Ever felt jealous, hurt, possessive and guilty, all at same time?

If it was possible to actually feel all these at same time then Virat was feeling each of them at highest peak right now.

Virat was passing by Mahi's room when he heard voices coming out and as the door was opened, Virat stopped to see and what he saw made him fume in jealousy and extremely hurt and possessiveness kicking in and sick with guilt! If it was possible, of course!

The whole team was gathered in Mahi's room and everyone was settled around Mahi on the bed. Rohit and Bhuvi on either sides of Mahi Bhai, Ash and Jinks lying across him and Jaddu in front was probably narrating one of his Jamnagar stories again.

Virat felt jealous and possesive like always, watching all of them around Mahi Bhai. It was his right to cling to Mahi Bhai like that!

At the same time, Virat felt hurt and guilty that he never cared to talk to Mahi Bhai even once after so much happened. He lost his right himself!

Virat saw all of them and it reminded Virat of old days when everything was fine... When Virat used to be fine! He noticed how everyone was relaxed around Mahi Bhai. He knew Mahi Bhai was someone all of them looked up to, Virat himself more than anyone else but may be he was so lost that he didn't realise this while driving Mahi Bhai away.

For once, even Bhuvi was clinging to Mahi Bhai, resting on his shoulders like a kid. For once, even Jinks was carelessly lying on bed using one of Mahi Bhai's legs as pillow, not caring about how immature it looked. For once, even Jaddu and Ash were being childish, not savage. Just because it was Mahi Bhai!

Virat's face was adorned with a fond smile looking at his brothers who were his family but at the same time his heart broke by the thought of losing them. How could he ever live with that?!

"Why did you leave us midway, Mahi Bhai? We missed you so much!" Rohit said suddenly.

Everyone shifted uncomfortably even at the mention of that topic and Mahi could see how each of them tried to inch closer to him as Rohit said that.

"When did I ever leave you, Ro? I was, and will always be with you guys. If not as a captain, then as an elder brother!" Mahi said with a smile and that pretty much drew smile on everyone's face.

Virat suddenly looked up.

If not as a captain, then as an elder brother!

Mahi Bhai said the same thing, right?

Virat smiled broadly after so long. It wasn't a professional or fake smile he was giving to others for months now, it was a genuine one.

"I know what I need to do!" Virat muttered to himself and smiled looking at others before walking away.

How do you always say exactly what I need to listen, Mahi Bhai?
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Next two days, Virat didn't try to escape facing Mahi Bhai at all. Instead he was hovering around Mahi Bhai all the time trying to find a chance to be with him anyhow. He was hesitant but he knew this was the only way he could reach out to Bhai.

As Mahi Bhai said, If not as a captain, then as an elder brother!

Then he had to preach what he taught. If not as a captain, then Mahi Bhai has to forgive me as an elder brother! Virat believed and worked according to the same.

Virat wanted to make Mahi Bhai feel the same. He wanted to make Mahi Bhai treat him like a little brother like before. And he himself wanted to be nothing but a little brother to Mahi Bhai.

So last two days, Virat had been like—

"Can I sit with you, Mahi Bhai?" Virat had tentatively asked during breakfast completely amusing Mahi.

"Can we discuss tomorrow's match plan, Mahi Bhai?" Virat had said promptly when he spotted Mahi Bhai alone.

"Do you want anything, Mahi Bhai?" Virat had asked when he found Mahi Bhai looking for something.

And so on...

It wasn't in a way Virat used to do earlier but this time he just wanted to at least come on a normal distance to Mahi Bhai and stop avoiding him.

May be he could make Bhai feel that he wants to be with him by doing so?!

"Can I warm up with you, Bhai?" Virat asked coming to Mahi during one of their practice sessions.

"Yeah!" Mahi replied simply.

Mahi wasn't amused at all. He slowly assumed that Virat was just trying to be casual and avoid the hesitation between them. It hurt!

They started jogging silently while others were as usual practicing in nets or outside. Virat was jogging a bit further than Mahi. Ash and Jaddu were, for some reasons, practicing outside nets.

Ash bowled to Jaddu and Jaddu hit it in the air. Both looked at each other in horror as the ball was about to——

And it hit Mahi! Before anyone could realise what happened, Mahi had been hit on his head and collapsed.

"BHAI!!" Ash and Jaddu shouted at the same time, running towards Mahi and everyone else too turned their attention towards them.

"Bhai.." Virat whispered to himself as he ran to Mahi on an impulse.

"Bhai, open your eyes, please!" Virat said desperately, his voice full of concern and evident fear as he supported Mahi's head.

"We should take him to doctor." Rohit said worriedly and everyone nodded.

"He's bleeding!" Jaddu said slowly and for a very rare occasion, everyone could see how shaken he was.

Ash quickly put an arm around him in an attempt to console him and said convincingly, "Bhai will be fine, Jad!"

Virat and Rohit took Mahi to hospital and were waiting outside as Doctor had taken him inside for check up.

Everyone was worried and anxious but Virat was desperate and scared. His hands were almost trembling when he let Mahi Bhai go.

Rohit noticed how tearful Virat looked and he couldn't resist himself from approaching Virat.

"Virat," Rohit said softly, holding Virat's hand in his. "Bhai will be fine. Don't worry."

No matter what, he couldn't leave his best friend's side when he needs it the most!

"Ro, Bhai—" Virat said slowly as his eyes became misty.

"Don't worry, Vi! He's alright!" Rohit said gripping Virat's hands.

As the doctor came out, everyone rushed to him.

"He's fine, doctor?" Virat asked desperately.

"He's alright! There is no internal injury and no need to be worried. It's just external injury and I've given him sedatives and painkillers which will reduce his pain and help him sleep properly because it's necessary that he takes complete rest for next few days." Doctor replied.

Both of them heaved a sigh of relief as doctor said that.

"Bhai.." Rohit immediately rushed to Mahi as doctor allowed them to meet him.

"I'm fine, Ro!" Mahi spoke slowly with a smile. "Water.."

"Here, Bhai!" Virat helped Mahi get up and have water. Mahi noticed how scared and concerned Virat was.

Rohit went out to complete some formalities and Virat stayed back.

Virat kept the glass aside and didn't speak anything instead just gripped Mahi Bhai's hand as tightly as he could as if to be assured that his Mahi Bhai was alright.

Mahi smiled knowingly.

"Virat, " Mahi said gently. "I'm fine."

Virat didn't look up and just nodded. Mahi could almost hear him sobbing.

"Virat, it's alright! I'm fine now!" Mahi repeated.

"I was so scared that—" Virat said in a whisper. "—that I lost you."

Mahi knew Virat wasn't talking about the injury. It wasn't the first time one of them got injured during practice.

"You didn't, Virat." Mahi said weakly patting his cheeks with one hand. "You never did!"

How could he make Virat understand that he never lost Mahi instead Mahi thought he lost his Cheeku?

Virat looked up at Mahi Bhai for few seconds before he threw his arms around him and broke in sobs. Mahi was taken aback by the sudden action but hugged him back when he heard Virat sobbing.

"I thought I did!" Virat said in the hug as he was sobbing hysterically. "You never told me!"

"You never asked me!" Mahi said mildly.

Virat sobbed harder at that while Mahi was slowly caressing his back. He might be hurt but how could he leave his Cheeku alone?

Virat stopped sobbing after some time but didn't break the hug. He wanted to feel Mahi Bhai's presence! He hadn't hugged Bhai since so long.

How much he missed the warmth and secureness and love!

How much he missed his Mahi Bhai!
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A/n

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