Silent Echoes || When Cricket Heroes Fall and Brothers Turn Strangers

Chap 4

Among the figures that angrily entered the room, one who happened to be Rahul moved forward and delivered a tight, forceful slap across Rohit's face. The impact of the blow sent Rohit's head snapping to the side, his senses reeling from the sudden assault. The room, once filled with bustling activity, fell into stunned silence as the echo of the slap lingered in the air like an ominous omen. As Rohit slowly touched his stinging cheek, his eyes met Rahul's seething gaze. An awkward pause ensued, amplifying the charged atmosphere as the confrontation reached its boiling point. Rahul who delivered the slap, maintained his glare at Rohit, his voice dripping with disdain as he unleashed his pent-up fury. 

"I never thought you'd stoop this low, Rohit," he spat out, his words laced with venomous reproach. "You've betrayed us all, and for what? Your own selfish gain? You're nothing but a disgrace to this team, a stain on everything we've worked for." 

Before Rohit could muster a response to KL's accusation, his attention was drawn to another figure in the room. Shreyas, his expression a mask of stern disapproval, stood nearby, his clenched fists betraying his simmering anger. Gripping his mobile tightly, out of anger. As if the scene couldn't become more charged, the third figure, who was none other than Jasprit, stepped forward with a fiery intensity that matched the brewing storm in the room. With an accusatory finger pointed directly at Rohit, Jassi's voice cut through the silence like a blade. 

"I couldn't help but think during the last match that the bouncer narrowly missed an opportunity," he declared, his tone laced with righteous indignation. "Your helmet took the hit, but I wish it had been otherwise – a chance for the bowler to make a more impactful statement."

The room was frozen in shock as the implications of the slap and those awful words sank in. As the realization of the situation dawned on everyone present in the room, the tension in the room reached an unbearable level, enveloping the space in a hushed and stunned stillness. And the echoes of the resonating slap lingered, freezing everyone in place as they grappled with the shocking turn of events. The stunned onlookers - Virat, Jinks, Bhuvi, Shikhar, Ash, Jaddu, and Rahul Bhai found themselves rooted to their spots, in stunned disbelief and shock as they stared at the trio who had just entered and hurled those hurtful words at Rohit and slapped him. 

Rohit, his hand now on his stinging cheek, stood beside the entrance of the room. His eyes were fixed on the floor, and the palpable tension in the room seemed to engulf him. In those moments, his mind was a whirlwind, and it couldn't help but start replaying the flashbacks of the incidents from the past week. The physical mark left by the forceful slap was undeniable, but it was the emotional toll that weighed heavily on him. The trio who had entered the room stood defiantly, their faces firm but with a hint of anger and disdain. Their presence radiated an air of arrogance as if they were unapologetic for the chaos they had unleashed. 

Virat who was standing beside Rohit found himself momentarily paralyzed by the shocking turn of events. His eyes widened in disbelief, and his blood boiled as he witnessed the audacity of the trio. The room crackled with tension as he assessed the trio. In a swift and decisive motion, Virat's patience snapped like a brittle twig. 

"Enough!" Virat's voice thundered through the room, a commanding force that sliced through the stunned silence like a knife through butter. 

His words resonated with a power that demanded attention, leaving no room for argument. The audacity of their actions left Virat seething with rage. How could anyone dare to treat Rohit in such a manner? The mere thought of anyone laying a hand on Rohit, let alone hurling such cruel words at him, ignited a firestorm of protective fury within him. His jaw clenched tightly as he struggled to contain the raw fury coursing through him. Without a moment's hesitation, Virat closed the distance between himself and Rahul, his hand curling into a tight fist. In one swift and fluid motion, he unleashed his fury upon Rahul, the force behind his punch fueled by the intensity of his anger. The impact reverberated through the room, the sound echoing like a thunderous clap.