Snippets

Apologies

Mahi cut him off before he could even start his explanation.

"Busy with your players. I know. And of course, you didn't have time to even talk to the player you claim is like a brother. Nope. Not a single minute to waste."

"MS, I am—"

"How is your injury?" Mahi asked suddenly.

"What?"

"Your leg injury. How is it?"

"It's getting better everyday." Rahul reassured him. "Anyways, as I was saying—"

"You shouldn't have played at your age." Mahi scolded him. "And then you are here every day, worsening the injury. You should take a few days off and rest."

"I assure you that I am at the peak of my health. How should I make up—"

"Boys!" Mahi called to the CSK youngsters who were roaming in the stadium. "Come and greet Rahul sir."

Suddenly, Rahul was surrounded by half a dozen CSK players, greeting him and enquiring about his health. By the time he got through the last of their questions, Mahi was nowhere to be seen.

Rahul groaned internally. Why did he get the difficult ones?

—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mahi had been talking to Sakshi and Ziva on video call when someone knocked on the hotel door. Curious as to which of his players had decided to reward him with this courtesy now, he wished his wife and daughter Goodnight and cut the call before moving to open the door.

He was greeted by the rather funny sight of one Wall of Cricket in an electric wheelchair with a hotel worker behind him holding a tray filled with a couple of pastries, 2 smoothies and what Mahi hoped was Butter Chicken.

"How long does it take for you to open the door?" Rahul bhai asked before gesturing for Mahi to move aside as he got inside the room, the worker following him.

"What is all of this?" Mahi asked once the worker left.

"A treat for you from my side. An apology for ignoring you." Rahul said, smiling as he picked up one of the smoothies.

"You want me to eat such high calorie food in the middle of the tournament? Are you sure you should use such underhanded means?" Mahi asked him.

"I am not using any underhanded means. Both of us are at the bottom of the table. Hardly matters if the seniormost player has a cheat day or two."

Mahi was about to protest against this but Rahul gave him a look, daring him to not listen to him.

Mahi sighed. "Let me call the boys as well. They –"

"Are out. Watching a movie." Rahul cut him off. "I would know. I am the one who gave them the tickets."

"You left them without supervision?" Mahi asked him, horrified.

"Jaddu is with them."

"That is not reassuring me!"

Rahul rolled his eyes. "Stop being a worrywart, Mahi. I am sure they wouldn't get in any trouble. Now come and enjoy."

Mahi muttered something about 'careless' and 'not worrywart' before sitting down. His mind soon left the worries of unruly youngsters and focused on the feast in front of him.

Halfway through, Rahul asked him, "Am I forgiven now?"

Mahi stared at him deadpan.

"I will think about it." He said before going back to his food.

"And what do I have to do for you to forgive me?" Rahul asked, amused.

Mahi thought for a second before answering. "Call Yuvi and tell him he is an idiot." He suggested.

"I can't do that!" Rahul said. "I would then have to pacify him."

Mahi pouted.

"You are no fun, bhai." He told him.

"If you want fun, I could call Sachi or Dadi." Rahul suggested.

"It would be nice to have someone more stylish and cool." Mahi said teasingly.

Rahul gasped in horror. "The kids these days. They don't have any respect for seniors anymore." He said, sighing. "No matter how much you love them, it will never be enough." He wiped away the fake tears.

That was enough to break Mahi out of his own act.

"Bas karo, bhai." He said, chuckling.

Rahul perked up.

"Am I forgiven then?"

"Yes, my lord, you have been granted forgiveness despite you betraying me for the younger population. Make sure you do not commit the crime again"

"I will make sure I don't commit the crime in your vicinity again, your majesty."

3

The two of them stared at each other, faces blank.

2

Mahi's lips twitched. Rahul pursued his own to prevent them from—

1

The two of them burst out laughing. Everytime they would somehow manage to control their laughter, they would catch the other's eye and burst out again.

When they finally stopped, Mahi asked Rahul, "Movie?"

"I am not watching Singam again."

"And I refuse to watch Sholay again. I have had to watch it 32 times with you four."

"You keep count? Aww."

"I am putting on Bahubali. You are free to join me if you don't tease me."

"Difficult but I can try."

"Highly obliged, bhai."

—----------------------------------------—--

Oh brother, I will help you out

if the sky comes falling down

For you

There's nothing in this world I wouldn't do

—----—------Avicii