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

8. He Couldn't Take It Anymore

"STOP!!" he shouted. He saw his teammates again, their eyes hardened and voices cold. Not able to look at Rohit's crumbling face and enraged stares of his team any longer, he stormed out of the room as a few lonely tears fell down his cheek.

Ambati Rayudu watched the scene before him with a content smirk over his face as he stood in a corner, with his arms folded.

"Job is done", he told himself proudly.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Against the common saying, rocks are never strong. Because one day, even a tiny fragment of rope with its incessant rubbing can crack it!
I guess, the same goes with people!"

As soon as Virat left, Rohit crumpled down on the floor on his knees, not able to restrain his tears any longer. Jinks crouched down beside him as held him up. The team, sighed as they gave up their stoic faces while they collapsed too.

"Why did he do this, Jinks? Why? Wasn't I a good best friend? Wasn't I there, when he needed me? What wrong I have done? Why did he -- Why did he?" sobbed Rohit.

Jinks, himself, being in the same dilemma could do nothing more than pat his back as Rohit cried his heart out.

The rest of the team was in pieces too.

Kuldeep let his tears flow free, as the incidents today kept replaying in his mind like a nightmare. He tried to picturise his Virat Bhaiya as evil and manipulating, but he couldn't.

Because this was his Virat Bhaiya, who had apologised to him repeatedly, just because he had shouted at him for his poor bowling in a match. His Virat Bhaiya, who had stayed all night by his side, when he was sick, even though he had batted out the whole day of a test match and looked dreadfully tired. His Virat Bhaiya, who always protected him against anyone who dared to mess with him.

Could his Virat Bhaiya be evil? No! But could the man, who betrayed his best friend be Virat Bhaiya? No! Because this wasn't who his Virat Bhaiya was.

Yuzi sat beside Kuldeep as he hugged him tightly. He totally understood the thoughts relaying in Kuldeep's head because he was receiving the same.

Virat Bhaiya had always been someone Yuzi took great inspiration from. Virat Bhaiya was always his go-to person. How many times had he and Rohit Bhaiya teased him for his Chahal TV? How many times had Virat Bhaiya sat with him, consoling him, when the rest of the world was busy trolling him? How many times, how many years had they spent mourning together, every time RCB was knocked out?

Where did that Virat Bhaiya go? Where did his Virat Bhaiya go?

Rishabh missed Mahi Bhai. A lot.

Mahi Bhai would always come to comfort him, keep his head on his lap and muttered sweet nothings until he finally lulled to sleep. But when Mahi Bhai took his retirement, who would do the same so that Rishu wouldn't miss his Mahi Bhai? Virat Bhaiya.

After every bad match, his head was supposed to be on Virat Bhaiya's lap as he would repeat the same procedure as Mahi Bhai. It had become a habit. Rishu wouldn't sleep until Virat Bhaiya strummed his fingers through his hair as he softly caressed him.

How did the man, who so lovingly used to put him to sleep, change so much? Rishu did not know. All he knew at the moment was that he was missing his Mahi Bhai. A lot. Because his Virat Bhaiya wasn't there to fill his void this time.

Hardik stood there while he watched Kuldeep crying bitterly and Yuzi hugging him. What should he do? Should he cry too? Or should he hug someone?

Hardik Pandya was never the emotional one.