Days passed in a jiffy for Zachary. As the IPL season had passed, his workload seemed like it had increased by leaps and bounds. He was running himself thin with the stupid players who seemed like they had a special addiction to getting themselves hurt. The junior medic was so done when Rishav came in with an injured wrist. "Bhaiya! Kitni baar bola hai aapko ki catch pakadte time dhyaan rakha kijiye?!" Pant felt bad for having upset the younger like that. He wasn't like those junior doctors who joined for fame and money - this boy was really concerned for them. He drifted back to the real world when he heard a commotion outside. The wicketkeeper-batsman looked at the door, while Zach handed him an ice pack and went out to look for himself. 

What he was traumatic enough for him to let out a choked noise. Yashasvi, his Yash bhaiya, was standing there, his left knee swollen nastily, Shubman was supporting him. But before he could lunge into action, Kamlesh sir took hold of the case. With strict instructions, he had the opener laid on a bed in the infirmary. Zach had to be shaken out of his trance by Ishan before he could get their portable X-ray machine and confirmed that there were no broken bones, but it meant that there was something worse. "I am suspecting a torn ACL, but it might jeopardise his career, if it is that. I really hope he won't need any surgeries." Overhearing his senior confide in the other senior players did little to soothe Zach's heartache. 

Jaiswal was utterly bored as he laid on the bed, high on pain medicine. He was looking around for some source of entertainment, when his eyes on the boy sitting on a chair, by the feet of his bed. "Z-Zach?" The said person was by his side in a moment, "Kya hua bhaiya? Is it hurting? Aap chinta maat karo, ambulance aa rahi hai.. you'll be taken to the best hospital for the best treatment!" He had not expected his cheeks to be pinched so brutally, but the action brought a wet smile to his face. Yash used to do it with a younger Zach, as memories flooded his mind. "Tu itna kyun tension karta hai? Main thik hun! Aaj field pe kyun nahi gaya?" The junior medic held his hand tightly, "Bhaiya..." "Main tera kitna wait kiya pata hai?" The younger's thoughts were going haywire, "No! You can't think about me like this! M-main... No! The BCCI will destroy you! You need to find a good girl and settle! You can't be with me!" 

A small pat on his cheek brought him back to the world, "Kya soch raha hai?" But before Zach could reply, the hospital employees rushed in. Yashasvi was transferred to the best hospital in the city. The night was difficult for the younger to say the least. The next day it was SKY who sat him down during breakfast. "Zach, are you okay?" Concern was evident in the elder's voice. "Haan bhaiya. I am fine!" The junior medic sounded so off even to himself that he flinched. "Beta, tujhe jhut bolne se kuchh nahi milega, balki tera khudka bojh badhega. Trust me, I have a PhD in detecting lies! I have raised half the kids in the team!" The attempt at a joke made Zach smile despite himself. "Bhaiya, joke toh dhang ka maar liya kijiye!" SKY sat back on his chair, with a smug grin, "I made you smile! That must count for something!" "Bhaiya... Yash- Yashasvi bhaiya kaise hai?" The tension returned again, as the experienced player seemed to search for the right words. Zach gave him the time he needed, and finally got to know the truth, "Patellar tendinopathy severe stage. If he can play again, it will be a miracle." It broke SKY to see the tears streaming down the round cheeks of the boyish face of the kid. After comforting him for a while, he opened the group chat which was about to break from the load of messages.

#MATCHMAKERS-E-ICT

Pant:
Is Yashu gonna be okay?

Junior Pandya:
Abbe laude apna bachcha bohot strong hai, kuchh nahi hoga!

KL:
How the hell did he even get that injury?

Pant:
Kamlesh bhaiya bol rahe the ki it's chronic.

Junior Pandya:
What!!!!!
What the fuck do you mean?!!!

KL:
He means that Yash was suffering for a long time!

Pant:
Tell me I am dreaming.
But am I the only one who saw Jaiswal eagerly searching for the junior doc?

KL:
No.

Junior Pandya:
Woh toh breakfast ke time bhi Zach ke baare main puchh raha tha!
🤭
🤭🤭
🤭🤭🤭

Pant:
And, the best news is apne doc ki bhi Yash ko dekhke "feelings jaag jaati hai"!
🤣
🤣🤣
🤣🤣🤣
🤣🤣🤣🤣

SKY:
Doordarshan, tu movie references dena band kar!

Pant:
🤑
It's not my fault that you're a boomer.. duh!

SKY:
Tujhe group se nikal dunga saale!

Pant:
🤐

Junior Pandya:
Kya baat hai bhau? Anything serious?

