A/N DROP INLINE COMMENTS

Anushka was lost in some deep thoughts and Virat was staring at her trying to read her mind when team entered the room. 

"Anushka" Virat called her and team looked at Anushka who was still in her trance.

"ANUSHKA" Virat loudly called her again and Rishabh hissed.

"Bhaiya itni zor se mat bulao wo dar jaengi" Rishabh whined.

"Hahha idhar aa tu idhar aa" Virat called her sweetly and he obliged and Virat smacked his head  and he dramatically fell back near Anushka's feets

"Aahh aahhh" Rishabh hissed in pain and Anushka instantly looked at him.

"Kya hoa tujhe" Anushka asked concerned.

"Bhabhi Bhaiya ne thappad mara mujhe wo bhi sar pe" Rishabh complained and Anushka glared him.

"KYA HAI TUMHE VIRAT KOHLI" Anushka scolded him and Virat opened his mouth to say something but suddenly realized that how rish addressed her as bhabhi.

"AAGE SE HAATH MAT LAGANA RISH KO NAHI TO ACHA NAHI HOGA. WO KUCH KEHTA NAHI HAI TO ISKA MATLAB YE NAHI HAI KUCH BHI KAROGE" Anushka warned him and he nodded obediently while his mind still stuck at bhabhi thing.

"Or bhabhi ye log bhi mera mazaak udate rehte hain mujhe iss team me koi seriously nahi leta, sab torture karte hain mujhe siwai Mahi bhai or bhuvi bhaiya ke" Rishabh complained again and team frowned.

"Rish ab koi kuch bole na tujhe to mujhe batana and then I'll deal with them. Hadd hogaye hai ek insan masoom hai to kuch bhi karoge uske saath. Itne din se dekh rahi hon me sab ko, ab kisi ne kuch kaha to just tell me the name and I will make sure they can't step inside the hospital next time." Anushka said glaring at Virat and team.

"Ok bhabhi" Rishabh said star-strucked and Anushka smiled affectionately.

"Jao jake beth jao wahan" Anushka said and Rishabh turned smiling smugly at the team and walked away in attitude as the team give him bombastic side-eyes.

"Hospital me chashma kyun laga raha hai andha hai kya" Yuzi avenged him as soon as he got chance.

"Acha nahi lag raha? Rakhdon?" Rishabh asked in baby voice to Anushka.

"Ary kyun itna acha to lagraha hai, suits you pehenlo" Anushka backed him instantly and his face glowed-up making team look at him more nastily.

"Rish zara jake dekhna Rahul kahan hai" Mahi bhai said trying to save poor boy from getting killed by one of his team mated and Rishabh instantly obliged.

Rahul was sitting alone in the waiting room at the corner heavily breaths while his mind clouded with every moment he spent with Virat like a film having a tragic end and his trembling hands covering his face. 

"Bhaiya aap yahan ho me kabse..." Rishabh said entering the room but paused in his rant as he looked at his state. He took a deep breath as he approach him.

"Bhaiya idhar dekho meri taraf dekho aap" Rishabh said softly removing his hands holding them.

"Rishabh wo mein" Rahul was stunned to find Rishabh tried to get up but Rishabh stopped him.

"Bhaiya betho aap idhar aao kya hoa" Rishabh softly asked him.

"Wo me..."Rahul fumbled embarrased.

"Bhaiya I promise me kisiko kuch bhi nahi kahunga and you don't need to be embarrassed we are a family na aap mujh se share kar sate ho I know me chota hoon but samajhta hoon me what you are going through." Rishabh said compassionately.

"Me I don't know if I'm making this all about me or...." Rahul tried to explain himself but didn't find right words.

"Nahi bhaiya it's ok. It's normal to feel all this sab yahi feel kar rahe hain but aisa hain and you know what they are there for each other. Rihit bhaiya, Jaddu bhaiya, Ash bhaiya, Jinks bhaiya and Bhuvi and Ash bhaiya they have each other. Kulya and Yuzi bhaiya have each other Harry Jassi we all are there for each other because we all feel more or less same." Rishabh explained him.

"But after doing so much with Virat, how can I feel bad about myself. It's so selfish of me to think like that" The self-despise in Rahul's voice sent shivers down Rishabh's spine.

"Bhaiya ye to sabka apna point of view hota hai. Ab agar aap khuddko ghalat samajhna hi chaho to aap har jagah ghalat hi dikhoge" Rishabh said and for the very first time in entire conversation Rahul looked at him.

