"Ro the BCCI contracts have been released and you along with jassi, Virat and jaddu are the part of the A+ contract." Ritika told Rohit who was engrossed in watching their daughter colour a picture of him and Virat.

"Mhm ok." Rohit said not paying much attention to that. Ritika came towards him and tapped his shoulder "Ro" She called out to him and Rohit finally noticed her voice sounded off.

He turned and looked towards her upset face "What happened why do you look upset?" He asked concerned himself.

Samaira sensing the shift in the atmosphere looked up at the two "Sammy why don't you go to your room and take out that puzzle baby?" Ritika asked her and she merrily went her way.

Ritika made Rohit sit and now Rohit was increasingly getting tensed "What's happening Ritika? Is everything ok?" He asked.

"No Ro, Yas has ben excluded from the central contract." Ritika said clearly upset.

Rohit abruptly stood up rage clear on his face "What the fuck? How did they even decide this on what basis?" He asked but it was more of a rhetorical question.

"Is this because he refused to play only one ranji match? Are they out of their minds that kid was suffering from back spasms." Rohit continued ranting.

"Ro calm down first please, we'll have to talk to yas too right? If you are so agitated how will you comfort him sweetheart?" Ritika said rubbing his back trying to comfort him.

"But Rits he doesn't deserve it, we won the semi finals because of him and Virat. This is so unfair to him." Rohit said now visibly calm but upset.

Ritika hugged him and Rohit melted in her embrace feeling more grounded now "Talk to him ok? He needs you right now but please just stay calm. Hmm?" Ritika said caressing his hair.

Rohit nodded his head and stood up "Yes I am gonna go now immediately. Uh when was this contract released?" He asked fearing the impact it would have had on Shreyas.

"About 2 hours back." Ritika replied and Rohit was almost out of the gate "I'll call or message you if I stay back which is highly likely ok?"

Rohit said as he came back and gave a peck to Ritika. She nodded and squeezed his arm so as to  reassure and tell him that everything's gonna be alright.

In front of Shreyas' house

Rohit pressed the doorbell and waited for a few second and pressed the bell again upon not receiving any answer. 

"Yas open up!!" Rohit now banged the door calling out his name. After a good 5 minutes the door opened.

Shreyas opened the door with disheveled hair and bloodshot eyes as if he had been forcing his tears to not flow.

He opened the door and walked away to his room without giving any chance to Rohit to speak. Rohit shook his head and followed him inside closing the door.

Rohit grimaced as soon as he saw the condition of the living room and also his bedroom. Everything was scattered as if Shreyas had thrown away everything in a fit of rage.

Rohit saw Shreyas was sitting on the bed staring out in nothingness, he saw Shreyas' trophies and cricket kit scattered and bent down to pick them up.

He started clearing up the mess and Shreyas noticed it, he stood up abruptly and took the bat and trophy which was in Rohit's hand.

Rohit bent down again to pick up another trophy, Shreyas kept the bat and trophy which was in his hand on the table and took the one which was in Rohit's hands again.

Rohit smiled looking at him and he just scowled back "What are you doing?" shreyas asked and Rohit ruffled his hair fondly.

Shreyas pulled back and went to sit on the bed again "Picking up the things which I know are so very precious to the one who's precious to me." Rohit said looking at Shreyas who again had the faraway look on his face.

"Why are you even here? Don't you think I am very egoistic and not worthy to be in the national team?" Shreyas said trying to yell but failing.

Rohit walked towards where Shreyas was sitting and kept a hand on his shoulder. Shreyas tried to shake it off but Rohit held on. Rohit looked at Shreyas with warmth and love in his eyes, silently urging him to open up.

This seemed to snap something in Shreyas as all the pretense of the tough guy fell away and he hugged Rohit tightly, the dam of his emotions flowing. Rohit could feel his shirt dampening and he did nothin other than making soothing sounds and making circles on his back.

"Bhaiya you don't think I am egoistic right? Bhaiya I really am not. I lo-love playing cricket it-it doesn't matter where..." Shreyas said between his sobs "I-I really was not- not well." he continued.

