In the Darkest Hour

The worst confirmation

Rayudu sought out Rohit early in the morning, plastering a mishchievous grin on his face.

"Look what I found!" he said.

Rohit snatched the notebook he was holding. "What's this?"

"Virat's dietbook!" said Rayudu gleefully.

Rohit snorted with laughter. Virat always guarded his dietbook from prying eyes zealously, and it had been sport among his teammates for years to try and steal it.

"Congrats," said Rohit. "Better take photos of all the pages!"

They set about doing their job. As the time of the practice session drew near, Rayudu said, "Let's put it back later, otherwise we'll be late."

They left the book in Rohit's room and went out to the field.

_____________

Rahul wouldn't have anything to do with Rohit in the practice session. Virat obligingly put them in different groups. As for Virat himself, he was behaving perfectly normally to Rohit--because deep down in his heart, he was still clinging to the hope that Rohit was innocent.

While returning from the field, Virat ran up to Rohit.

"Sorry, I fell asleep early yesterday night," said Virat.

"That's what I figured," said Rohit. "You still look tired, though," he added with a concerned glance at Virat.

"I guess that's just because it's been a hectic few months," said Virat, trying to sound casual, but Rohit's ever so normal tone was reassuring and scaring him at the same time.

This was it.

"Rohit," he blurted out. "What would you call a person who calls someone his best friend and then conspires against him in secret?" Virat studied Rohit's reaction closely.

Rohit laughed and suggested, "The world's biggest jerk?"

Virat tried and couldn't find any secrecy or guilt in Rohit's eyes. He looked exactly like the warm, kind-hearted person he had loved for years and years.

And as he realised this, Virat's heart leapt. Rohit was innocent! It was all a hoax!!

Noticing that Virat wasn't laughing along with him, Rohit said affectionately, "Why do you ask such bizarre questions?"

At that moment, Virat looked so happy that Rohit asked in confusion, "What happened?"

"Nothing--just--"

"Hey, Rohit!"

They both turned to see Rayudu standing behind them.

As quickly as Virat's heart had leapt minutes ago, it sank.

"A word with you, please," said Rayudu.

"Yes, what?" asked Rohit.

Rayudu shook his head slightly and his eyes darted to Virat guiltily.

Rohit thought that it had to do with the dietbook, of course, so he said, "Oh! Yeah...see you later, Virat." He glanced at Virat a bit nervously, before turning away.

Virat stood there, thunderstruck, for a long, long time after Rohit and Rayudu had left.

He had wanted confirmation, right?

Well, it couldn't be much clearer.