Frayed bonds

The talk

"Yeah yeah Ritsy I got the gummy bears and yes I'll definitely try not to eat it all." Rohit said on the phone.

He was going towards the billing counter when he heard a familiar voice.

"Oh god how can I forget my wallet." Virat mumbled, face palming himself.

"Sir are you going to bill it?" The cashier asked again.

Rohit saw the Cerelac Virat was holding and understood it was for Akaay.

Before Virat could say something Rohit came forward with the pack of gummy bears and little hearts.

"I'll pay it, add it in my tab. Here!" Rohit said giving the card to the cashier.

The cashier looked briefly at Virat who was looking at Rohit, completely dumbfounded.

"Sure sir!" The cashier said and billed their items. "Here sir." She said handing the bag to Virat.

Rohit nudged Virat seeing him not responding, "Huh what?" Virat asked startled by the sudden push.

"Take the bag " Rohit said curtly as he took his own bag and exited the mart.

"What does he even want from me now? I can't be so rude and indifferent to him god!" Rohit mumbled to himself as he heard Virat calling after him.

Rohit closed his eyes and took a deep breath, he did not want to have another panic or anxiety attack in front of Virat and that too in the public.

He opened his eyes to see Virat keenly observing him, "What happened Virat?"

"Benstokes will you stop calling me that?" Virat asked glaring at Rohit.

Rohit just shook his head and started walking ahead again. Virat gritted his teeth as he stopped Rohit by holding his hand.

"What are you doing?" Rohit asked as Virat dragged him to a garden nearby.

"I had come down to take cerelac for Akaay as he was crying, but now he has slept. I got a message from Nush." Virat said as a form of explanation.

Rohit looked at him incredously, "What's that got to do with you dragging me here?" He asked, frustrated.

"You are talking to me continuously like this after so long you know?" Virat asked sitting on the bench and pulling Rohit besides him.

"What's the point of all this Vi? Why are you doing this to me?" Rohit asked, his voice pained.

Virat's face scrunched up in concern, "Are you not feeling well?" He asked.

"I might not soon enough I guess." Rohit mumbled looking down.

"Ro I am I am so sorry really." Virat said holding his hand.

"Does it matter now? It's over." Rohit said looking at the moon.

"It's not Ro, I don't want to lose you please." Virat said helplessly, his voice betraying his emotions.

Rohit looked at Virat at once and asked, "Don't you think you already did?"

Virat's eyes widened in panic, he took Rohit's hand in his again, "No Ro please don't say that. I can't live without you." He said.

Rohit chuckled at that, his voice sad, "Didn't you say you would not think of this even once and I'll regret it forever?" He asked.

Virat vehemently shook his head, "I was an idiot Ro, the no. 1 idiot the world has seen ever. Everything I said that time was rubbish I did not mean it." He said, his voice urgent.

"I.....took you for granted." He mumbled. "What's the guarantee it will not happen again?" Rohit asked.

Virat brightened at the thought that Rohit was contemplating forgiving him, "I promise on my life I won't. I have learnt my lesson that I can't function properly with you." He said.

Rohit just hummed at that, they fell into a tense silence. Rohit was afraid about what would happen to him if Virat did something like this again.

"From when are you getting those panic attacks?" Virat asked after a while, desperate to know his well being.

"I had the first one on the very night we had our fight, then it became a daily occurence. Then..." Rohit hesitated.

"Then what?" Virat prompted, "During IPL season, Jos helped me through one panic attack when he had come to my room once." Rohit said.

Virat sighed and Rohit continued, "He forced me to go to this doctor and then I was prescribed the pills I am still taking."

"No one other than Jos knows?" Virat asked, his tone clipped.

"Rits and Mahi bhai know." Rohir said, his reply also curt.

Virat was feeling guilty and jealous at the same time. He knew he had no right to be jealous now but he couldn't help it.

"It's ok." Rohit said at last, Virat looked at him, shocked.

"You said you are jealous out loud." Rohit said as he laughed.

Virat looked at Rohit, his eyes glistening, "I am seeing you laugh like this after so long because of me Ro I missed this." He said.

"I am still hurt Virat and very very scared. What if you abandon me like this again? I won't be able to handle it. As it is I am having these panic attacks right now." Rohit said.

Virat's heart broke seeing Rohit not trusting him completely, but it wasn't his fault.

"I forgive you Virat, I can't go on like this." Rohit said but Virat could see he still looked unsure.

"I am not unsure about trusting you I am unsure about your mood." Rohit said trying to help.

Virat nodded his head, "I'll make sure you won't be unsure about anything when it comes to us." He said.

"Aww are you going to propose me now?" Rohit asked trying to lighten the mood.

Virat went down on one knee immediately, "Obviously sweetheart will you spend a lifetim with me?" He asked posing a faux ring box.

"Yes darling but make sure you don't go array with your words!" Rohit said smacking his hand.

"And they lived happily ever after." Virat sing songed.

"Shut up Virat!" Rohit said laughing and pulling him up.

"Can you stop calling me that?" Virat asked absolutely done for.

"It's become a habit it will take some time to break." Rohit mumbled.

"We'll make new habits together Ro don't worry." Virat said hugging Rohit and Rohit hugged him just tight back.

A/N: Please vote and comment as I love to read those. Also do y'all want me to end this here or write one more part?

Target: 60+ votes and comments