Acceptance heals everything

Part 52. Progress

"You can move? For Real?" asked being excited himself that there was progress.

Rohit tried to move forward again and he could do it but there was also some kind of pain he was experiencing in his lower back.

"No In an alien world, I just had a dream. Will I joke about it?" He said sarcastically at the stupid question of Virat, he was little annoyed with the pain.

"Sorry, are you in pain Ro?", Virat asked making Rohit sit properly, kept the soft pillow behind his lower back.

"A little", Rohit said releasing his breath as he got support of the pillow which made him feel little better.

Virat went outside and returned back with hot water bag, he kept it behind his back. He again went outside and brought something to eat.

"Have something so that you can have the tablets which will help you", said Virat forwarding a bite to him.

Rohit had it without any tantrum because the pain was not bearable. He had it quickly so that he could gulp the painkillers down and sleep. 

Rohit tried to lay down without Virat's help but only to groan painfully. 

"Are you mad? It's not gonna get okay in a day you idiot" scolded Virat and helped him lay down properly. 

Rohit couldn't help but even smile in that pain seeing Virat scolding him. Virat was about to go but Rohit held his wirst, "sit here for a min", he said. 

"Don't tell anyone that I am able to move a little", Rohit requested. 

Virat nodded, "You won't ask why?", Rohit asked seeing Virat agreed so quickly. 

Virat held his hand properly, "I know that you don't want to give them false hope, I understand Ro", he said softly. 

Rohit smiled and dozed off due to the medicines. Virat caressed his hair and covered him properly. He wrapped up everything and turned off the lights.

Everyone was in the hall having their dinner. Virat just moved out in the garden before anyone could call him.

"Give him some time", KL said as everyone looked at him for answers.

Jaddu just moved out in the garden ignoring what KL said, he took a plate of dinner with him.

Jaddu saw him sitting on the bench with head buried in his hands, shoulders shaking which indicated that he was sobbing.

He sat beside him keeping the dinner plate aside and put his arm around him. Virat recognized it and just leaned into his hug, "too much to handle?", he asked in a low voice.

Virat nodded silently, he could not tell Jaddu that he was sobbing out of relief that there was progress, he could not tell him that he was sobbing out of guilt, he couldn't tell him that every single time he sees Rohit, he can only blame himself and his choices which had caused this.

"I know its a lot Veer but it is important", Jaddu said not wanting to force him into saying anything.

Virat just hold onto him, "I miss papa", he whispered as he realised that he could share that with Jaddu who had seen everything when they were playing together in their younger days.

"I know", jaddu said in understanding.

KL saw how Virat was letting his emotions out after a long time. He would always complain of being exhausted but he never cried. Seeing him cry, it made KL understand how different his bond with different people in the team. He didn't disturb them and went inside once he knew Jaddu bhai could handle him.

Jaddu let him cry a little more, he broke the hug and passed him water to calm him down. 

"Dinner kar le Veer", Jaddu said forwarding him a bite, "dont feel like it Jad", virat said.

"U got to have, u got to take care of yourself"

Virat's eyes got moist listening to that soft voice of Jaddu. It felt like a dream to him, may be it was, it was the hallucination of him imagining his friends with him just as he would imagine Rohit. 

Virat got up and went inside, leaving jaddu shocked by his behavior. Virat went inside and saw KL sitting with everyone, he dragged him and asked him standing at the door, "Rah, is it really Jaddu? He is there, right?", he asked not sure himself. 

Everyone including Jaddu heard that. They were confused why Virat was asking like that. 

KL cupped his cheeks, "Virat bhai, this is all real. Everyone is here with you, Jaddu bhai is waiting for you to have dinner with him. You should not keep him waiting", he said softly which made Virat believe it. 

KL made him sit beside Jaddu who forwarded him a bite which Virat had it finally. 

KL felt that there was progress in Virat's state as he had let his emotions out, asked him about the hallucinations and realised how it was real, it was a big step. He made a note to call the doctor and update him about the progress tomorrow morning. 

Jaddu made him have his dinner which Virat had silently. KL took the plate and went inside with others. 

"I am sorry Jaddu", Virat apologised. 

"For?"

"Saying that comment about us not being friends and saying that I don't care" 

"It's fine Veer, i didn't made it easy for you. I was too stubborn and angry about everything, I still am but ya, I do understand why you said that"

Virat nodded at that and they sat silently gazing the sky, "I am sorry too"

"For pushing you that day, I realised what I did and it was too late to apologize"

"Its never late to apologise to friends Jad"

Jaddu just held his hand in acknowledgement.

Mahi watched them sitting together and how content they looked, he could feel how things were progressing in a right direction and at a right pace.

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