Everything but her

At what cost?

4 years before-
'Don't call me again Virat, bro has come to know about it. He will literally kill me if he comes to know that you have called. Congratulations for the World Cup win. We cannot be together now. I am sorry.', a teary voice said on the phone.

Virat wanted to ask a thousand questions as to why this was happening and why they could not fight her brother. But, in the heart of his hearts, even he knew it would be so wrong to let Aarushi turn away from her entire family just because she loved him. She had kept the phone without even letting him speak. He felt it was unfair. Here he was, enjoying probably the greatest achievement of his life- winning the World Cup and she had broken his heart. They had been okay a month back. And then she had said that he must concentrate on the games. She had called him only once in a fortnight then. This was strange. He wanted an explanation. She could not just run away saying that her brother had prevented her from talking to him.

Virat dialled her number several times only to find it switched off all those times. Everyone else in the team also got worried by his behaviour. He seemed lost when everyone was celebrating.

'Are you okay?', Yuvraj came up to him and said.

'Yeah, yeah I am just coming to beat you in the dance floor with my moves', he said trying to avoid him for some while.

'That's my boy', Yuvraj said tapping his back.

There was champagne everywhere. Yuvraj had drunk too much to even understand where he was and what he was doing accounting for his weird antics. Dhoni, however, knew better. He was acting a leader even here. He finally drove everyone to their rooms.

'C'mon guys, we have to meet the President tomorrow. We cannot take our hangovers there', he said motioning each one to his room.

Virat came in from behind and asked Dhoni, 'Mahi Bhai I have some really important thing to do. Can I go?'

Dhoni looked surprised at his question.
'Virat, look at the time. It is already 3. What important work do you have in the middle of the night?'

'You are not understanding, it is very important. Please let me go. Please', Virat had started begging now.

Dhoni looked at him and saw how desperate he was. He wanted to know what it was that was making him literally plead him. However, he thought it wise not to probe too much.

'Tell me the time you have will come back', he demanded.

'2 hours. 5:30 and I will be here. No one will come to know. Please.'

'Okay, but one minute after 5:30 and I will have to tell the authorities', Dhoni tried to act stern.

'Thanks. I love you Mahi Bhai', Virat started running towards the door giving him a hug.

'Be careful', Dhoni shouted from behind but he was already out of sight till then.

Virat hired a taxi and asked to drive him to Worli. It was a thirty minute drive from there. But he kept getting all anxious, telling the taxi driver to drive faster and faster. The taxi driver, at one point got tired of him. He asked him to catch an aeroplane if he was in such a hurry.

He reached the house and stood there looking towards Aarushi's room. The blinds had been closed and he could see nothing there. He called her number once again but, no surprises, it was still switched off. He waited patiently thinking that at some point she would open the blinds but that never came. He waited for around thirty minutes but seeing that it was not helping his cause, he started looking for other options. He was no hero that he could climb up to her window because there was a good chance that he would get injured and he did not want to risk his career. What could he do? He could not just move on like that. He wanted to see her. Wanted to celebrate with her the biggest happiness of his life. Seeing no other option left, he finally moved towards the door.

After a lot of self assurance, he rang the bell. He knew it was crazy but who said love wasn't crazy after all? He had no other choice. He knew what he was bringing on to him but the fear never came. He was in some space of madness where everything that he did seemed to be less idiotic than his own brain.

For about five minutes, there was no reply. He looked at the time. It was already 4:10. He rang the bell once again. And then after two minutes, a lady opened the door. Virat recognised her to be the house maid.

'What do you want at this hour, sir?', she asked completely irritated and also a little scared.

'Just stay silent. I am Virat', he said and started moving towards Aarushi's room.

'Sir, but...', the maid protested.

'Just please let me go', he said.

'What is it Aunty?', Ajinkya spoke waking up.

Virat felt his heartbeat stop for a moment . He knew this could have happened and he had thought that he was prepared but that was far from the truth. He was not prepared for this. The maid pointed towards Virat.

'Who are you and what are you doing at our house at this time?', Ajinkya said rubbing his eyes.

Virat turned around and said, 'Look I can explain everything...'

And before he could say anything else he was cut short by Ajinkya, 'Listen don't create a scene at this hour. Just get out and stay away from my sister. We are simple people. We do not know the glitz and glamour that you are a part of. Please, leave my sister alone. She did not know what she was doing. Just go, please. My mother is not very well and I don't think it will do her any good if she wakes up at this moment. Please, go Virat.'

'Just let me meet Aarushi once and I will go. I promise', Virat looked at him straight in the eye and said. The fear had dissuaded. He just wanted to see that face. That face which he knew looked beautiful even while sleeping. And for that he was ready to bear this.

'You want me to get help in turning you out?', Ajinkya said clearly sending out a message.

'Please Ajinkya, see...'

Virat was cut short in his words by a similar voice that he had wanted to hear. Which he thought was the best music to his ears.

'What is the matter?', Aarushi said clearly looking tired.

And it took no time to understand what the matter was. She was surprised to see Virat standing there in front of her. She knew she was going to lose him today. He had destroyed the slime chance of them getting back together. As much as she had wanted to see him, she never knew he could be so stupid. She knew he had followed his heart. But at what cost? That was the question.