"And Mahi bhai knew in that moment, that Virat can never be angry or blame his Mahi bhai."

"Mahi Bhai," Virat groaned looking at Mahi bhai sitting beside him. For a moment he thought he was dreaming otherwise what will his Mahi bhai do beside him. As far as he remembers he has hurt his Mahi bhai a lot with his words and actions. His Mahi bhai, Ro and the whole team was angry on him for his actions and they should be too. They lost because of him if only he hadn't gone out that day.

Virat closed his eyes for a moment feeling pain and only pain. He was paining in places he didn't know could pain, god his whole body was paining like he had pulled a bus for kilometres with his body. He opened his eyes again and Mahi bhai was still here. Okay, where is this here exactly cause this wasn't his room nor this was Prisha's. He has been there enough time to remember her room and where ever he was what was Mahi bhai doing there? Were both of them locked somewhere? Or Is he hallucinating? If he is then why is he hallucinating about Mahi bhai? Shouldn't he be dreaming about a won match and not dull white walls all around him with an annoying incessant beeping noise? And why on the whole earth is he even talking with himself? He is going mad but that's not possible, Ro is the mad one not him. He is perfectly sane among his friends, no ex-friends they won't want him to be there friend after everything he did. And he should really ask Mahi bhai what is he doing here instead of talking with himself. He won't get any answer talking with himself. 

"Mahi bhai, are you really here?" He asked Mahi bhai not believing his eyes to be truthful and secondly, he was in too much pain to think coherently at the given moment.

"I'm so sorry Cheeku, I failed you. I should have tried harder, I should have known something was wrong. I should haven't left you alone. I should have been there for you." Mahi bhai said with moist eyes, apologizing from his little brother for wronging him. He should have known even when the whole world was against his Cheeku. He should have known as no one knew his cheeku like him. How much had he hurt his little brother that he wasn't even believing his presence beside him?

"Bhai, why are you saying sorry??" Virat asked while wincing and groaning. He was really in too much pain to be dealing with this now but he couldn't watch his Mahi bhai in such a sorry state too. So, keeping aside his pain he looked at Mahi Bhai trying to remember what can cause Mahi Bhai to be so upset and then he remembered the kidnap, the plot, the firings and the screams.

"Shit" Virat cursed as he got up and then screamed in pain scaring Mahi Bhai and also the team standing outside the room who all turned all white hearing the scream.

"Shit, Shit, shit" Virat cursed feeling the scorching pain pass through his whole body but noticing the panicking eyes of his Mahi bhai who was holding him, holding him after what felt ages. He put the pain aside for a moment remembering how he got in this situation, in the first place.

"Bhai, it wasn't your mistake. It was that fat drunk Shastri and his pupils who told me to not inform anyone of you. I would have informed you, I wanted too, I didn't want to hurt anyone of you. But I did and am sorry." Virat rambled guiltily looking at his Mahi bhai reassuring him it wasn't his fault. It was his fault and he shouldn't be ashamed. Only if his words didn't make Mahi feel more guilty watching Virat's blatant worship and love for him.

"Virat lay down first. You're aggravating your wounds. Lie down before the stitches give in under the strain you're putting them under." Mahi bhai told Virat firmly noticing his wincing form and the visible strain he was putting on his wounds as he put his hands on Virat's shoulders and made him lie down. He should make Virat relax and rest right now. He shouldn't worry his little brother. He knew Virat and knew he won't stop rambling or lie down on the bed until he was forced to do so.

"I'm sorry na bhai, " Virat whispered to him with a teary gaze and Mahi could feel his heart tearing apart watching his little brother's state.

"It wasn't your fault cheeku but you scared me with your stunt. I...we thought we'll lose you." Mahi told cheeku while caressing his head.

"I'll never leave you, bhai, I'll haunt you forever" Virat promised Mahi bhai with a pained smile trying to be his usual cheeky self as he looked around him. He made a face noticing his surrounded. 

"So, bhai when can I leave this place," Virat asked Mahi bhai already fed up with his surroundings, Virat despised hospitals. He wasn't ready to stay in here at any cost. Hospitals gave him creepy feels.

"Cheeku" Mahi bhai warned Virat already knowing what was going in his little birds mind.

"Bhai" Virat whined then whispered "it's paining" in a feeble tone making Mahi's heart surge with worry for him. Virat looked so innocent and hurt at that moment that all Mahi wanted was to take away all his pain somehow.

"Virat Bhai" the loud chorus of Virat Bhai ringed in the room as suddenly all traces of pain disappeared from Virat's face as he tried very hard to plaster a genuine smile on his face which still looked more like a pained grimace than smile.

"Heya kiddos," Virat tried to wave his hand in the direction of Kulya, Chahal, Harry, Jassi and Rahul who were hovering on the door like statues with moist eyes, blocking everyone else from Virat's view as Virat winced again in his try  to wave his hand in welcoming gesture"Emphasis" on try here as the hand fell limply on his side paining like it has been broken and Virat really really hated his own body for failing him like this. He really didn't want to worry his brothers.

