Will you stand by me?

Chapter 1 - You can cut all the flowers

Chapter 1 - You can cut all the flowers, but you can't keep spring from coming." –Pablo Neruda

As the ground is plummeted with silver bolts of rains, it feels punishing and yet invigorating. Some may call it a new beginning while for others it was but a deluge, raking out the fertile soil along with the dried leaves. Taking away the good along with the bad.

It was a necessary evil but an evil, nonetheless.

Virat sat at the edge of the ground, with no protection from the elements whatsoever. His finger was drawing abstract patterns on the boundary rope and was also dredging along some of the mud and the silt. It was a beautiful little ground but Virat's unseeing eyes did not register its beauty.

The rains had been unexpected but once they started, according to the locals, the showers were expected to carry on for a couple of days, in fits and starts. It had already been pretty cold and was now hitting almost 4°C; Virat could feel his ears ache even as he shivered uncontrollably.

Wrapping his arms more tightly around himself, he tried to shake some warmth into his nearly frozen limbs. The rains were pelting his face and the other exposed areas of his body with needle like sharpness, leaving behind some lingering soreness; it felt kinda therapeutic.

Flashback - 4 hours ago

"Take the DRS, Virat; there is an in swing."

As soon as MS had spoken, Jassi had started celebrating but Virat was not quite convinced. He looked over at Rohit who was standing at the slips and jerked his head in a silent question; Rohit only frowned in disbelief. Virat had read the question in his eyes and had not liked it one bit.

The umpires were already standing together, having a conversation in hushed voices. Their body language had been confident when they had, initially, denied the appeal but they were now looking somewhat conflicted. Kane had his eyes set on the review board even though the call had not yet been taken.

"Virat!"

MS had prompted again and Jinks had jogged over to where Virat stood at Deep Point Cover.

"Quick, Virat! Only 9 seconds left. Mahi Bhai is very confident about the call."

"But I am not." Virat had heard the words and the voice sounded deceptively like his own. "I am not convinced." He turned towards Ajinkya. "You were nearer. Did it look like the ball pitched in line and would have carried?"

"Not really. No!" Jinks replied hurriedly. "But does it matter? Mahi Bhai is confident! Five seconds, Virat. Take the review!"

"We just have one review left, Jinks! Another 30 odd overs to go. MS was not unsure about the previous review too!" Virat had placed his argument, not sure whether he wanted to justify his decision or himself.

The crowd had held its breath and Virat had shaken his head at the umpires and he had, very expressly, avoided looking at MS.

The replay had shown that the ball, while having pitched outside, was hitting the stumps; the call would have been out. They should have had the wicket.

And when Williamson had smashed the next ball for a six and had gone for 18 runs in Bhuvi's over, Virat had been hard pressed not to sink his head in his hands. He did not need to listen to the commentary to know that they must have roasted him and had him for dinner by now. It was a blessing that the match was not taking place in India; at least he had been spared the crowd's taunts.

The rains had come soon after and it was when he was walking off the ground that the second faux pas occurred. MS had caught up to him and had knocked their shoulders together.