A Victory which Matters (Dedicated to 27 and 45)

Part 4

The next day, just as Rohit was about to enter a common room in the hotel, he overheard Virat, Ash, Jaddu and Bhuvi, discussing something in low voices, about him and Rahane.

Again.

"Pity you people have nothing better to do that gossip all day long," said Rohit, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

The four of them in the room turned to look at him, dismayed. Rohit stormed off, and entered the first room he saw--the team's equipment room.

Irritating people. Always interfering. On one hand, there's everyone pointing out every single mistake he has ever made in his career. And now even his own teammates--his own friends-- will not leave it alone.

It's enough to make anyone go totally crazy, though Rohit fiercely, aiming a kick at a random bat.

"Please don't take out your anger on my bat."

Rohit turned sharply. He hadn't realised anyone else was in the room, least of all Rahane.

"Sorry," said Rohit curtly.

At least the room was quiet. Rohit flopped down on a bench and leaned against the wall, closing his eyes.

There was an unending silence in the room. Rahane was doing something on his phone.

"I suppose you're taking moral support from the uneducated people singing your praises," said Rohit, who was plainly in a mood to be disagreeable.

Rahane stiffened slightly, but he said nothing.

"There are at least a hundred of them in my phone. Shall I forward them to you?" asked Rohit, not liking Rahane's non reaction.

Still Rahane ignored Rohit.

"From the dear people who think Kohli and Shastri sir are getting demented...I bet you think so too..."

Rahane could not be blamed for losing his temper now.

"I can forward you some nice things too. People praising you up to the skies after you scored your third double hundred...on a flat pitch...against Sri Lanka."

Spite was generally vehemently missing from Jinks' nature, but Rohit had been really trying just then.

"D'you know the only reason why you're still in the team, Rahane? It's because the selectors don't want to drop you all at once," said Rohit vindictively.

Rahane couldn't think of any reply to this.

"They want to do it in stages," added Rohit.

"Do you know why you are in the Test team, Sharma? It's because Kohli and the selectors favour you!" said an angry voice from the door.

Rohit and Jinks were both startled to see Pujara standing at the door, looking quite fierce.

"What are you provoking Jinks for?" he demanded. "Just because he'll not hit you back--"

Pujara had shared many partnerships with Jinks over the year and had grown extremely fond of him.

Rohit was about to give a crushing reply to Pujara, but then he realised that he seemed to be fighting with everyone these days.

He could not stoop to apologize. So he went past Pujara and escaped this room too, wondering where he could get some peace.

Back in the room, Pujara said staunchly, "Don't you take any notice of what he says, Jinks. He's clearly jealous of the support you're getting--and of course he knows that you deserve a place in this team more than he does."

"Not really. Whatever he said was quite true, you know," said Jinks gloomily.

"Of course they weren't true!" cried Puji, sounding quite horrified.

Rahane smiled, allowing his friend to deviate his thoughts from his 'enemy's' words. The enemy, who not a month ago, had been one of his best friends.

Rohit walked around the hotel for more than an hour till his temper cooled down. Then he went to bed without dinner, feeling that somehow, everything had gone wrong since December.