The Game of Fate

The Beginning

The day had started like any other. With the World Cup knocking on the doorstep, the Indian cricket team was practicing in full force. Ball after ball, swing after swing, with the occasional shout of 'OUT!' echoing through the practice grounds, they worked relentlessly.

The news of Rishabh Pant's accident had hit the team hard. He was a core player and loved by them all. But it had especially affected the youngsters the most. 

Shubman and Ishan had grown close to Rishabh quickly, his welcoming personality made sure of that. Met with the sudden news of his accident they found it quite hard to cope with. If the seniors felt the same, they were just better at hiding it. 

But no matter how they dealt with it, that night still haunts them all to this day.

FLASHBACK:-

Shubman and Ishan were hanging out in their dorm room playing video games when that dreaded call came. It had been a long day and they just wanted to relax and spend time with each other. 

Rishabh had left for the airport earlier this evening to catch a flight to visit his family. Everyone had said their goodbyes and ushered him out. Rishabh had insisted on taking his own car, even after multiple teammates had offered to drive him there.

'Ah! I just want to drive you know? Who knows when I will get the chance again after I return? Going to be too busy with the ODI's and all that.'-  After relentless persuading, he had finally managed to convince all of them and had left around 6pm.

Now it was around 8 and Ishan was lying on Shubman's bed face scrunched up in concentration at game playing on the screen. With a final attempt, the screen displayed in big, bold letters 'GAME OVER'.

'Aww, again? I swear Shubman one day I will get good at this and beat the hell out of you'

The sound of Shubman's laughter filled the room. 'Keep dreaming buddy. We will grow old and die before you manage to beat me.'

'And I will live longer than you. With your oh so frail heart, it will be a miracle if you manage to live past fifty'. Ishan's smirk could be felt from across the room without even having to look at him.

'Oi come here you little..' Shubman began before Ishan's phone on the nightstand began to ring.

'Well look at that Rohit bhai's calling'

'Hi Rohit bhai!.. What? What do mean?.. WHAT?! Is he okay? Yeah.. no, no we'll be right there.'

Ishan's face looked ashen. He looked like he was about to cry. Shubman's face had paled substantially. 

'Ishan..? What happened?

'It's Rishabh. He got into an accident. From what i could make out it is very critical' By now tears were streaming down Ishan's face.

Shubman felt hollow. He couldn't cry, he didn't believe it.

'Don't cry Ishan. You know Rishabh, he always manages to pull through.' He didn't sound so sure, how could he, he had a hard time believing it himself.

'Shubi, we need to head out now. Rohit bhai's sent me the details and we are the closest and Virat bhai's already there.' Ishan managed to choke out.

Yet nothing could prepare them for the horrors they would face once they finally reached the hospital.

They had rushed to the floor, almost stumbling only to be faced with Rohit bhai and Virat bhai sitting gloomily outside the ward. An army of doctors and nurses were swarming in and out of the room, clearing having been notified about the status of their patient.

While they stood there in shock Virat was the first to notice them. 'Oh Shub, Ishan you have arrived. Have you been able to contact the others?'

 Ishan was clearly in no such state for doing so. Still in shock Shubman had managed to make the calls and choke out a few words to each of them. Shubman nodded hesitantly.

'Can.. can we see him?' Ishan piped out.

'You can but.. I'm going to very honest with you it is definitely not a pretty sight and as your senior I feel obligated to strongly advise against visiting him currently.'

But they could not stay put. They had to see Rishabh, he was one their closest friends.

Yet when they entered the room, time stopped. Seeing Rishabh just lying there, covered in blood-stained bandages, hooked up to machines, it was finally what broke the dam. Shubman chocked and gave into the uncontrollable racks of sobbing that shook his body.

They were gently ushered out of the room by the seniors, yet they couldn't process any of it. They didn't know how they managed to cramp together in one those rickety hospital chairs, holding each other as they sobbed, the image of Rishabh freshly engraved in their brain.

Who knows how many hours had passed before Rohit spoke up.

 'Everyone has been made aware of the situation. His family is already on their way here but it should still take them a couple of hours. The others have promised to make their way here tomorrow.'

'You two should take some rest when you can. Tomorrow's going to be hectic for all of us. Me and Rohit will handle this now. You are both too young to be in part of this miserable situation but life is unfair. For now, Sleep.'

'But..'

'No buts, I promise to wake you guys up if there are any new developments.'

That's how they fell asleep that night, holding each other with tear tracks on their faces.

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AN: So this is the first chapter. Ngl, the world cup loss has hit me quite hard, but since the exams are finally over maybe I can update more frequently. Tell me what you thought about the chapter and Should I use simpler English? I think a lot of my readers do not speak English as their first language and maybe it would be easier for them...

Not beta read