Jassi and Rahul tackled Rohit and Virat in a hug as soon as they pulled away from each other.

"Bhai are we going to be like before?" Jassi dared to ask the most dreaded question and Rohit looked at a blurry Virat, he wiped his eyes and again looked at Virat who was hugging Rahul like his life depended on it.

But before Rohit could say something he was tackled in a hug by half the kids who were not hugging Virat, and after the hugs were done Virat and Rohit were hoisted on shoulders by their teammates.

They did a victory lap just like that with Rohit holding one corner of the flag and Virat holding one corner, several photos were clicked and everyone was in a state of euphoria but Rohit and Virat felt as if there was an empty space in their hearts.

 ~~~~~~~~~

Now everyone was in the dressing room to freshen up before they went for the presentation ceremony. Vamika, Akaay and Samaira came running in the dressing room with Anushka and Ritika following behind.

Vamika leapt in Rohit's arms and Samaira in Virat's, "Congratulations chachu!" Both of them yelled in unison in their ears.

Akaay, merely a three year old looked up at his elder sisters and pouted, "No one holdsh me." He said stringing the words together.

Rohit bent down and picked him up immediately, "I agree your chachu is a bit old now but never for my favorite niece and nephew." He said and Virat looked at them adoringly.

Anushka nudged Virat and he pecked her, hugging her while still holding Samaira who now jumped down, "I am a big girl now chachu, nine years old." She said proudly.

"Accha accha baba I get it our Sammio is a big girl now." Virat said as he pulled her cheeks making her whine.

Ritika went towards Rohit and Anushka made Vamika and Akaay come down from Rohit's arms.

Ritika caressed Rohit's face and pecked him, "You did it Ro, you finally did it!" She said and Rohit immediately pulled her towards himself, putting his face in the crook of her neck.

Virat also held Anushka's hand tight as she was holding Akaay and couldn't hug right now. As  they went to do their congratulations with the whole team Rohit and Virat were left alone together.

Virat turned to leave but was stopped by a hand on his elbow, he looked back to see Rohit looking down, holding his hand while he had tears in his eyes.

Rohit dropped his hand immediately when Virat turned around, "What happened?" Virat asked cautiously but he stumbled back slightly as Rohit tackled him in a hug.

Virat's eyes widened but he couldn't help but hug Rohit back, this was the first time they were actually hugging after 3-4 years except the on field hug they just shared.

Tears threatened to spill from both their eyes as they clung to each other, this time without any interruptions because everyone was actually waiting for this day and had the sensibility to leave them alone right now.

Virat reluctantly pulled away from the tight grip Rohit had on him, Rohit was still not looking at him when he said, "Sorry."

"Huh?" Virat asked, his eyebrows furrowing. "Sorry for abruptly hugging you." Rohit whispered, afraid that Virat would be offended (????)

Virat's patience broke and he face palmed himself, "I have been waiting for this day since the past 4 years and you are telling me you are sorry for giving me what I wanted? You are saying this was a mistake and you did not want to hug me? You are telling me that you don't even have that much of a right on me anymore? That you can't even hug me when you feel like it? Who told you that I was even offended and you needed to say sorry you....... you Benstokes!" Virat rambled away angrily.

Rohit was stunned into silence, he was seeing Virat being his best friend Virat after such a long time. Granted it was him who had decided to distance himself from Virat, but it hurt, it hurt alot and now that it was all ending he couldn't think he could continue like this.

"I- I am uh going to retire." Rohit stammered, in the pursuit of changing the topic. Virat sighed as all the fight left him, as he nodded.

"I know, me too." Virat said simply still not looking at Rohit. "I figured, we had decided this when we lost the 2023 world cup." Rohit said almost subconsciously, in a daze of those sad memories.

Virat smacked his arm instinctively and said, "Don't go there!". Rohit nodded, "I just didn't think you'd go along with that after..... uh after- um whatever happened." He said, stammering.

Virat just shook his head and an awkward silence fell between them, "I am so sorry!" Both Virat and Rohit said at the same time.

They looked at each other questioningly but Rohit started first, "I am sorry that I didn't forgive you and distanced myself so completely. I was just scared of getting hurt again and didn't realize that whatever happened hurt me and you more." He said a tear rolling down his cheek.

Virat shook his head, "I am sorry Ro I shouldn't have said the rubbish I said when I did, I knew how sensitive you are when it came to me and I still joked around." He said as he wiped the corner of his eye.

Rahul and Jassi who were hiding behind the lockers and looking at their seniors, who were now standing just awkwardly, looked at each  other.

"Why are they not being best of friends again now and hugging each other?" Rahul whispered.

"Ro bhaiya is so awkward oh god." Jassi said shaking his head and Rahul glared at him.

"Stop talking bad about him." Rahul said almost hissing and Jassi frowned.

"This is happening since years now, why are you always so possessive over him?" Jassi asked and both of them started bickering.

Rohit and Virat noticed someone arguing in hushed tones and looked at each other and then walked towards the source of noises.

"What are you guys doing here?" Rohit asked from behind which startled Jassi and Rahul.

They immediately looked back to see a confused yet amused Virat and stern Rohit looking at them.

"No-nothing bhaiya!" Rahul said and Jassi looked at him sharply, "See bhaiya he's calling you bhaiya now." He complained to Rohit.

"You guys are going to be the most senior ones now after me and Virat retire and you guys are still fighting like kids?" Rohit said and Virat's smile dropped hearing Virat again. 

Jassi whined, "Just like you guys used to fight over Mahi bhai-" He stopped mid sentence as both Rohit and Virat's faces dropped.

They had long back stopped arguing over Mahi bhai, not because they had grown up but because they had grown apart. And it didn't pain anyone as much as it pained Mahi bhai to not being able to spend time with both of his kids together.

Rahul nudged Jassi and pulled him away from Rohit and Virat at that awkward note. "We troubled and hurt Mahi bhai alot didn't we?" Virat said after a while and Rohit nodded.

Rohit nodded again as if having made a decision to himself and turned to look at Virat, "I promise you to not distance myself ever from you, to fight with you about anything I don't like but never stop talking. Do you promise me to do the same and be careful about your words?" He said, absolutely resolute to get his best friend back.

Virat looked at the outstretched hand of Rohit and slapped it away, Rohit's face dropped and before he could respond he found himself in a warm and tight embrace.

"Welcome back my panda I missed you!" Virat said as tears now spilled freely from his eyes, "Welcome back to you too cheeku, I love you Vi!" Rohit said his voice hoarse too.

The end of the alternate ending.