The unlikely pair

2. Crybaby

After India won the 2nd ODI against Australia and Bhuvi had managed to take three wickets, Jadeja enthusiastically declared that he was impressed by Bhuvi.

Bhuvi acknowledged the praise with a soft smile, and Jaddu told him he had a surprise for him.

Initially, though Bhuvi was glad Jaddu said that, he believed he was joking. So, he didn't give it much thought.

However, two days later at 7pm, Bhuvi found Jaddu at his room-door.

Confused at first, Bhuvi meekly said, "Shikhar's gone out."

Jaddu closed the door behind and held out a small bag. "I know they've gone out."

"They?"

"Shikhar and Virat." Jaddu told him.

"And..you didn't go?" Bhuvi asked, because Virat and Jaddu were sharing rooms this series and Shikhar was hanging out with them almost everyday.

"They've gone shopping, I went in the morning." He said, impatiently. "Now take this, will you?"

Bhuvi took the bag, "What's this?" He took a look inside. "Popcorn?!" He looked at Jaddu, surprised. "Your surprise was popcorn?!"

Jaddu grinned, "I mean, you do look surprised but, no." he showed him the dvd he was holding. "I've got you a movie!"

Bhuvi looked at the dvd.

"You were interested in that crime thriller that day, weren't you? So I bought this." Jaddu explained.

"Oh." Bhuvi smiled lightly. "Thanks, Ravindra."

Jaddu looked at him amused. "You keep calling me 'Ravindra'."

"Because..it's your name?" Bhuvi said, again nervous.

"Yes, it is." Jaddu nodded. "But nobody in the team calls me 'Ravindra'. They call me Jaddu or Jad or anything but that."

Bhuvi looked bemused. "I did notice but.."

Jaddu laughed. "You know, I bet more than half the team doesn't even remember I have a first name." He paused. "Maybe Mahi bhai does. Virat too. And Shikha-ahh not Shikh." He corrected himself. "That guy fumbles pronouncing his own name. He'd be the last to remember mine haha."

Bhuvi started laughing then, too. "I know, right? It's not deliberate though."

Jaddu gave him a praising smile. "No it's not. By the way, you can call me Jaddu. I like it better."

Bhuvi happily nodded. 'Ravindra' somehow felt unfamiliar.

"Now c'mon, play this." He handed the dvd to Bhuvi.

"Crybaby?" Bhuvi read out loud the name of the movie.

Jaddu smiled briefly. "Interesting name for a crime thriller, innit?"

...

Not even half an hour into the movie and Bhuvi was covering his eyes with his hands. "What on earth?--"

"I bet this is the last gore scene." Jaddu said, patting his shoulder. "You disappoint me. Did you not love crimes?"

"I like crime thrillers, not crimes and blood and--" Bhuvi's eyes widened when he saw the screen by mistake. "What even is that?!"  He heard a dying character scream and himself shouted, "5 people have died till now, Jaddu!"

They heard another deafening scream  and Bhuvi tightly closed his eyes "Turn that thing off this instant!" He yelled.

Jaddu, who was till now looking at Bhuvi, turned to watch the screen. "You are getting scared for literally nothing. I'll reduce the volume. It's not that scary."

Bhuvi could tell he was lying. He clicked his tongue, tensed. Suddenly, he remembered something and asked Jaddu, "What genre was printed on the cover?"

"Huh?"

"Genre, Jaddu, genre!" Bhuvi said anxiously. "Did you read or not?"

Jaddu gave him hesitant smile. "Well..the shopkeeper said..you know."

"You did not." said Bhuvi, horrified. He looked at the screen and a man was being tortured.

Jaddu laughed nervously. "Don't worry. It's not that hard to watch, now, is it?" He said, even though he himself was finding it hard to watch.

"Turn. It. Off." Bhuvi strictly said.

"But I paid for it!" Jaddu whined.

Just then the tortured man gave a piercing shriek, making even Jaddu flinch. He found Bhuvi glaring daggers at him and he instantly changed his decision, "On second thoughts.." he took out the dvd, finally.

Bhuvi took the dvd cover in his hands. Reading the genre, he turned to Jaddu in shock. "Psychological horror? Psychological horror? This is literally," He threw the cover at Jadeja who caught it, "a horror movie!"

Jaddu read the genre and shrugged. "Guess I was tricked. Sorry."

Bhuvi shook his head, exasperated and sat down beside Jaddu. "You should've checked, Jaddu. You should've at least checked the rating!"

"I thought the seller knew better. Even the name looked so innocent, 'Crybaby', huh!" He said, offended.

Bhuvi furrowed his brows. "What did you ask him for?"

Jaddu tried to remember, "I asked him for something with lots of crime and a lot of scary stuff too." He smiled at Bhuvi excitedly, "Isn't thriller all about scary stuff?"

Bhuvi opened his mouth to explain but closed it again.

Jaddu looked "What?"

"Crime..thriller, Jaddu..is actually" Bhuvi shook his head, quite overwhelmed. "Nevermind."

Jaddu frowned. "C'mon now, it's not that big of a  deal." Bhuvi glared at him. He ignored. "Honestly, the hound of Jamnagar is more terrifying. This was nothing. But," Jaddu pointed at the dvd, "If I ever find that shopkeeper, I'll chain him to a chair and make him watch this whole movie. No intermission, no lights!" He declared.

Bhuvi snorted. "Won't stop you."

Jaddu stood up after a while. "I think I should leave then."

He said that, but wasn't moving from his place. It took a while for Bhuvi to realise but when he did, he immediately spoke, "Do you wanna stay here till Virat returns?"

Jaddu turned to him right away. "If you don't mind."

Bhuvi secretly smiled. "No, I don't mind." He said, gently.

"And that's because you are scared, right?"

Bhuvi rolled his eyes at him. "I'll throw you out if you put on an act."

Jaddu laughed. "Don't bother, Bhubaneswar."

Bhuvi clenched his fists. He was reminded of the nickname 'Jaddu', and so said, "How about sticking with 'Bhuvi'? That's what the others call me, too."

Only when Jaddu said nothing but laughed harder, did Bhuvi understand he was being made fun of.

"Jaddu." Bhuvi said after the laughter died down.

"Yeah?"

"Never intentionally surprise me again."

A/N Did I go overboard? Considering Jaddu tho? Nope. 😂🤭