"Han matlab aapko fikar hai ke agar Virat bhaiya ko kuch hojata to aap kya karte to isme hum ye bhi to kehsakte hain ke you care about his existence unki jan ki parwah hai apko. Apko lag raha hai ke it is selfish to think ke Virat bhaiya hamen maaf karden after all we have done as hum ye deserve nahi karte but bhaiya aap phir bhi yahin ho because your care for him is more than your guilt. Bhaiya whatever you are feeling it's all related to Virat bhaiya; his pain, his hardships, his health, his life and career and the bond you two have not about your health or mental state or how cold this floor is" Rishabh tried to joke at the end but it didn't help Rahul at all.

"Par tu isse jo mene kiya usko white-wash nahi karsakta. Virat was there for me in my lowest phase when darkness was swallowing me, he stood behind my back when everyone was pointing fingers at me, he chose me when everyone abandoned me, he thought I was the best when everyone thought I am not enough and when he needed me I just left him... alone to deal with all this. No no no wait I didn't leave him I blamed him. I accused him. I let him drown under the weight of our mistakes, of our choking just to pacify myself that I was good enough" Rahul said and Rishabh hissed.

"Bhaiya you cannot change what is done. Par ek baat mene aap sabko tab bhi kahi thi or ab bhi kahunga jo higaya hai uske regret me kuch aisa mat karo jisse you'll regret later. Aap wapis se wo sab repeat kar rahe ho. Virat bhaiya needs you all and aap phir se jo hogaya uske guilt me ho. Aage badho bhaiya un baaton ko repeat karke aap sirf khudko or Virat bhaiya ko hurt kar rahe ho. He has a bigger battle still left bhaiya to overcome all these things and come back to normal. Iss mess ko sort karne me unka saath do because agar ab ki bar aap peeche hate na to there's no way back and you know that" Rishabh said patiently.

"He don't need us Rish, he has more people in his life who.. who were there with him when we left him. They deserves to  there Rish at our place because we didn't deserve to be there. He don't need any of us" Rahul said slowly that Rishabh could barely hear.

"Or apko aisa kyun laga ke you are getting replaced" Rishabh asked taken-aback.

"We are replaced Rish. Tu ne dekha nahi we know nothing about him and he's not comfortable with us the way he used to be or you know he's not the same anymore. Me kaise samjhaon tujhe kuch pehle jaisa nahi hai" Rahul spke in daze.

"Han bhaiya kuch pehle jaisa nahi hai because agar sab normal hota to you would've been scowling at bhaiya ke me unke saath itna time kyun spend kar hoon ya whining to Virat bhaiya ke Mahi bhai ko bolen raat me apko rukne den but you know what you are replacable because you are readily giving your plae to someone. Apne ghalti ki and instead of rectifying it aap give up kar rahe ho. Virat bhaiya ne aap par kabhi give up nahi kiya iss bond par kabhi give up nahi kiya par aap kar rahe ho bhaiya and honestly Virat bhaiya doesn't deserve this from his first kid. Sab guilty hain but they're trying to rectify their mistake but aap bas ye sochke ke aap kuch undo nahi karsakte aise hi beth gaye ho like seriously" Rishabh knocked some sense in Rahul's brain who finally seems to get it.

"Tujhe sachme lagta hai we should be there with him" He asked like a little chuld and Rishabh smiled.  

"Pata hai bhabhi ne kaha tha mujhse ke Virat bhaiya is injured wo recover hojaenge but his heart has more scars, his soul is more bruised jisse koi medicine or koi rishta heal nahi karsakta and only we have the power to heal him. It's weird na those who hurt us are the only one who can heal us. Virat bhaiay se baat karo ek bar usne kaho ye sab give up mat karo" Rishabh said and Rahul smiled making him sig in relief.

"Rish tujhe lagta hai sab theek hojaega like it's easy for you but hum..." Rahul asked turning back before leaving the room

"Bhaiya I can't assure you whether everything will be normal or not but I think let's find a new normal. After all in the end it's us that matters" Rishabh said hopefully and Rahul nodded vigrously.

"Yes it's us that matters. Thank you Rishabh" Rahul murmured.

"It's ok bhaiay no worries and yeah me kisi se kuch nahi kahunga. Ajao jaldi Mahi bhai bula rahe hain" Rishabh said.

Rishabh kept looking at Rahul's retreating figure as the conversation he had with Virat echoed in his mind.

FLASHBACK:

"Aur tujhe lagta hai ke iss tarah tu team me meri jagah wapis bana sakta hai" Virat asked disappointedly.

