Tuesday, Nov 3.

08:00 A.M.

RCB Wing, Dubai.
~~~~~~

Devdutt Paddikal, called DD by absolutely everyone in the team because of his dearest Captain and even more beloved elder brother, was in a very comfy zone.

The defeat of last night was quite frustrating but they had qualified, hadn't they, and today was a rest day anyway. Dev was unable to fall asleep easily last night and today was the recovery day, anyway. So, he was still in the bed, hugging his pillow and drooling thoroughly on it.

He was even dreaming, well, he was in that kind of mental space where you know you're dreaming but still continue dreaming. In his dream, he was with his Cheeku bhaiya and Yuzi Bhaiya in Hogwarts playing cricket ridding on brooms. It was a hilarious dream and Dev was kinda enjoying taking runs on his broom.

Virat Bhaiya was chuckling lightly, waving a packet of nutty chocolates in his direction.

"For you kiddo," Virat bhaiya sad proudly and Dev was about to take the chocolate from Virat bhaiya but the chocolate disappeared and Virat bhaiya started chanting "Wakey, Wakey...Devuuuu;" on repeat.

And the dream broke but Virat bhaiya's voice still continued echoing around.

"M wake, no wakey...Imawake" Dev mumbled getting up, bleary eyes searching for a certain Virat Kohli in his room.

He couldn't spot Virat anywhere in the room but his voice continued chiming in the room. A little more awake than before, Dev finally noticed the source of voice being his phone.

Frowning, confused as to why Virat bhaiya's voice was coming out of his phone? He picked up his phone and noticed an incoming call from ABD.

Dev picked up the call without any further delay. The confusion about his odd caller tune, totally forgotten.

"Hello, AB sir," Dev said, trying to keep the sleepiness far away from his voice.

"Hey, DD! Were you sleeping kid?" AB asked, feeling a little guilty about disturbing the poor kid's rest.

"No, not at all," Dev denied instantly, nodding his head in negative vigorously as if AB could see-through phone.

"Oh-kay! then kid come to my room fast. We're having a very urgent mission to be discussed," AB informed Dev very seriously, reminding Dev of Virat in his drillmaster mode.

"Aye sir," Dev couldn't help but say, already halfway out of his bed and searching for his slippers.

Where did those stupid things always disappear was beyond him? Do they walk on their own in the night or what?  Finally spotting his slippers under the recliner, Dev hastily slipped in them and rushed to ABD's room.

Forgetting everything about his obnoxiously embarrassing caller tune.

Dev was in front of ABD's room in two minutes.

Knocking politely.

Why was the door closed?

ABD said urgent meeting, it meant, he would have been waiting for them. Why was the door closed then? Dev didn't know, he just waited for the door to be opened.

"Who's it?" Dev heard AB sir ask and dutifully provided his name.

ABD sir, still, opened the door exclaiming "Oh! DD, come in, come in fast" ushering him in and closing the door hastily behind him again.

"Why did you lock the door, bhaiya?" Dev asked AB sir, well, sometimes he slipped and called AB bhaiya too and then AB sir, told him to address him as bhaiya only.

He knew the meaning of bhaiya.

"Oh!! That's because we don't want Virat to enter unannounced," AB replied and Dev wanted to know why?

But he got his answer when he spotted his state team senior K.L Rahul and Mayank Agarwal lying on AB's bed, playing catch-catch with what looked like an orange dipped in glitter.

Yuzi bhaiya recording this laughing and the whole RCB team scattered around AB's room.

"Umm...what's happening guys?" Dev couldn't help but ask feeling a little out of hid depths.

What KL and Mayank were doing in RCB hotel?

"Oh!! We're planning Virat's surprise party," AB replied joining Dev and ushering him to seat anywhere in the whole room.

Dev felt stupid for not already guessing so, of course, Virat bhaiya's bday was coming. They needed to plan but did KL and Mayank really needed to be here?

Noticing Dev looking at Mayhul like a scared little kitten. Yuzi's inner older bhaiya was activated and he took it on himself to make the kid comfortable. He thought, Dev was being nervous around the seniors.

