A Victory which Matters (Dedicated to 27 and 45)

Part 7

It was the day before the 2nd Test began, and the team still hadn't been finalized.

All the players were practising late into the evening, as none of them wanted to give SA the satisfaction of winning the series, as they had prophecized.

Shami was giving irregular short balls to Rohit. In the adjacent group, a few of them were practising slip fielding.

Rahane threw the ball to Dhawan, who missed (as usual) and the ball went and hit Rohit on the foot. Normally this wasn't a big deal at all, but naturally, as Rahane had been the one to throw the ball, Rohit's face started to cloud over.

"Calm down, Ro," said Dhawan in a low and placating voice. Rohit kept his swears for another time and resumed playing.

Virat, Ash, Jaddu and Bhuvi had seen the entire encounter.

"Look how the mood is amongst us these days," sighed Virat. "Rohit is so jolly stubborn."

"Like you," said Jadeja snidely, trying to draw a laugh from Virat, who looked really worn out.

But almost nothing could make Virat smile at that moment.

Hardik jumped over to them. "What's wrong?" he asked cheerfully. "Why do you all look so down?"

Ashwin rolled his eyes. "Go away, Hardik."

"But why?" asked Hardik, sounding quite shocked.

Virat grinned a little grudgingly. Hardik's antics were really the brightest point in their team at the moment.

"Look, Bhuvi, I got my plan. I told you I would," said Hardik.

Bhuvi exchanged a look with Ash.

Virat said, "Let's hear it, then."

Hardik held up a misty box. "I got it from a magician psychiatrist down the next street..."

"And what is it supposed to do?" asked Ashwin skeptically.

"It sends people into Virtual Reality--or Real Virtuality, I forgot what..."

Ash crossed his arms. The others, however, were, for once, listening to Hardik intently.

"If we send Rohit and Jinks down here--and set a proper situation, it might work," said Hardik.

"What d'you mean by a proper situation?" asked Virat, as Ash snorted.

"For example, he said, if you want to bring back two estranged lovers, you could give a Rapunzel-like situation, or something like that."

"What is Rapunzel?" asked Bhuvi, looking puzzled.

Virat's eyes misted over for a moment with affection and nostalgia. These were the sort of questions Bhuvi used to ask a lot in the past.

"Rapunzel was a hot chick who--" began Hardik.

"Don't corrupt Bhuvi, Hardik," said Virat fiercely.

Ashwin told Bhuvi in as less words as possible who that woman was.

"And your idea is a bit faulty, Hardik," added Ashwin.

"For one, I can't imagine either Rohit or Jinks with long hair," put in Jadeja.

Within moments, every person in the group was roaring with laughter.

"Jaddu--you've got the wrong end of the stick," said Virat, as they began to sober down. "Rapunzel was just an example. Let's see what situations we can get here."

"Right." Hardik pulled a lever of the box

"Wait," protested Ashwin. "Virat, you don't really believe this nonsense? There is nothing called Virtual Reality!"

"There is!" asserted Hardik.

Ashwin narrowed his eyes.

"So, the first situation... Cinderella," said Hardik.

"No. None of them in rags," said Virat, as they all sniggered.

"Next. The Beauty and the Beast."

"Won't do. Both humans," said Ash. None of them stopped laughing. "And no beauty," he added.

"Romeo and Juliet."

"No...imagine what Ritika and Radhika will feel," drawled Jaddu.

The five of them started laughing so loudly that everyone else on the field stopped playing and started at them.

Shikhar came over, eyeing them with amusement.

"Hi, Shikhar," said Virat, who had tears of laughter in his eyes.

"What's going on here?" asked Shikhar.

"Fair question." Ashwin briefly told him about their plan.

"Next situation-- World War II," said Hardik.

There was a silence.

"You know...this might work," said Virat at last.

"Virat. All this is nonsense," said Ash distinctly.

"It might not be," said Virat. "Let's try it, at least."

"We need to call them here," said Bhuvi.

"I'll bring Rohit," offered Dhawan.

"I'll bring Jinks," said Jadeja, getting up. "And Hardik..."

"I'll do the rest," said Hardik, giving them a thumbs-up.

A/N: As you might have guessed by now, this story is going to have a bit of unrealistic things in it. I don't believe in virtual reality either. But it seemed to fit the story, so I hope you don't mind.

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