Snippets, Incorrect Quotes and More

With great power (Ft Mahi, Rahul bhai, some Dada Sach pa)

"But why do you hate me, kiddo?"

"Because."

"Because?"

"Because you did not tell me!"

"Did not tell you....?"

"That they are retiring! That you are leaving!"

This was so not what Rahul was expecting. "What?" He looked at the clock. "It is 2.00 in the morning, Mahi. Like 1.56 to be exact. What..."

"You were not sleeping!"

It was a declaration and was accepted as such; the guy knew him too well. "Yes. I was reading."

"What?"

"Do you really care?"

Mahi took a moment to reply and Rahul spent the time thinking about whether he should call reinforcements.

"I do actually." The reply came at long last. "I should... need to know you better. You and Paaji and Dada... My Captains. How much do I know you? What have I even given to you, at least Dada and you, other than grief... And disappointment?"

"What?"

"No really. Tell me. The decisions I took..."

Rahul finally sat up. And somehow the gravity of the situation hit him

"Mahi? Hold on a moment, would you?"

"Ok."

Rahul hesitated. The easy acceptance of MS's triggered something in him that had been lying dormant in Rahul for the past decade and the familiar, unforgotten feelings swamped him.

"Mahi?"

"Yes Bhai?"

"I am adding Sourav to the call, alright?"

"Dada? But he hates me."

Rahul chuckled. "Like you hate me? Yeah, kiddo. It is a funny play of hate and love."

"Love? Me? No one loves me, Bhai. Like other than family."

"Aren't we yours?"

The words probably pulled Mahi up short and Rahul took the opportunity of this distraction to place his call on hold and dial a familiar number.

It took a moment and then, "Do you even know what time it is?"

"Shut up and call Sachin. Add him. Now."

"What..." But the captain in Sourav still responded to the call with the momentum it deserved and within moments had a quirkily cheerful Sachin added to the call.

"What are the orders, Cap Jammy and Cap Dadi? And where is the fire?"

"Oh shut up." But a smile pulled at Jam... er... Rahul's cheekbones. "It is Mahi."

"Mahi? Or Mahi? The one and only MS Dhoni? Dadi's Mahiya?...."

"Oh hush!" Sourav scolded, causing Sachin to pause and Rahul couldn't be more thankful. "Let him speak. What is it about MS?"

"Oh do not call him that!"

"What? MS?"

"Yeah. He has had painkillers and is pretty loopy. Rest... Well, you will see... Or hear."

Without awaiting a reply, Rahul merged the calls. He was in no mood to answer the thousands of questions the crazy duo would, no doubt, bombard him with.

"Mahi? You there?"

"Hmm.. You said something and left... I waited."

Rahul could not help but feel that the words held more than their obvious meaning. The dormant sensations of his heart quivered and he held his breath.

"What is it, Mahi?"

"Oh... Sachin Paaji? Hi... I didn't know Rahul bhai went to get you. He said... Dada... Did he refuse to come?"

"Of course not, you dumb captain." Of course, Sourav replied interrupted right in. "I am here too."

"Do you want me to leave, kiddo?"

And of course, Sachin immediately took the topsy turvy, not so curvy, happenings in stride and struck the hammer where it glowed red.

A couple of seconds and then, "No Paaji. Didn't mean that... Sorry. Spoke too much?"

The questioned was meant for Rahul and he had to clear his throat before attempting to reply; MS was sounding slightly sobered up.

"Of-Of course not. Why would you even think like that, huh? You may be all grown up now, but I still have memories of you sleeping with your head on our laps any time you would get a fever. You may be a superstar, kiddo, but you are still my...our Mahi."

"Really? I don't feel the same."

"What doesn't, Mahiya?"

"I...I am not loved, na Dada? The others are.. Yuvi, Bhajji... Well, all of them really. The group. Your group of boys. Your boys."

"Mahiy..."

"No Dada. I am not complaining. How can I? You love them. And Rahul Bhai found his group of boys in my kids. And I couldn't be happier. But they retired, you know? My boys retired without breathing a word of it to me. But then, I have always been a nobody, right? Just the man to take the fall... Nothing more. Right, Dada? And Sachin Paaji? I still stammer... He is still my god... Yeah... My Cheeku is so much closer to him. And he deserves to be too. He has done so much for anyone to be proud of him. I know I am."

Rahul could still hear the sway and wave in MS's voice and knew that, despite everything, MS was still pretty much in the daze of the medications; he was seriously contemplating call Sakshi by now.

But, he was a not-so-admirable human; he wanted to wring the last feelings out of his kid. His kid Captain was burdened much before he should have had.

"Mahiya. Kiddo, please."

Sourav's voice was shaky on an entirely different level.

"I am not complaining, Dada. Really. I love you. All of you. Not compulsory that you should love me too."

"But we do, Mahi. We love you too. Very much."

"But then why does your behavior leave much to be desired, Paaji? Or Dada's? Of even Rahul Bhai? I was given great power, but no one remembers my responsibility. I...I..."

The silence drove on and when a couple of long minutes passed, Rahul prompted,

"Mahi? Kiddo?"

A soft snore sounded through.

"Did he fall asleep?"

"I think so."

"Did I fail him so much, Rahul?"

"Maybe a little, Sourav. Maybe, we all did."

"Will he even remember this?"

"Maybe, Sach. But do we remind him if he doesn't? Or do we just let the words rest in peace?"

Rest in peace or leave the wounds festering?"

And Rahul received no reply to his question.

A/N - Take it with a grain or bag of salt.

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