"DD!!! Meet our Rahuliyaaa and Monkuu, they might have gone through an exchange offer but their heart is still totally RCbian. They couldn't stay away from their Vi's B' day planning. After all, Join planning works best right?" Yuzi asked Dev dragging him to sit next to him on the bed, besides Mayhul.

Dev could just nod.

"So, everyone is here. Everyone is settled. Let's begin," ABD announced, successfully gathering the attention of the people present there.

All of them started planning, ideas were thrown around as everyone sat pondering how to surprise Virat on his birthday? It was Virat's first bday with the team and they wanted it to be absolutely perfect for him. They wanted it to be a memory, he'll always cherish.

After all, Virat was someone who was always there for them. He was their official party planner, his Google Calendar was full of markings. He never wanted to miss any team members bday or special day.  Currently, they were discussing things they could do to make Virat happy.

"I could give him some pointers to get Australian Batsman out, isn't that great," asked Zampa being hell excited.

Virat was now one of his absolute favourites too. Before playing for RCB, he just knew the fired up, super-aggressive Virat Kohli, now, he knows the caring elder brother and captain too.

"Excuse me! What the hell?" demanded Finch, sending Zampa sour looks.

Zampa smiled sheepishly scratching his head and muttering "I was kidding, Man. I was actually planning to make something for Virat in my Love Caffe,"

"That's better," Finch added, making everyone else laugh.

"hum na ek kaam karte hai (we can do this)," Yuzi began in Hindi, only to be cut by the foreign players. 

"Mate!! Can you speak in a way we can understand too,"

"sure sure," Yuzi added sheepishly.

"look I know Kholito, He'll like a personal touch more than anything, so can I handle the decor and all of the party," Rahul asked hopefully, gazing at AB, Dayle, Parthiv, Finch and Morris.

Hearing Rahul words, RCB kids were like, "tho hum kya appne bhai ko nahi jante? (Don't we know our brother)"

"Guy's I'll help him to bowl! That would be just the best gift!" Dale joked noticing all the hostile looks send Rah's way.

"Great, I'll help you too" Morris agreed readily chuckling.

" No! Then he'll ask for bowling in international matches! Aur Mahi bhai bhi nahi honge unko mana karne ke liye," Yuzi, Nav and Washy said in perfect sync, bowlers realizing the horror of Virat bowling.

"Mahi bhai ne kab virat bhiya ko mana kiya, one puppy face from virat bhiya and Mahi bhai melts faster than ice cream," Yuzi commented dryly

"Wo tho hai," Mayank agreed whole heartily

Everyone gave the ICT member lamenting about Virat's bowling a look that screamed "we are getting off track,"

"shall I make biryani bhaiya, Hyderabadi style mein," Siraj asked

"I will make all Gujarati dishes," Parthiv added, eyes lighting up with excitement and amusement.

"Then I'll make proper South Indian and marwadi food," Mayank said, he wasn't backing out.

"and you think Biscotti will eat it forgetting his diet?" AB couldn't help but ask, and Yuzi replied shrugging his shoulder, "that's no big deal AB sir, we'll put DD, Navi and the kids on him. Let's see how he refuses them?"

"what do you mean,won't Virat listen if I ask?" Rah asked, a possessive  demanding look on his face.

"He started again," Mayank added under his breath and then to support his bestie murmured, "we are his first kids, baki baad me aye hai,"

"par pyaar tho choto se zyada hota hai na bhiya!" Nav retorted instantly, Dev, Washy, Shiv nodding totally in support of Nav's statement

"guy's peace out, kholi ki birthday planning karni hai Jang ki tayari nahi," Yuzi interfered, knowing this debate could go for hours.

"Guys, let's think what can we do for Virat," Josh spoke softly, being the voice of reason as everyone else were too amused by the bickering.

"I think, I'll compose a song for Biscuit," AB said thoughtfully, he had a perfect song for Vi in mind.

