|| 𝐈𝐂𝐓 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 ||

Can't see you in pain (MahiRat)

The Indian Cricket Team landed on the Sydney Airport, Australia, to play the most awaited Australia vs India Series. After a long break, the men in blue were all set return to the field. The players came out of the plane. Pictures were snapped and spread all over the Internet world. Out of which a certain Kohli's pictures went viral.

"King Kohli all set to return in Blue."

"Witness the Kohli magic"

"Calm before the storm" (attributing to the solemn look he had on his face while coming out of the plane)

"Awaiting some Kohlitastic cover drive fours and sixes"

"Kohli's only test of the Summer scheduled in Adelaide Oval"

The Australian media was all but busy hyping up the already immense Virat Kohli induced hype. Surprisingly, Virat proved to be the selling house for the Australian media houses instead of Steve Smith or David Warner. 

All this was not hidden from one man sitting all the way in Ranchi. He was beaming at all the respect and love, Virat was receiving. Mahi bhai was feeling immensely proud at his Cheeku who had already earned the status of a legend. He went through the viral pictures of his Cheeku which was thoroughly spread over the Internet by the media houses and fans alike. 

But there was something which was missing in Virat's demeanour. The solemn look in his eyes didn't quite settle well with Mahi Bhai. He couldn't help but notice the pain and gloom in his Cheeku's eyes. Even in the pictures shared by the official ICT social media handles, Virat looked so tired and resigned. Every time he looked at any picture of Cheeku all he found was tiredness, pain and gloom. The more he stared at Virat's face in the pictures, the more he became convinced that his Cheeku was in a huge emotional distress. His eyes seemed to have lost their sparkle and shine.

And how can Mahi Bhai be wrong about his Cheeku? Virat really was a huge emotional mental mess right now. With the whole world pointing fingers at him, including the people he considered as his elder brothers, he felt worthless. The whole world was questioning his every move, even his paternity leave. He just wanted to experience the birth of his first child. Doesn't he deserve it? 

The night RCB failed to go through the eliminator proved to be the worst night he had experienced in a long time. He had woken up abruptly due to a nightmare, a nightmare in which he surprisingly didn't see today's defeat but the WC semi final losses, both 2015 and 2019. He had woken up gasping for air, trying to find someone who would hold him and tell him its alright. But he couldn't find anyone. From that day, he had been having shortage of sleep. He couldn't sleep, how much he tried to but he couldn't. Whenever he slept, the bloody nightmare came back. So that explains the tiredness. And the pain and gloom, well, isn't it quite obvious where is it coming from? 

It was after the team reached the hotel and went to their rooms, for quarantine, that Virat was sitting on the bed in his penthouse suite and thinking. Well, we can't call it overthinking now. If you are being surrounded by negativity all the time, with people after your life like hounds, you can't help but overthink. Right then, he received an invite for a zoom call from his crazy team. Wondering, what new virus has hit the planet, he joined the call and was met with a fish-market-like din, the usual -- Jaddu, Harry and Yuzi being obnoxiously loud, Jassi and Bhuvi trying to control them, Rahul and Mayank piping in the ongoing drama and riling up the already riled up clan, Jinks, Ash and Rohit looking exasperated and Mahi bhai looking like he had given up on them.

Though unsure if his voice would be heard above the chaos, he tried a "Hello" to greet everyone. And Rohit noticed his presence, for he yelled "Hi Viiii", basically to stop the ongoing madness. He seemed to have succeeded since everyone greeted Virat back, and Mahi bhai ever-so-lovingly asked Virat, "Cheeku! How are you?" "I'm fine, Mahi bhai", replied Virat, but his voice didn't seem to have it's enthusiasm in it because Virat always greeted everyone like a kid on a sugar rush. Mahi's doubts became more clear now and he made a mental note to talk it out of Virat in any way possible knowing that Virat won't tell by himself. Stubborn kids, sighed Mahi.

After the crazy video call ended, Virat got a call from Mahi bhai. Well, Virat was surprised when he saw the call owing to the fact that they just had a video call and secondly, it was them who blasted Mahi bhai's phone with calls, Mahi bhai himself rarely called. 

Nevertheless, he picked up the call. "Hello, Mahi Bhai", he tried, as cheerfully as possible. But then again whom was he kidding. Mahi bhai instantly caught the pain behind the fake cheerfulness of his voice. "Cheeku, What's the matter? What's bothering you Kiddo?", Mahi asked with a voice laced with tenderness and care. The voice that always compelled him to forget of his pretence, the voice which when comes to play forces him to tell the truth.

And it was not different today, as always he broke down, sobbing very violently. He cried as he heard Mahi bhai muttering soft sweet nothings from the other side. Mahi's heart broke watching Virat crying like this. For Mahi, Virat's cries has always pained him more than any physical injury ever. He was feeling so helpless that his little brother is crying and he can't be there to take him in his embrace and tell it's alright.

When Virat had cried out his heart's content, he narrated everything to Mahi. Every single damn thing which was affecting him, killing him from inside, killing him bit by bit every single day. All of that was going on in his head. The knockout match losses, the criticism from every direction, every thing that was hurting him.

"Bhai, Am I that bad? Are my mistakes so big that they are unforgivable?", he asked in a broken vulnerable tone, the tone Mahi hated the most. 

"No Cheeku no, you are not bad, you are perfect just the way you are", Mahi tried to reassure him.

"But everyone is saying the same thing Bhai, even the seniors whom I thought were my brothers"

"No Cheeku, don't let anyone's words affect you. You are the best, that's it. The ones who are mocking you, trolling you now, will be worshipping you some years later, mark my words. Even now so many people are worshipping you Cheeku, look at good side. For millions, you are their hero. You are the Virat Kohli, the run machine, the most successful test captain. And the numbers of the limited overs formats are not much behind. You are the best, Cheeks."

"Am I?", Virat mumbled, insecurity dripping down his words. Mahi wanted to remove those insecurities and doubts from voice for forever.

"You trust me, right?", Mahi asked.

"More than myself, Bhai", said Virat sincerely.

"So when I'm telling you that You are the best, Why are you believing anyone else"

Mahi could see Virat smiling now after hearing those words. Satisfied that he was able to remove some of Virat's doubts, he said, "Video call? Just you and me."

Virat face lit up as he switched on the video. Mahi looked at Virat's face and knew that he will be alright now. 

They talked about every topic available under the sun until Virat suddenly spoke seriously, "Bhai, how did you know that I was disturbed? I didn't tell you anything" 

"Do I need to ask you to know if you are fine?", countered Mahi teasingly.

Virat smiled sheepishly and said, "Thank you Bhai for always being there for me"

"I am always there Kiddo, just a call away. I Can't see you in pain, baccha", said Mahi indulgently smiling.

"I love you so much, Bhai", said Virat, grinning ear to ear.

"I love you too, Cheeku"

For Mahi bhai is always there for his Cheeku, and Cheeku is always there for his Mahi bhai. It's an unwritten, unspoken rule. 

For Mahirat is forever.

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The first one-shot I have written. Honestly I don't know what I wrote but I just penned whatever came to mind that touched my heart. And also Aniksha loves this, so this is basically for her. LOVE YOU BESTIE💖

You guys tell me how it was?

Anyone wants a one shot on any particular pair, then please tell me. If I get an idea I'll surely write it. And if you have any ideas feel free to message me. I'll make sure to construct a story on them.

Love,
Baishali💖