Shreyas pulled back and looked at Rohit "Bhaiya it's all because of this stupid back injury, why is it not leaving me?" he asked helplessly, his tears flowing.

Rohit took him again in his arms "Calm down yas, I know you and I know that you are not egoistic and how much you love playing cricket. You don't need to tell all of these thing to you bhaiya baba." Rohit said in a soothing voice.

Shreyas had visibly calmed down a bit and had stopped crying, Rohit got up and brought some water for him. Shreyas stubbornly shook his head but Rohit put the glass directly near his mouth.

Shreyas scowled but drank the water and Rohit ruffled his hair again and this time he gave a small smile. Rohit kept the glass aside and sat down besides Shreyas.

"Yas I know what they did was unfair to you, no one is going to deny that." Rohit started "Bhaiya I even played ranji before the test series against England." Shreyas said.

Rohit nodded his head as he said "I know baba, I also know how much your back issues were troubling you even in the whole world cup. But you my fighter, not only played the whole tournament but was one of the top scorers."

"We wouldn't have even reached the finals without your century. I also know that you played the ranji match after we came from South Africa. I know how you were not able to play in the england series because your back was troubling you and that's why you couldn't continue playing and also didn't play the ranji." Rohit said trying to comfort Shreyas.

"If you know all this then similarly they knew it too right? Then why did they do this, where did I even go wrong? I was going to play the remaining ranji matches once I was fit bhaiya." Shreyas said pouting like a child.

"Baba we can't control how things happen, but what we can control is how we react to them. Now you should focus on getting fit and playing the game you love so much. And I know once you start playing the haters' mouths will be closed." Rohit said as he put a hand over shreyas' shoulders.

Shreyas nodded giving a smile again feeling way better. Rohit abruptly smacked his head "Ouch bhaiyaaaaa why did you do that?" Shreyas whined rubbing his head even though there was no damage.

"Why did you go to the internet and read all the trolls?" Rohit asked and Shreyas' smiles turned sheepish "How do you know bhaiya?" he asked.

"I know you very well, plus you said something about being egoistic which the faceless trolls are dragging you over. That's not important, what important is I have told you hundreds of times to not waste your energy on those useless trolls still you did that." Rohit said a bit sternly, glaring at him now.

Shreyas lowered his eyes like a kid who had been caught stealing chocolates "Sorry na bhaiya, I won't do it again." Shreyas said poking Rohit's arm trying to pacify him.

Rohit gave in and smiled at him again hugging me "Ok I'll forgive you, even though I know you are going to repeat the same mistake." Rohit said and Shreyas just shrugged and smiled sheepishly.

"Ok now I know you wouldn't have had anything to eat so I ordered food for both of us." Rohit said now scrolling through his phone trying to check the order tracking.

"Bhaiya..." Shreyas called out to him "Hmm?" Rohit asked but Shreyas pulled his hand so as to bring his attention to him "Bhaiyyyaaaaaa" Shreyas whined and Rohit looked up.

"I love you bhaiya, you are the best one I could ever have asked for." Shreyas said his eyes full of love and his smile full of warmth "You are a brat yas-" Shreyas scowled "But my brat and I love you too kiddo." Rohit said hugging him and patting his head.

"I'll play the remaining maches of Ranji, bhaiya and make you proud." Shreyas said in the hug "I am already proud of you and I know you'll make me more proud." Rohit said.

Even though Shreyas was still not in the central contract and people were still gonna troll him, but he felt at peace, safe and protected, with his Rohit bhaiya. He felt like he could do it and his bhaiya will always be there to cheer him on.

A/N: Hey guys so here's another one shot and it's kind of too long, I hope you guys like this and don't mind it. Please vote and comment, I did not get the 60 in the last one but maybe in this? Hehehe :))))

PS: I know you guys' requests are pending but I had this in my draft, half made so I just finished this and updated it. I hope you guys will wait for a while, thanks for the cooperation my lovelies!

Till next time Toodless!!

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