Everything but her

Closer

Virat felt as though he was relieved of a great burden. Aarushi hadn't reacted the way he had thought she would but then she had always been like that. Simple. Law abiding. And not in the least dramatic.
But, he wanted to know who it had been. He knew it was the job of an insider because nobody else could have had access to them. He was also worried about Ajinkya's reaction. It was his sister in the video. His real sister. He had protected her all along. In fact, he had felt that Virat was no match for his simple sister. That is why, they weren't together today. Ajinkya had never approved of their relationship mostly because of the Casanova image that Virat held. He had never thought of him as a faithful person. He appreciated him as a player but that was it.
'Stomach bug? Really?', Rohit mocked Virat entering his room.
'Did I have any other choice?', Virat said seeming helpless.
'So did you talk to her?'
'Yeah, she is fine.'
'Hmm, who do you think could have done such a thing?'
'I have no idea. It has to be someone from the team.'
'Yeah, that is right. Or maybe some over obsessive fan.'
'No, I don't think so.'
'We'll find it out real soon. But Jinx doesn't have to know this. Right?'
'It's all over the Internet. As much as we want it, we cannot prevent him from knowing it.'
'Ok, you take care. I'll get going. Should I bring something for you to eat? You've hardly had anything since the time we arrived.'
'No, thanks but I am fine.'
He tapped his back and stepped out of the room. As much as Virat, Rohit too was worried about all this. Virat was his best friend and Aarushi had been like a sister to him as Ajinkya had played cricket with him from childhood. It surprised him how someone could degrade so much to do something like this. In the world where people wanted to know everything about them, this seemed a little too much. They had forgotten that they were humans too with emotions, with a tendency to get hurt too.

The next day everyone arrived at the ground for practice. While they were doing their fielding drills, Ajinkya came towards Virat and stood close to him.
'Virat, I talked to Aarushi yesterday', he started.
'Hmm, so?', Virat tried to sound as though nothing had happened.
'You have nothing to feel bad about and you must know that I'll try my best to find the person who has done this and put him behind bars if possible. I know you are feeling as bad about it as I am. You and I both love Aarushi equally and we will want the best for her. This would change nothing between us. Okay?'
'Jinx, you don't know how much you have eased me by saying this. Thank you and we'll find that person together and I promise you I'll request the associated people to put this video down but you know how things function nowadays. Many people would have copied the video and will put it on different sites even after it is deleted.'
'Don't worry. Everything will be fine.'

Virat could not believe his ears. He was thankful,though,that things had not soured between Ajinkya and him.
After the practice, everyone moved once again towards their rooms to take a shower. As soon as Virat entered the room, his phone began ringing. And unexpected as it was, Aarushi was calling him.
'Hello', she greeted in her cheery voice.
'You seem quite excited.', Virat quipped.
'I am a little nervous too but yeah loads of excitement.'
'What for?'
'Oh, I haven't told you yet. Shit. Today is my fashion show. My collections would be launched today.'
'All the best for that. Hope you do very well.'
'Thank you. So tell me what are you up to?'
'Nothing, just came back from practice. Exhausted to say the least.'
'Oh, so I disturbed you?'
'No, not at all.'
'So, have you taken your 2 minute shower which is actually of half an hour?'
'You have not changed a bit or have you? Once I meet you I'm gonna kill you Aarushi'
'Ok, but beware of my brother.'
'You always use this to blackmail me.'
'That's because in front of me, you are so afraid of him. Remember when you took me to one of your parties and seeing Ajinkya, you told me to say that I had come to see him. That was like so lame.'
'Make all the fun you want of me. You were no less scared. Virat, what if bro sees us. What if he tells mom.', Virat said acting Aarushi.
'Hey, I was scared. He had no idea of us being together.'
'Well, so was I.'
'So, how's your Anushka? Is she there with you in New Zealand?'
'And the gossip girl is back. Well, we are no more together.'
'Oh, that's sad!'
'I know.'
'She was a great girl. Wasn't she? I have met her once or twice. She seems quite nice. I mean no probing but what happened?'
'Nothing much. At least not something that can satiate your gossip appetite.'
'Virat....'
'Aarushi...You want me to tell you the truth?'
'So, you were intending to lie to me?'
'No, but this is something I have not told anyone.'
'Then this certainly is gossip.'
'Oh, please.'
'Ok, tell me.'
'Since, we separated. I mean, we were made to separate I have been trying to find someone like you. And in Anushka, I found some of your qualities but then we couldn't take out time for each other which led us having a break up.'

There was a silence on the other side of the line. Aarushi was taken aback. It had been 4 years since they had last met. She had thought he might have forgotten her but here he was, telling her that he had been looking for her in every other girl.
'So, you still remember me?', she asked him.
'Of course, Aarushi how can I ever forget you? You are the sweetest thing that has happened to me ever.'
'Do you ever think what we could have been had bro not intervened?'
'Yeah, we could have been thinking of marriage. Isn't it?'
'Hey, no marriage till another 2 years.'
'As you say ma'am.'
And then they realised, it was not a conversation they should be having.
'I am sorry. I didn't mean it that way', Aarushi spoke up.
'It's okay Aarushi. We are not enemies. You can say anything to me.'
'Ok, Mr. Trying to be a Gentleman.'
'Hey, and I thought you had improved.'
'Ok, listen up. I gotta go. Rehearsals are going to start and I have to be there to oversee. It was great talking to you.'
'Same here.'

They said their goodbyes and a little part of Virat wanted to say to her 'Miss you' but then he thought it was way too much when they were talking after such a long time. But he was pleased that things had not taken a sour turn. And in fact had led to people being closer to each other.