Virat and Mahi stayed in the same position for quite long as none of them wanted let each other go. It felt the warmest!

Though Virat wasn't crying but he was still sobbing intermittently and Mahi was rubbing his back slowly.

"I was so scared!" Virat muttered again.

"Calm down. I'm fine, Chee—" Mahi stopped midway and Virat looked at him hopefully, breaking the hug but fell silent.

Virat knew Bhai was hurt. Mahi stopped calling him Cheeku because he asked him to. How stupid he could be!

Virat regretted every bit of his words said to Mahi Bhai but didn't know how to mend what he had damaged. What could he probably say to make Bhai forgive him? May be he could say it out to just like last time he did? Virat thought but instead of saying anything, he just looked down.

Mahi was looking at Virat expectantly but looked away in disappointment when Virat fell silent. Is it really so difficult to say a simple thing, Cheeku?

Virat looked up a little. Come on, Virat, it's not that difficult! Say it! Virat said in his thoughts. If hurting Bhai by asking him not to call you Cheeku wasn't difficult, then why will apologizing for the same be?

"Bhai—" Virat began earnestly.

"Ahh.." Mahi winced slightly as sudden throbbing pain hit his head.

"Bhai! Bhai, you take rest—" Virat said frantically out of concern, arranging pillow below Mahi Bhai's head.

"I'm—I'm sorry, Bhai for—" Virat's voice choked up at last. "—hurting you again."

"I'm fine, Virat!" Mahi said, in the same tender tone he used just for Virat. "It'll be alright, right?"

Virat nodded with tearful eyes as he gulped the lump in his throat. Mahi smiled weakly.

Virat sat beside Mahi and gripped his one hand again. "Is it paining, Bhai?" Virat asked, looking at his wound grievously.

"Not anymore." Mahi said. "It's much better."

"Pakka?" Virat asked innocently, still gripping Mahi's hand.

Mahi could almost feel his heart melting away internally at that concerned and innocent look of Virat. The same innocent eyes which looked out for him!

Mahi remembered how things were so much different till few days back. Virat had been so distant from him in last few months that it felt almost ages ago when Virat sat next to him or even talked to him.

But as Mahi had believed, Virat was sitting next to him and looked at him with the same concern and reverence, may be even more than ever before.

"Why aren't you saying anything, Bhai?" Virat asked impatiently when Mahi didn't reply. "Is it paining? Should I—"

"It's fine, Virat!" Mahi said softly, smiling at Virat's concern.

Mahi's soft and kind voice was making Virat feel even more guilty. How could Bhai be same gentle towards him instead of being angry even after he hurt him so badly? Virat blinked away his tears, looking down as he didn't dare to meet Bhai's eyes.

How could he hurt Mahi Bhai like that?

How could he let Bhai go away like that?

How could he drive Mahi Bhai away like that?

"I didn't want to let you go, Bhai! I can't ever let you go! I just—thought that—", Virat sobbed, looking down. "—that I'd hurt you if I come to you."

That was the most stupid analogy he could ever make out!

"You can never hurt me if you come to me! How did you even think that?" Mahi said gently.

"I was stupid." Virat said briskly.

Mahi gave a soft chuckle muttering "I know."

"I know that you know!" Virat said in a childish accusing voice. 'Why didn't you tell me this back then?"

"You didn't listen to me back then." Mahi said impetuously.

Virat sniffed.

"You could scold me, even slap me if I didn't listen. Aapse chhota hoon, itna toh haq hai na aapka, Bhai!" Virat said, looking at him with tears flowing down his cheeks now and he wasn't even attempting to stop them.

"I tried, not once but several times but—" Mahi said wearily. For the first time probably, he wanted to let it out as well.

Virat looked down again as he knew Bhai was tight. Bhai did come to him several time but he—

I don't need your advice. I can look after myself!

I don't want to talk about anything!

You've no right to scold me like this!

You're my captain on field but you can't keep ordering like this!

—he didn't only snub Bhai away but also disrespected him in the worst possible way.

Virat suddenly felt extremely guilt ridden and conscience stricken. His tears streamed down more heavily than before.

Virat looked up at Mahi for a fraction of second before he half lied down keeping his head in Mahi's lap.

"Virat.." Mahi looked at him, surprised.

"I will always need you, Bhai", Virat said, wiping away his own tears.

"There's no one whom I want to talk to more than you!"

"You've all the rights to scold me or order me whenever you want!"

"Yes, you are my captain but even before that you're my elder brother, Bhai!" Virat said solemnly, right from heart. "You will always be my elder brother."

Mahi couldn't think before his hands automatically reached up to Virat and he stroked his hair affectionately. It felt so warm to have Virat saying all this while lying in his lap that Mahi's heart could burst out with love.

Virat leaned in more with Mahi's touch. It felt as much warm to him as well. He smiled a little as he felt Mahi Bhai stroking his hair. Both of them remained silent for some time untill Virat suddenly looked up at Mahi.

