8th November 2020
Delhi Capitals had just won the match against the Sunrisers leaving the entire team in hearty smiles.
It was their first final after all, and they were looking to make it a win too.
Rishabh happened to walk off the pitch wearing a façade of genuine happiness.
Truth was, no matter how happy he was for qualifying, he was disappointed in himself.
2, 3, 8, 24
Read his last 4 scores.
The word disappointment was too little to describe how awful he was feeling.
Couldn't you have played a bit better his overthinking mind voice chided.
He slunk away from the post-match celebrations and snuck into his room wishing dreadfully that nobody had spotted him.
Head buried into his pillows, Rishabh felt a strange urge as he always did to scroll through social media.
Possibly the worst thing he could've done
The trolls were no less disturbing. Some were pointing out his low scores , some on how cheaply he got out and some on other random mistakes of his.
Oh I know! - he urged to roar at the screen.
Completely drowned in his thoughts, Rishabh failed to realise that his Indian teammates on the other side were going insane trying to figure out where the kid locked himself up on such a happy night.
Mainly the search party was caused by Prithvi and Shreyas. Shreyas always was close to Rish and treated him almost like a younger brother though he's only younger by a few years.
Rishabh going missing wasn't normal. It was usually the opposite, he almost hated being alone.
Shreyas was naturally worried about the ever lively, bursting with happiness, crazy kid. He was always the first to forget a loss and be all pumped up again.
"Jinks Bhai where do you think he'd be?" Shreyas asked tugging on to Jinks' arm impatiently.
"Perhaps checking his room would be a good idea Shrey," Jinks answered patiently.
The whole situation reminded him of Virat and Rohit. Shikhar and Ash seemed to agree too.
"Oh oops," Shrey blurted out in embarrassment rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.
How had he forgotten to check Rishabh's room
Saying so, he ran off to talk to Rishabh.
As always, he opened the door in his usual "I'm here, notice me" manner expecting to find Rishabh crouched over his laptop laughing at something ridiculous.
Much to his surprise, Rishabh was slouched against the side of the bed, head buried in his hands looking as if he was on the verge of a breakdown.
The protective brother arose in Shreyas almost immediately as he rushed to take Rishabh in a big bear hug.
"Yo Rish what happened bro?"
No response
"Rishu?" Shrey called in a tender tone, almost mirroring Virat or Mahi Bhai.
Rish suddenly hugged him back, hid his face in Shrey's shoulder and started sobbing silently.
"I'm a failure." "Failure." He muttered on repeat.
His breaths became heavier and he sobbed louder causing Shrey to tense up even more.
Shreyas wasn't really experienced on how to handle a sobbing friend so he let him sob it all out.
They sat there in a comfortable silence with Rishabh sobbing and Shreyas rubbling his back tenderly.
Rishabh seemed to register that who he was hugging wasn't his Mahi Bhai or his Virat bhaiya and backed away immediately.
"I-uh-urm, I'm sorry," he mumbled staring intently at his feet.
"Shush, no need for sorry bro. Tell me what happened," Shreyas replied softly pulling Rish closer to him.
His sight fell up on Rishabh's open tab.
The trolls.
"What good does media ever do?" Shreyas thought to himself sighing.
"Is it the trolls?" He blurted out, immediately regretting asking. Rish flinched ever so slightly.
"I'm a failure!" Rishabh cried out in despair.
"And which intelligent person told you that may I ask," Shreyas stated sarcastically.
Rishabh took a small glance towards his laptop screen.
"Don't believe them," Shreyas said on reflex. "They don't mean anything really."
He didn't say, but they affected him too.
"No shrey, they're right. I'm a big failure. I've never performed up to the standards I need to be doing," Rish said solemnly.
"But-" Shreyas started before Rish interrupted.
"2, 3, 8, 24, my last 4 scores Shrey. They have a point. 2 of those matches we lost," he said in a completely dejected tone still glaring holes through the ground.
"Rish look at me," Shreyas ordered sternly and surprisingly Rishabh obeyed.
"You're not a failure Rishu, you've just always been put under pressure situations. You're only 23, and you've handled so many certainly lost games single handedly. And as for your scores. Was 128 not out against SRH not your score?" Shreyas spoke out with determination and pride flowing through his eyes.
"Well..." Rish started
"Rish, it's not always your fault you're put into pressure situations. And this is only IPL. It doesn't mean anything, you've performed well for the national side and that's what matters."
"But, everyone online are saying that I shouldn't be playing." Rishabh replied half convinced.
"Right first things first, I'm never dropping you from the side as long as I can have my say in it and secondly we all believe in you. Me, Shikhi Bhai, Ash Bhai, Jinks Bhai, Prithvi, Virat Bhaiya, Mahi Bhai, the entire team believes in Rish. We'll always back you because you deserve it. You're one of a kind, special!" Shreyas declared, his heart flowing with emotions.
Rishabh, overwhelmed, pounced on to him muttering a simple "thank you" making Shrey smack him on the head.
"Owww!" Rish whined
"Then don't you dare say thank you," Shreyas warned playfully.
"Show those people who you are. Show them what you're capable of. Show them the Rishabh Pant they want. Your captain's demanding a fifty from you!" Shreyas chuckled.
Rishabh chuckled too, taking Shreyas in a bear hug.
******
10th November 2020
In a pressure situation where the team required a strong partnership after losing three early wickets, Rishabh walked in keeping hopes alive.
And he did what they asked for
His maiden IPL 50 in the season.
"Proud of you!" Shreyas muttered
*******
Happy Birthday Vaishh HarryPotterscientist ❤️❤️🥳🥳
Hope you liked this small gift from my side! Sorry it's quite short
Loads of love and have the best year ahead ❤️
P.S. I couldn't think of any Mayank-Rishabh story plots so Shreyas-Rishabh would have to do 😂