Rewrite the Stars | A Ruturaj Gaikwad Fanfiction

Vice captain (Ruturaj's pov)

FC Kundra Gardens, December 2028 (Present)

The preparations of the sangeet were going on in full swing when Rutu and Mahati strolled past the podiums.

"People who can't dance shouldn't pretend they can dance," said Mahati airily.

"They're going to make me," said Rutu. "There's no way to slither out of this one." 

The sound boxes seemed to leer at him mockingly.

"I feel for you, but I won't say I don't look forward to today evening. Seeing you make a fool of yourself." Almost immediately she added contritely, "It's seriosuly no good teasing you, Rutu, because you will never learn comebacks."

Rutu tried to think of a good comeback to that. Obviously he failed.

"See," said Mahati, laughing triumphantly.

"All right," said Rutu.

Mahati pulled the hood of his jacket over his head, grinning. "Better this way. More ridiculous and more adorable. Okay, why did you ask to be rescued from Rakesh and Aditi?" she asked, referring to the text he'd sent her earlier.

"They were questioning me," said Rutu. "Asking why I'm being strange."

"But you're not being strange," said Mahati.

"They wouldn't believe me! They were going on and on, especially Aditi..."

 The massive banner at the entrance of the gardens, displaying 'ADITI AND RUTURAJ' caught his glance. For a minute, the letters of the word Aditi seemed to be morphing into something else in his eyes, something starting with an M.

It took an effort to draw himself back into reality, when finally, Aditi seemed Aditi again.

"But there's no need to get so worked up about this, Rutu...does Aditi saying you're acting strange bother you that much?" asked Mahati.

"What?" said Rutu. "Oh...no, it's not bothering me too much, just that..."

"You look ditzy," said Mahati.

"I don't look ditzy, Mac-"

"All right," said Mahati, looping her arm through his and pulling him towards the garden. "That's part of married life."

"You don't need to make it sound so terrifying, you know."

"It can never be terrifying for you both, Rutu," said Mahati, suddenly serious again. "Because the love will take you through."

She could only say that because she had no idea about all the contradicting thoughts fighting through his head for so many years now that they had always been part of him, that every time he thought of Aditi or of love, there was a third person always present inside his thoughts.

...............................

BCCI Annual Ceremony, May 2024 (Past Flashback 14)

It had been a smooth transition, the captaincy from Rohit bhai to Rahul bhai when the former was on the verge of retirement. Everyone had ben expecting KL Rahul to be announced the next captain, and he was.

What nobody had expected was Ruturaj Gaikwad would be appointed the vice captain. Or so at least, it seemed to Rutu himself, because he certainly hadn't expected it.

When Aditi called him after BCCI's tweet, her voice was shaking, periliously on the verge of tears.

"Rutu..." she managed to say. "Oh, Rutu..."