Shelter

Horror films demand cuddles [Rohit-Virat-Mahi]

"Mahi bhai", said Virat. "I need your help Mahi bhai. Will you stop, stop, please?"

"Cheeku", said Mahi horrified. "Where the heck did you come from?" Mahi looked around in all directions because apparently Virat had just magically appeared in the corridor.

"Oh I was just wandering about", said Virat grinning. "You tell me? Where are you roaming around", he looked at his watch in a grim expression and said, "at this time of the evening?"

Mahi raised his eyebrows, put his hands on his hips in a way that reminded Virat of his mother when she was angry at him, and said, "Have you gone blind my dear boy?"

Virat confused asked, "Sorry?"

"I think you misunderstood me as Rohit, Cheeku", said Mahi with the dangerously sweet smile. "Isn't that the way you normally converse with him and not with your captain?" 

Virat backed away in fear. He could hear the undertones of sarcasm, very very clearly. "Oh no no Mahi bhai, I- um- I am sorry, I didn't mean to, I am sorry Mahi bhai."

Mahi bhai suddenly erupted in laughter. Sometimes even big brothers were allowed to have a little bit of fun, weren't they? After all, every single gray hair on his head, does deserve its revenge. 

"Your face cheeku", said Mahi barely able to contain his laughter as the 20 year old looked genuinely scared . 

Virat just looked more confused. "Did Mahi bhai's poor old heart get a shock because of my sudden arrival?", he thought. "Oh no, what will the country do without their captain? What will happen to his and Rohit's career now, what will they do without their Mahi bhai?" 

Seeing his afraid face Mahi immediately felt a little guilty. He put his hand on the boy's shoulder and said, "Relax my boy, I was just kidding, you don't need to be scared of me."

Virat smiled sort of, nodded his head and rushed from there, completely forgetting why he had attacked Mahi bhai in the first place.

Mahi grinned sweetly shaking his head and murmured to himself, "Kis liye roka tha woh to bataye bina hi chala gaya. As far as I know him, abhi Rohit ke paas hi gaya hoga zarur yeh sab batane ke liye. His face, gosh. Bura laga, lekin maza aaya. Now I know what they are going to do, they will gang up together and pull a prank on me. Absolute kids they are. My kids." 

Yuvi was passing by and he saw Mahi talking to himself. He immediately went to his best friend and put his hand on his forehead, "Mahi are you okay? Why are you talking to yourself in the middle of the corridor? Break up ho gaya kya? Mera dost to devdas ban gaya."

Normally Mahi would have chastised Yuvi's dramatics but since today, he himself was in a not-the-usual-Mahi mood, he doubled over in laughter at Yuvi's comments. It was Yuvi who looked horrified now.

"Are you drunk by any chance Mahi?" Yuvi asked, concerned at Mahi's unusual behaviour

"No, no- ", Mahi said. "Wait, wait- "

Yuvi waited patiently for the laughing gas to get over. Finally, Mahi took a deep breath and said, "Come on, I will tell you in the room." 

Yuvi whined, "But I want to know now."

Mahi dragged him to their room and said, "Just shut up for a minute Yuvi."

Yuvi gave up. Mahi was weird. Period. 

---

"What are you talking about Vi?" asked Rohit, sitting up properly now. Mahi bhai pranking someone deserved his full attention. 

"Yes", said Virat sighing dramatically. "I think he has become too old Ro. He is forgetting what he is saying."

"What?" Rohit dragged the word unnecessarily longer.