"It isn't who we loved,

But why we loved."

Kuldeep was petrified, he was more than petrified when the news about Virat Bhai was broken to them by the coaches in the dressing room. He was just momentarily happy, just momentarily thinking that finally, it's proved his brother wasn't involved in fixing or any such sort of activity. He didn't betray them, he wasn't their culprit but all the happiness those words brought evaporated with their next words. His Virat Bhai was badly injured and he...he could, no Virat bhai's Kulya couldn't even think about it without shuddering in fright.

Virat Bhai was always there for him. He was thereafter everything. He was there consoling him after a media house made a fake statement of his regarding Mahi Bhai and he was really upset, upset by everyone thinking he said that and he knew he did not need to give clarification regarding that, he knew Mahi Bhai knew how much he respected and loved him yet he did and Virat Bhai was there with him. He would pick up there calls regardless the time they call. He will let them have a sleepover in his room and his room was always open for them. They were allowed to seek him out for anything and everything.

Virat Bhai treated all of them just like his brothers, heck they were all brothers, he would scold them sometimes, bossing them around some but no one else was allowed to mess up with his kids expect him and that was a law. He was allowed to bully and irritate them but if anyone else tried than their will be hell to pay. It was always like that, all copyrights of troubling and teasing them especially Rohit Bhai, Jinks Bhai and Jadu Bhaiya belonged to Virat Bhai. It was his undisputed territory, teasing them, pranking them and making them feel at home.

And suddenly he wasn't there, he was unusually drawn out of everything, avoiding everyone. Gloomy, sad, reclusive not giving any reason to anyone asking what was his problem. He used to take long solitary walks and usually avoided company in general after the matches. Everyone thought it was his way of coping up with the breakup. It was his way of dealing with all the stress and emotional pressure on him. But the day before the match he disappeared and didn't return even during the match time. He wasn't on the team bus and even Rohit Bhai did the toss, making an excuse about Virat Bhai's absence when Sanjay Manjekar asked him. They elected to bat first winning the toss and Rohit Bhai failed to play his best knock worrying about Virat Bhai and when Virat Bhai was on the crease at the 6 spot instead of his usual one-down spot. He played but not his natural game. He was playing eerily slowly, so slow that it didn't seem his style. His shots weren't executed right. But still, he survived before getting run out. It was like his mind wasn't in the game, he seemed as if he was playing in a drugged state and then their fielding was disastrous drop catches and some missed run-outs and bad decisions led their world cup dream to shatter like a mirage.

In all his life, Kulya swears he won't forget the disaster that happened in the dressing room after their disastrous world cup final. Neither will the rest of the team as they all piled around the gloomy waiting area of the hospital. The visiting hours were over and none of them wanted to move away from the hospital until they were sure. Their Virat Bhai will be fine. He can still hear the loud confrontation that happened in the dressing room, the words that turned into yells and the war of words that broke more hearts that day than ever and after that Virat Bhai tired and tried to talk to them, tried to plead them to trust him once. He can't state where he was that day but to trust him and no one was ready to trust him without complete information. They all were broken, the dream in their grasp had shattered and they weren't ready to forgive yet.

But now looking around him, he could say without a single doubt that they all were wishing they trusted him that day. Blind trust it may be, but if they had just listened to him that day maybe, maybe then he wouldn't be here. He wouldn't be in hospital with bullet wounds, closed eyes and looking so frail and silent. He slept looking all snow-white, with white bandages stained with red blood or medicine he didn't know wrapped around him. His chest was bare with a myriad of scars and wounds on display and Kuldeep wanted to unseen them. Kuldeep wanted to kill all those people who bestowed Virat Bhai with those wounds. He couldn't imagine how Virat Bhai played with them, no doubt now that he seemed drugged with all those wounds hurting him every second. He wanted to scream at his Virat Bhai for being stupid and then hold onto him and cry never letting him go. Never let him out of sight even for a single minute. No matter how much he wants to stay alone, Kulya won't allow it. He will follow him like a shadow what if someone again kidnaps him?? What will he do without his Virat Bhai??