"Bhai, please call—" Virat began slowly.

"We can take Mahi Bhai back now!" Rohit said entering the ward as soon as Virat began. "All the formalities are done."

Virat nodded mildly and Rohit looked at Virat, then Mahi and then back at Virat. He so hoped that his best friend made it up! He missed Virat terribly now!
-----------------------------

Everyone almost rushed up to Mahi as soon as they entered. Their eyes showed nothing but utmost concern for their Mahi Bhai.

"You got us so scared, Mahi Bhai!"

"We were so worried! Thank god you're fine, Mahi Bhai!"

"Is it still paining, Bhai?"

Mahi smiled at them and let each one of them hug him patiently with a fond smile on his face. He surely had the best family which he was always proud of! He hugged each of them and lastly looked at Jaddu who had been standing behind silently all the while.

"Jad?" Mahi called out tenderly, extending out one of his hands.

Jaddu silently made his way towards Mahi and hugged him, hiding his face in Mahi's shoulders. No one should be able to see his tears, right?

"Bhai, I'm sorry!" Jaddu whispered in the hug.

"Shh, it wasn't your fault, Jad! It happens in cricket. It's okay, kiddo!" Mahi said, rubbing his back.

"I didn't want you to get hurt, Bhai! I—" Jaddu said in a thick voice.

"I know, I know, kiddo! You don't need to explain it to me, Jad! I know you can never hurt me, kiddo! It was just an accident!" Mahi said lovingly.

"I'm sorry!" Jaddu said, breaking the hug.

"You don't need to be!" Mahi said smilingly and Jaddu gave his usual goofy grin.

Everyone chuckled seeing Jaddu back to his usual self and Mahi ruffled Jaddu's hair.

"Bhai, doctor has asked you to take complete rest." Rohit said. "I'll stay with you here only in case you need anything at night or—"

"You don't need to, Ro! I'm fine! In fact, you guys also go and take rest. I'm sure none of you moved from here whole day." Mahi said, knowing perfectly that everyone must have been worried for him.

"How can we leave you alone, Bhai? Anyone must—" Rohit began.

"I'll stay!" Virat said and everyone looked towards him unexpectedly. "I'll just get changed and come back."

Virat left the room avoiding the confused looks everyone was giving except Mahi and Rohit.

"Let's go then!" Rohit said, being quite happy about the fact that Virat finally got back his lost screw.
-----------------------------------

"Virat?" Rohit called out entering and saw Virat sitting on floor against his bed and his face buried down against his knees.

"Vi, what happened? Vi?" Rohit rushed to Virat's side holding him with one arm.

Virat looked up, startled to hear Rohit's voice. As he saw Rohit's fear stricken face, he realised Rohit might have thought he was crying or something looking at his position.

"Ro, I'm okay." Virat smiled seeing concern etched all across Rohit's features.

"Are you crying? What happened?" Rohit asked clutching Virat's hands.

Rohit had almost forgotten he was ever upset with Virat.. and so much upset that he wasn't talking to him.
Right now, all that mattered to him was his best friend is okay or not.

Virat looked at his clutched hands and then at Rohit before he flung his arms around Rohit. Rohit was hugging Virat back even before he knew.

"I missed you so much, Ro!" Virat whispered as Rohit realised by his voice Virat hasn't been crying.

"I missed you more!" Rohit whispered back.

"You're such a big moronic jerk that I'd to stop talking to you to make you realise what you're missing out! Do you have any idea how much I missed ny best friend?" Rohit said accusingly, breaking the hug.

Virat chuckled listening to him. It felt nice to have his best friend back, shouting at him!

"I know!" Virat said. "I'm sorry!"

"Just because you're my best friend!" Rohit said as he hugged Virat again. "Just because I want no one but just you to be best friend always!"

"And I promise I'll always be!" Virat said, hugging back Rohit even more fiercely.

They broke the hug and started laughing looking at each other with their eyes filled with tears.

"I did earn you back at last!" Virat said slowly. "I hope Mahi Bhai too—"

"As if you had ever lost me!" Rohit said, smiling at his best friend. "As if you had ever lost any of us!"

Virat looked at Rohit in confusion for few moments before he realised that Rohit did everything just to make him realise his own mistake. Rohit couldn't do it any other way as Virat had turned him down like Mahi Bhai whenever he wanted to talk as well.

"Ro, I—" Virat whispered as feeling of gratefulness and live for his best friend took over his complete heart.

"I know, I know!" Rohit said with a little laugh.

And both of them got their best friends back whom neither of them had ever lost! Best friends do know us better than ourselves sometimes, right?
______________________________________

A/n

How was it? Hope you guys liked it!

Next chapter will be the last chapter of this story! This story has been one of the most special one to me! Hope you guys liked it as much!

Do vote and comment!

Love ❤️