"Bhaiya there's no one who can replace you in the team and you should know it. Or team kya sochti hai usse mujhe koi farq nahi padta" Rishabh said angrily.

"Rish you are hurting them bache" Virat tried to explain him all again.

"Ohh unhe hurt bhi hota hai. Unhe hurt bhaiya seriously. They deserve it. They did the same with you" Rishabh said and Virat looked at him disapprovingly.

"Yes Rish somehow they did the same with me that's why I know they don't deserve it, no one does." Virat said and Rishabh sighed seeing Virat's eyes brimming with tears.

"Bhaiya but...." Rishabh tried to justify himself.

"Rish you are making them hate me more. Unko lage ga am provoking you or to be honest me bhi nahi chahta meri wajah se hamari family me clashes hon Rish. Ek bar hochuka hai ye dobara nahi hona chahiye" Virat said and Rishabh looked at him defeatedly.

"Bhaiya it's not like I am avenging on your behalf or something. Mera dil nahi karta unse baat karne ko bhaiya I don't know but when I look at them they all looked so sad and gloomy as if they are the one wronged here but ghalti to unki hai na bhaiya it just irks me a lot and then they keep on blaming you for every single thing like really to me apko defend bhi na karon ab" Rishabh said.

"Rish it's about the perspective. Tu ne bola they are sad if it has been normal you would've gone and tried to cheer them up but today you compared their grief with my misery. If someone is dealing from a comparatively lesser loss than other doesn't mean it hurt less na Rish. Tu ekbar unke perspective se dekh we lost the worldcup Mahi bhai ka last worldcup Rish we lost it. Someone whom they trusted more than their life i.e. me ditched them. They are hurt emotionally irrespective of they are right or wrong they are hurting right?" Virat asked and Rishabh nodded.

"Rish hamari ICT ka ek rule hai that when someone is having a low phase in their life we stick to them trying to comfort them by doing everything we can. This rule is broken once unknowingly but it shouldn't happen again. Team needs you Rish you shouldn't repeat their mistake. Tu hi bolta hai na ke one day they'll regret on what they did. I don't want my Rish to regret. Don't feel salty towards them they need you" Virat explained and Rishabh nodded understanding.

"I am sorry bhaiya I was so wrong. I can't do this I'll be there for them like you were there until they realize you were innocent." Rishabh said determined and Virat sighed.

"I don't know if it'll happen but..." Virat said but Rishabh looked at him hurt making Virat left his sentence incomplete.

"So Rish promise me you'll take care of them in my absence especially Rahuliya. You know how he is. I know Mahi bhai and Ro are strong and other kids will somehow manage but all this will effect Rahul a lot. Wo tujhe kuch bolega nahi but just be with him." Virat said and Rishabh promised him to take care of everyone.

BACK TO PRESENT:

Anushka was leaving the room when he met with Rahul though he was looking normal but something feels different in him Anushka thought before noticing Rishabh coming behind him and sitting on a bench tiredly. Anushka went to sit beside him.

"Feeling so grown up" Anushka asked him and he smiled.

"Pata hai bhabhi I am the youngest one in the team. I used to be the most teased kid matlab they'll click some stupid pictures and then post it on stories especially Rohit bhaiya. Then I used to whine to Virat bhaiya and then he used to mock me more that how silly I look or phir me naraaz hojata tha or wo manate rehte the mujhe pora din. I used to borrow their clothes or phir wapis hi nahi krta tha. I was their kid and you know in these 4 moths everything just changed. I was just forced to grow up and you know it just hurts." Rishabh said smiling tearfully.

"I can understand. Tujhe kisi ne kuch bola kya" Anushka asked and Rishabh's smile vanished.

"Nahi wo aise nahi but Rahul bhaiya sad the to unse baat kar raha tha to baaton me unhon ne bola ke it's easy for you and that hits me bas wahi soch raha tha" Rishabh said.

"It can never be easy to do what we are doing Rish it's just we have to act like it is so we can ease them" Anushka said.

"Wahi to it can never be easy for me. On one side team was miserable without Virat bhaiya and on other hand Virat bhaiya was suffering so much and all I can do was look at them helplessly. Pata hai I feel it was easier on their part like all team could see was how they were betrayed so they were victim in their story and Virat bhaiya never knew how team was suffering" Rishabh said and Anushka squeezed his hand assuring him.

