Snippets, Incorrect Quotes and More

Lonely musings - Tre - (Ft. Mahi and Rohit)

"That is his name, Rohit. His nickname, back from home. The boy is homesick. And just because he is here, doesn't mean that your importance decreases in any manner whatsoever."

Rohit buried his head back and murmured, "It doesn't? You like him better." It killed every bit of his self-respect for Rohit to say the words, but he did.

And Mahi Bhai did not even bother to counter him. "It doesn't matter and it never will, Rohit. You will always have your own place. Now come, I will rub some balm on your forehead. It will make you feel better."

Back to the present

"You always maintained that I would have my own place, Bhaiya."

"Your place?"

"In here." Rohit tapped the left side of his chest. "But you gave it all to Virat, didn't you?"

The recliner creaked and Rohit felt Mahi Bhai's stare on him. "What? Why would you say such a thing, Rohit?"

"You are not denying it!"

"I am surely not agreeing to it!"

Rohit turned his gaze away from where Jassi and Hardik were strolling around the floodlight lit ground and only barely managed to meet Mahi Bhai's eyes. "It... Whatever it is," he waved his arms around, "It doesn't matter. In a way, I do not even mind that Virat gets the lion's share of your... your... well whatever it is. I don't know. It is stupid."

"What is, Rohit?"

"All of it." Rohit could feel the hardness in his voice escaping his grip upon them and he flinched. "All of it." He repeated, in a whisper.

All of it

2013

"Bhaiya... Uh... Mahi Bhai?"

"Rohit? Come on in." Mahi Bhai kept aside his game controller and beckoned him over. "What happened, kiddo? Not slept yet? Match day tomorrow."

"I know." Rohit sat on the floor, resting his head against the chair Mahi Bhai was sitting in. "I am just psyching myself up for it."

"You already opened in two matches and did pretty well."

"I know," Rohit jerked his shoulders. "But am I living upto your expectations?"

"Expectations? I don't have them, Rohit."

"What?" Rohit turned around to glare at his Mahi Bhaiya. "That bad, am I?"

"Oh hush, stupid child!" A tap landed on his head and Rohit winced exaggeratedly. "I just prefer that you get to play your natural game and free from any weight of expectations. You are doing great, Rohit, and you will only improve from here on."

"I will try." Rohit reached out and tugged at his Mahi Bhaiya's sleeve. "But I have aways to go, don't I? For me to get the temperament Virat has?"

Rohit felt his head cradled in a gentle hold. "Virat is not your competitor, Rohit. And neither are you, his. You are two very different players but both are equally important for the Indian Cricket Team."

"You promise?"

"I promise."

"No difference, Bhaiya?"

"Not in the least, my stupid child."

Back to the present

"You promised, Bhaiya, and yet Virat became your friend. I just remained Rohit."

A sound of distress came forth from Mahi and Rohit turned around, yet again. "Where are these thoughts coming from, Rohit? Huh? You were my friend too. You are."