.I'm hurt doesn't mean I stopped caring.

The last few days were over hard and full of obstacles for the ICT. It seemed like someone had blessed them with a heartbreak season. It was a season of storms, storms out to break and scatter them but they held firm, unbreakable, unbowing in front of every disaster, every challenge thrown in their way.

The expulsion of the Media Manager of ICT was doing rounds in the news circle. The manager claiming his innocence and the allegations against him totally without any basis.

The image of the Captain of ICT was being dragged through the mud again.

The said captain was currently in Ranchi, helping his dearest bhabi in the kitchen.

"Cheeku baccha, I can do this," Sakshi said fondly looking at her dearest brother-in-law.

"Bhabs, aise chotte mote kam leave on me, aap lunch pr focus kro, baki mein dekh lunga," Virat assured Saks with his best smile, using two cucumbers as his props and using them as his mike.

"Sure cheeku," Saks still asked concerned about her dearest brother. He and the boys had just gotten here and she didn't want to tire him more.

"Absolutely!!! chef chiku at your service, madam" Virat bowed deeply with cucumbers making Sakshi giggle at his antics.

"Pagal," Saks muttered fondly ruffling Chiku's hair as they worked together in the kitchen chit-chatting harmoniously, Saks prepared Lunch, Chiku handled salads and raitas.

"Areey Bhabs, Mahi bhai loves mango right," Virat asked pondering whether he should add extra mango or bananas in his fruit salad.

"Ha, kyu?" Saks asked noticing Virat looking at Mango, banana and strawberry contemplatively.

"Should I add extra for him?" Vi asked Saks, knowing the kids will raid the salad anyway, so should he make extra or not?

"Areey, mere Mahi k chiku, do whatever you want," Saks said shaking her head at Virat's thoughtful worried expression.

Virat just grinned and went back to work at this time, Ro entered the kitchen in search of his annoying bestie. Watching Virat cutting fruits and salad, Ro made a beeline for him.

"You have the worst PR management team ever, you know," Ro told his bestie grumbling angrily as he snatched a cucumber from Virat's bowl looking displeased with all the green leaves added to the salad bowl.

"Don't, you will eat all that," Virat whined snatching his bowl and taking it as far as possible from Ro and totally ignoring Ro's words.

"Bhabssss" Ro whined.

"He is right, Ro," Saks said totally in support of Virat, Ro will eat the whole salad and fruit salad talking with them only.

Vi looked triumphant.

Ro grumbled unhappily.

"But Bhabi, ain't I right? He has shitty PR even the BCCI team is useless. Shouldn't they like to maintain a good image of their captain and all? What are those rascals doing? Nothing. I tell you we should sack them all," Ro announced moodily after the things were sorted out and Ro realized how he almost lost his bestie over a piety misunderstanding.

The mass of misunderstanding and internal conflict their own media management created for them out there. To had been seething an understanding from Mani how badly the media madness and trolls really affected his Vi.

Ro had been more protective of his brother. He couldn't take this madness anymore. He wanted people sacked, his bestie was least interested in that front.

"Ro is right Chiku, you should change them. You didn't even sue that ex-manager," Saks grumbled unhappily. She hadn't forgiven that man yet for creating misunderstanding between two people so dear to her.

"Bhabi it's fine na, his family depends on him too. It's over. He is out. We shouldn't drag the matter," Virat shrugged off the whole thing.

To and Saks just shook their head at their Vi exasperated. It was so like their chiku, he will let the people hurting him leave easily but if the same person hurt his dear ones. He'll hail storm of destruction on them.

Ro wanted to do the same currently, but his idiotic bestie wasn't allowing it. He was too caring sometimes and Ro knew he should do something but he didn't.

Because of a certain Kohli.

Ro was getting an ominous feeling. He was going to regret agreeing with his bestie but for the moment he ignored that feeling. He had more important works like stealing fruits, bickering with his bestie and bhabi and playing dandiya with kitchen equipments.

They were happy.

They were content.

They were together.

