"Virat bhai, aapne yeh dekha hai?" asked Shubman, taking a seat beside him in the bus as they were going towards the stadium.
Before Virat could answer, Shubman himself said, "nahi u are toh on Social media detox na"
"Shubhi it's nothing like that" Virat tried to say.
"Anyway, see this" Shubman said handing him the phone.
Before even Virat look at the video, KL entered the bus. He looked at Virat and then sat on the seat at the back where he could still hear Shubman speaking to Virat.
"It happened in the last match too you know, they were cheering your name. In Delhi, it's gonna be worse bhai" Shubman said but Virat was hardly listening to it.
Virat looked out of the window, it just didn't settle well with him. Today there was match against Afghanistan and he didn't know why it just gave him flashbacks of IPL. He knows there was some mistake at his side too, no one can deny that.
The main point which was troubling him was getting reminded of KL's helplessness when he was torn between Virat and GG. He hated that look, he didn't realise that day but it surely hit him the next day and till today it troubles him.
"Virat, let's go-- we reached" Rohit said seeing him lost.
They had reached the stadium and Rohit noticed Virat was still in the bus.
Rohit asked, "Tu thik hai?"
"Yes just this match you know"
"Match or opposition" Rohit asked raising his eyebrows.
Virat sighed at how Rohit understands immediately what is worrying him. Sometimes it feels so nice and on the other hand it feels irritating also that u can't hide anything. And you have to just give in to it even if you don't want.
"Tujhe toh sab pata hai Ro" Virat said not wanting to go in details.
"And tujhe bhi pata hai ki tujhe kya karna hai Vi, atleast for the years I have known you-- I know you have the heart to do it" Rohit said putting his arm around his shoulder to which Virat leaned into for a sec and they went into stadium.
Virat noticed KL seeing Naveen and GG meeting but he didn't go there even though GG was looking at him and expecting him there. KL just waved his hand at GG and left in the dressing room.
It was 48th over when Naveen came out to bat and there were again "Kohli, Kohli" chants and it was so loud that even Virat couldn't believe it.
For Virat, Instead of feeling overwhelmed, there was an unsettling feeling again. Due to which he threw the ball in anger.
Rohit looked at him and signalled to calm down.
"Vi, just soak in the moment now. You are going to enter pitch from your own pavilion. How great is that idiot?" Rohit said observing Virat looking at KL.
Once Ishan got out there was huge roar for Virat, he entered and joined Rohit.
"What a century Ro, you made my day extra special" Virat said as soon as he joined Rohit.
Rohit and Virat was going with a small partnership of 49, everyone was happy to see it.
Virat heard it again as Rohit took a strike against Rashid, audience was again cheering "Kohli", he noticed Naveen exactly behind him on the boundary line.
"I can be the bigger person, we have 10 years age difference for Godsake. Atleast I can do this for K, he is always torn between us. But as he loves me more, he doesn't talk to him even though he wants to as he is his teammate", Virat thought.
And then he signalled the crowd not to be against Naveen, stop booing him.
Naveen felt guilty himself, he saw that gesture and also how crowd stopped immediately, so he went to Virat and thanked him to which Virat immediately side-hugged him.
"KL come fast! KL!"Hardik yelled in dressing room.
"What Rohit got out, shit" KL said and Hadik face palmed and dragged him to show, "See this idiot K"
Then KL saw the replay where Virat told crowd to stop the booing and then him and Naveen.
"Is this real?" KL whispered.
Hardik pinched him to which he glared Hardik.
Rohit who came in the dressing room and saw that, he felt proud of Virat that he did it, for himself, for Naveen and specially for KL and sportsmanship.
"You know" Rohit sat beside KL who was still glued to TV.
"What?" KL still admiring Virat and how, Rohit just shook his head fondly at that.
"Not totally, but he did it for you-- you are the partly main reason for this"
"BRo, you are joking right-- Virat won't do it for me.. I mean--"
"Rah, don't you know Virat, he can do anything for his loved ones. This is actually nothing-- you have underestimated ur importance in his life"
"Really?" KL asked still not able to believe it.
Rohit put an arm around him and nodded at that.
Virat hits the winning runs and KL just wanted to run to hug him for his gesture. Then he saw him and Naveen smiling again.
KL went to Virat, he hugged him-- "You can talk to Naveen now", Virat said and KL just smiled at him, he was overwhelmed.
Once they were in dressing room, Juniors had boarded the bus, seniors were there in the room.
"Virat, you have gone soft man" Jaddu said and Ash along with other seniors laughed at his face.
"Shut up"
"You did it for KL, right?", Rohit asked deliberately even thought Virat was glaring him.
"I did--"
Just then KL came in the room and Virat stopped himself, "I didn't do it for him", he said. KL didn't give any expression.
"Ohh ya we know" Jaddu said and others just chuckled.
Once they were prepared to leave, KL just stopped Virat as others moved ahead-- "Rah, we have to go" Virat said not wanting to have that conversation now.
KL just hugged him tightly, no words were exchanged.
No words were actually needed.
Virat hugged him back, patting his head to which KL nuzzled his face in his shoulder as he always does when he is emotional or overwhelmed.
"I did not not do it for you" Virat whispered which only meant, "I can do anything for you" but it remained unsaid, something are just better that way.
"I know" KL said giving a hug once more and they left for the hotel.
_____
See their smiles,
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