I'll make a video clip of virat, like all his innings in Ipl and with his teammates," Josh said thoughtfully, very proud of his editing skills.

"I have brought some gifts from Srilanka," Udana announced with a happy smirk

"wow mate, you are too fast," Finch couldn't help but comment, as others looked at Udana with a "How did you do that look?"

"When I got to know I'll be a part of RCB and play with Virat. I was so excited and I got so many presents for everyone. I never got the chance to hand it," Udana confessed.

And everyone gave him what's our present expression? He ignored them expertly.

"I think, I'll get the clips of his first ODI and test centuries and help Josh with the editing bits," Finch said, looking at Josh to confirm if it was alright or not.

"right his first century was against Australia right," Josh asked smiling accepting Finch's offer.

"don't know what get him so charged up against us?" Finch asked, so naively, that the boys of ICT couldn't help but give him "really" look.

"Finchy you know the reason too," AB said sagely, making everyone else laugh again.

"I think, I'll jellofry some people. I'll make a video of him with us and put it on social media," Yuzi announced super excitedly, hopping on his place.

Making the others scoot a few inches away from him.

"Okay so, I'll arrange and handle the decorations, right?" Rah asked everyone.

"I'm in the catering department with Zampa, Siraj and Parthiv bhai na," Monku confirmed

"Umm...who'll assist me?" Rah asked noticing Monku's list of partners.

"Dev is good in art and craft too. He'll help you," AB said, smiling proudly at Dev.

Dev nervously looked at Rahul.
Rahul nodded at Dev accepting him grudgingly.

"So what else to add in mission Biscuit ka birthday," Yuzi asked,

"We should add that no one wishes him before us," Morris added and ICT kids had a short circuit in their mind.

"shit, what if ICT wish him before?" They yell in sync.

"ha they'll be in a race to wish him first," Parthiv admitted, every one of them noticed the craze of Kohli in ICT.

"Guess we will have to nick his phone like we nick his chocolates," Dev said shrugging innocently.

"you steal his chocolate?" Mayhul exclaimed bewildered

"ha," the kids admitted giggling proudly.

"muje bhi chocolate kahani hai," Rahul said, almost pouting.

"Rahul!" AB couldn't help but be exasperated.

"Yeah, yeah, got it, back to plan" Rahul drawled, mind still circling around chocolates.

Rolling their eyes, the whole team tried to seriously discuss Virat's b'day plan. But it was again not going so seriously  because certain monkeys and comedians of the team.

They were still debating what to do to make this bday, super special, when they heard urgent door breaking knocks on AB's door.Followed with  yells of a certain cheeky person demanding the door to be opened.

Each and every member present in the room was shocked and totally panicking hearing this commotion. Apparently, they had totally forgotten that their Captain can descend at any of their rooms, at any time. And to add to their miseries, this was Abd's room, the room where Virat kept on hopping and unexpectedly appearing the most.

"Virat bhai/Virat" uttered the whole team with wide surprised eyes.

"We can't let Virat bhaiya see us unhone dekh liya toh pange ho jayega, come on everyone hide before Virat bhaiya breaks the door....Dekh kya rahe ho chupo...hide" exclaimed Yuzi, ushering everyone to hide.

Everyone looked at each other and then started running around like headless chickens on sugar high. They kept on colliding with each other and banging with different things, falling and pushing things and each other.

"Dev you can't hide behind it, find another place"

"Dale help me, I am struck"

"Hul what are you doing, go with Manku"

"I'm hiding here if you also hide here, we would easily be seen"

"Go hide under the bed Zampa"

"Ouch! why do you keep banging into me"

"WTH!Ouch!! Finchy that's my leg"

After five minutes of total chaos finally everyone was hiding behind or under something or the other. Certain, everyone was hidden AB went to open the door.

"Why did you take so much time to open the door?" complained Virat, as soon as the door was opened.

"I was in the washroom, Biscotti," AB said exasperatedly, "tell me why are you here, you want something"

"You wound me AB, you said, I can come to your room anytime and your room is my room and you are asking me this... God what happen to us?? You'll behave like this with me? What'll I do now?? God!! My Biscuit is behaving like a stranger," Virat wailed over-dramatically.

