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The following morning, when Virat awoke, he was still furious about what had happened yesterday—specifically, how Mahi bhai and Rohit had treated him—but he has a glimmer of hope that it was all a prank, and he was hoping that it wasn't the other way around, which was very frightful to him.

With that thought, he got out of bed to get ready before going to the dining room for breakfast.

He walked to Mahi and Rohit's room, which they shared. He didn't mind that, but he found it strange when Rohit rejected him despite sharing a room with Mahi bhai.

Virat tried to open the door but, to his surprise or horror, it was locked. That in and of itself struck him as odd, so, mustering all of his bravery, he knocked on the door.

"Virat, Yes, do you have any work?" Asked Mahi.

He made no attempt to invite Virat inside. Virat took note of the formal manner and tone of his speech.

"No, bhai... nothing important in that sense... I just thought that you, Rohit, and I could all have breakfast together like we normally do ", Virat remarked with some reluctance.

"Virat It won't be achievable today, in my opinion. Rohit is still asleep while I work, and when he wakes up, he and I have opted to eat breakfast outside. Therefore, we cannot be with you."

Mahi told him about the preparations they had previously made. Virat scowled at the fact that he did not call him Cheeku this time, and that he was not part of the plan.

"I can wait for you guys, no problem, bhai. I mean, I can wait until Rohit wakes up and you finish your work... and I can help with it Na... so I can wait... and we could also chat about how things are going—it has been days since we shared a meal together."

Virat uttered those words having some hope, but Mahi scowled angrily at the sound of them, and Virat felt awful because he hadn't anticipated that.

"Why can't you comprehend something so obvious? Virat, think beyond yourself for a change. When I say we have plans, I mean Rohit and I.. so it won't include you right..Since yesterday, Rohit and I have been talking this."

Mahi declared, making it abundantly obvious that he did not want Virat to be involved. Virat was more hurt than anything else by the statements. It felt as though someone had stabbed him in the heart.

"Please explain what's wrong, Bhai. Please let me know if there was anything I did that would have hurt Rohit or you in any way. Please don't say things like this; I'll do anything."

When Virat heard his Mahi bhai's words, tears began to stream from his eyes.

He anticipated that they would merely provoking jealousy in him, but the exact reverse happened.

He had never seen Mahi's expression before, which terrified him at the moment.

When Mahi noticed how everyone in the hallway was gazing at them, he pulled Virat in, giving the poor child some hope that Mahi bhai would now give him a hug and urge him to stop sobbing, "Cheeku, it was all a prank"

Mahi was furious, saying, "For god's sake stop it... you have caused a scene out there.. not everyone is going to assume that I as a captain said anything to you... and it will harm my reputation now... u can't do one thing for others now.. all u care about is you and yourself."

Mahi was calling Virat selfish and saying that he was harming Mahi bhai's reputation because of him. Was he hearing this right?

"Are you my bhai?" was the only response his eyes could come up with.

A groan interrupted his train of thought, and he turned at Rohit, who was standing and listening to the entire talk. He hoped that at least Rohit would tell Mahi bhai that whatever he was doing was wrong.

"Why is there always drama in the morning, Virat? Can't a person sleep peacefully? You can never allow a person be calm and joyful, Na. The constant melodrama disrupted my morning sleep. If you have a job, please do it instead of bothering us. Otherwise, find someone else to bother."

Rohit made a frown when he saw Virat's wet eyes as he regarded him.

"Ro, What are you saying?" He was now crying hysterically.

He turned to look at Rohit and Mahi, hoping and expecting them to say, "Cheeku/Vi don't cry It's a prank", but nothing close to that happened.

"What exactly am I saying? Once more, you've disturbed my sleep. We already told you yesterday that we needed some privacy. Should I speak to you in a foreign language if this is so difficult to grasp that it disturbs us? What on earth are you doing, Virat? Why won't you allow me to live in peace?" In a fit of rage, Rohit yelled and slammed the restroom door.

"What's going on, bhai? Please explain to me why Rohit is speaking like this and with this tone. Tell me, bhai, please. It really hurts, bhai, and if it's some sort of joke, you've succeeded in making me look foolish. I'm scared. I'll do anything you and Ro want of me, but please don't act like way, bhai. I'm not able to handle this. Please, bhai, just for once call me Cheeku. If I make a mistake, you have every right to slap me."

While clutching Mahi's hands and knelt in front of him, Virat spoke these words. When Rohit started yelling at Virat, Mahi was on the couch looking non his phone.

They both sprang to their feet when Mahi jerked his hand.

"Are you a child, Virat? What's up with all this foolishness? Please leave me alone; I can't take it any longer and I don't have time for this nonsense. Instead than wasting time with you here, I have a tonne of stuff to get done." Mahi muttered angrily.

Virat simply made his way to his own room while remaining silent as he left Mahi's.

He slammed the door shut and leaned against the wall in the far corner. He disguised himself as much as he could by covering his ears, burying his head in his legs, and curling up.

He was making an effort to block out what had just happened and the things his Mahi bhai and Ro had just uttered to him.

