Homecoming

Silent like Snowflakes

Timeline - Sometime in the far off future (I do not want to even hazard an exact date)

Chapter 1 - Silent like Snowflakes

The man sitting at the last row of the transit lounge, waiting for the announcement of his flight, makes sure that his glasses and mask were in place. He tugs on his cap some more, taking comfort in that added layer of anonymity. From behind his dark eyewear, he was keeping a close look at the people loitering around him, relying on his senses to pick up any usual movements.

Years of living as a celebrity had made him hyper aware of his surroundings and it had been a while since he had travelled without security agents to dodge his every step. It was a sense of overwhelming peace, so much so, that an unfamiliar sensation assaulted his eyes, which he finally understood to be tears.

He could remember, to the exact date, the last time he had indulged in the luxury of healing tears. There were only a couple of people or so , with whom he had ever felt comfortable enough to indulge, and the last few months had been busy with a flurry of decision making to be done and conversations to be had.

Of them all, the worst had been the endless meetings to be had. With the team, the managements, the franchise and others. Repeating the same thing over and over again, without giving away his exact plans.

After the announcement, there had been broken hearts to be soothed and egos to be appeased; the former he had not minded in the least and the later, he had detested.

The ping of an incoming text jolted him out of his deliberations.

"Flight announced? Are you overthinking again?"

A smile lit up the man's face, crinkling the deep set lines at the corner of and under his eyes.

"Yes. And No!" He shot off a quick reply; he would forever be grateful for his life partner regardless of the situations that life dragged him into.

"Why don't I believe you? And, three idiots have camped in your room and have refused to leave the house. The rest, I have shooed away."

An audible chuckle and the man quickly checked on his surroundings. "Which three?" He typed in.

"Mr. Kohli?"

The question, though asked softly enough, startled the man and he looked up to see an airport attendant.

"Sorry for disturbing, Sir," the man said politely. "But I was appraised about your desire to remain low profile, if possible? Is there anything that you would be needing?"

The recently retired Virat Kohli shook his head; he wanted to keep low profile for a reason, which would be defeated if he had people running errands for him.

"Thank you, but I am fine."

"Very good, sir. But if needed, just look up and someone would be here; we will try our best to keep your journey private."

Virat nodded his thanks; he looked back at his phone where Anushka's reply awaited.

"The three biggest idiots; Harry, Rahul and Jassi! The rest I was able to oust, though Miyan was being difficult."

Virat smothered another laugh; trust his boys and his wife, for that matter. Oust? Who ever said oust?

But a mood dampening thought took over and he typed in another question. "Any word from the Dynamic Duo?"

His Dynamic Duo, his Rohit and Jaddu; their absence has been conspicuous.

"No." The one worded reply was sufficient announcement of Anu's anxiety.