"You know, Virat I thought after marrying Nush, your acting skills will improve but alas, you are still the same overdramatic person no not a person but a kid" AB said, totally unaffected by Virat's antics.

"Haww!!! B!!! How can you say this?? my acting skills are best, whereas, your sucks, and I am not Kid...Humph meanie pants" Virat grumbled.

And the people who were hidden in odd places like the wardrobe, under the bed and other remote corners of the suite, really wanted to bang their heads somewhere listening to Abrat chatting.

AB seemed to totally forget that he should send Virat back immediately. He wasn't send their to bicker with Virat and speak so lesuirely. God, why these two forget about everything being together? Brothers for a reason.

Rahul, Mayank, Yuzi, Dev, Nav, Shiv were stuck in the washroom. Yeah, all of them had the bright idea of hidding in the washroom. Now, only they know how they adjusted themselves in the washroom.

"Yaar, Ab and Virat toh apne hi baato mein lag gaye, Ab sir ko Virat ko bhagana tha usse baate karna nahi"
grumbled Rahul, who, was squashed between Mayank and Dev.

"Nahi toh kya khud aaram se baate kar rahe hai and Hum yaha phase hue hain and Virat bhai ko bhi abhi aana tha"  Mayank complained, quite annoyed with Yuzi, who was sitting all relaxed in the bathing tub.

"I have an idea Virat bhaiya ko yaha se bhagane ka" Dev said, trying to adjust his position on Rahul's lap. Yes, he was stuck in such awkward position.

"What" whisper yelled everyone, they really wanted Virat gone, right about now.

"Yuzi bhaiya call Anushka bhabhi and ask her to call Virat bhai back"

"Great idea"

Yuzi dialled Anushka's number and she picked it up on the third ring.

"Hello bhabhi!! aapki urgent help chahiye" Yuzi whispered.

"Ab kya kiya tum logo ne" asked Anushka

"Bhabhi yaar humesha humari galti thodi hoti hai" grumbled yuzi and got whacked by Rahul for getting sidetracked.

"Ouch ha listen bhabhi call Virat bhaiya back abhi"

"Kyun abhi abhi toh Vo Ab ke room mein gaya hain Ab se baat karne"

"Bhabhi aap samjhiye mein appko sab kuch bata dunga detail mein but please abhi Virat bhaiya ko bula lijiye warna humari halath kharab ho jaayegi" requested Yuzi

"Accha accha fine I am calling him but agli baar se jo bhi kuch karna sambhal ke karna"

"Thank you bhabhi bas aap hi ho, you are the best"

"Nautanki hogayi ho toh phone rakhu Virat ko call karna hain"

"Ha ha bhabhi jaldi"

Just when Yuzi ended the call, Virat got a phone call from Anushka asking him to come back.

"AB! I will go Nushkie is calling, I will be back soon" with that he left the room.

"Guys come out everyone, Biscuit went back"

AB plopped on the couch and noticed almost everyone glaring at him, that too quite intensly.

"Umm guys! What happened? Why are you glaring?"

"AB!! My dearest brother what were suppose to do? Did we sent you to banter with Virat? Weren't you supposed to send him back?" asked Dale, who was hiding under the bed with Zampa and was througly planning to Kill AB.

"Sorry sorry, guys it won't happen again"AB appologized, biting his lips.

"Nope we aren't planning anything in Ab's room anymore. It's Virat's second residence, after all" Morris announced, sholting AB another glare.

"Yes, we should find another room," Josh agreed.

"I guess Finchy's room is the best. It's the farthest and Nush can inform us if Virat's planning to visit," Parthiv said, looking exasperated with everyone.

The kids were still glaring at AB, specially, the people stuck in the washroom.

~to be continued~

So, guys we couldn't help but start with our skip's b'day.

Here's the first shot by PARIMALA020, Kiran1209, Prahatikakrishnan