Shelter

You matter the most - 2

"Rohit had an accident."

All the colour drained from Virat's face immediately. He said, "No you are- you are kidding aren't you? This is your way to make me realize my mistake, right? But look I- I already realized. Now I am going to call Ro and ask him to come here and- "

"VIRAT", Jaddu said sharply. He entered the room and stood beside Jinks. "Virat", he said. "He is not joking, Rohit really had an accident. A doctor from City Hospital called the people who are on Ro's speed dial. Look at your phone, they must have called you first but you did not receive so they must have called the second number, which is Jinks'. Thankfully they didn't call Mahi bhai's number which was third."

Virat stumbled to the bedside table and grabbed his phone. He unlocked it, to find 8 missed calls from an unknown number. He let out a shaky breath and passed the phone to Jinks who nodded. Virat felt as if the ground was slipping beneath his feet. His legs could not hold him further and he sank down on his knees on the floor. Jinks immediately went to him and said, "Virat, we need to go to the hospital now. Ro needs us- Ro needs you, won't you be there for your best friend?"  

Hearing best friend, Virat remembered saying just a few hours ago, that he wished he never had a friend like Rohit and that lead him to remember the dispute they had.

"If something happened to Rohit today- ", thought Virat, his eyes brimming with tears. "No, no- no, please, please save Ro", he pleaded. 

"Uske liye udhar jana padega pehle", said Jaddu. He held his shoulders and helped him to stand up. "Shall we go?" 

"Who is at the hospital now?", Virat asked, wiping the tears from his eyes.

"Jassi and Rahul are there", said Jinks. "They must've reached by now." Virat nodded and the three of them left for the hospital.

--

"Rohit Sharma is in room number 183, on the 2nd floor", the receptionist told them. Jinks kept his hand on Virat's shoulder, patting it occasionally while Jaddu had just been quiet throughout the ride.

The lift opened to Rahul and Jassi sitting on the chair, in front of Rohit's room. Beside them were a lady and a little girl. They stood up as the seniors went near them. 

"Ro?" asked Jinks. 

Jassi smiled slightly and replied, "He is okay now, luckily nothing serious happened." He turned to Virat, who was staring at the door. "Virat bhai", Jassi said. "Rohit bhaiya is okay. Injured his head a little. He was unconscious when he was brought here so the doctors said that they were going to check him for a little while and also to put bandages and stuff."

Jinks heaved a sigh of relief. Virat snapped out of his thoughts, as he looked at Jassi. The boy's eyes were red, obviously he had been crying. He looked at Rahul, who was looking at the floor as if it was made from gold, though Virat knew the tears that Rahul was trying to hide. He looked at Jaddu, the man who never expressed his emotions, refrained from crying at the worst loss but today, when Virat had seen the tiniest of eye drop falling from his eye, he didn't need to know anything else. He looked at Jinks, who was trying to be strong for them, for him, but Virat could read the impatient and worried look on his face. 

He looked at the door, that had the a bright red 183 at the top. Beyond it, inside the room, was the person who was dear to him than life itself. His best friend, the puzzle piece that completed his life, that complemented him in the form of his soul brother.

All of them were suffering because of him, because of his desire to wallow in self pity. Mahi bhai says that Virat wore his heart to his sleeves, he always made everyone feel that they were important in his life and that he loved him. Then, how could he be such a jerk to Rohit, all the time? He had never told Rohit, how much he mattered to him. He had never told Rohit, how much he cherished his constant presence and support. He had never told Rohit anything, in the belief that Rohit knew, that Rohit understood. And today he had almost lost Rohit, almost. He ran a hand through his hair thinking when he had said that he hated Rohit. He almost chuckled at the ridiculous thought but realized he himself had said those words and then he sobered immediately.