But looks like he failed as Kulya's lips trembled and a sob escaped his lips, even Harry's lips were trembling and Chahal was already sobbing, Jassi was crying just like Kulya sobbing Virat Bhai and Rahul's whole body was trembling as all of them continued looking at Virat with heart broken guilt filled eyes. And the pain in their eyes hurt Virat more than his aching body. He knew he should be lying on the bed and not straining his stitches like Mahi bhai said but he couldn't just watch his kids standing there looking like they are defeated. Virat can't ever let them feel defeated as long as he lives. He gives them the chances, all the chances even when the whole world thinks he is stupid for playing them, when the whole world questions his decisions for giving them chances. Even when he is called biased and he faces all the trolls for backing them up. He does that and he'll do that forever for they're his kids and he can't let them feel bad or defeated. So, putting his whole effort he flexed his arms beckoning them near him and seems like that's all they needed as all of them rushed towards him and that too in time as he used his all energy and was going to fall back hard on the bed if the kids and Mahi bhai didn't held him and helped him lie softly down on the bed, even when he protested feebly saying he was fine.

"Cheeku, zid mat kr" Mahi bhai warned Virat though he seemed more worried and pleading than warning as Virat pouted looking all put off even if he was hurting himself.

"But Bhai..."

"Cheeku"

"Kulya, don't cry. I'm alive see...I've not yet become the handsomest ghost walking on this planet yet" Virat said cheerily ruffling Kulya's hair as he tried to lighten up the mood. Well, he can't sit right now but he can talk while lying down can't he?

"Virat Bhaiya" Kulya warned Virat not liking his notion of joke, even Harry looked offended and he made the most silly jokes and Jassy looked really offended at this joke not happy at all while Rahul didn't even try to react as he just tightened his grip on Virat's leg.

"I'm fine guys... you don't need to..." Virat began but was cut off by some people very angry on him.

"You don't get to tell us that you idiot." Sikhar informed Virat very seriously as he looked a strange mixture of guilty, angry and distress while looking at Virat's condition.

"Yes, you don't Virat Bhaiya" Kulya told Virat totally in support of Shikhar this time.

"I'm so sorry, Virat" Jinks mumbled still not getting to hold Virat as the kids were hovering all around him and holding onto his hands and legs or any other place they found lacking the bandage and he didn't have the heart to ask them to move even when he himself wanted to hug the life out of Virat. He knew he can't hug Virat now with all the injuries. He heard an echo of sorries in the room as Virat looked at them all confused.

"Okay, so whom did you all kill? or worse did you lose the match yesterday?" Virat asked them with wide eyes looking totally horrified at the prospect of them losing the match and the whole team didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the situation. 

"Don't try to get up, Cheeku" Mahi bhai warned Virat again knowing he was about to sprung up again getting a sight of his besties and the sorry declaration just made him want to sit again.

"VIRAT PREM KOHLI, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? YOU IDIOT, YOU MORON, YOU STUPID INSAAN. WHY WON'T YOU INFORM US ABOUT SOMETHING THIS DANGEROUS AND WHY ON THE WHOLE EARTH YOU WENT ALONG WITH THOSE STUPID PEOPLE'S PLAN KNOWING THE DANGER? WHY WILL YOU MAKE ME FEEL ALL THIS STUPID EMOTIONS WITH YOUR STUNTS ALWAYS AND WHAT WERE YOU THINKING OR WERE YOU REALLY THINKING ANYTHING AT ALL OR NOT? WHERE WAS YOUR OH SO BRILLIANT BRAIN DURING THIS AND WHY ON THE WHOLE EARTH YOU GOT BETWEEN CROSSFIRE AND DON'T TELL ME THE SAME STUPID REASON THE MANAGEMENT GAVE US. I WANT TO KILL YOU FOR YOUR STUPIDITY RIGHT NOW, YOU IDIOT AND STOP GRINNING AT MY DIRECTION I'M NOT GOING TO MELT WATCHING YOU GRIN LIKE AN LUNATIC."

And that was sir Jadeja while most of the team was still looking all guilty and not quite sure how to react now whether to scold Virat for going along with this stupid plan or apologize for their behaviour and tell him they won't ever do something like this. There was Sir Jadeja seething in anger, scolding Virat.

"missed you too, jadu" Virat mumbled in a whisper when Jadu's ranted seem to halt

"I was not crying for you." Jadu retorted trying to hide his brokenness as Virat's grin widened

"Sure, bro... just like you weren't the one who carried me to hospital all panicked when I broke my hand?" Virat asked Jadu innocently as he finally looked at him with moist eyes. Jadu was the first person who knew Captain Virat, his friend who reassured him he could do it during the U-19 world cup. Jadu was the same person who had played the previous world cup too yet didn't even once complain when Virat was chosen the captain even when he had more experience than him. Virat and Jadu are brothers, just Vi and Jadu even before they become King Kohli and Sir Jadeja. They were there for each other, knew each other. So, Virat knew the concern and fear behind those eyes all right.

"You're an idiot"

"Love you too, Jadu" Virat added cheekily even though he was feeling drowsy enough to not speak anything for next 10 years.

~to be continued~