Virat was confused.

He was hell confused.

Previously it was his Mahi Bhai and Yuvi Paa acting weird and now Sachin Paa and Rahul Bhai are also acting weird.

And Virat couldn't guess the reason as to why are they really being so secretive? What had transpired so suddenly? But he knew that it was something big because he had never seen his Mahi Bhai worry this much ever before.

And Virat wanted to know what was it. As a little brother of the team, I have that right, Virat thought. But every time he tried find out the reason, something or the other will come in the way or the seniors would always change the topic in some way or the other.

But Virat being the restless soul he is, wanted to know the truth at the earliest. He was walking through the corridor in a trance, while coming back from practice, when he heard some noise from a particular room. His trance was broken and moved towards that particular room to listen. That room which belonged to Yuvi Paa. And from that room, loud coughing noises were coming, it was as if someone was being choked inside.

Virat threw open the door, and found himself facing a frantically coughing Yuvi Paa, who was looking for something in the drawer. Virat dropped his kitbag and ran towards his Yuvi Paa and held him tightly. The door closed with a thud but it was nothing but a soft sound to Virat, because his full concentration was on Yuvi.

Yuvi finally managed to find his inhaler. He didn't register yet that it was Virat he was leaning on, and took Virat's support fully. 

Virat, on the other hand was beyond shocked. Shock would just be an understatement. He couldn't understand anything. He didn't know when he ran towards Yuvi, he didn't know what to think, he absolutely didn't know what was happening. He just watched as Yuvi took the inhaler and breathed heavily in order to calm himself. 

Yuvi finally calmed down and came back to his senses. With a jolt, he noticed whom he was holding all the time till then. He quickly pulled and hastily tried to put the inhaler inside.

"What's that?", Virat asked, pouring cold water on all of Yuvi's attempts. 

Yuvi cursed himself internally. Couldn't you lock the door?!

"What's the matter Paaji?", Virat asked fearfully and innocently. 

"No... nothing Cheeku, absolutely nothing kiddo", said Yuvi, averting his eyes from Virat's.

"Then why were you coughing so much??", Virat counterattacked. He wasn't backing off! Nopes, not at all. There is something going on and he needed to know it. 

Yuvi knew he can't hide it anymore. Mahi was right! How much can we hide from him?!, thought Yuvi. Yuvi knew he had to face it right now. He just hoped he will be able to handle Cheeku after he broke the news to him. 

"Cheeku I..", Yuvi began, but trailed off. 

"Tell me Paaji", Virat encouraged. He was seeing his Yuvi Paa nervous for the first time. He braced himself as much as he could as he anticipated the worst. 

"Cheeku I can't tell you", said Yuvi. He couldn't get himself to tell the kid anything. 

"Why Paaji? Don't you trust me", said Virat, with tears in his eyes.

 "No Cheeku, it's not like that", said Yuvi hastily. At that pin point moment, Mahi and Sachin entered the room, and took in the entire scene in front of them. 

His eyes met Yuvi's. Did Cheeku-

He saw, Yuvi said through his eyes. Mahi and Sachin stared at each other before going inside. 

"Mahi Bhai, Sachin Paaji, what is happening? Please tell me. I have seen you all very worried about something, please tell me", begged Virat, innocently. 

"Cheeku.. actually", began Mahi, trying to come up with something before he was cut off by Yuvi himself. 

"I have cancer", said Yuvi plainly. Virat stood there blankly for a minute, he stared at all of their faces. 

"Mazak mat karo Yuvi paa", said Virat, and he swiftly ran out of the room, with his kitbag. 

"Cheeku!!", Yuvi called out behind him. "This is why I didn't want him to know", he said frustrated. 

"He will come around Yuvi. You both go to him, he must be in his room. He needs you both", said Sachin comfortingly. 

Yuvi and Mahi nodded to Sachin and stood up. They went towards Virat's room which on the same floor, and opened the door. They saw Virat sitting on the bed, still in his practice clothes, staring at the wall.

They went towards him, Yuvi kept a hand on his shoulder. Virat's trance broke and he looked at his brothers. 

Virat sprung up from the bed and said, "Aap jhoot bol rahe ho naa?", in such a tone that made Yuvi want to cry. He never ever wanted this for his little brother, never.

"Cheeku...", Mahi tried but Virat was adamant. "Aisa mazaak mat karo", said Virat stepping back. 

Yuvi held Virat by both his shoulders and said softly, "Yeh sach hai Cheeku. We have to accept it."

Virat stared at Yuvi's face for a minute, before he broke down completely. Yuvi hastily took him in a tight hug. Mahi followed suit. Virat cried in their embrace clutching Yuvi's t-shirt tight. They let let him cry. 

After what felt like two eternities, Virat calmed down. The violent cries went down to quiet sobs. The three of them stayed in the hug for quite some time. 

Virat looked up and analysed Yuvi's face. He saw how sad he was. How broken he was. 

Virat strengthened himself then and there. He wouldn't het anything happen to his Yuvi paa. He won't let him feel defeated. He won't let this bloody cancer defeat Yuvi paa. 

He broke the hug and wiped both of his big brothers' tears. "Get up and sit the bed", he said, softly. 

"Cheeku, I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier. Please don't be angry with me", said Yuvi, fearing that Virat is angry with him. 

"I'm not angry at anyone Yuvi paa. It's just, I have a right to know what's troubling my big brothers so much", said Virat. Mahi and Yuvi stared at him. He continued, "I know, nothing will happen to you Yuvi Paa. You are a fighter, you are our hero!!! You will win this time as well!!"

Yuvi's eyes misted yet again. That love, that confidence, that support which oozed in Cheeku's voice! How did he get so lucky!!

Mahi looked from Yuvi to Virat. He felt fearfully proud of his little brother. Even though they fought over and over again, Mahi knew that Virat was Yuvi's absolute favourite among all the kids. And Yuvi thoroughly needed Virat's support.

Virat pulled Yuvi and Mahi up and made them sit comfortably on the bed. He then rushed off to the washroom and changed in record four minutes. He was in his practice kits all this while.

The rest of the evening, the trio spent with each other in Virat's room, doing everything in which they could find fun. They even had dinner together in the same room, feeding each other happily.

When Sachin came to the room to check upon all of them, he was met with the cute sight of the three of them sleeping snuggling to each other, while a movie played on the TV. The wrappers of chocolate and empty soft drink cans displayed the amount of fun all of them had.

Sachin smiled at the scene, and he may or may not have clicked a picture and sent it to Sourav. 

He then switched off the lights and the TV, made them sleep properly and covered them with the duvet. He placed goodnight kisses on all of his three kids' foreheads and left the room, carefully closing the door without making a screech.

+++

From the next day, everyone could find Virat following Yuvi like a puppy. Wherever Yuvi goes, Virat is there. And Yuvi was quite enjoying the attention from his little brother. Mahi was not always able to be with him but Virat was always there. 

Yuvi coughs, Virat is there with a bottle of water.

Yuvi gets tired, Virat drags him to take rest.

Virat had even set alarms on his phone according to the timing of every medicine that Yuvi needed to take. He made sure he never misses anything. Virat, along with Mahi were always fussing on Yuvi. Although, it kind of irritated Yuvi sometimes, but he was absolutely loving it. 

Soon, the news was broke to the entire squad. Everyone was equally worried to death for Yuvi. But they were very sure that their Yuvi will be fine. After all, he had his best friend and little brother beside him. 

They were sure that Mahi and Virat would not let Yuvi lose hope. 

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Heyyo peeps!! Finally I managed to update this as well XD!! Don't kill me for the delay please _/\_

Hope you liked this!

Love,
Jiya💓