Snippets, Incorrect Quotes and More

Ghosts only I can see... (Cont. from the last part) Ft MS Rhul bhai Dada Sach

"And that would have mattered?"

"What?"

"Sachin. Please. We need to give him some time."

"Oh the hell we do, Jammy! Did this most dumb individual ever speak to you about these things? That he had, apparently, been thinking nonsense since all these years? Years, Jammy! And he also thinks that Sourav hates him! Hates him for a decision he made nearly two decades ago. That means that he probably hates me too, right? Sourav, that it. For not fighting harder for him. Or you. For... For all the shit that went down. Right, MS? You probably think that Sourav hates us too right?"

MS had no reply. The conclusions Sachin Paaji had drawn were so far out that it was nothing short of ludicrous and, yet, he could hardly tell that to his face.

"Sachin. Come on. You are not being too fair on him now, are you? And all of that is old history. Why drag it all into this mess?"

"Because it is all linked into this mess! And that is a fact in itself. He was nominated... I nominated him as a probable Captain before he could have had some time for himself. Before he could pull his own set of tantrums as the Vice Captain. He was already pretty late to the international field and I decided to make him responsible before he could grow. He was forced to make tough choices, forced to become responsible for multiple careers even before he had time to enjoy his own. How do you not hate me, MS?"

"W-What?"

"Hate me... You should hate me."

"Of course not! I can never... You made my career! All of you. I have Dada to thank for finding me, Rahul Bhai for grooming me and you for seeing some potential in me, even before it properly took root. How can I even think of hating you... Any of you."

MS tottered off to the window seat gracing one end of the room and adjusted himself on it, taking care to avoid jostling his back. He was not willing to experiment with the painkillers any time soon.

The silence in the room grew suffocating and only the odd clearing of throat was coming anywhere close to breaking it. Outside the weather had taken a turn and dark clouds were covering what had been a brilliantly sunny morning. And yet.

Yet the birds chirped. The flowers threatened to bloom and the wind felt gentle as they bent the branches of the trees. Here he was, a consummate professional, a man in his forties, and yet he was harboring insecurities that would put a teenager to shame. And to think that he had never required this form of validation even from his parents.

People had often questioned how he had managed to attune with a clingy Virat or an overtly emotional Hardik.

Or an unsure Ishan or Rishabh.

Or an outlandish Jaddu.

And the reply had been simple enough; he had identified with their emotions at one point or another. And this had made him a veritable expert in such matters. He had recognized their feelings and also acknowledged their strength in talking about such matters and facing them head-on. Quite unlike him.

"Mahiya?"

One of the birds remained sheltered under a bush and was diligently cleaning its feathers.

"Mahiya!"

"Uhh.. Yeah?"

"Sach means well."

"I know. Of course, I know.  I just feel ridiculous that my inability to control my speech while high on painkillers led to you, all of you, becoming so concerned. I can assure you that there is nothing to be concerned about. I am perfectly all right."