Cricket One Shots- Extremely Short Stories

Joru Ka Ghulam? Not Really

Y: You are coming to meet me, right?
S: Where? Bangalore? No way.
Y: Please aa jao na.
S: I need to get back home and join the Ranji team.
Y: That's for the next match na. Ek din ke liye aa jao, please.
S: Zid mat karo na. We had planned it this way only. I will come and meet you after a few days
Y: That hundred was not a part of the plan. Now I need to congratulate you properly. So you should come here.
S: I am not coming. So jao.

Next day at the team hotel.
"Mere bhai, boyfriend ki har baat maanni nahi hoti hai. You are allowed to say no to him. Btw you played so well, congrats", Rohit teased when he spotted Sanju at the reception.

"I knew you would come", said Yash before hugging Sanju.

"Tu chabi de aur nikal practice ke liye. I will see you for lunch", Sanju said, kissing Yash on the cheek.

They were just getting on the bus when Rohit and Gautam told Yash,"Thoda late join kar le, chalega. Spend some time with him".

"Mujhe ulta latka denge woh, practice chodke romance karne chala gaya toh", Yash replied.

"Waah, tu darta bhi hai usse? Surprise surprise", Shubman teased.

Later that day Sanju joined the rest of the team for lunch. He took a look at Yashasvi's plate and asked,"Mujhe bole bina baccha paida kiya kya tune, Yashu?". On seeing Yash shake his head, Sanju asked,"Toh ye chidiya ke hisaab ka khana tu kiske liye lekar aaya hai? Go fill your plate, Yashasvi, including salads", ordered Sanju. The rest of the team was stunned to see Yashasvi get up and go fill his plate.

Sanju then walked up to the coach and said,"Gauti bhai, has the dietician of the team changed recently? Yash is supposed to follow a specific diet. I see him doing his manmani, now that I am not keeping an eye. Can you please check with them? His health records would have all the information". "I had told him to talk to the nutritionist when the new one joined. I thought they had the discussion. Kya karenge is badmash ka?", Rohit complained.

"Yashasvi Jaiswal, can you please tell me why you haven't informed the new nutritionist about your diet plan?  Three big meals and eight hours of sleep- that's what we agreed, Jaiswal. Why are you trying to undo four years of our hard work? Do you expect me to follow you around and supervise you?", Sanju was done babying his boyfriend. He walked out of the dining hall without having his lunch and the whole team just watched, shocked. They knew Sanju did everything that Yashasvi wanted him to, but this aspect of their relationship was not known to them.

"Tu theek hai, Yashu?", Shubman asked his friend. "Yeah. Just disappointed in myself", Yash replied. "It's OK yaar. I don't think he can stay angry at you for too long. You are his baby", Shubman tried to console him. "He has a right to be angry- he had only three rules for me. Follow my diet, sleep for 8 hours and call him every day and he would do whatever I want. I behaved immaturely, toh unka gussa jaayaz hai", Yash said, before finishing his plate and going back to his room.

"Jaiswal, I am sorry for shouting at you in front of others, but I want you to be a bit more serious when it comes to the rules. You can be a baby with me and I will pamper you, but with the team and the coaching staff, you need to be more serious. I am flying home this evening instead of tomorrow- you need to understand that there will be consequences for your actions", Sanju explained to his boy.

"Mat jao na. I won't do this again. Stay for the night, please. At least gussa karke mat jao na", Yashasvi requested.

"I am not angry, just disappointed", said Sanju

"Same difference. You called me Jaiswal", said Yash.

"Yashu, baccha, main gussa nahi hu. Par kabhi kabhi na, to make you understand how serious I am, I need to use that tone with you. I will come and see you after the first test, alright? Be a good boy till then", said Sanju, before kissing Yash on the forehead and leaving.

"You guys are still fighting?", Rohit asked when he saw Yash having dinner alone. "No bhaiyya - he went home by the evening flight - my punishment for acting immature", Yash replied. "Wow. So he knows how to be strict with you", Rohit remarked.