Snippets, Incorrect Quotes and More

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

"They do not."

A turn up of the corner of his lips and MS rolled his eyes, "Come on now, Dada. They are your little avengers, aren't they?"

The words were harsher than intended and yet for one selfish moment, MS did not mind. The way his friends had blown hot and cold, had all but rid him of his tolerance.

"You believe I put them up to it?"

MS etched a careless shrug.

"Really?"

MS kept his eyes averted, taking care to avoid looking too closely at the familiar, respected visage.

"So you believe that because you were somewhat responsible for me being dropped from the Team, that I told the boys to..."

"They are your boys..."

"What?"

MS clenched his hands into fists and glared around the room. Everywhere but directly at anyone.

"Repeat."

"No can do."

And MS did not realize exactly how anyone could move with such speed and yet with such minimum disturbance of his surroundings. But the hit and the resulting burn on his face felt very real.

"Did you just s-slap me?"

"And I will do it again. And I will not even take into account that you are 42 years old or that you have a nine-year-old.     Ziva is more sensible than you, at this point."

And Sachin giggled. Of course, he did. Of course, all it took to break the tension was MS getting hit by Sourav.

A stern look was directed by Sourav at his friend.

"Don't make light of it, Sach. He thinks that he is all grown up. Has been anointed with the best Captain title and all. All this has gone to his head. He keeps lying to us at every point. Keeps thinking about stupid things. Overthinks enough to put Kohli to shame. And his kids think that their Mahi bhai is the coolest person this world holds. Can you imagine their reaction if this gets back to them?"

"Why would it? How would it?"

"Where does this sass disappear when you are not with us? Who would ever believe that MS Dhoni, India's Mahi Bhai, can needle a person to the point of him losing his temper and then some?"

"No one, Rahul." Another maniacal bout of laughter from Sachin. "Not one person. This individual has them all fooled."

"I will make sure that his pack of hooligans knows about this."

"My pack of hooligans, Dada?" MS tried to smile but grimaced as Sourav held his face in a grip tight enough to hurt and turned it around to inspect it. "I am alright. It doesn't hurt. Wasn't more than a love pat."

"Let me the judge of that! And what even is a love pat?"

"It..."

"It was a rhetorical question, Sach, and I certainly do not need an explanation for it."

"Sure?"

"Entirely. And now cut the crap, Mahi. I want an explanation and I want it now!"

"But for what, Dada? I... I was bloody high on fucking painkillers and it... Well, it addled my mind a tad bit."

"So you do not think that I hate you?"

"I...."

"And you do not feel isolated from the group of 'our boys'?"

"Rahul Bhai... Yaar..."

"And why do you keep lying to us? Why do you still find it difficult to speak up around me?"