A/N: I couldn't stop myself from writing another HulRat. They're so precious 🤧
'How could he?'
Rah was desperately trying not to ugly cry in his room. He stared morosely at that smashed picture of him and Vi where he had his face buried in Vi's shoulder after his maiden test century. He wanted to smash everything in his room as well.
Virat's post had come as a surprise to everyone. He didn't know, Ro didn't know, Jinks looked even more distraught, hell even AB and Mahi bhai didn't know about this decision. What gave him the right to make such a huge decision like that without consulting his team even once! No forget the team, without consulting him. Rah's phone rang, he saw Anushka's name light up his screen, he declined it almost vindictively, nothing his bhabhi would say will make this any better, his big brother wasn't going to be his captain anymore, his big brother who shielded them for years from the hate and criticism. The sledging the other team would do, Virat was always there giving it right back. Rah saw what happened at the BGT the year before, as soon as Vi had gone back the Aussie crowd thought they could sledge Siraj and Shami, the Aussies thought they had full reign to be an aggressive unit. But Ajju bhai had led the team calmly and breached their fort. To Rah nobody could ever give them the level of protection Virat did.
Shami and Bhuvi were angry, Ash was furious, Ro yelled at Virat on their group video call, Mahi bhai looked so disappointed but what stung the most was Virat's impassive,
"This is my decision and it's final. If you don't like it, I'm sorry I can't help you."
And he had promptly left the group call leaving behind broken hearts, crying kids and frustrated seniors who have no idea what's going on with him. The way Ro asked so insecurely,
"Does AB know why he gave it up atleast? I mean you guys are in SA, so he must have met him atleast once?"
Jinks was the one to reply, "No. He hasn't left the hotel at all Ro. AB DM'ed me on Instagram asking if we knew anything about this before hand."
"Has Cheeku dropped any hints, anything at all during the series."
This time it was Rishu who answered,
"Nahi bhai. He was fine during the series, but then he got injured and had to sit out for the second test, but he seemed fine playing the third test...."
Rah had hung up on them not able to sit and talk, trying to decode why he gave up test captaincy as well.
He fell back on the bed and thought back to the time he was under fire because of the KWK incident, the first person to call him was Virat ,
"Are you okay?"
"No. Virat bhaiyaa we didn't mean anything we said there and those stupid editors cut off half of what we said. Please don't drop me bhaiyaa please!"
"Kiddo. Calm I'm not going to drop you or Hardik from the team okay? I'm getting in touch with CK Khanna, we'll work something out. But I need you and Hardik to stay away from Social Media and from the eyes of the public for a while. I'll sort this out. I promise you kiddo, you're career won't get affected in anyway."
"Okay, okay I trust you. Thanks for believing me, my parents don't even want to look at me, Hardik's ignoring me, it feels like the whole world is after me."
"Harry will come around Rah, he's just guilty, as for your parents don't worry about them, you're their son, their pride they'll come around as well. Since when do you care of what the whole world thinks of you. They don't matter. Everything will be just fine."
The feeling of safety he felt when he heard his big brothers words, at that minute it felt like nothing and nobody could hurt him anymore.
Rah wiped his tears away and stared at that mangled picture on his floor, his mind went a year back to the England tour
Rah was overwhelmed with emotion, a century at Lord's and it was his big brother there on the other end witnessing another test century of his and though he didn't cry this time, he did burrow his face into that blanket of safety, warmth and love.
"You did it kiddo. You got a century at Lord's! Not even Sachin paaji did this!"
He gently kissed the side of his head and released him, Rah smiled with moist eyes and acknowledged the crowd and the Indian dug out.
Rah realized with a jolt, Virat was with him through the thick and thin, he knew Vi was struggling to regain form and this SA series really didn't help. What was he doing feeling sorry for himself when he should be there with Virat hugging him, just sitting next to him like silent support. He wiped his face roughly and he tidied up his room a bit and he walked to Vi's room. He saw Jinks bhai sitting outside the door with his back leaned against it.
"Oh good. You're here. Maybe you can talk to him and tell him to come down for dinner." Jinks' voice sounded so relieved he felt even guiltier for shutting himself off.
"I'll bring him down Ajju bhai."
He knocked twice on Vi's door and when he jiggled the doorknob, he was surprised when it unlocked, he looked startled at Jinks and Pujji who gave him sad smiles and walked away. He went to the balcony where Virat was standing and just watching the stars, he hugged him from behind and whispered,
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
"What for kiddo?" Vi's voice sounded so genuinely confused Rah wanted to laugh and cry at the same time.
"You were there for my highs and lows, and now I will be there by your side if you think you're all alone. I'm sorry I didn't think for a second it could very well be because of all the pressure the management is putting on you. I let anger cloud my judgement bhaiyaa. I promise you I'll be there for you forever, come hell or high water."
Vi felt his heart warm up at the unconditional love of the first person who he called his little brother, the first person who started calling him Virat bhaiyaa.
"Thanks Moi."
Those two words were loaded with such affection, relief and happiness. Rah made Vi sit down on one of the couches outside and laid his head on his big brother's lap like he did all those years ago in Australia. They sat in silence just staring at the beautiful night sky.
Everything will be just fine.
A/N: Idk why this plot popped into my head but it did. These two honestly have such a pure genuine bond, Shubman has the same bond with Vi and it's so adorable. But anyway I hope you like this. Happy reading!
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