Alas, they didn't know these were their few happy moments before the disaster waiting for them in 2019.

~~~~~~~~

2019 was a disaster. A year, they wanted to forget.

First, Rahul and Harry in KWK fiasco.

The world cup disaster.

It was a year of storms for the ICT. A year, that tested their bonds and trusts. A year that brought them closer to each other too. A year that changed the dynamics of the team but pulled them closer too.

For the people, who love you, don't  let you walk in the darkness alone. And each and every member of ICT understood that phrase at the darkest days of their lives.

Rahul was walking with Hardik and Mayank near their hotel pool. It was the west Indies tour of India and the ICT was happy to be together again.

Well, they were looking forward to this. Especially, Rahul, he wasn't sure whether Virat was still angry on him or not? Rahul was following Virat around like his shadow, a loyal follower and sometimes even a puppy in love.

So, absolutely no one in the team was surprised that reaching the pool Rahul looked around in search of his Virat immediately.

"Mani bro, where is Virat?" Rahul asked looking around searching his Virat. The whole team knew Rahul had been extra clingy to Virat for sometimes. Virat didn't mind of course.

"He is in his room, Kiddo" Manish Pandey informed Rahul sharing an amused look with Rohit.

"Why?" Rahul questioned immediately concerned for his Virat bhaiya.

"He is a little under the weather. He wants to sleep," Ro informed Rahul. He wanted to stay with Virat but his idiotic bestie had kicked him out of the room.

"I'll go check on him," Rah said immediately and Harry agreed with Rah.

Everyone knew trying to stop those two from banging on Virat's room was impossible. So, they let the two go.

Rahul and Harry almost rushed towards Virat's room. The two had been extra clingy to Virat, for they didn't know whether their Virat bhaiya had really forgiven them or not? Even if he had, they didn't know and they were too afraid to lose their Virat bhaiya anyway.

The conversation of Virat with Manish quite clear in their mind, from one of the darkest nights of their lives.

Rahul and Hardik has just gotten the message of their suspension and immediate return to the country. Their seniors has scolded them very much but they knew they deserved it. They had bid bye to all their brothers and only, Virat was remaining.

They walked towards Virat room and found him deep in conversation.

"I know Mani, I know, yeah, they shouldn't have spoken like that but I was at fault too, I shouldn't have allowed them to go,"

"Mani yrr, just look after him. He has a surplus amount of talent but he is under-confident right now, just guide him, he'll make it to the team on his own, just make sure his confidence uplifts and no one bullies him yrr,"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm finding someone in Barodra too for Harrya, yeah, your help will be appreciated. Hahaha...very funny Mani, Harry is a star, yes, my star"

"Mani yrr, I'm angry and upset, but it doesn't mean, I stopped loving them, they're my brothers. I'll always care for them. They'll always be my stars and I know they'll come victorious," Virat seemed certain of this fact.

And after hearing, their captain's words for them Harry and Rahul couldn't meet him. They didn't think they deserved that much confidence. They weren't deserving to be trusted so much.

They had bid Virat goodbye in the morning.

And yes, they had returned to the national squad. Yes, their brothers were as welcoming as ever. But still, both of them didn't feel worthy enough to be part of the dressing room.

Virat's promises of showing them around, making them feel welcome but they weren't sure whether they were totally forgive or not. They didn't know whether they deserved it or not?

After their dreams shattered once again in 2019, shattered into pieces, they were back again.

Stronger together.

And Rahul and Harry were going to prove the world why they deserve to be in Indian blues. They were going to prove their bhaiya's faith in them.

Even though sometimes it seemed blind even to them.

They weren't in any mood to let the world troll their Virat bhaiya using them anymore.

They were about to take the turn towards  leading down to Virat's room, when Harry's phone started ringing.

It was Ro calling.

"Yes, boss man," Harry asked picking up the call.

"Can you come back? Vi needs..." Hearing this Harry had already turned back towards the pool.

Getting a nod from Rahul, while Rahul continued walking towards Virat's room. Worrying about his older brother but before reaching Virat's room.

He heard something that made him stop in his tracks and do a U-turn. His interest piqued and intrigue at the front foot of his mind.

~to be continued~