"What went wrong with me that they would say things like this? Selfishness. Privacy. Drama. Nonsense. Is there anything I did. I initially believed that this was a joke, but it is not. I was So wrong..."

When Virat's thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door, he quickly collected himself and washed his face.

"What the heck are you doing? I've been knocking on your door for the past five minutes. What's wrong? Did you cry or are you sick? Why are your eyes red and puffy?" Observing his dull face, Bhuvi worriedly questioned.

"Oh, nothing, just allergies. It'll be fine in a few of hours. Chal, let's go have breakfast." added Virat

When they entered the dining area, they discovered the squad already seated.

Virat could see Rohit and Mahi bhai weren't present, proving to him that they weren't lying and that it wasn't a joke.

"Virat bhai.. come here.. I have to show you latest collection of the watch I saw. It's a new brand. We have to get it."

Virat was distracted from his feelings and became absorbed in what Harry was demonstrating when Hardik exclaimed with excitement, interrupting his train of thought.

"Are kya hai yaar... Mahi bhai and Ro went outside for breakfast ... Mujhe bhi jaana tha... Mahi bhai sirf Ro ko leke chale Gaye"

When Jaddu noticed the message Rohit and Mahi bhai had left for the group before departing, he started whining out of the blue.

Virat was aware of this, and he now felt foolish for believing it to be a joke when it wasn't.

They didn't want to interact with him in any way and stopped speaking to him.. he was so emotionally disturbed because of the hurtful comments they had said.

No one will ever believe him that his Mahi bhai and his Ro labelled his feelings and tears a drama, so how could he tell the team about it?

Heck, not even he first believed it, so how could he expect the team or anybody else to?

"Why are you acting strange, Jaddu? You're acting like Harry all of a sudden, right?"

He was whining like a child, Ash remarked. Harry was barely listening to what was being said because he was so preoccupied with his watch collection.

"What are you doing here, Virat? Why didn't you accompany both of them? You were finally prevented from third wheeling them by Mahi bhai! Do you think Mahi Bhai disowned you and your immature self? Finally, he acknowledged Rohit as his favourite child!!"

Jaddu said that he had missed Ash's remark and had instead began laughing hysterically on Virat and others had joined him too.

"I have a call to make", Virat stated after rising.

"Obviously, you do. You need to get in touch with Mahi bhai and let him know that "bhai Jaddu was saying Ro is your most favourite kid.. it's not true correct"! How baby can you be, Vi?" Jaddu remarked, joining to the laughs once more.

Virat left the dining room and went to his room because he felt as though it was suffocating him in some way.

If it had been a normal day, he would have argued and fought with Jaddu over teasing him because it was common for Jaddu to do so.

It would also be common for Jaddu to tease him for being Mahi's baby, but today was not that day.

Today, those words were hurting him more than anything, and each word was making him feel pathetic.

"Hello, Bunty! Follow Mahi Bhai and Rohit and let me know if you notice anything odd or if their behaviour raises any suspicions!"

"Are you okay, Virat? Do you feel okay? Are you serious when you say that I should spy on Rohit and Mahi bhai?"

"Please, Bunty!"

"Ah, okay. Do not make such a request! I'll complete the task and contact you at night!"

Virat hung up the phone and laid his head on the pillow as he considered everything.

He had been anticipating meeting them both and sharing his worries about his nightmares with them, but everything had changed because they hadn't even asked how he was doing.

No no! This is not how I can think. They are my Mahi bhai and my Ro, and for the past eight years they have taken care of me, spoiled me, been by my side through my highs and lows, taken care of me when I was ill, and stayed up all night caring for me.

Something is wrong with them, and I will find it.

He awoke from his nap after an hour and noticed the time. He quickly got out of bed to prepare for practise and practically ran to the ground to find the team there.

"You are 30 minutes late, Virat!"

Virat was still catching his breath from racing so much when Mahi spoke in a commanding tone.

"I'm sorry,bhai!"

"Sorry is not going to cut it! You won't receive any preferential treatment! You will do 5 laps around the field, a 45-minute net session, and a warm-up session. Understood??"

He was being penalised for being late for the first time in his career, and Virat was staring at him in shock. While he had no issues with that, he was upset by Mahi bhai's weird expression.

Certainly not the first time Mahi bhai had punished him... He took the punishment and finished it since Mahi cared about him for what he had done in 2010 while he had been drunk with Yuvi pa, but today everything seemed so bizarre.

He couldn't see the affection Mahi bhai had for him when he would ask softly, "kya hua Cheeku!Are you late? Are u okay kiddo"

"Virat, am I CLEAR?"

Mahi harshly questioned him as he was silently observing him, and Virat flinched solely because of the tone of his voice.

"Yes, captain!" He began his punishment after mumbling these words.

The team was watching him, but no one gave him any particular attention since they believed that he would simply practise more after the WC and IPL loss.

Rohit ignored him completely since he was busy. Virat observed Rohit and Jaddu laughing merrily.

While Virat was sprinting on the other side, tears were streaming down his face. He was currently losing hope. He had imagined that there was light, but now all he could see was darkness. Bunty's call was now his only chance.