Of headaches and heartaches

Part 1

Rohit Sharma was pissed. Especially at one Shubman Gill. That kid had been super distracted all day, and had dropped some very easy catches that had come his way in the first innings and they were pretty important catches too! And if that were not enough, his batting wasn't good either. Only 20 runs? Against a team like Australia that too? With a target of 378 looming over their heads in a series decider?

Rohit was fuming as he made his way back to the dugout after making a lackluster 45 runs, giving Ishan a quick pat on the back as he made his way to the crease. Thankfully Virat was still there, at least he would prevent it from being a complete humiliation.

Rohit brushed past his teammates in the dugout who were waiting for their turns to make his way to the dressing room. His anger increased on not seeing Shubman watching the match with the others. Was this a joke to him?

He flung open the door to the dressing room, surprised to find all the lights turned off and the curtains closed tightly. He was totally ready to start yelling when Siraj walked up to him and took him outside to the balcony, gently closing the door.

"Miyan. Explain yourself." Rohit gritted out. He wanted to scream at Shubman so badly, and he did not appreciate anyone coming in between them, but this was unusual on Miyan's part. He usually minded his own business and never interfered in others' matters, so for him to be like this must have a genuine reason.

"Shubhi has a migraine, and it looks like a pretty bad one. So please try not to make too much noise and let him sleep, okay?"

Rohit's eyes widened in realization as the pieces of the puzzle came together. Suddenly the unusual silence, him being distracted on field, to the way he was avoiding looking up the entire while they batted together made perfect sense.

The anger faded away, making way for concern. He had seen Rits being driven to tears when she got migraines. The kid had been fielding for 50 overs in the blazing sun like that? Why didn't he tell anybody?

Rohit went in and opened the door softly this time. The room was almost pitch dark, but he could make out Shubman curled up to half his size on the couch. He made his way to the ailing boy and sat down near him. Shubhi immediately scrambled to sit upright, but Rohit gently put him back to the lying position and placed his head on his lap before gently massaging the younger one's head. He didn't miss the relieved sigh that escaped the younger one's mouth at that and shook his head. He needed a good lecture about hiding his problems from everyone, but that could be done later.

"Where is it hurting, Shubhi?" Rohit enquired softly.

"Entire left side of my head, bhai. You hit the right spot. Please continue"

"How long have you been having it?"

"First promise me you'll not kill me"

"If you knew I could kill you then why did you bother hiding it?"

"...it wasn't so bad earlier"

"And when did it become 'so bad'?"

".. around the 20th over ..."

"So around the time you dropped Head's catch?"

"I'm sorry bhaiya"

"You should be, but not for the catch. Why didn't you tell me then? I could have asked them to bring you a painkiller when they came with drinks?"

"...i'd have thrown it up" Shubhi mumbled before burying his head back into Rohit's lap.

Rohit sighed. The kid deserved a nice long lecture, but that could be done later. Right now he needed to sleep off the migraine.

The repetitive motion and the quiet, cool and dark environment of the dressing room put Rohit in a trance, and he was about to fall asleep himself, when the door opened and Ishan came in and settled himself on a chair in front of Rohit.

"How's the idiot doing, Bhai?" Ishan asked, ruffling Shubhi's hair.

"The 'idiot' can hear you, Ishan" Shubhi mumbled, burying his head further into Rohit's lap before swallowing thickly.

"And yet he can't simply talk it out with his sister?"

Shubhi immediately sat up straight at that with a very confused Rohit's help. Ishan mouthed out "bad fight with Di" and suddenly everything clicked in place for Rohit. The Gill siblings rarely had big fights, but whenever they did they always went for each other's weakest points.

"What's there to talk about? She clearly believes it's all a joke, all an excuse, apparently me not being able to take a break between two back to back matches to attend a wedding means I don't care about the family..." Shubhi choked out before covering his face with his shaking hands.

Ishan rubbed his back in quiet solidarity, murmuring soft reassurances only audible to him and occasionally wiping off any tears that escaped.

"Shhh it's okay, it's okay, she'll understand...no, it's not your fault, Shubhi, and she will realize it soon, you see... she will.. don't cry like this, Shubhi, you'll make yourself sick" Ishan tried to soothe Shubhi, who was clutching Ishan's jersey like his life depended on it as his sobs gradually faded to hiccups. Feeling a little out of place, Rohit quietly got off the couch and got some water bottles from the fridge and wet some towels and set them on the table.

By the time Rohit came back, Shubhi had calmed down significantly and was almost passed out in Ishan's arms.

Ishan saw Rohit bhaiya approaching them and gestured for him to sit next to them. He knew Rohit bhaiya was confused, and he deserved an explanation.

"They had a pretty bad fight yesterday night. I could only see Shubhi so I know only his perspective, but he was really upset and was actually crying by the end of the call. Apparently a very close cousin of theirs is supposed to be getting married and she's upset he can't go to attend it. I don't know exactly what she said, but it must've hit a really sore spot, and he was up all night overthinking and crying. Of course he has a migraine, he's dehydrated from all the crying..."Ishan whispered, still stroking the youngest one's hair.

"That's why he was so distracted all day, poor lad... I was totally ready to yell at him, but now I can't even imagine what he must have been feeling.. I know a fight with Ritsy would have me messed up for weeks at least..." Rohit mused.

Ishan nodded sadly. He hated to see his friend like this, and hoped the siblings would talk it out sooner rather than later. 

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Always wanted to write a migraine fic, and whom better to project on than Shubhi? 

Enjoy, and let me know how y'all like it in the comments :)