ICT One Shots- Friendship and Brotherhood

The Apocalypse- Part II [Mahi-Rutu]

Rutu knocked at Mahi bhai's door. It had been some 8-9 hours since their elimination from this year's ipl. Everyone was leaving for home. They hadn't talked about last game yet, not even a few words, not that he wanted to, but he did want to talk to Mahi bhai once before leaving. He had tried talking to him last night but it couldn't happen. He prayed Mahi bhai gave him a chance to talk now.

"Hey Rutu! Come in" Sakshi opened the door.

"Good morning Bhabhi" Rutu greeted as he stepped in.

"Good morning. Slept well? "

Rutu shrugged his shoulders. He could hardly catch any sleep.

"Mahi is in the washroom. You'll have to wait for few minutes, so take a seat" Sakshi said as she proceeded on to open a bag and packing things in it.

"You are leaving now? "

Sakshi answered in yes.

"Abhi? "

Another question and Rutu sounded a lot more agitated.

Sakshi nodded. "We have to leave in an hour"

Rutu bobbed his head down and fiddled with his fingers. He had come to talk to Mahi bhai but he didn't even know what he was wanting to say.

"Here he is. Talk to your Mahi bhai. I'll be back in some time" Sakshi said as MS came back and left the room.

"Hi Mahi bhai" Rutu whispered as he stood up from the couch when he saw Mahi bhai coming.

"Hi Rutu. Itni subah subah? Kuchh kaam tha? " Rutu hardly ever came to Mahi's room for nothing. So MS was surprised when Rutu shook his head.

"You are leaving"

MS sighed. He could almost hear the sulk in his voice.

"It's been too many months away from home. It's time to go"

"Yeah"

Rutu fiddled with his fingers again. He had been very comfortable with MS all through the season but at this very moment he felt like a newbie in his first season.

"Wo- I just wanted to meet you before leaving. So.. " Rutu spoke after a lot of deliberation.

"Chal sit back. We'll talk"

Rutu sat back, apprehensively enough, but sat down. MS came and sat besides him.

"Talk Rutu, we don't have too much time"

Rutu shot a brief glare at MS before he looked down immediately. "I'm sorry"

MS waited for him to continue, but when he didn't, MS prompted again, "Bas yahi baat karni thi? "

Rutu shook his head but spoke nothing.

"Tujhe kuchh nhi bolna toh mai jaaun? "

"No, Mahi bhai no" Rutu spoke immediately.

"Why are you nervous? It's just me"

Rutu looked down again. It was just Mahi bhai, he didn't know what was happening with him but he felt tongue tied.

"Here" MS pulled Rutu towards himself and kept his head on his lap.

"Ab bata. Kyun pareshan hai? " MS asked, brushing his fingers in his hair.

"Aapko nhi pata? "

MS smiled at the innocent question. At some point or the other, all his kids were like this. They always assumed that he knew what's going in their brains without them telling him.

"How will I know? Tune bataya? "

"Mahi bhai" Rutu looked up at MS, "Are you sure I'm the right choice? "

"Cent percent sure. What makes you think I'm not? " MS replied promptly.

"I don't know bhai, the last match I just felt... may be someone else could have been better" Rutu gathered words.

"At the catching position? Yes. Utkarsha needs to bully you more" MS chuckled.

"The field set and the bowling changes too" Rutu added, desparate to have negative scores.

"Everything looks very obvious in the hindsight, we could have done this, we could have done that. But we don't have the benefit of hindsight in the actual match. There you do what you feel right for the moment. Sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn't. You don't have to beat yourself over it. The more matches you play, the better you'll be at it"

"You're getting my point? "

"Ji bhai" Rutu uttered.

"Bhai, you'll come back na? " Rutu asked that one question that had been nagging him since last night.

"I'll come back to Chennai for sure" MS said. Rutu gave a tight lipped smile. He knew what it meant.

"Achha get up kid. I'm getting late"

Rutu got up immediately. MS stood up and pulled him for a hug. "Don't beat yourself too much. You are the best we have got. Just keep growing"

Rutu buried his face in Mahi bhai's shoulder, trying to take away all the warmth. "I'll miss you Mahi bhai" he spoke in a muffled voice.

"I'm always there bachcha" MS replied as he brushed his fingers in Rutu's hair. Rutu held MS tighter, as if he didn't believe the words.

Weird timing to post this, but it randomly striked me to write a sequel to the apocalypse.