In the Darkest Hour

The darkest hour

Three days later, Rohit scored a century in the 2nd ODI. Virat was batting at the other end, and when they met in the middle of the pitch, Virat found out that he couldn't hug Rohit even for the cameras.

He saw the confusion, hurt and hopelessness flashing through Rohit's eyes in quick succession, and he averted his eyes.

Then they both looked at the team balcony, and Virat was struck by how stupid his teammates were. No one was standing and cheering, since neither Jinks nor Shikhar was there, and only a few were clapping for formality. This would not be missed by the media.

Virat didn't dare look at Rohit's reaction, because no matter how many times he told himself that Rohit deserved it, that hurt expression on Rohit's face never failed to make him feel miserable.

_____________

They had a brief meeting with the coach back at the hotel, and after Yograj left the room, Rohit moved to stand by the door, determined to get to the bottom of it.

"What's the matter with you guys?" he said angrily. "Because obviously something is!"

"No one tried to pretend otherwise," said Virat coolly.

"Well, if you would care to tell me! I don't even know what I'm supposed to have done," said Rohit.

"What about trying to create a permanent divide inside the team?" said Hardik nastily.

"Conspiring against your own captain?" suggested Yuzi.

Rohit stared at them, dumbfounded-- especially at Yuzi, because surely Yuzi, of all people, couldn't misjudge him like that!

"Conspiring against someone you call your best friend!" spat Virat.

"What exactly do you--" began Rohit.

"Trying to cause mutiny in the team," muttered Kuldeep.

Rohit's heart sank.

"Trying to destroy our old 2013 team!" Bhuvi's eyes burned with accusal.

"I'm sorry, but I really don't have any idea what you are taking about," said Rohit.

"Don't try to deny it, Ro," said Rayudu in a sympathetic I'm with you tone. "Everyone knows about our group."

"What group?" demanded poor Rohit, feeling completely at a loss, but at any rate, he knew that something terrible had happened that had turned all his friends against him.

Well, not all. Rohit's eyes found Jinks' and Shikhar's, who were standing together, frozen.

"Do you two know what's going on...?" he began to ask, and Virat saw red.

"You try to feign ignorance once more, and I'll make sure no one in this room ever talks to you again!" he shouted with so much hatred in his voice that Rohit involuntarily shrank back.

"Look, Virat," he said in a calm, placating tone. "I don't know what you're believing, but it's obviously a mistake, because I didn't conspire against you--of course I didn't..."

"Rohit," hissed Rayudu. "We're past that stage. They are not going to be fooled anymore!"

Rohit turned to look at Rayudu in disgust, beginning to realise what might have happened.