ICT One Shots- Friendship and Brotherhood

The Apocalypse: [Mahi-Rutu]

Rutu was just coming back to dressing room after all the post match formalities when he saw Mahi bhai sitting distraught on a chair in the corner of the room, his head fallen back, eyes blank. He saw him coming and stirred just a little bit.

That's when Rutu realised the magnanimity of the loss. Mahi bhai might have played his last, in all probabilities. His last, why did it have to end like this? The man deserved so much better, much much better...

He mustered up all the courage he had to go and sit besides him. "Mahi bhai? "

"Rutu not now, please"

There was so much sadness in Mahi bhai's voice that Rutu couldn't bring himself to try to talk to him again. So he simply stood up and walked to the door.

He leaned on the door, thinking about all that happened. He was trying to convince himself that it happens, you can't win all the games, they had too many injuries in the squad but now after seeing Mahi bhai, it all felt so pointless. They should have given it all, no matter what. He should have given it all.

"Rutu? " He heard Hussey's voice. Before he could react, the man turned him and engulfed him in a hug. In the moment, it took everything for Rutu to not cry on his shoulders.

"Mahi bhai isn't talking", rutu whispered, still in the hug.

" He closes off sometimes. It has nothing to do with you, okay? "

Rutu shook his head, it had everything to be done with him. A dropped catch, a duck, he had almost negative contribution in the game. It will haunt him for a long time.

"Is he retiring? " Rutu asked again, in a shaky voice, almost tear laden.

"Don't know. May be, not sure"

"I don't want him to retire"

A light chuckle escaped from Hussey's mouth, "Nobody wants him to retire. Just that, his knee is in really bad shape. His back can't handle too much stress too. "

Rutu buried his face into his coach's shoulders. He was being selfish, he knew but he needed Mahi bhai. He had no idea how would he function next year without him guarding behind the stumps.

Finally, a sob escaped. He had been holding back from quite sometime. "Rutu, it's okay buddy. It was your first season as captain and I'm very proud the way you handled things along with your batting"

A stream of tears rushed again. Rutu tried to wipe them off but Huss broke the hug and cupped his face after wiping the tears off, "Being sad or remorseful after loss is obvious reaction, but don't be hopeless about tomorrow. You have a long way to go"

Rutu looked down, he was feeling exactly that, ashamed.

"Will Mahi bhai talk to me? " Rutu asked tentatively. He could handle everything, but not Mahi bhai's disappointment; and today he had disappointed him beyond measures.

"Ofcourse he will" Hussey replied, "Just give him some time. Saying goodbye to the game is never easy for any sportsperson"

"Take your kitbag, the bus is leaving for the hotel. I'll call MS "

Rutu nodded and went back to pack his kit. While strolling through it, a ball rolled down. Rutu picked it up and kissed it. It was a signed ball, Mahi bhai gave him after their last game at Chepauk.
It stirred billion emotions inside him, he kissed it back again and put it inside the kit safely. He was ready to go before his eyes fell on the other side of the room. Mahi bhai was packing his kit. He went and started helping him put things, without asking. MS had a look at him, "I'll do it myself. You go"

Rutu shook his head, "You are kneeling down on your injured knee. Let me help"

"That knee is of no use now anyways. " MS muttered under his breadth, "You leave"

Rutu picked up the kit and placed it on one of the tables. "Here, I won't touch it now. "

He forwarded his hand to help MS stand up, MS tried to stand by his own by keeping hjs both palms on ground, but couldn't. He finally held Rutu's hand and got up.

Rutu walked up to his own kit, picked it up and had a last look of MS before walking away. It was hard to believe that MS was not a deity but a man, a mortal. The realisation humbled them, if MS couldn't have it all, nobody could.

Yesterday's loss was hard. I haven't yet come to terms. MS, my Mahi bhai, I miss you already!