All of them walked back in their hotel. Virat and Bhuvi were still shivering. They were feeling cold. They were cold. The grip of cold all over them. It seemed like they had gone out for a walk in a foggy Jan early morning. Virat was slightly shivering, even Bhuvi was shivering and the rest of them noticed that sharing a concerned look with each other.

Entering Bhuvi's room, both Bhuvirat slumped on Bhuvi's bed. Tired, worn out and cold. An ominous feeling surrounding them and even with the assurance of trust they were afraid that lady's voice ringing in their mind. Everything deepened on the depths of their bond. But is their bond really as strong as they thought it was??

Too much deepened on this moment.

Too much and the thing they feared losing most always had been each other.

They couldn't lose this.

Never.

Tension was palpable in the room. Virat and Bhuvi were still shivering. No one was speaking and a certain Sir Jadeja fed off of his besties condition and behavior decided to be the icebreaker.

"So my dearest Cheeku, when are you making me meet my godchildren? I want to meet them. I want to pamper them and I won't ever forgive you for keeping my godchildren away from me for such a long time, " Jaddu said watching the way Bhuvirat not so discretely tried to absorb the heat from the steaming cups of tea in their hands.

The room temperature was normal and the heater was turned on as they have come from outside where it was cold. Two figures were feeling more cold than it really was and what Jadeja wanted to achieve had been achieved. Hearing Jaddu's words gear shifted in Virat's mind again. He couldn't beileve Jaddu was still stuck on that stupid point.

Scoffing at Jaddu, Virat yelled in a totally childish Viratish manner.

"RAVINDRA ANIRUDH SINGH JADEJA , I DARE YOU TO ASK ABOUT YOUR SO CALLED GODCHILDREN ONE MORE TIME WHO DON'T EVEN EXIST BTW AND I WILL MAKE SURE YOU SEE THE WORST SIDE OF ME. I DON'T HAVE ANY KIDS." Virat yelled the last part scoffing loudly.  From when did he have kids? Did he really look like the fatherly type to anyone?

Hearing Virat's answer, Bhuvi couldn't help but ask almost teasingly to Virat; "I'll make  sure to tell Kul, Rah and Jassi all about this,"

Eyes widened in total shock, Virat looked at Bhuvi almost pouting as he said sternly "Don't you dare,"

Virat could almost imagine those kids reaction. Kul will sulk. Jassi will look sour and Rah will scowl at his direction for the foreseeable future. None of them will talk to him.

No, he can't make those kiddos angry.

Bhuvi just laughed noticing Virat's panicked expressions.

"Then who were the kids you were talking to?"

"Who was on the call whom you were calling kiddos?"

Rohit and Jinks asked simultaneously in sync with varied level of curiosity and accusation.

Rolling his eyes Virat was about to reply but was stopped by his Mahi Bhai's question.

" Virat, I just want to hear the truth. Whats actually going on? You say you don't have kids yet talk to some kids daily so fondly. Moreover, I want to really know what that lady really meant in the park? How Bhuvneshwar and you know so well? What are we unaware of Cheeku?" Mahi Bhai asked unknowingly using his most famous nickname for Virat.

Bhuvirat looked at each other hearing Mahi bhai's questions. Talking with their eyes. Again, Ro, Jaddu, Jinks and Mahi bhai felt like they were intruding for Bhuvirat eye conversation was that proficient.

All of them waited with bated breath to know the answers of their question. To solve this mystery yet Bhuvirat seemed too lost in their conversation to actually answer.

"There is definitely something which we don't know, kiddos. Why do you think we will not believe you? Tell us baccha, we will believe you. If you won't tell how will we know what's bothering you both.You know na you can trust me." Mahi Bhai continued in his calm assuring tone looking at both the kids concerned.

He was very worried when tears literally graced their eyes hearing his words. He didn't know how much they missed their Mahi bhai.

"Mahi Bhai, we both trust you more than ourselves. But the thing is that we are afraid will you believe us after knowing the truth? It's really crazy and sounds unbelievable but we aren't crazy. Well, I'm not" Bhuvi said and later amended glancing towards Virat.

"Yaar tumlog ghuma fira ke baat Karna bandh Kar.Jo bhi bolna h saaaf saaf bolo, mujhe phir sona h and I beileve you. No matter, how crazy all this sounds." Rohit said a little frustratedly. He was tired of their frightened kitten expressions.

What was so odd?? What did they do? What so crazy secret were they hiding?

Bhuvirat looked at all of them still unsurely.  But all of them were giving them the same look.

