The Mumbai air hung thick and humid, a familiar blanket Yashasvi Jaiswal barely registered
The clatter of cutlery from the hotel restaurant below seemed distant, muffled by the thrum of his own pulse
Yashasvi watched Rohit Sharma his senior the man he loves across the table, the older man's laugh echoing, bright and unburdened, as he yapped happily to virat and jaddu Rohit's eyes, crinkling at the corners, sparkled with genuine mirth
A warmth, potent and familiar, bloomed in Yashasvi's chest, then twisted into a knot of apprehension. Tonight. It had to be tonight he thought to himself
"You're awfully quiet, Yashu" Rohit observed coming towards the younger boy, his voice a low, melodic rumble, pulling Yashasvi from his thoughts. A playful nudge from his elbow. "Lost in thought about your next century?" he asked
Yashasvi offered a tight smile, the humor not quite reaching his eyes. "Something like that, Ro bhai"He pushed a stray strand of hair from his face, his gaze lingering on Rohit's soft, expressive mouth
The air suddenly felt too thin. He needed to get Rohit alone
After Rohit had walked away shreyas sat beside him
"You gonna tell me soon? " Shrey asked though his gaze wasn't on yashasvi but it was on rishabh pant who was as usual driving everyone crazy and it was kl rahul who's the unfortunate victim today
Yashasvi stared at him for a bit before saying "Idk bhai should I? " His voice filled with doubt
"If I were I would have yashu" Shreyas answered
"Okay but.. " Yashasvi began "but what" Shreyas asked still not looking at him
"What if he reject me? " Yashasvi asked looking down for the first time in his life he felt doubt and uncertainty
Shreyas sighed finally taking his eyes of rishu and looking at younger boy beside him "what if he sat yes? "
That gave yashasvi a little hope
Later, the hum of the city replaced the restaurant's din. They stood on the hotel balcony of Rohit's suite
the vast expanse of Mumbai's skyline twinkling before them like scattered diamonds
Rohit Sharma leaned against the railing, a thoughtful silence settling between them after a long discussion about upcoming matches
"Ro bhai' Yashasvi began, his voice a low rasp, barely a whisper against the gentle breeze
He turned to face the older man, his hands gripping the cool metal of the railing "There's something I need to tell you" Yashasvi murmered looking at ro's eyes
Rohit looked at him, his brow furrowing slightly, a flicker of concern in his warm eyes as he asked "What is it, Yashu? You look... serious"
Yashasvi took a breath, the words catching in his throat. "It's about... us. About how I feel." He watched Rohit, searching for any sign of understanding, dreading the inevitable
"I don't see you just as a captain, or a mentor, or even just a friend." His voice grew steadier as he continued, conviction lacing each syllable "I love you, Ro. Not like a older brother. More. So much more"
Rohit's smile, always so quick to appear, vanished. His eyes widened, a fragile vulnerability replacing their usual warmth. He almost took a step back, a subtle shift in his posture.
"Yashu," Rohit breathed out, the name a soft exhalation, almost a plea. He shook his head, a slow, deliberate movement "You... you can't mean that." His gaze dropped, avoiding Yashasvi's intense stare. "You're so young. So brilliant. You have your whole life ahead of you."
