BROKEN THINGS

35

If you asked Anil, why and how his house was suddenly full of bumbling idiots who called themselves adults within a span of five hours, he wouldn't be able to answer. Sourav and Sachin had first called him from Rahul's house, claiming they have a lead. Rahul lived only half an hour away from him so Anil had obviously immediately gotten up to go over. But they had then called and said that they were coming over instead. Apparently, they were in need of food.

Then Mahi had called Sourav, asking for updates. Apparently, the kid had been in touch with Sourav and had unfailingly called them every single day. Sourav ofcourse had answered in kind, informing him of their breakthrough. He didn't know exactly what the youngster had done. But first he had appeared at Anil's door some two hours ago. Then Yuvraj and Bhajji came. And after them all the players they had ever played with in the last five years were suddenly at Anil's door, which included the little Suresh Raina Rahul was so fond of, looking tired and limping with his injury but eager to help.

It had been a month and some more since Rahul had gone missing, not a single clue to where he could be. Not only had he been beaten to hell the last time they had seen him but he hadn't looked to be in a good place either. So far, his emails revealed next to nothing. His password had worked and they now had bank transcripts. But those reciepts did not reveal location. It did not reveal the ticket. Rahul must have outsourced the ticket or something. He had always been clever like that. Still. A lead was a lead. Anil was grateful for it.

He carried the bajillion pizza boxes and the bag of drinks inside watching with exasperation as every one of the dull faces lit up at the sight of food.

"If you people had informed me, I could have arranged some real food," he scolded as the boxes were taken from his hand.

"What's better than pizza Anil Bhai?" Yuvraj mumbled through the large bite he had taken, going right back to his laptop. The usually chirpy Yuvraj Singh was taking something very seriously for once. He swallowed the solemnness rising in his heart.

"Any updates?" he asked settling down on his armchair and pulling his own laptop towards himself.

"I am going through all of his emails," Zak answered, "I did find a medical certificate from a psychologist, but nothing else seemed out of order,".

"He was seeing a psychologist?" Sachin asked, looking shocked. Anil could relate. It wasn't him seeing a mental health professional which was shocking, Rahul tending to himself was a rarity they had never personally experienced. Him seeking help was shocking. Things must have been really bad if he has... and they still knew nothing except for what they had seen with their own eyes.

Zak shrugged, "I don't know if he was. It is just the only one certificate from last month only and so far I haven't found any bank reciepts that are periodic and of that range to be payment to any service. Wonder why he got this though, that too last month when we were still in West Indies after- after..- well,".

For a moment, all activity stopped in the room. Anil had never seen their team ever get so silent as it did now. By now, everyone in the team, to some degree knew parts of what had happened. Ofcourse the whole truth was known only by the four of them and Mahi, but what they knew was enough to make all their blood boil and their hearts ache. Even more now, when they couldn't help their captain. Not when he didn't want to be helped, heck he didn't even want to be around them. Anil couldn't blame him, if they had not been fighting for so long, they could have prevented what had happened. What had been happening infront of their very noses but they had never bothered to see. Because he had a suspicion that there was more of a rift between Chappel and Rahul than they had ever known. Ever bothered to know. Because nobody flew off the handle out of nowhere like Chappel had. Because nobody tried to go back to normal immediately afterwards the way Rahul had.