For the first time in ever, Mahi bhai, Jinks and Jaddu agreed with Rohit. They were also tired from all the practice they had that day plus the cold was not much helpful. They wanted to sleep and this mystery won't let them sleep.

Sighing and telling them again all this will sound absolutely batshit crazy. Virat began telling the tale of how one moment they were celebrating their 2023 worldcup victory and next, they were in 2012. They didnt know how they travelled eleven years in past. They didn't know what happened. They didn't know what to do? They didn't know who will trust us? Virat let out all of his suppressed feelings.

Mahi bhai always had been his personal trouble depositing place and now, when Mahi bhai himself was asking the question. Virat couldn't help but complain about every little thing.

"And then we woke up here confused," Virat finished sourly. He hated this whole mess.

"And fainted again," Bhuvi teased Virat on his little stunt igniting a little snort from Ro.

"And we are not alone Mahi Bhai. Our little brothers, our kiddos, Rahul , Jassi and Kul also have time travelled. They all are equally panicked and confused. They are having some wierd dreams and are afraid to sleep. We don't know what to do bhai? We dont know how to help our little brothers? They are our responsibility and we can't even help them." Bhuvi finished in a gloomy complaining tone. Even he couldn't help but unload his worries and feelings on Mahi bhai. It was a habit. They couldn't get rid of it ever. Mahi bhai was their safe place always, no matter, time or space. Mahi bhai was their constant.

Bhuvirat shared a look feeling the silence stretching around them. They tried to gauge the reaction of their listeners. Did they beileve them or did they think that Bhuvirat had gone mad?  What if they don't trust them?

Very worried and vulnerable Bhuvi continued, knowing Virat was too emotional to actually speak now, " It's ok if you guys don't believe our story. It's alright." Bhuvi said but Rohit stopped him with a gesture of his hand.

"Who said we don't believe you? I believe you.I believe, you guys are speaking the truth." Rohit said in one breath. Virat's reaction that day made perfect sense now to Rohit.

Hearing, Rohit's words both Bhuvirat were feeling really-really relaxed, happy, grateful and all those warm and fuzzy emotions.

Emotional as they were, they both threw themselves on Ro. Forgetting,  this Ro wasn't actually used to their monkey jumps and hugs. Ro was actually really surprised finding both Bhuvirat hugging him like their lives depended on him. But

"Woaah, it sounds just like a perfect Jamnagar story." Jaddu exclaimed with wonder filled look. But his eyes showed his trust and support to Bhuvirat.

"But it's a true story unlike your Jamnagar ones" Bhuvi retorted instinctively. He had missed Jaddu and his banters.

And then glanced at Jaddu with wide panicked filled eyes. Forgetting, Jaddu and he weren't that close right now. But to his utter surprise, Jaddu's eyes were sparkling in that mad way that screamed danger.

"So we were friends in the future weren't we?? Did I take you to Jamnagar? Did I show you all those wonderful places?" Jaddu asked Bhuvi super excitedly wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

Face palming Bhuvi nodded but both Virat and he didnt miss their Mahi bhai and Jinks silence. Didn't they beileve him? Bhuvirat thought worried looking at them with worried almost crying puppy expressions.

" I said I'll believe you Cheeku and Bhuvi, no matter, what and I do. Everything makes sense now. But what about the other kids? We should call them here. We should make sure they are safe and secure. After all, your responsibility is ours too. Your kids, ours too" Mahi said winking teasingly at Bhuvirat's direction.

And Bhuvirat literally sobbed with relief throwing themselves on Mahi bhai at the same time, mumbling "love you, Mahi bhai, you're the best,"

And just like that Mahi bhai felt complete. Like this was supposed to be like this, like they were supposed to be so. Rohit, Jaddu and Jinks joined the hug making it a group hug. Bhuvirat couldn't actualy explain in words how much relieved they were feeling.

"So, you're telling me you're the future Captain of ICT," Jaddu asked Virat after breaking the hug in a very thoughtful tone.

Virat just nodded, not understanding what Jaddu was thinking?

"You sure ICT hasn't gone mad under you," Jaddu asked still with that thoughtful look.

Bhuvi snorted with a look who's asking this expression.

Ro and Jinks snickered.

Virat made a face at Jaddu.

Mahi bhai looked totally amused by all of them.

"Areey, I'm sure, you're kids are my kids. So, you sure you hadn't pulled your maddening influence on them?" Jaddu asked very seriously.

Virat facepalmed mumbling about keeping his sweet, innocent kids as far as possible from Jaddu.

Bhuvi just laughed madly hearing both Jaddu's words and Virat's muttering. He couldnt help it he was feeling very happy and light. And as if the kids has a premonition of them being remembered. Bhuvi's phone started ringing with an incoming call from Jassi.

