A Tumbler Full of Tales - ICT and beyond (ON HOLD)

My heart is sick of Woe (Ft. Virat. RCB. Rohirat. Jassi)

"We will not win the cup this time too, Virat. We will disappoint you yet again."

Maxi's words finds the freshly scratched wound on Virat's psyche and he winces; in his mind, of course.

"We still have matches left," he says, and with a final pat on Maxi's head he steps back. "Get some rest, Maxi and stop reading about nonsense."

Virat slips away from the Team room and makes his way back to his own. Despite travelling regularly, he ascertains that his room holds a few trinkets just to lend it a homely feeling. The small stand-up photo frames and the smiling faces held in them makes him feel the slightest bit better.

Dropping his kit-bag at the corner of the room, he grabs a bottle of water from the sidebar and walks out to the balcony.

A few kids from the Mumbai Team were celebrating at the poolside restaurant and an involuntary smile crept unto Virat's face. He sees Ishaan looking happy, after a good long time, and it is satisfying to see the youngster in a better frame of mind. He has never become as easy with Virat as Shubman, but he has his random 'crowding up to Virat' moments.

Virat sips at the cool water, relishing the comfort as it trickles down his throat. The heat and the humidity was unrelenting and even though it was comfortable in the air conditioned interiors, the parchedness of the body remains.

Virat goes over the tiny ensuite pool and sits at the edge, dipping his feet into the cool refreshing water. Dropping his head over his chest, he stares at the small ripples forming and disappearing into the dark blue expanse. The one overhead light shines softly and forms tiny little flickers over the water and Virat stares at them, in a trance like state.

It was particularly peaceful. Very consciously, he keeps his mind free of any stray thoughts. There was not much end in sight for it. He could keep thinking and yet reach nowhere. Life is funny like that.

"Cheeku bhaiya?"

Virat starts and looks up; Jassi.

"Hey kid. Lost your way?" It takes a moment, but then it strikes. "Did I leave the door open?"

Jassi shakes his head and comes over to sit next to Virat. "DK Bhai handed over the Team's master key and made me promise that I will return it right back to him; you were not opening the door."

Virat chuckles and face palms. "I couldn't hear the door from here, Boomer. You could have called me."

"You still call him that?"

This time Virat gets the sudden jolt in his heart beats; Jassi was a surprise but Rohit was completely unexpected.

"What are you doing here, Sharma?" He waves the man in. "Anyone else around, Jassi?"

"No! Just me and Rohit Bhaiya. It was his idea to use the master key."

"But of course!" Virats grins and knocks his shoulder against Rohit as the latter sits next to him at the pools's edge.

The knock was slightly harder than he had thought and Virat acts fast to stop Rohit from diving head fast into the pool.

"Oh you moronic, Kohli!"

"Sorry, yaar. Didn't mean to." Virat smiles in part contritement and some amusement. "Or maybe, I did."

"Bloddy bugger."

"You, my friend, are swearing a little too much now-a-days. I am wrongly infamous for mouthing off."

"You just do it on camera, Cheeku Bhaiya..."

"And your Rohit Bhaiya does it on the stump mic; Yeah." Virat reaches out and ruffles Jassi's hair. "So, why this invasion?"

"Invasion? Really?" Rohit deadpans and Virat had to grin. He had expected exactly the same. "Why didn't you come down for dinner? You and Maxwell."