ICT One Shots- Friendship and Brotherhood

Toota hua toh kya, sitara tu

Utkarsha sat besides her husband, who was hardly showing any emotions. He had seen the squad as soon as it was announced, put the phone down and gone on to make coffee for the two of them. Now they were both sitting on the terrace floor, with coffee cups in their hands.

Not being selected after performing to the best of his capabilities wasn't new to Ruturaj. She remembered u19 days, when the team for the world cup had been announced. The whole cricketing circle was expecting Rutu to be selected and why not, guy had scored some 900-1000 runs in the previous season. His non-inclusion in the squad was shocking for all her friends. She did not know Ruturaj personally back then, but she had wished and prayed that the man got what he deserved, but alas..

The squad for t20i and odi series against Sri Lanka had just been announced and Utkarsha had been wondering what she could possibly say to her husband to soothe him. Man had done everything that was possible, scored runs everywhere and it was still not enough. She sat besides him, to be there if her man needs her.

"Cheeni kam hai. Coffee is bland" Ruturaj spoke as he put down the cup after having just half of it.

Utkarsha looked at her husband, "It is perfect. You are just being too harsh on yourself"

Ruturaj stayed silent for a minute and then spoke, more to himself than his wife, "it's just not good enough, it will never be good enough"

Utkarsha pulled the man closer to herself, putting his head over her shoulder and draping her palm around it, "You gave your everything"

Rutu stayed there, coccooned in her warmth, while she occasionally slid her hand in his hair to calm him down. Finally, a tear fell and then some more, soaking the fabric of her tee. She placed a kiss on his head and pulled him tighter.

"Where did I go wrong yaar? " Rutu voiced, his voice thick with tears. Utkarsha wiped her own moist eyes, she had to hold strong for her man.

"Nowhere" Utkarsha shook her head, trying hard to not let the tears fall. Her husband had always been non-chalant about these things, he never showed that he cared about selections. But he did, like every other cricketer, he had also dreamed to play for the national team. But everytime he was snubbed from selections, he would make himself a coffee and go about the day and grind hard next day without letting anyone know how hard it affected him. This time though, he let the tears fall. She was glad he did, because reaching out to a non-chalant Rutu was tougher.

"What do I make of this? That I'm just not up for it, may be " Rutu mumbled.

"No my love" Utkarsha cooed, "we can either leave it like that or make it what we want"

"You feel sugar is less in the coffee? Put some more sugar and reheat it. It's not useless. Not yet"

Rutu caught his wife's eyes and chuckled, "right"

Utkarsha smiled back at him and kissed his temple again.

"Pick the cup, let's go" Utkarsha spoke as she held his hand and made him stand up.

Rutu went back and reheated the coffee, added a bit of more sugar and coffee powder and tasted it. "Better" he told himself with a smile.

"Taste it now" Rutu said, giving the cup to his wife.

"So good. Perfection"

"Better than before? "

Utkarsha smiled at him, "better than before"

"It was good already though, just that you didn't like it enough" She added.

"Then it was not good enough" Rutu smiled.

Short ones, but 3rd Rutu os in three days. You can officially call me obsessed 👍

But Rutu has been getting snubbed for a long time now, and no one bets an eye, this is infuriating. I wholeheartedly pray he gets his dues before it gets too late.