"I know matlab except us sabki story 1 dimension me thi and we especially you has to see it in 4-d or maybe 5-d and the worst part is we can't unsee this. In sabki story me na ye hero hain actually problem is that." Anushka sighed.

"Hum yahan kaise phans gaye bhabhi like hum na sahi me hain na ghalat me. But ek baat to hai  is story ke unsung heroes to hum hi hain" Rishabh said and they both high-fived.

Suddenly Rishabh remembered something and he chuckle making Anushka look at him questioningly.

"In sabko lagta hai ke ye inki story ke hero hain but basically ye hero nahi hain ye iss pore mess ki gopi bahi hain gopi bahu" Rishabh said giggling and Anushka also burst in laughter.

"Gopi bahu seriously Rish" Anushka said after a minute or two after her laughter subsided.

"Bhabhi sach sach batana mere bolne ke bad aapne virat bhaiya ko aise saree or bindi me imagine kiya na" Rishabh asked making Anushka laugh again nodding her head.

"Tu ne bhi" She asked.

"Blue" Rishabh said laughing.

"Red" Anushka giggled and Rishabh joined her.

"Moochon wali gopi bahu" Rishabh giggled again and Anushka happily joined.

"Lekin agar wo gopi bahu hain to hum kya hoe" Rishabh thought.

"Ahem jee" Anushka replied.

"Acha chalo ab aap batao" Rishabh asked after few minutes.

"Kya" Anushka asked and Rishabh give her like-really type of expressions.

"Acha to baqi sab to theek hai like I was dealing but I low-key despise Virat a lot for going without informing anyone behind that racket like ek message dalne me kitna time lagta hai Rish. Location de deta GPS on krleta anything but no he didn't. You know usko hero banna tha ban gaya wo but what I went through those 6 hours trying to locate him is something only I know. And when I found him that scene those visuals Rish they haunt me forever. What if something had happened to him that day, me kya bolti uski family ko who had trusted me blindly in his case. He should've thought about this as well but he didn't. And those 4 days in hospital before the team arrived were no less than a hell for me like you don't know it" Anushka said.

"I know he should've informed someone like film nahi hai ye" Rishabh agreed with her.

"Exactly and on top of everything he's joking about that goli thing like seriously this guy has some weirdest coping mechanisms. Bloodyfool." Anushka muttered angrily and Rishabh snorted.

"Nahi wo Rohit bhaiya ke bad you are the only one who talk to him like that" Rishabh said as Anushka was glaring him making Anushka roll her eyes.

"He deserves it." Anushka stated.

"Aapne baat ki Virat bhaiya se is bare me" Rishabh asked.

"Waise to he has an idea about it but as such hamari koi baat nahi hoi because team is around and you know" Anushka said looking at Rishabh.

"Han han Rohit bhaiya ka bas nahi chalta apke or virat bhaiya ke beech 8ft ka distance rakhen social distancing you know or Yuzi bhaiya or Jaddu bhaiya to desi ghee hain hamare jo aag bhadkate rehte hain or Harry bhaiya" Rishabh said dramatically.

"Wo to kafi down to Earth hain jab aao zameen par hi ilte hain" Anushka said smiling.

"Lekin sahi bhi hai let him spend time with team and oh shit Virat ka BP check karna tha 15 minute bad ruk me aati hon" Anushka said hurriedly standing up.

Mahi bhai who was listening all this conversation went inside the room before Anushka could notice him.

"Kulya sach sach bol kuch bola kya Sheetal ne" Virat aid enquiring to Kuldeep who nervously fumbled under his gaze.

"Virat bhaiya aap mere bechare Kulya ko aise mat dekho dar jata hai wo usko kuch nahi pata na" Yuzi said hugging Kuldeep tightly and Virat sighed.

"Tujhe kyun lagta hai kuch hoa hi hai kam ka pressure hoga hosakta hai ya phir tiredness. Overthink mat kar" Rohit tried to distract him.

"Ary me bata raha hoon na kuch chupa rahi hai wo mujhe pata hai" Virat said stubbornly just then Mahi bhai entered.

"Bhai Anushka kahan hai" Virat asked.

"Wo Rishabh ke saath bahar bethi kuch baat kar rahi hai" Mahi bhai replied and Virat sighed in relief.

"Oh phir theek hai" Virat said contently.

"Kyun kyun theek hai hosakta hai na kuch hoa ho hosakta hai wo pareshan hon apko to pata hai na kuch chupa rahi hain wo" Kuldeep said and Rohit glarede at him.

