The extremely unfair IPL schedule

Chapter 1

Hardik knew he was the luckiest. He was also the craftiest, so it doesn't matter whether he was lucky or not. He had already gone and visited Mahi bahi during the lockdown, shocking him out of his life. He had threatened to send him back, but Hardik had known better. He needed only a grin—a nothing special sort of grin, he assures—just a cocky Hardik-grin, and Mahi bhai relented. He had still made Hardik wash his hands with sanitizer though. Small price to pay.

Now coming to why he was lucky.

It's easy...first match of the season was MI vs CSK. Beyond cool. The others were so jealous, and it put Hardik in a particularly gloating mood.

He gloated over Virat. He gloated over Yuzi. He gloated over Kuldeep. By mistake he even sent a gloaty message to Jassi, who promptly sent him back a picture of him SITTING BESIDE MAHI BHAI.

That shook Hardik up quick. He'd been too busy gloating to do the real thing—visit Mahi bhai.

"Hello, Harry," greeted Mahi bhai, when he barreled into the room, hot and bothered. Mahi bhai also had a teasing grin on his face.

"Hello Harry," repeated Jassi gleefully.

"Aren't you late," said Rohit, from Mahi bhai's other side.

"Move over," Hardik told Rohit with a good attempt at dignity.

Rohit ignored him and continued his conversation with Mahi bhai. "I told you the checking'd take—"

Hardik slunk up and shoved Rohit violently.

"HEY!" protested Rohit.

Jassi leaned over to rush to Rohit bhaiya's aid, and it was quickly turning into a full fledged shoving contest.

"STOP," ordered Mahi bhai loudly. "Stop it, you three."

They froze.

"Jassi, you shift over a bit..." said Mahi.

Jassi's jaw dropped at the unfairness of the command. Hardik's did, too.

"I'm not telling you to go away," chided Mahi. "Just a bit...see if we can device a way to have all three sitting beside me."

They managed it. It was difficult, but they managed; Jassi sitting beside Mahi bhai's outstretched feet and Hardik against his left shoulder. Rohit had Mahi bhai's whole right side to himself, something he looked quite pleased to have wangled it.

Hardik's eyes gleamed brightly as he'd got his own way, and he smoothly ruined Rohit and Jassi's stories about the airport checking with some nonsensical one of his own.

Virat's reply chimed on his phone.

"I'LL KILL YOU HARRY."

__________

Rishabh could hardly sit still.

"What's up with you?" Shreyas demanded as Rishabh managed to trip over his own feet for the fifth time during the practice session.

"I—I—" stammered Rishabh, too excited to get out the words.

"You—you?" prompted Shreyas.

"The CSK team is coming!" Rishabh's teeth were clattering audibly.

Jinks hid the huge smile creeping onto his face. He wondered if he hadn't been the staid 32-year-old father of a little girl, his teeth might have been clattering too.

Rishabh was the first to reach Mahi bhai directly after the match, bursting with questions, statements and news.

"How did Zivi's birthday pass, Mahi bhai? Do you know they almost confiscated my shovel at the airport, they thought it was a weapon!"

Mahi tried not to smile. "Uh, Rishu, how are those two related?"

"What?" said Rishabh, clearly having forgotten what he had said at all. He was busy staring at Mahi bhai in adoration, drinking his face in after so, so long. "Related? Yeah...related..."

"Hello, Mahi bhai," said Jinks, coming up to the, with a welcoming smile on his face. He did not appear half as excited as Rishabh. But that was only because he was a senior; he had to set an example; Shreyas was already observing Rishabh like he was stark mad.

"Jinksy," said Mahi, extending his arm.

Jinks was about to shake it, but no, that felt ridiculous. He hugged their mentor instead, wondering afresh why he had had to leave them like that.

"Mahi bhai," whined Rishabh, extremely annoyed. "Mahi bhai..."

"I'm listening Rishu." Mahi turned to Jinks. "Oh, by the way, Jinks, d'you spot any connection between Rishabh's shovel and Ziva's birthday?" he asked solemnly.

Jinks frowned. "Is that a trick question?" Then he caught the twinkle in Mahi bhai's eyes and grinned. "I don't, do you?"

"Trying to think..." Mahi bhai said.

"Go away, Mahi bhai," said Rishabh, again whinily, pushing him away. "I don't want to talk to you."

"Really?" said Jinks drily. He caught the opportunity and scooted away, seeing that Rishabh looked quite ready to burst into tears.

"He turned and came face to face with Ashwin.

"I thought your shoulder was dislocated," he said, shocked.

"Still is," said Ash, indicating at the sling.

"Mate," said Stoinis, spotting him. "Weren't you suppose to like rest or something?"

"Urgent business, Mark," said Ash, winking at Jinks. "Couldn't let you guys snag all the fun, could I?" he added.

"Well, give Rishabh a moment or two," advised Jinks. "Kid's in a whiny mood."

Ash grinned and waited.

Apparently he was third in line, after Rishabh and Ishant. Fourth, if you considered Jinks.

Virat saw the post match pictures surfacing and cursed every god in existence.

"Patience, Virat bhaiya," said Yuzi, but he sounded dead impatient himself.

"The nerve of them! Posting the pictures!" cried Virat.

He was older-brotherly enough to not react on Rishabh, so he contented himself with messaging Jinks.

Virat: nice victory today, eh?

Jinks: yeah I know...

Jinks: I'll call you later Vi, we're going out for a while

Virat stared at the phone and typed hopefully: Shreyas' treat?

Jinks: um, no. Mahi bhai's actually

Virat clenched his teeth and tossed away his phone. Moments later he retrieved it and took to staring longingly at the date of 10th October, 2020.