SKY:
😮‍💨
Zach ki haalat dekhi nahi jaa rahi mujhse...
When was the last time any of you saw him eating?

KL:
Kal lunch pe dekha tha maine...

SKY:
Do you think he will eat if we unleash Aleya on him?

Pant:
Very low blow bhau...

SKY:
😠😡🤬

Pant:
But a very good one too 😅

SKY:
Rishu, tu Ishan ko phone karke bol ki Aleya ko yahan lekar aaye!
Abhi ke abhi!
Samjha???

Pant:
🫡

Aleya had an instant effect on the younger doctor just as they had expected. Within minutes, he was wrapped around her little finger, obeying every single command like a soldier in stride! The little girl was curious and from SKY and Rishabh's viewpoint against the slightly ajar door, it seemed like the doctor was content in answering every question. She was unlike other kids when she saw a skeleton. Instead of getting afraid, little Aleya had started quizzing him on the names of the bones, their crevices, various muscles and their uses in the body.

Zach lost track of time as he played with toddler Aleya. He had to tell her why he used Peppa pig bandaids and spider man gauge, along with why he wanted to become a doctor, if he liked wearing jewellery like her papa, what was his favourite food... They would have continued further but a loud growl came from her tummy and as if to match, Zach's stomach growled too! "Chachu! Talo, lunch karne talte hai!" "Beta, mujhe bilkul bhukh nahi hai. Main aapko khane ko le chalta hun, ok?" "But, chachu.." Aleya's frown was adorable as she asked, "Tummy gowling!" while pointing at his stomach.

Zach blushed, "I-it must have been a mistake." "M-mis-misket?" "Nahi beta, mistake." "Yeh kya hota hai?" "Mistake matlab galti," he explained, while making her hair presentable. "Toh mela tummy bhi misket kiya! Mujhe bhi bhukh nai lagi!" The pout melted the medic's heart. Why did he even think that he'd stand a chance against those beautiful doe eyes? "Main khilaunga toh aap khaayenge?" He picked her up in his arms. "Chachu eat too!" The soft cheeks were puffed cutely and Zach could feel all his self resolve to punish himself break apart like a kidney stone under the effect of potassium citrate. "Okie dokie.. Chachu eat too!" He nuzzled her cheeks, when she started giggling. Maybe, just maybe, he needed to get out of his shell. The BCCI were afraid of this one kid, and if she could bring those hags to their knees, there was nothing stopping him from standing up to them. 

The elder cricketers passed knowing glances amongst each other as they saw Zach feed tiny baby Aleya during lunch. To others it might appear that they were busy on their phones like always, but this time the topic was different...

#MATCHMAKERS-E-ICT

Pant:

🤧

Kitne cute lag rahe hai dono! 

😩🥹

KL:

Sach... It reminds me of the time we would babysit Sammy and Vami... 

Junior Pandya:

Wrnfeiofneosnarjfebgrjsndkn!!!

Nkenfifheoiww!

Sdneknfriensannfeoijfuregutbvbwq!

SKY: 

Arre pagle.. Tu thoda shant ho ja!

Why are we getting baby fever?? 

Ruk! Main ek dusri pic bhejta hun! 

*sent a photo*

(A/N: It is a photo of Yashasvi with a girl in his arms)

*sent a photo*

(A/N: It is a photo of Zach feeding Aleya)

Pant: 

That's the same picture!

KL:

Our kiddos are going to be great parents! 

🤧

🤧🤧

🤧🤧🤧

That evening, there came the news that Jaiswal's operation had been a success. The doctors were hoping for a full recovery, but it would take a lot of time, probably nearly 6-9 months. Zach let out a breath which he had been holding onto for who knows how long. The players were discussing about the living arrangements, because they could not trouble his old parents into coming to take care of him, and apparently he was not seriously dating. The junior medic was passing by when he heard some of the oldest players joke, "Yash should have dated that dancer. At least khayal rakhne waala koi hota na!" He froze, his ears ringing, as someone else answered, "Bro, the dancer you were trying to set him up with was a hip-hop dancer!" The voices seemed to come from underwater, but Ishan's voice stood apart as it took his world apart piece by piece and rearranged them, before setting the pieces in place, "Yaar, Yash ko kathak dancer chahiye.. banda classy hai, aap ki tarah nahi!" 

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Sorry guys, I made you wait for a bit too long. Actually writer's block ho gaya tha, and not to mention my parents. 🤭

And if someone has not yet realised, Aleya is the baidh... 

I have the biggest news of my life to share with you all! I started testosterone shots this month!!!

Happy reading, and if anyone has any ideas to help me with working out our sole lesbian couple, please do tell me! I am not getting any plot ideas! 

Enjoy, 

Adiraj!