Noticing Jassi's name Virat asked Bhuvi to put the phone on speaker.

"Bhuvi bhaiya!!!! Are you alright? I'm so afraid bhai. I'm feeling so scared. Please, take me with you. She said that everything will be over. We will loose our Mahi Bhaiya, B-Ro and everyone" Jassi sobbed sounding utterly terrified and lonely.

It broke everyone's heart. Mahi bhai, Ro, Jinks and Jaddu didnt know why but they felt very protective about this sobbing kid. And before Vi or Bhuvi could start their consoling session. Ro had snatched the phone from Bhuvi.

"No baccha,  you won't loss us ever. We will be there for you always and forever and of course, you can come here. Your Vi bhaiya will bring you here if he knows what's good for him," Rohit said in such a future Rohit like manner that Bhuvirat couldnt help but gape at him.

"B-Roooo," Jassi asked softly, so hopefully that Rohit felt his heartstrings getting pulled. He felt an instant connection with the kid. He felt responsible for the kid. Like he knew the kid forever.

"Yes," Rohit agreed though he didnt know why he was being called B-Ro. He was happy being B-Ro for this kid.

"Jassi, baccha, everything will be fine, you trust your cheeku bhaiya, dont you. I wont let anything happen," Virat promised Jassi softly reassuring,  easily slipping in his cheeku bhaiya role.

Well, by now, he had become a master in changing from Mahi bhai's whiny irresponsible kid to the kid's responsible older brother.

"Absolutely," Jaddu said without missing a beat. He trusted Vi with his life.

Before Virat could say anything else, Virat's phone started ringing.

Rahuliyaaa❤❤❤ flashing on his screen.

Sighing,  Virat picked up the call. Another kid to deal with.

"VIRAT!!!! ARE YOU FINE??? VIRAT BHAIYA!!! AAP THIK HO NA? SPEAK SOMETHING, WHY AREN'T YOU SPEAKING??"a visibly shaken Rahul wailed as soon as Virat picked up the call.

Virat didn't know whether to be happy being called bhaiya, at the concern and love of his Rahuliya or worry about the fear in his voice.

"Yups Rahuliya, I'm absolutely fine but what happened to you my MOI? You were studying na? Did you experience another nightmare?" Virat asked softly with enough concern to relax Rahul. He knew his Rahuliyaa the best.

He could still hear his hard breathing. The kid was really frightened.

" Yeah, I slept while studying," Rahul admitted softly "Virat!!! Virat you were so hurt. You were bleeding. I was so scared. I called you but you weren't answering. Your weren't waking up. I was so scared. I didnt want to lose you. I cant lose you and then I saw....I saw, I have lost everyone. She said she will snatch everyone, I hold dear. She will kill my brothers. She will kill everyone." Rahul sobbed panicked and broken. He couldnt bear losing his brothers. He cant lose his Virat bhaiya ever.

"Don't worry bachaa, no one will be able to harm your Virat bhaiya or you. Your Virat bhaiya and Bhuvi bhaiya both are fine. Take a long breath, inhale and now, exhale slowly. Yeah, inhale and exhale with me, slowly. Now drink some water, you will feel better. And don't worry about your Virat bhaiya, he is safe here and you'll be too." Mahi Bhai said, noticing Virat was literally shaken up by Rahul's words.

How much Virat cared about Jassi and Rahul was clear in his expressions, he cared about the kids lot.

"Mahi bhaiii," Rahul mumbled softly questioningly, he could recognize that voice anywhere.

Mahi bhai was surprised to note the degree of love and concern in the voice. The shaken up kid worried for him. What was the world coming too?

Just then another phone started ringing

"Vi Bhaiyaa!!! aap thik ho na? usne bola ki Woh sab khatam Kar degi." Kuliya's visibly shaken and hoarse from crying voice greeted the room.

"He is absolutely fine Bhuvi. She won't harm us. She can't harm us. We have our Mahi Bhai, Ro, Jinks and Jaddu with us. They trust us , they knows our truth" Bhuvi said reassuringly knowing Virat was still trying to calm and make sure Rahul was alright.

"Really Bhuvi bhaiya?" Kul asked softly innocently, hopefully. He sounded so small and so innocent.

"Absolutely, Kul don't worry. We will make everything alright," Jinks promised. He couldnt help but feel very attached to all the kids already.

"Who is the lady they are referring too? And what that lady actually told you guys?"Mahi Bhai demanded from none in particular, after disconnecting the calls with the worried kiddos.

+to be continue+

Mahiro457, thanks for the beautiful update dear, Ro.

Hope you enjoyed it guys?