"We love you Bhai"

The photographs, the documents and the confessions of Sanjay and Mehta did their job pretty well. The BCCI sacked both Sanjay and Mehta and their men from the panel, removing them completely from the picture. BCCI released official statements of the same, with a statement claiming MS innocent. Dada took over as the new BCCI president and Jay Shah was made the new secretary. The team watched the developments with enthusiasm, and breathed a huge sigh of relief when Dada became the president. Indian cricket and BCCI was finally in safe hands.

The media had gone berserk once again. Thousands of articles, posts and tweets were being released, some bashing Sanjay and his minions, some lauding Dada as the new president and some apologizing to Mahi. Virat and Co. were more than happy to see all the buzz on the social media. They also took part with great gusto with all of them posting pictures of them with Mahi and the team in general, signifying there unity. 

Everything was back to normal, thought Virat. He believed that wholeheartedly until some incidents started to bug him again. 

So what happened is, the day after everything was sorted, the team went for a normal practice session. As they were practicing, Virat started to notice some weird things with Mahi bhai.

At some point, Hardik was bowling to Shreyas and his line and length was going wrong. Shreyas was finding it way easier to pick his ball. But that was not the problem. The problem was that Mahi bhai was standing right beside the net in which Shreyas was batting, and by the look on his face, it seemed that he was able to find where Hardik was going wrong, but he didn't even once point out his mistake. Weird, thought Virat, before going to Hardik to guide him. Mahi just glanced at them once and went back to mind his own business.

Another time, Mahi, Virat, Rohit and Shikhar were doing slip fielding practice. Rohit took an unexpected good catch and Virat banged him on his back out of reflex commenting, "That was good". Then he saw Mahi bhai, who didn't even say a word, just gave a small smile. Which increased Virat's doubts and concerns. Rohit who had looked up to Mahi bhai for a praise also got worried as he saw Mahi not saying anything. He and Virat shared a worried glance as they continued the practice.

Also, when Virat and Rohit were bickering, again, Mahi bhai did not chide them for once. He looked like he wanted to say something but was controlling himself. Jinks yelled that them to shut up and gestured towards Mahi through his eyes. Virat and Rohit stopped their meaningless bickering and glanced at Mahi bhai. Virat, Rohit and Jinks had a quick eye to eye conversation, worried for Mahi bhai.

What's wrong with him? Jinks asked.

Don't know but something wrong  Virat conveyed.

You should go and check. After all, you can handle him the best said Rohit, seeing Mahi bhai leaving the ground after his practice, which he never did before. He used to wait for everyone to finish their session and leave together.

Virat nodded at Rohit and rushed in the direction of Mahi. Jinks and Rohit decided to stay back and they kept their phones on full volume, just in case, if Virat needs them. Virat found Mahi bhai in the dressing room, sitting on a bench with his head buried in his hands. His this posture itself had those little alarming bells ringing in Virat's mind. 

Virat walked up to him and placed his hand softly on his shoulder. Mahi looked up and saw Virat smiling at him, and worry clear in his eyes. "What happened, Bhai?", asked Virat gently.

"Nothing, Cheeku. Just I was not feeling well in the sun", Mahi lied but Virat's face told him that he hasn't bought that.

"Two things, Bhai. Number 1, you can not lie to me, and Number 2, I'm listening", Virat said firmly. 

Mahi gave up. "I don't know Virat. I feel that I shouldn't play any more", he couldn't continue further as Virat almost shouted, "WHY?", with a horrified expression on his face.

"Didn't you see Cheeku. Every person in this country wanted me out of the team. Everyone wanted me gone. I am not worthy of being in the team anymore. I don't want to be a burden to you all. Moreover everyone called me a disgrace to the reputation to the team, they wanted me gone, even BCCI had banned me. I can't...", Mahi suddenly stood up and saw Virat's stricken, angry, hurt face.

