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***
Everyone who had ever known Rahul Tripathi for half a day had a soft spot for him.
He was like sunshine. Or moonshine, because he was so soft-spoken. He made things better simply by being present. He loved people unobtrusively, and they loved him unobtrusively in return.
In some ways, Nitish reflected, he's like Rinku.
He still remembered the auction day of 2022 vividly.
***
12th February, 2022
He'd kept his fingers crossed from the night before. I always colour my hair purple, he prayed. Give me what I want and I'll colour it golden too, this time.
And he did get what he wanted.
KKR outbid everyone for him shortly after noon, and he was back where he belonged.
Afterwards, he could relax and watch the auction. KKR got back Rinku. KKR got back Mavi. Two of Nitish's favourite people in the team. KKR got back Pat. They already had Venky, VC, Narine and Dre from their retentions. And Nitish began to hope that maybe in spite of the absence of DK bhai and Shubi, the upcoming IPL seasons would not feel that alien.
Till Rahul's name came up in the last pool of Indian batters for the day. KKR's purse was the lowest amongst all ten teams, just having spent 8 crores on Mavi; they stood no chance. SRH took him.
It had taken Nitish a while to grasp the idea of Rahul being absent from the camp. The silent, supportive, smile-spreading existence that was Rahul Tripathi...absent from their camp.
It would take a lot longer to come to terms with it.
***
21st May, 2024
And as destiny--or God's plan--would have it, KKR was playing the Qualifier 1 with SRH, and Rahul was going great guns after four quick wickets.
Till Samad cut to Russell at short backward point, who fielded brilliantly and threw to Gurbaz, who was about to throw the ball on instinct to the bowler--because it had supposed to be such an easy run. He found, however, Tripathi standing at mid pitch--just standing--and took off the bails.
It could only be called a brainfade.
As KKR wildly celebrated the unexpected stroke of luck that gifted them the wicket of SRH's last hope, Rahul could hardly being himself to leave the field. He only went as far as the stairs to the dressing room, where he sat with his head in his knees, the picture of dejection.
He wasn't aware of how many players from the opposition took in the sight, not in triumph but in concern.
