Best Friends

26. Failed to pick hints

[A/N: This is just a fiction story. Smoking is injurious to health]

Rohit went outside the hospital and sat in a corner covering his face with hoodie. He lit a cigarette badly needing one at that moment. He knew he had said to Vi that he will not smoke but he could not control the urge. 

He closed his eyes, his head resting on the wall thinking how this all started. Where he failed to catch hints from Virat. 

Flashback, 

Practice session after winning IndvsPak match:

"Vi where are you? Everyone is waiting!", Rohit entered the room only to see phone smashed on the floor, mirror broken, Virat sitting on the floor burying his head in his knees. 

"Vii..!!", Rohit rushed towards him. He went towards him and kept his hand on his shoulder. 

Virat looked up and wiped his face, "sorry sorry I am late!!", he tried to get up but stumbled due to sitting in same position for hours, his legs had went numb. Rohit immediately supported him before he could land on glass pieces.

"Vi ek min beth yaha", Rohit said and made him sit on the bed. He called staff to clean the room. 

Rohit was confused seeing him like that. They had won the match, Virat made them win from impossible situation. What had happened suddenly he looked so devastated?

Once the room was cleaned Rohit gave Virat glass of water and texted Rahul bhai to go ahead. They will join soon. 

"What happened? Not feeling well?", asked Rohit in concern. 

Virat just nodded not knowing how to explain the situation.

Rohit asked again, "I know you are lying. As I have seen condition of your room. Who made u angry so much?"

"Can we not talk about it?", said Virat in a tone which Rohit had to agree. 

"So practice pe chalna hai? u feel okay?", Rohit asked after sometime.

"Ya let's go.. can u call bunty about a new phone and all the data into it", Virat asked, "also can u call Jassi, i want to talk to him", he added. 

Rohit was confused but agreed to it. Rohit noticed talking to Jassi had calmed him down and returned some color on his face. 

Next time the same thing happened... before semi final match of WC..

But this time it was him.. 

"Where is he?" Virat asked a little loudly to which juniors flinched.. 

Ash went towards him, kept his hand on his shoulder as Bhuvi was not there to calm him.. "calm down Virat.. Rohit will be in some meeting".. Ash signalled Juniors to leave the room..

"no ash I called him.. he didnt even reply or drop a message.. something is wrong!!" Virat panicked.. 

"Calm down Virat.. let me call Ritika! She may be knowing something", Ash said handing him glass of water. 

Ash saw Virat still edgy.. he called Ritika but she also didnt knew anything... 

"She doesnt know anything.." ash said in low voice.. 

Bhuvi came just then.. Ash was relieved to see him because it was a task to handle panicky Virat.. 

"Bhuvi Ro is not here.. he is not!!" Virat said tensed.. 

Bhuvi hugged Virat seeing him panicking so much... "calm down Virat.. aa jayega wo.. he would have forgotten to charge his phone may be"

Ash and Bhuvi took him to his room...

After one hour.. Rohit came back and Rishabh informed him how Virat was little angry and worried about him.. he rushed to Virat's room.. 

"Vi", Rohit called slowly seeing him stressed. 

"WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU?" virat yelled going near him... 

"I just went to meet a friend.. I forgot my phone in my room only.. sorry" Rohit said honestly..

"You know what.. dont talk to me.. get out!! Go to ur friend..." Virat said angrily and went to bathroom slamming the door hard. 

Ash and Bhuvi explained how panicked and worried he was..

Rohit was confused.. 

Back to present.. 

Rohit felt nothing but anger as he failed to pick this hints early on... if he would have he would never let Virat go alone or do all the things by himself.. 

"Its almost 45 mins Ro.. comeback Cheeku will wake up anytime now.." Mahi called and informed him..

He was going back in the hospital when he saw Ab entering too.. 

"Rohit.. whats wrong?" Ab asked immediately as he saw vulnearable state of Rohit..

"Nothing.. I am just tired", Rohit said rubbing his face composing himself.. If AB is guessing his state.. Virat would too! Would he though? He doesnt even remember anything related to me properly.. 

"where are you lost?" Ab asked him passing the coffee. 

"Nothing.." Rohit took a sip feeling so good.. "What were you telling about the hospital thing?"

"That I-- wait.. have u smoked?", Ab said sensing the smell.. Rohit looked down at that.. 

"So this is what Virat used to say how AB has power to understand moods and things around him", he thought.. 

"Why Rohit? I know this is all really stressful.. but you are harming your health! It's not right... You hear me? This is not a way to deal with things.. understood? Next time if u do this I will say this to MS and your wife too.."

Rohit looked at him shocked..

"Am I clear enough or not?" Ab asked seriously.. 

"You wont--" Rohit began.. 

"Ohh try me.. so you will leave it? wont you?" Ab asked seriously.. to which Rohit nodded like a good boy.. 

Rohit was so embarrassed... he never in his life thought he would get scold by AB.. 

"So turns out our idiot friend and brother... was admitted two times in the hospital and got treated by different doctors.. one is the current one which we are talking to and other was the one who treated him prior.. Faf is trying to get hold of that doctor as he is on vacation! We will get to know it soon", Ab informed him. 

"What on earth he was doing.. I want to smack him so hard and ask that..", Rohit said finishing his coffee..

"I know.. dont worry once he is okay! He will pay for all this.. I am with you" Ab said trying to make his mood better.. 

"And what has the world come to..." Rohit murmured audible to Ab and both ended up laughing.. 

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