Snippets, Incorrect Quotes and More

Advent Series - MS-Rishabh (with Virat) - Relic Love

Thinking about the best opening words for what may be an awkward conversation, Virat settled for stalking over and rapping Rishabh's head with his knuckles and barking, "Oi! Still thinking about stuff?"

It was probably not the best way to approach the situation at hand, and Rishabh peered up at Virat with eyes filled with confusion and a hint of pain.

Pain of the physical kind.

"Stuff, Bhai? I mean, yeah, but...."

Virat tutted, much like an old granny lamenting about 'today's generation', and crouched next to their younger wicketkeeper.

"I will sometimes shout on the field, Rishabh. That is me. Do not keep thinking about all that after! I am just loud, alright. But I still love you people. Even when you almost make us lose the match and series...Er...."

Virat could feel MS's gaze burning a hole in the back of his head.

"Er... I mean, it is alright. I am sorry. Stop sulking, kiddo." And he patted Rishabh's head, a tad bit condescendingly.

Rishabh looked up, blinked, looking extremely confused. "All this is very sweet of you, Virat Bhai, but why are you apologising?"

Virat scratched his head, realised that he still held the remnants of his poor protein bar, and finished the last few bites of it. "Because," he chewed, swallowed, and then continued, "You are sulking. Apparently, because I yelled at you? Like, almost, eight hours ago?"

"But," Rishabh's boyish face scrunched up, "I was not sulking about you!"

Virat frowned. "Then what...."

Rishabh threw his hands up. "Mahi bhai! I am sulking due to Mahi bhai!"

Virat choked on air, a very loud and embarrassing chortle escaping him. "Say what?" He turned his head towards the....bookcase and laughed harder. "Mahi bhai? He scolded you or something?"

"What? No!" It was Rishabh's turn to whine, and Virat could, for a moment, appreciate that MS may be getting an occasional earache due to his own whining. Maybe.

Not that he will let that little thing stop him from whining; it was MS's pride and burden to put up with that.

"Then?" Virat gathered an imaginary clock of patience around himself and asked.

"He...did not notice!"

The tantrum was full-fledged, and Rishabh flung his hands up in exasperation. "I wore it the whole day, dangled it in front of Bhai's face, and he still did not notice!"

"Er... What?" Virat threw a helpless look at the bookcase again, and MS finally graced him with sight. He stepped out from ......his hiding place and calmly asked,

"And I did not notice what?"

The soft drawl caused Rishabh to jump in fright, and even Virat had a bit of a snapjerk reaction.

A little stupid, in hindsight.

"Mahi bhai? Where did you prop up from?"

"From the box kept...." MS pointed at the obscure corner, "....just there."

Rishabh dragged an eyebrow up. "Like a Jack in the Box?"

MS nodded, calm and stoic as ever, "Just like that."

And Virat burst out laughing.

"Virat bhai! You are not taking me seriously, are you?" An indignant Rishabh Pant growled and made his Captain nod, who already sensed the storm brewing.