Snippets, Incorrect Quotes and More

My intermittent Friend (The Veiled Cloakroom short stories - 1)

This is just a mini OS series. Short and will feature some not-so-comfortable conversations. Will be fictional - of course, or just my take on the real things.

If there are any scenarios you want to suggest, please do.

My intermittent Friend (The Veiled Cloakroom short stories - 1)

Scenario - 2021 T20 WC and mentor Dhoni. A disgruntled captain was a teensy bit rude. Now it is 2025. RCB vs CSK with RCB winning and the conversation thereon.

"Well, one of us has to be wrong and it's not going to be me."

"Hey. All good?"

"Perfectly. How are you?"

"Good. Yeah good. Oh, hug? Yeah. People will be happy now."

"For another year?"

"Yeah. At least. Or till they get bored. By the way, good game."

"Yeah. You too. I mean, though you lost and all. It was a good game."

"It was. Huh? Imagine the world sees us as chatting now."

"They must be thinking that such a close relationship; such a sweet friendship."

Pulling back a little bit, "People are such idiots, huh?"

A smirk. "You think so?"

"I know so. Have known since 2021."

"Despite me blabbering my heart out in 2022? Sheesh! Way to put a man down."

"I did forget about 2022. Why did you blabber those things? You must have hated owing things to me; anything!"

"Yeah, I kinda did. Not. I did not. Surprising, huh? Well, we should move now. I should get going."

"Yeah. Go and enjoy. Kinda surprised not seeing you dancing all over the place."

"That," A look directed, "is not very kind."

"I did not mean to be kind. Since when have I been kind?"

"Oh come on now, Mahi Bhai!"

A chuckle and the ex-captain of CSK went to join his team, allowing the happenings around to take his mind off the fresh defeat. The minutes rushed by.

"Hey!"

"Back again?"

"Look happy, Mahi bhai. There are cameras around."

"As if I care. I cannot possibly be trolled more."

"You are being trolled? Again? What for now?"

"Oi! You absent in your head? This match? Me coming in at 9?"

"So what do they expect you to do? Keep wickets, do stumpings and then come as an opener?"

"There are several wicketkeeper-batsmen who have been openers."

"But you were never one of them. Though, yeah, today I did expect to see you at 6 or 7. At least, before Ashwin."

"You and the rest of the world." A hand held out to clench at the red sweatshirt, left after a moment and the crinkled fabric patted into place. "It is my choice. My only choice!"

"Only?"

"Kind of. I relinquished it. They need the modicum of certainty that I trust them to take us home."

"But..."

"But it sounds stupid, huh? I have overstepped as usual. As you always used to tell me. I left it for too late. Too little, too late."