"Tujhe kya hoa ab" Bhuvi asked staring at him while he passed a sheepish smile.

"Nahi wo Rish hai na to he'll handle. Pata to hai wo kaise sabka mood uplift kardeta hai." Virat said making Kuldeep and Jassi roll their eyes.

Just then Anushka enter the room.

"Phir beth gaye ho tum kaha tha mene don't strain your stitches sunte kahan ho lekin lay down" Anushka scolds him and he lays down obediently making Mahi bhai smile for onknown reasons.

Just then Rishabh entered the room and looks at Virat and slowly calls Anushka.

"Kya Rish" Anushka turns to face him and founds him looking at Virat.

Rishabh burst into laughter while Anushka covers her face with a file trying to stiff her laughter.

"Rish mat kar yar. Oh God I need to bleach my mind" Anushka said trying hard to control her laughter while everyone looks at the duo confused.

"Hai to hai me kya karon. Waisde ab ki bar Purple" Rishabh said anda Anushka giggle.

"Ye hasti bhi hain" Yuzi asked to Kuldeep surprised.

"Huh wo bhi Rishabh ke lame jokes par. Kitne unfunny hote hain wo" Kuldeep said.

"Rishabh tu apni bhabhi ke hospital ke sofa kharab kar raha hai khada hoke has" Jassi taunted him.

"Oh han sorry sorry" Rishabh said quickly standing.

"Or itni zor zor se kya has raha hai. Itni zor se koi hasta hai kya hospital me" Kuldeep said and Rishabh quickly stiffed his laughter.

"Sorry bhabhi" Rishabh said and Anushka nodded smiling affectionately. 

"Ok so BP is normal like itna fluctuate nahi kar raha hai but it's still a bit high" Anushka said relieved.

"Anushka wo ek baat karni thi tumse" Mahi bhai said.

"Han bolen na Mahi bhai" Anushka smiled.

"Wo ek issue hogaya hai actually I'm not feeling well to me aaj raat nahi ruk sakta hon but Rohit ko thora kam hai to wo bhi nahi ruk sakta. Jassi, Rahul, Rishabh to bache hain Kuldeep Yuzi ko ek dusre ke ilawa koi dikhta kahan hai or Harry ko hospital wale rakhenge nahi." Mahi bhai said and team frowned looking at him.

"Han to koi baat nahi Bhuvi bhi to hai" Virat said and Mahi bhai mentally scolded him.

"Wo usko roz raat me family ko video call karni hoti hai tu disturb hoga" Mahi bhai addedd quickly.

"To hum me se koi ruk nahi paega aaj raat ko wo tum ho to you can manage for a day" Mahi bhai asked her.

"Ary not a big deal bohat log hain yahan we will manage you don't need to worry about this. Haina Virat" Anushka said looking at Virat who seem a bit anxious but Anushka blinked her eyes.

"Han Mahi bhai koi baat nahi hai" Virat said half-heartedly smiling and Mahi bhai nodded.

"Acha me aaye" Anushka said leaving the room while Virat closed his eyes.

Mahi bhai turned to meet the team looking at him questioningly while crossing their arms.

"Kya?" Mahi bhai asked non chalantly.

"Apki tabiet ko kya hoa theek to hai" Jaddu asked.

"Tujhe mujhse zyada pata hai kya" Mahi bhai shut him off.

"Han to hum me se koi ruk jaega" Rahul said meekly.

"Mne diya na reason na chodne ka" Mahi bhai said.

"Han par mujhe koi kam thori hai me ruk jaonga" Rohit said sweetly.

"Jassi ko tere bina neend nhi aati ajkal tu bhi nahi ruk sakta. Sab ghar jarahe hain aaj" Mahi bhai said with finality and team sighed.

WELL GUYS I AM BACK WITH ANOTHER LONG CHAPTER. I JUST WANT TO WIND-UP ALL THIS TO BEGIN THAT PR THING BUT DAMN IT NEEDS ONE MORE LONG UPDATE. SO DO TELL ME HOW WAS THAT. WELL IN REVIOUS CHAPTERS YOU GOT VIRAT'S POV OR TEAM'S ONE SO HERE IS A QUICK PEAK INTO HARDSHIPS FACED BY OUR UNSUNG HEROES. AND YEAH DO YOU SMELL SOMETHING BURNING? SOME HULRAT MOEMNTS LOADING IN NEXT CHAPTER. DO TELL ME YOUR REVIEWS AND YEAH SHOWER WITH LOTS OF COMMENTS AND VOTES. KEEP READING.