headed to his room to get ready before seeing everyone.

When Virat entered the team room, Hardik embraced him tightly before he could say anything.

"Virat bhai You know Jassi... he's gotten so mean, and I really missed you. didn't prioritise me during the IPL; instead, he stayed with Krunal and Polly the entire time. I won't speak to him because you've come to be with me."

Hardik complained during the entire hug. Virat gave him a hug in return and laughed at his complaint.

"Harry.... Let us see him and give him a hug as well; otherwise, I'll tell Virat bhai about what you did to the young guy who is your junior in MI and how you terrorised him to death since you got out on his ball."

As soon as Jassi said anything, Hardik left him. Everyone, including Virat, laughed at how embarrassed, to put it mildly, Hardik was.

He was given hugs by Jassi, Rah, Kul, and Yuzi in succession. Virat sat while everyone else listened to him recount their IPL exploits.

"Virattttttttttttttttt... mere bhai... I missed you so much... It's been so many days since we last met"

Before Virat could respond to the yell, his Jaddu embraced him and he was overcome with emotion. Virat gave him a heartfelt hug in return and expressed how much he missed this crazy group of people.

Although he enjoys his time at RCB, being at ICT was something entirely different.

Jaddu was ushered aside by Bhuvi while he hugged Virat. Ash joined the hug as well. They sat alongside them.

"All of them arrived, but Rohit and Mahi bhai haven't yet arrived. Where are they? The call to Rohit's phone is not getting through." Thought Virat.

He was impatiently waiting for them, but when he looked around, he saw everyone else with him but not them.

"Where are you lost, Virat?" He was staring at the door when Bhuvi asked him, shaking off his thoughts.

"Mahi bhai and Ro haven't arrived yet, Bhuvi! All I can do is wait for them", Concerned and impatient, Virat said...

"They will arrive, Vi, so let's get out to dinner it's almost time", Bhuvi said.

Everyone entered the dining area, but Virat continued to try to call Mahi bhai and Rohit.

He wasn't sure why suddenly their phones weren't connecting, so he instructed Bhuvi to try, which connected, making him scowl.

In order to calm down Virat, who was anxious and impatient to meet them, Bhuvi asked him where he was.

"Yes, Bhuvi, we arrived. We are in the dining room. Let's meet there!" Rohit responded.

"They've arrived—they're in the dining room now! Let's Go ahead."

Virat was still pondering why Bhuvi's phone quickly reached him while Virat's phone took longer.

When they entered the dining room, they discovered Mahi bhai and Ro surrounded by the juniors.

Virat felt left out, to put it mildly, because he had been waiting for them for such a long time. And they hadn't yet seen him.

Virat sat down on the table that they had always used to seat him, Mahi bhai, and Ro for dinner because it was their regular spot. He simply waited for everyone to finish their Bharat milap.

But to his surprise, Mahi bhai and Rohit eventually exited the dining room without giving him a second glance, he followed them.

Virat enquired, "Mahi bhai.... Ro... wait where are you guys going?"

When they both turned around, Virat was there. Virat noticed that they both had strange facial expressions on their faces that he couldn't make sense of.

"Where are you two going, really? You didn't even call or meet me. What's wrong? You just left without eating dinner." Virat inquired once more, still unsure about what was taking place.

"We are going to rest in our rooms because we are exhausted after a late travel and because we already ate dinner", Mahi responded.

Virat was more perplexed by Rohit's silence and he observed that his Mahi bhai called him "Virat" rather than "Cheeku"!

"But, you didn't meet me" Virat remarked that he was whining at his best while observing their slightly altered demeanour.

"Is it enough that we just met you here? Please stop asking questions, Virat. We are tired and need to get some important work done, both now and in the morning. So, if you're done whining and everything, can we leave now?" Mahi complained, annoyed by his questioning and fussing.

To put it mildly, Virat was startled.

"Do you not want to share a room with me Rohit?"

Virat enquired while they were moving.

"Virat, I need some privacy, which is hard to get with you, so I believe having separate rooms is the best option moving forward. Anyway, I found it boring to be in the same room as you because you don't allow me the flexibility to do what I want." Rohit said

When Rohit said that, Virat remained motionless. Was it real? Similar to Mahi bhai, Rohit referred to him as "Virat" rather than "Vi."

He observed that Mahi and Rohit had already left and were sharing a room. When he observed them entering that room, it made him feel foolish. Waiting for them, then acting in this way...

"I must be interpreting it incorrectly; perhaps they are pulling a prank on me in some manner. Yes, that's what it is—to improve my mood " he thought.

After that strange chat that startled him a little, Virat went to his room and promptly forgot to eat.

He was also sad since he was hoping to meet them and express his sorrow over these losses by crying or perhaps even by pouring out his heart. Even though it has been time, he is still not over it.

"Everything should be alright in the morning. Mahi bhai and Ro won't ever be furious or irritated with me until this long, I'm confident of that."

Virat contemplated and hoped for a day when everything would return to normal as he slept.

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