Snippets, Incorrect Quotes and More

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

"He says that he is alright. He dares to say that...."

"Sachin! Please!"

"Stop supporting him, Rahul!"

"I can't. Because I know, kind of, where he is coming from. And though I do not support him, in any manner whatsoever, I can relate. To an extent."

"Relate? What utter ridiculousness?'

"Sach... Please."

MS looked up and his eyes found the perpetually tired ones of Dada. And it stabbed something deep within him. Something situated behind the soft flesh of his heart and something that stopped it from beating for a moment or two.

"I shouldn't speak, I guess. Considering that my friends refuse to listen to me and the person I care about to such a great extent, still hesitates to place his point to me."

"I-I do not. Paaji, seriously. Why... Why are you taking this so seriously? It is nothing! I am fine. I have never had anything but respect for all of you and... and..."

"And do you feel loved in return, Mahiya? Loved by us?"

Sourav's words caused the room to fall silent and even Sachin only looked in askance.

"D-Do I wh-what?"

"Do you feel loved? By us. Because we do. Love you, that is."

"L-Love?"

"Love. What else did you think we felt for you?"

"I-I don't know. I never thought about it quite so much. But, responsibility? Maybe?"

"Responsibility?" Rahul looked aghast. "For all these years..."

"And some pride? Maybe? For the World Cups and all?" MS hastened to add.

"Is that what you feel for Virat and Rohit? For your Harry and Jaddu? A sense of duty? Flimsy pride?"

"W-what?" MS sat up and his voice shook. His eyes swiveled from his audience to the bird outside, now being pecked by a random pigeon and MS longed to rescue the little one; its helplessness was difficult to watch.

"Duty or pride, Mahiya?"

"Neither and yet everything! And more. I care about them. I could fight the world for them. I-I..."

"You love them. So, why is it so difficult to believe that we would love you too?"

"Because... I don't know." MS broke the gaze and rested his concentration on the bird outside. "It is nothing. I-I... You made the journey for nothing. All of you. I-I will call for some tea and..."

"Shut up and sit down, MS! I don't know exactly what is running through that mind of yours, but you will damn well share it with us."

"I can't..."

"If you have ever respected us. Respected me."

"It is not fair, Paaji!"

"Life is not fair, MS."

"I damned well know that. And what do you even want to know? All of you, you know everything! You have always known everything!

"Is it about Yuvi, Bhajji, and the others?"

"I-I don't know."

"So you will lie to your Rahul Bhai too now? The man who couldn't stop talking about his Mahi to anyone who would listen. The man..."

"I know, Paaji. And no, I am not lying. I do not know. After all, their actions are their own. I can hardly place the blame for it anywhere else. Not to mention that they might have a point to it all. "