You Belong With Me

19

Rahul's heart pounded against his chest as he stood facing Sourav, his hand firmly gripping his boyfriend's arm. He dragged Sourav out of the crowded room, the noise dimming as the door clicked shut behind them, leaving them alone in Rahul's room. With a swift movement, he turned the key in the lock, the sound echoing in the tense silence that hung between them.

Sourav avoided Rahul's eyes, his expression unreadable, but Rahul could sense the turmoil within his boyfriend. Taking a deep breath, Rahul finally broke the heavy silence.

"Why have they dropped you? And why am I suddenly the captain without any prior warning?" His voice was low, but it carried the weight of his confusion and anger.

Sourav hesitated, his words stumbling out. "Rahul, the selectors believe it's time for a change in captaincy."

"And what do you believe?" Rahul's tone was firm, his attempt to control his anger evident.

"I... I think it's the selectors' decision to make," Sourav finally managed, his voice barely above a whisper.

The tension in the locker room was palpable, thick enough to slice through with a butter knife. Rahul, usually the pillar of calm and composure, stood at the center of the storm, his frustration pouring out like a dam that had burst. He couldn't fathom how the selectors could drop Sourav from the team, and worse, how Sourav could accept it without a fight.

"And you know what I think?" Rahul's voice was tense, his fists clenched at his sides. "The captain should be the one making the final call. And as the captain, I'm resigning from this position. I wasn't given any prior information about this. I'm not ready for this job."

Sourav, usually the epitome of confidence, looked at Rahul for the first time since the conversation had begun. Fear danced in his eyes as he stepped forward, gently placing his hands on Rahul's shoulders, as if trying to anchor him.

"Rahul, no," Sourav's voice was pleading, his tone filled with desperation. "You can't do this. We have our match tomorrow. You can't afford to think subjectively. Please, be objective. Think about our country's reputation."

Sourav's words hung heavy in the air, the weight of their meaning sinking in. Rahul's jaw clenched, his eyes flickering with a mixture of anger and uncertainty. The responsibility was heavy, heavier than he had ever imagined. But could he really walk away? The team needed him, the country needed him. With a heavy sigh, Rahul's shoulders slumped, his resolve weakening with each passing moment.

"Okay, fine," Rahul relented, trying to keep his voice steady despite the storm raging within him, "but as captain, I want the right to choose my team. I want you on my side."

Sourav sighed, the weight of the decision heavy on his shoulders. His eyes bore the burden of countless sleepless nights, wrestling with loyalty to the team and love for Rahul. "We can only select eleven players, Rahul. Someone had to be dropped."

"But you were our captain, for God's sake!" Rahul's voice cracked with emotion, his eyes pleading for an explanation. "How could they drop you? And how could you agree to this decision?"

Rahul's words hung heavy in the air, his eyes boring into Sourav's, searching for answers. Sourav met his gaze, the turmoil within him reflected in the depths of his eyes. He had never been one to make rash decisions, never one to jeopardize the team's success. So why had he agreed to this?

"Sourav, you can't just accept this," Rahul implored, his voice tinged with desperation. "You deserve to be on this team as much as anyone else, maybe even more."

Sourav's shoulders sagged under the weight of Rahul's words. He knew his boyfriend was right, knew that he should fight to reclaim his place on the team. But the reality of the situation was more complicated than Rahul could understand.

Rahul's eyes narrowed, fixing on Sourav with an intensity that made Sourav shift uncomfortably. The air between them crackled with tension as Rahul's voice cut through the silence, firm and unwavering.

"You're hiding something from me," Rahul stated, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Sourav's gaze faltered, his eyes darting away from Rahul's penetrating stare. His fingers toyed nervously with the edge of his shirt as he struggled to find the right words. "Why would I do that?" he finally managed, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Don't look away," Rahul insisted, his frustration creeping into his voice. He stepped closer, his eyes boring into Sourav's. "Look me in the eyes and tell me the truth."

Sourav's shoulders tensed, but he forced himself to meet Rahul's gaze. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavily in the air. Then, finally, Sourav broke the silence, his voice barely audible.

"I swear, Rahul, I'm not fibbing. I'll be back before you know it," Sourav reassured, enfolding Rahul in a tight embrace. His words were gentle, meant to soothe the turmoil raging within Rahul. "You're the captain now, okay? You have the reins. You can always count on me. But for now, love," Sourav paused, his voice laden with urgency, "The team needs you. Heck, even the ex-captain needs you. And most importantly, our country needs you. Please, don't leave us hanging. Please."

He pulled away; his gaze fixed earnestly on Rahul. Those eyes, once fierce with determination, now pleaded with a vulnerability that caught Rahul off guard. Sourav's words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken emotion, as if the weight of an entire nation's hopes rested on Rahul's shoulders.

Rahul felt a prickling sensation at the back of his mind, a nagging suspicion that Sourav was hiding something. He knew his boyfriend well, perhaps too well, to be fooled by the facade Sourav was putting up. There was an unspoken weight in the air, a tension that Rahul couldn't quite shake off. Sourav had always been the type to internalize his struggles, to bottle them up inside, refusing to let anyone else carry his burdens.

It wasn't hard for Rahul to see that Sourav was battling his own emotional tempests. He could sense it in the way Sourav's smile didn't quite reach his eyes, in the way his laughter sounded hollow. But Rahul also knew that addressing these issues would have to wait. He had his own battles to fight, his own emotions to grapple with.

He met Sourav's gaze and gave a single nod, a silent acknowledgment passing between them. Rahul knew his decision would anger his teammates. He could already anticipate the rebellion, the protests. Yet, he also knew that Sourav had a way with words, a knack for melting their resistance, for bringing them back in line.

The public reaction was another matter entirely. Rahul was acutely aware that many would see him as a betrayer, as someone who had cunningly maneuvered his way into his captain's place. But Rahul couldn't find it in himself to care about any of that. All he wanted was for Sourav to be honest with him, to trust him. He was prepared to face whatever consequences came his way, to weather the storm, if it meant that Sourav would open up to him, would let him in.

For Rahul, loyalty to his boyfriend came above all else, even if it meant facing the wrath of those around him. He was determined to stand by Sourav, to help him weather his storms, just as Sourav had always been there for him.