He will bear Virat Bhai's mood swings, his scoldings but he won't let him out of his sight. He will hold onto him and when he opens his eyes. He'll scold him a lot and cry a lot too. He'll question him "which elder brother makes his younger brother so much scared?? Who troubles them so much??" And he didn't know how could someone be worried to death until now. Until now, when the coach announced about Virat Bhai's condition and here doctors are refusing to tell them about Virat Bhai's situation or meet them and the media person are going on and on about all the intel they gathered and how the masterminds and the whole racket is in special police's custody. Virat Bhai's being admitted in the hospital seemed to be just a line in the whole coverage, not something given very importance. Some demanding reconduction of world cup final and he couldn't help but think did no one care about Virat Bhai's condition now?? Is the world cup more important than Virat Bhai's life?? And when Sanjay Manjekar started his commenting in the news channel, Kulya decided he will murder that man when he meets him next.

"Well, Virat should have stated that he was kidnapped and shouldn't have played. There was no need for him to act the hero and we would have won the world cup if he didn't play." As if any one of them would have played knowing their Virat Bhai was kidnapped.

"I think he wants to be a hero when he clearly isn't one. He is just used to the popularity I guess or thinking himself to be super Veer instead of just Virat and I think Rohit should stay the captain, he'll be far more better than Virat." And they didn't hear any more of Sanjay Manjekar's rubbish as the screen in front of them shattered into million pieces as a very fast projectile hit the screen.

With wide eyes, he glanced at Jadu Bhaiya who looked as startled as the rest of them. Following the direction of projectile, all of them gawked at Rohit Bhaiya and the projectile which turned out to be Rohit Bhaiya's new phone which was also lying on the floor shattered.

"My best friend is lying in a hospital bed, hurt. I don't know whether he'll survive or..... And he wants me to take his place.  I'm going to kill him." Rohit Bhai whispered in a dangerously low tone with a terrifying glint in his eyes.

"I'll help" Jadu Bhai snarled no humour in his eyes as one by one all of the team members agreed to help, even Bhuvi Bhai, Bhuvi Bhai who can't even hurt a fly is agreeing to murder someone.

And he turned towards Mahi Bhai and Jinks Bhai hoping them to try and stop them, try and be the voice of reason but their eyes were as deadly as others like they were planning something worse to do with one Sanjay Manjekar. The room was full of tension, guilt, frustration and worry when Kulya spotted his Bhabi entering the waiting room allotted especially to them when the hospital staff and BCCI personal alike got to know that they won't move even a toe out of the hospital until they were sure there Virat Bhai was okay and they could meet him and Kulya was so going to wail holding onto him and never letting him go.

Prisha Bhabi was still standing at the entrance of the waiting room, looking at them with wide eyes and Kulya suddenly realized she must be afraid and the broken Tv mustn't be helping the situation at all and she didn't know anyone of them except him and Subh who isn't present here currently. But the kid must be worried, letting go of Yuzi's hand. He approached his bhabi, his Virat Bhai's finance and he still isn't sure whether his Virat Bhai is really happy in this engagement or not??

"Bhabi" he called out to her drawing her attention to him and also of the whole team towards him as he approached her.

"Kuldeep, " he could feel the tiredness sticking to her like her perfume, the relief in her eyes as she spotted at least one familiar face and the fright still lingering in her eyes.

"How is Bhai? How did this happen? No one is telling us anything?? Bhai will be alright, right?? They didn't even let us see him properly." Kuldeep knew he was whining and his pitch become a little high towards the end but he couldn't help it. His brother was inside ward, covered in white sheet and bandages with an oxygen mask on his face and he didn't know anything about it. And Prisha Bhabi, also known as Dr Prisha Sharma was the only person who could answer his questions.

"Kuldeep, I won't say he is fine cause he isn't but he'll live. And I was here to inform you about that only you can meet him after half an hour but one by one." She informed him grimly but professionally and he didn't know whether to let relief flow through his system knowing his brother will survive or worry about how he won't be fine. How it's a hard road ahead of them to make their Virat Bhai, their again.

