He Couldn't Take It Anymore || An ICT Fanfiction

7. Underneath His Tough Exterior

"You believe me, don't you Ro?" cried Virat.

Rohit felt a strong deja vu hit him.

Except that this time, when he could answer, it had changed.

His eyes turned cold and he said unflinchingly, "No."

**********

Virat felt the ground slide beneath him as he looked into the once tender, now too indifferent eyes of his best friend. He looked distraught as he fell silent, not even pleading with them to believe him. His mouth stood open and his vision blurred. He averted his eyes to the ground, not able to look into those cold orbs anymore, as a tear ran down his cheek.

Jinks's heart softened. Maybe, just for a brief moment, it didn't matter to him that Virat had conspired against Ro, who was his best friend too. One look at his crestfallen face, reminded Jinks how cruelly he had spoken. No matter what he did, Virat was still the person he cared about the most in this world. Moreover, they hadn't got any official news from the BCCI regarding the validity of the video. So, he tried in a softer tone, "I believe you, Virat."

Virat hastily looked up and then at him, as did everyone, not quite believing what they'd heard. Jinks tried to explain, "Look, the BCCI is investigating. We should wait at least until then to point our fingers at him. As long as he isn't proved guilty, he's innocent to me, because I know what my best friend is capable of and what he isn't."

The rest of them seemed to be contemplating this and when they finally nodded, Jinks looked at Rohit who was still gazing at Virat.

Virat felt a tiny hope kindle inside him when Jinks had said that he believed him. Of course, he knows that I can't do this. My Jinksy knows everything, he thought jovially.

As his teammates nodded one by one and agreed that they couldn't make any allegations until the official notice, Virat's eyes finally fell on Rohit to see that he was staring at him.

Rohit felt like an idiot again. Why was it becoming so easy for him to doubt Virat? He thought that Virat had sounded jealous when he overheard him talking to Jinks. Why was he so quick in judging what Virat felt about him, these days?

Maybe, because both the times, it was against you, whispered his conscience snidely.

But still, there wasn't any proof that Virat was guilty, so why didn't he believe him the first time? Why couldn't he be like Jinks? To believe his best friend when it was needed? When did their friendship become so shallow?

No, he thought with a shudder.

Our friendship isn't shallow, he thought firmly. He is my best friend.

Then prove it, you dimwit, screamed his heart.

As if someone knocked him out of his trance, Rohit saw that everyone was anticipating his response. Virat was peering at him sadly as if he almost gave up that Rohit was going to believe him.

Rohit's heart wrenched. He tried his best not to cry and finally said, "I believe in you too."

The change in Virat's expression was remarkable. The sulkiness was replaced by glowing joy as he ran across the room to hug Rohit. Rohit stumbled a bit, but patted his back, nevertheless.

The rest of the team had their heads down and apologized to Virat. Virat, being Virat, casually brushed off their apology and called everyone for a group hug. As everyone was about to tumble on Rohit and Virat, Ravi Bhai came into the room with a dead-serious expression on his face.