"Who are this 'they' exactly, Mahi bhai?", began Virat, in a low angry tone. "WHY WOULD YOU BELIEVE THOSE GOOD FOR NOTHING SO CALLED FANS. HECK THEY ARE NOT EVEN FANS, THEY ARE THOSE PEOPLE WHO TAKE UTMOST SADIST PLEASURE IN TROLLING, BERATING, DOWNTRODDING SOMEONE, ANYONE THEY GET. THEY JUST KNOW HOW TO PUT HIM OR HER DOWN. WHY DID YOU LET THEIR WORDS GET YOU?? I REMEMBER YOU GOT A PANIC ATTACK DUE TO THESE. THAT...that state in wh..which I.. I found you that..that day", Virat's voice choked here, the anger was gone as he remembered the state in which he had found Bhai, there was only fear and pain now, "The scene I want to forget but I can't. Why are you stealing my Mahi Bhai away from me? Why are you doing this? Who is more important to you, Bhai? Me or those people? I need you Bhai, Ro needs you, Jinks needs you, Harry needs you, we all need you, we all want you. Then why are you going away from us? I saw in the nets, you didn't say anything to Harry when he was going wrong, you didn't praise Ro, you didn't tell me and Ro off when we were bickering. Why, Mahi Bhai? Why? Are we not important to you? Am I not important to you?", Virat poured out all the emotions that he had inside him. By now Virat's whole body was trembling, as he blinked furiously to stop himself from crying, and tears streamed down Mahi's face as he listened to his younger brother pouring his heart out to him.

Mahi grabbed Virat and crushed him to himself, hugging him tightly, mumbling, "I'm sorry Cheeku. I'm so sorry. You are the most important to me, Cheeku. The most important person in my life is you."

"Then why Mahi bhai? Why are you believing those buffoons when I'm telling that you are needed?", Virat asked as he part away and looked into Mahi's eyes.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know what got into me that I.. I'm very sorry Cheeks"

Then Mahi decided to ask the question that was bugging him. "Why did you support me so much?", he asked weakly, tears still dripping down his face.

Virat wiped his tears away and said, "Because I believe you, I trust you, blind trust maybe but I still trust you. I trusted you then, now , FOREVER....no matter what.", said Virat with finality, hugging MS with love and care.

Virat poured in all the love he had for his Mahi bhai in that hug. Mahi felt the warmth of that hug calming his nerves, as he thought over Cheeku's words. He knew that Virat not only said that, he meant that. Mahi could see all the instances where his Cheeku trusted him blindly, playing as a reel in front of his eyes. 

And as a cannon ball, it hit him that no matter what, his Cheeku can never distrust him. The blind faith that Cheeku had in him made Mahi feel better and warm. My Cheeku, thought Mahi fondly. 

"Please don't take My Mahi Bhai away from me", Virat suddenly said in a small voice, as if he will breakdown any second.

 Mahi looked at Virat and shook his head in negative. "I can never do that, kiddo. I'll never do that. I'll die if I do that", said Mahi and realized how much true those words were. He will die if he left his brothers, his family. He tightened his arms around Virat and kissed his hair.

After some time, Virat pulled away from the hug and wiped both of their tears and said, "I know that I have said this many times bhai but I will say it one more time. You are very important to all of us, Bhai. It doesn't matter if anyone wants you to be here or not, just know that we always want you with us. We are incomplete without you, Bhai", gripping Mahi's hand tightly. 

"I love you, Bhai", said Virat, fervently, looking up at Mahi with utmost respect and admiration. 

"I love you too, Cheeku", said Mahi, with the same amount of adoration.

They loved each other infinitely because they were brothers in all but blood. 

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So here's the ninth part. Tell me how it is?? 

The idea of this chapter was given by nuttss06 and user63614950. I kinda combined both of your ideas...

One more chapter to go for this book. I'll miss this book a lot. 

Also the book has nearly reached 4k reads and has already crossed 400 votes. I'm so happy. Thank you all for all the love you showered on my first book. It's really special for me. Thanks a ton..... 

Love
Baishali💖