ICT One Shots- Friendship and Brotherhood

Ruturaj & His Maharashtra Teammates

"You saw the squad announcement? " Kazi asked Naushad, his teammate, who was relaxing in his hotel room amidst the ongoing Ranji season.

"For BGT?" Naushad asked to confirm. They had hopes of their friend Rutu getting selected this time. Selectors had been watching over him and he had been performing as well. Kazi answered in a nod.

"Nahi hua? " Naushad asked, his voice coming barely above a whisper. He didn't need the answer. Kazi's demeanor already gave it away.

"South Africa t20 squad is also out" Kazi took a deep breath, "And they haven't selected him there as well"

"What the hell man! Is this a prank or what? They were asking him to play duleep trophy, irani trophy, India A ans all that to prepare for BGT on the cost of missing multiple t20i series and now... snubbed from both teams? "

Naushad was furious. Kazi was visibly disappointed, disheartened as well. Rutu deserved to get selected, atleast in t20i team if not the test squad. This one felt like a betrayal. For years, Maharashtra cricket has lived in the shadows of Mumbai cricket. Ruturaj Gaikwad had been the only silver lining since last many decades. For every cricketer in the team, every achievment of Rutu felt like their own and every failure their own. It didn't hurt that the guy was a gem of a person as well. One couldn't help rooting for him.

"Is he okay? Did you call him? " Naushad asked Kazi few minutes later. He was still huffing from all the piled up anger, but Rutu's well being took precedence over everything else. If they were feeling this bad, how worse would Rutu's situation be?

"I did. Call nahi uthaya usne" Kazi answered shaking his head.

"Try again. Busy hoga " Naushad asked. Kazi took out his phone and dialled again. It rang for sometime but no answer again.

Naushad sat down with his face in his palms. Kazi also came and sat down besides him. How they wished he was here, he had left for Australia as captain of India A just couple of days back. It all seemed pointless to them suddenly. Was the India A selection given just to keep him away from t20i squad? Nothing made sense.

Kazi's phone rang and he smiled slightly before picking up the phone and putting it on speaker, "Kaise ho kazi da? " Rutu's voice rang and Kazi forced himself to smile. The forced cheer in Rutu's voice was so evident.

Before Kazi could reply, Naushad jumped up, "Call nhi utha raha tha tu. Kidhar tha? "

"In the bathroom, NS Bhaiya. Stop overthinking"

Stop overthinking, Naushad mimicked lip syncing. Kazi patted his shoulder to calm him down. They had to remember that they were angry at BCCI, not at Rutu.

"Naushi da. Kahaan gye? " Rutu asked when no voice came for sometime.

Naushad took a deep breathe before replying, "We are here only. Dinner kiya tune? "

"It's 6 am here dadaa"

Rutu replied and suddenly Naushad and Kazi weren't sure what to say. Rutu must have just woken up now and they weren't sure if he had seen the squad. In that case, should they talk about it or not?

"How are you up this early? " Kazi regained his composure and asked.

"Aise hi. Aankh khul gyi, so. "

"Go back to sleep. Or is it a morning practice session there? " Naushad asked.

Rutu took a minute and then replied, "I was thinking of going to the gym"

"Okay... " Naushad replied awkwardly. The dilemma was hanging strong. If Rutu hadn't seen the squad already, they didn't want to give him bad news first thing in the morning.

"Dada I'm saying again. Stop overthinking about me. It's not the first time anyways, I'm just habitual of it. I'll get over it in few hours. You guys take care of the team. Match hai na aap logon ka kal? "

Kazi and Naushad looked at each other. It would have been easier if Rutu were sitting here. Now on call it felt difficult to talk.

"Take rest Rutu. I don't think you are in a condition to go the gym right now. It's okay to grieve" Kazi spoke.

A mock laugh from Rutu. "I'll get old just like that if I keep grieving over it all the time. I'm alright dada, don't worry. "

"Rutu" Naushad spoke, his voice growing more intense, "The next time you bat, make sure that the sound of your bat rings in those selectors' ears even when they are sleeping. Dekhte hain kab tak dusri taraf dekhte hain ye log"

Rutu nodded and a chuckle came out, "okay dada" 

"Achha you guys sleep now. I'm also leaving for gym... and I'm alright, okay? "

"Bye Rutu. Take care of yourself. Eat well"

"I will bhaiya. I'm not a kid"

"Shut up. Just do what I asked" Naushad chided back.

"Bye NS Bhaiya. Bye Kazi da. I'll talk to you guys later" Rutu said as he cut the call.

Instinctively, both Naushad and Kazi looked up and said a prayer for Rutu. One day, they hoped, Rutu will finally get his dues and they will be the happiest.

A rant mostly.
Don't ask me where it came from, lol.

I absolutely hate that I'm posting such stories after almost every squad announcement and now my account is flooded with them. But that's not my fault, you know.

Baaki sab jaaye bhaad mein, I'm just waiting for the ipl, so that I can watch cricket in peace. Inka toh politics hi nahi khatam ho rha ;))