We are Forever ft. Us

The unbreakable trio

December, 2013

Over the flight to South Africa for the long month-long tour, Ajinkya Rahane was quietly cursing in seating arrangements. Only in his mind though. He did not believe in cursing aloud for people to hear.

"You know what, enough is enough, Rohit," Virat was declaring, from his left (at the window seat). "That was your last chance, and you blew it."

"The hell I blew it," snarled Rohit from his right (at the aisle seat). "Who are you to be going around giving people chances anyway?"

"I am the vice captain." Virat puffed up his chest.

"Wonder who made you," muttered Rohit. "I never saw Mahi bhai ordering people around and giving the reason--I'm the captain."

Which reminded Jinks, where was Mahi bhai?

"Hey, Jaddu," he called over around Rohit's head to Jaddu, who was laughing uproariously at something Bhuvi/Shikhar behind him had said. "Where's Mahi bhai?"

"Sleeping in the frontmost seat," said Jaddu.

"You never ruined a relationship of Mahi bhai's by getting him late for dates every day for two weeks!" said Virat.

"Look, no one can spoil a relationship by going late to dates, all right? Also, what relationship? Are we calling going on two one-night stands a relationship these days?"

"So what if we are? You'd still end up with zero relationships, so don't give me the crap about how going late to dates doesn't spoil one!"

"I will not end up with--"

"What, who have you ever been with? Ritika? Sending her best friend messages every day, for three years? She'll be tying a rakhi on your hand next!"

"Well, can you wake him up?" Jinks whispered around Rohit's head urgently: Rohit and Virat had just exchanged their first head-rappings, and it might be turning into a punching fight soon.

"Actually, he's just pretending to sleep," said Ash. "He does that when Rohit and Virat have fought at the airport before take off."

He also gave Jinks a sympathetic smile that had a hint of glee hidden. Good luck, it seemed to say.

"It doesn't matter whether I wanted to date that girl or not!" shrieked Virat. "You forgot the keys inside and locked me out every day for two weeks!"

"It wasn't intentional!"

"Oh, I know it wasn't! It's just your stunningly-devoid-of-cells brain! Why don't you sell it in the market? You'll fetch a greater price for it than anyone!" 

Virat rapped Rohit's head again. Rohit shoved him back.

Jinks decided he must step into something that was not at all his forte: break up a fight.

"Don't you give me 3 idiots lines, Virat Kohli!"

"Guys," said Jinks, softly. 

"You remember a line from a movie?" Virat drawled. "Ooh, there's our headline news: Rohit Sharma remembers something!"

"Guys," Jinks said louder.

"I remember important things."

"Like your passport? Like your mobile phone?"

"GUYS," shouted Jinks.

Rohit and Virat froze with their hands still raised to push each other.

"Aren't you making rather too big a deal out of this...this issue?" asked Jinks, a trifle timidly.