Best Friends

63. Step back

Mahi and Rohit came inside to see Virat awake and a little shaken up.

He was sitting hugging himself, arms around his chest and knees to chest. He was trying to curl himself. That voice was ringing in his ears.

"Vi" Rohit called softly.

Virat didn't respond to his voice. He was trying so hard to not remember that horrible time. But it was so difficult from the moment he had given that statement. He was trying his best to distract himself by thinking about Rohit and Ab close bonding or Jassi being okay or apologising to Jinks, Bhuvi and others but somehow that was coming back to him.

Mahi looked at Rohit worried seeing Virat scared and unresponsive.

Rohit slowly went towards him, he touched his shoulder and unlocked his hands and took him into side hug.

"You are not alone, you are here with me and Mahi bhai" said Rohit softly rubbing his back.

Virat calmed a little and held Rohit's hand, he slept after a while as Rohit kept talking to him.

Next morning at the hospital,

Virat was taken to tests and Rohit, Mahi bhai and Ab were waiting for the results and the Doctor.

"How is he?" Rohit asked as soon as Doctor came outside.

"Come to my cabin, we can talk over there", Doctor said, "and Virat?" Rohit asked as he would be alone.

"Rohit, he would be sleeping under the effect of medication and staff is there, don't worry" said Doctor.

"He is okay right?" Ab asked now not able to handle the silence as Doctor was going through reports.

"One thing is his head wound and the operative part is recovering and medicine is taking effect properly. But the other thing is that—"

"What Doctor?" asked Mahi.

"The other thing is he has taken a step back in his physical and mental recovery. His vitals are really low. His response his really low like yes or no, the day he woke up at that time he was not so unresponsive", Doctor explained them.

"What do you suggest we do?" Rohit asked swallowing a lump in his throat due to the emotions he felt.

"Talk to him, that's the only thing which can help. Due to his emotional state his body is not functioning normally. The wound is gonna recover through medication but his activities will not" Doctor explained.

They moved to Virat's room and saw him sleeping. He looked so weak. Rohit just could not stand that sight of Virat being so defeated.

He moved out to get fresh air.

"He is gonna be okay. I will talk to him, he has to be okay" Ab heard Rohit mumbling to himself and pacing in the lawn outside the hospital.

Hearing his breathing, Ab kept hand on his shoulder only to be engulfed in hug by Rohit.

"He is gonna be okay. We will be with him! Calm down Rohit, he needs you. We will bring your Vi and my biscuit back. You need to take step now, you need to talk to him" Ab explained him softly.

"I am so scared" Rohit said honestly.

"I know, it's okay to be. But be assured that he is okay now. I know you are scared and anxious whenever you see him unconscious. But he is okay, now he just needs our help to be back, to be your bestie again, he needs your help Rohit" Ab said breaking the hug.

Rohit nodded wiping his tears. Ab gave him an assuring smile.

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Mahi was waiting for Virat to open his eyes. He was upset to see goofy Cheeku like that. Silent! This word didn't even exist in his dictionary and now all Mahi would receive his silence. He wanted his old kid back. He wanted his Cheeku back!

Virat opened his eyes only to see Mahi there. He looked around and saw himself in hospital again.

"Yaha kya kar rahe hai? Mujhe yaha nahi rehna" Virat whispered in low voice.

"It was normal check up Cheeku, we will leave in half hour" Mahi said assuring him.

Virat looked around but got disappointed. He didn't ask this time. He couldn't be selfish.

"Kuch baat hai Cheeku? Ha bacha? I am here kiddo, u can talk to me" Mahi said caressing his hair.

"Nahi just body is aching a little" Virat said trying to concentrate on pain rather than other thought of only Mahi being here.

"Should I call Doctor?" Mahi asked but did it anyway before waiting for response.

"It will take time for the pain to completely heal" Doctor said changing the medicines as per recent vitals.

Virat nodded and Rohit entered the room.

"How do u feel?" Rohit asked a doctor left the room.

"Usual" Virat answered.

"We can go home in 10 mins" Mahi said reading the discharge papers.

"Bhai, you guys make arrangements" Virat said not meeting their eyes.

"What arrangements Cheeku?" Mahi asked confused about it because he had already made it in his home. Each and everything.

"Vi, what are you talking about?" Rohit asked this time.

"I want to shift to NCA" Virat said informing them without looking at them.

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