"How, how badly was he injured??" Kulya gulped hard while uttering this question. He didn't want yet wanted to know the extent of the pain his brother was going through right now.

Prisha Bhabi moved a little on her place. She looked like she could fall down at any moment. She looked so tired, so haggard and uncomfortable or maybe she is uncomfortable due to the whole team analyzing her, especially Mahi Bhai, Jinks and Rohit Bhaiya looking at her with special scrutiny but still he didn't want to take a chance and whispered as an afterthought, "Please Bhabi, tell the truth only."

She sighed, in defeat before informing him and the whole room in general about Virat Bhai's injury "he has been shot three times. Luckily all the shots missed the vital organs but one shot was just too close to his heart and there was lots of internal bleeding due to a ruptured spleen. He needed to be operated immediately after he was brought here yesterday."

Yesterday, that was new information for the whole team. Their brother was fighting for his life while they played against West Indies and enjoyed their victory and if this incidence wasn't leaked in the media. He was sure they won't be told now too and he was mad, so mad at everyone but watching Prisha bhabi's condition. He knew she must have been beside Bhai and she needs rest too.

"Bhabi" he began but her phone rang and she excused herself, reassuring someone else about Virat Bhai's condition. Sometimes he really forgets that Virat Bhai had friends and a life out of the ICT too. He really forgets that Virat Bhai isn't all there, he knows people beyond them too. The last time he met Virat Bhai running wildly in his mind. It was Virat bhai's engagement day and they had a talk on the terrace.

.Flashback.

Kuldeep could see everyone but Virat Bhai after the engagement ceremony. Searching his Virat Bhai, he came out and found him sitting in the garden all alone. A glass full of alcohol in his hand as he stared at the moon with misty eyes.

"..Bhai.." He called out to him a little uncertain and afraid.

"Oh, Kulya come sit" Virat Bhai motioned him to sit beside him on the bench and he did, settling beside Virat Bhai gazing at the dark night sky sparking with the illuminating stars.

"Are you okay, Bhai??" He had asked him uncertain

"Of course, mujhe kya hoga ( what will happen to me??) and thanks for coming here today," he told him not meeting his gaze and Kulya didn't know what to say but he knew how much his Bhai was broken after the breakup. How can he move on so soon?? It seems impossible and the question of whether Virat Bhai was really happy or not tormented his mind.

"It's your engagement Bhai, do you really think I'll miss it for the whole world but how come you getting so suddenly??" He asked his Virat Bhai in a mixture of curiosity and concern.

"Somethings just happen when they are supposed to happen, Kulya." Virat Bhai has spoken mysteriously that day, not explaining his words and Kulya didn't dare question him again.

"Was this your decision, Bhai??" He didn't know what he was asking about the engagement or the world cup??

"Sometimes you need to let your loved ones take some decision for you, Kulya." He spoke again not meeting his gaze and Kulya knew this was the arranged sort of matter. A matter he shouldn't be involved in.

"You'll be always my the Captain, Bhai." Kulya didn't know why he said those words than, why he uttered them to Virat then at that moment but it didn't matter why as Virat Bhai ruffled his hair lovingly but his eyes were red and glassy and he was drinking and Virat Bhai didn't drink expect when he was absolutely sad and broken.

End of flashback.

Kulya was brought out of his last memory with Virat Bhai, by the roar of Suresh Raina as he entered the room. His face all red, his eyes wide and panicked.

"How the hell did this happened?? How did cheeku landed himself in this situation?? And why isn't any of you picking your goddamn phones? Do you know Yuvi is going mad so is and, Ishant and Zak, Irfan called me a hundred times already? Even Gauti called me asking about, Cheeku. What the hell happened and why didn't we know and where are your goddammed phones. Why wasn't anyone of you picking the calls?? Even dada called me you know and I didn't even know about what the hell was happening?? And how is Cheeku?? How the hell he ended  up here??" In his whole life, Kulya has never seen Suresh Raina so agitated, so frustrated and out of his usually calm nature.

~to be continued~