9th January 2021

A certain overly-stressed Kohli was pacing around the room in front of the TV for one too many reasons.

First, his little one was due any time soon. Two the team seemed to be in a shambolic state. Jad getting injured, Rishabh getting injured. The racist comments made against his team. It was all too much.

"How could they?!" was one of the first thoughts that sped through his mind. This was his Miyaan, the one who determinedly looked into his eyes and told him "I'm going to stay Virat Bhai. For Abbu."

This was his Jassi who always gave him the biggest smile whenever he needed it. The one who never fails to deliver when his needs.

How could they!! He felt an unexplainable allure to fly to Australia and give the crowd a piece of his mind. To heck with the quarantine rules. This was to do with his kids. He'd break any rules for them.

He laughed bitterly. Funny how the same fans who taunted him wanted him there to defend their players.

Ironic.

Everything was getting too much for him. The trolls not only targeted him but his unborn baby too. He wanted to be there so bad.

Talking to Anushka would just stress her and he didn't want to talk it out with Mahi Bhai. He needed a break too. He couldn't help but wish for Ro's presence.

All he could do was clutch onto his head in frustration.

Lost in his thoughts, he forgot to watch the match for a while. Just then the last wicket fell causing Virat to sigh exasperatedly even more.

The day's play ended much in Australia's favour and Virat couldn't hold back any longer.

He needed his best friend. Quickly calculating how much time it would take for the team to finish all the formalities, Virat jumped around the room like an anxious kid waiting for exam results.

His hand immediately reached for the speed dial and clicked Rohit's number and much to his surprise he picked up pretty quickly.

"Aye Vi, you're in India and you still won't let me sleep? Let me rest, we just came back from a day's play." Rohit drawled out sleepily.

"Can you ever think about anything else but sleep?" Virat taunted.

"Actually I can. I think about food, cricket, Sammy..." Rohit started just to spite Virat.

"Speaking of Sammy, she somehow managed to make a rip into that teddy you gave her." Rohit continued causing Virat chuckle a bit

"She was crying uncontrollably until me and Ritsy promised that you'd get her another one. She didn't even want something we tried giving her. Only wanted something her Virat Chachu gives her," Rohit said laughing at that memory.

"Anything my Sammy wants, she gets!" Virat declared all determined.

"You're spoiling her too much!" Rohit said half protesting.

"Don't even Ro, don't even. You and I both know very well that you're going to pamper my little one just as much." Virat said smiling wide while Rohit laughed sheepishly.

"Now why'd you call me in the first place. Why are you always behind my sleep? You meanie!" Rohit whined childishly.

"Shut up Ro!" Virat yelled back

"No, you shush. You called me to annoy me, you don't like me in peace." Rohit screamed back.

"I did not!"

"Sure you didn't!"

"Did not!"

"Sure did!"

"Stop deviating from the point!" Virat half-yelled cutting Rohit.

"We had a point?" Rohit questioned back.

"Well I don't really know," Virat said.

"Ha! See you don't even have a point. Now let me sleep you sleep ruiner," Rohit said while yawing.

"Ro. I'm serious, I need to talk," Virat mumbled slowly causing Rohit to sit up straight.

Virat seemed bothered. And with his best friend bothered he couldn't ever sleep peacefully.

"Virat what happened?" Rohit asked concern clearly visible through his voice.

"I don't know Ro. I really don't." Virat said with a shaky voice.

That shaky-broken voice was the one thing that terrified Rohit. He's seen how vulnerable Virat gets and mentally curses the covid restrictions or else he'd have ordered all the kids to camp out at Virat's place.

"Switch to video call right now." Rohit ordered, his voice holding a sense of authority over his immature best friend and Virat having no reason to deny reluctantly agreed.

"Gosh Virat! Your eyes are all red and puffy. What's wrong? Have you not been sleeping? Please tell me you haven't been crying. Argh stupid covid! Vi! Say something!" Rohit ranted all at once seeing his best friend's disheveled state.

Virat's upper lip just trembled causing Rohit to panic more and in the most care filled, gentle voice he said, "Vi, What's wrong?"

"Everything in the whole world Ro! Absolutely everything! I was meant to be happy. My little champ or princess is going to be here soon but I just can't be happy." Virat rambled breaking down at last.

"The team is in shambles. We need to win this series Ro, or we stand no chance at qualifying for the finals. This our last chance to win this as a team Ro. I should've been there."

Rohit knew very well how much Virat's presence meant to the team and how much confidence he bought along. He knew very well how the media was seeing this paternity leave too.

"Vi..." was all he managed to say, desperately wishing he was there to hold his best friend close.

"Is it wrong for me wanting to be there for my first child's birth Ro?" Virat questioned in a voice that held so much child-like innocence that it was hard to believe that this was the same aggressive player that millions idolised.

Rohit sighed. What's it with these trolls and them falling after his best friend's happiness.

"Absolutely not Vi. Listen to me clearly and don't you dare disagree. You deserve it, more than anyone else. It's the best feeling in the world when you hold that little life in your hands. When those little eyes look at you in admiration. It's the best Vi. Don't let anyone take that away from you. Not any fan, nor ex-player. You deserve to be there. More than anyone in the team you deserve this happiness. Leave the trolls behind for a while. Jinks and I will handle it back here. Don't let them get to your head. Don't let anyone take that happiness from you!" Rohit said, dreadfully close to tears himself. He was aching to wipe those tears of Virat's face.

"Thank you -" Virat started to say before getting cut midway.

"Now you want to say thank you!" Rohit questioned sarcastically.

"I'm serious Ro. Thank you! God knows what I'd do without you," Virat spoke genuinely.

"Will you shut up! You want to say thank you for this too. You know very well I can't sleep if you're upset. I bet you this was your plan to ruin my sleep. You...you sleep ruiner!" Rohit boomed causing Virat to burst into fits of laughter. A real one - straight from the heart.

Sighing softly, Rohit said "Thank God you're laughing. I can't bare seeing you sad." While Virat hummed in response.

"Anyways you don't worry too much about the match or the series. Ajju is doing just fine and I'm there too. Yes, the youngsters are missing you - especially Shub but it's ok. Don't you feel guilty. We're managing fine and we're gonna win this series. For our champ or princess. Though I know it's going to be a princess." Rohit consoled carefully.

"And don't worry I didn't forget to yell at your Rahuliya for injuring himself on your behalf!" Rohit teased making Virat chuckle imagining Rahuliya's bashed puppy face.

Virat just hummed again.

"Anyways how's everyone? How's Miyan, Jassi? They're ok right? Damn it Ro I should've been there!" Virat whined swiftly transferring back to his over-protective elder brother mode.

"And don't even get me started on all these injuries. It's like someone's cursed us." Virat wailed.

"Virat, please stop! The two of them are fine and mature enough. God knows what controversy you'd bring this time," Rohit started causing Virat's booming laughter to echo throughout the room.

His Vi was back to his whiny self. That's all he needed.

"Well it's getting late here, we have to go down to dinner too. I'll put Harry or Rah on call with Anu or something you go to sleep. You don't want to look like that the first time your little one sees you!" Rohit said softly and Virat had no heart to deny him for once.

They both hung up and just then Jassi came to call him down for dinner.

Virat actually did actually go to sleep in the middle of the day.

One slept in the confidence that his best friend was there for him, despite not being able to shrug off all the negativity fully, and the other wishing dreadfully that they win this series for their captain who always showed immense support in them.

But through all their worries, at the end of the day the pair of best friends were content knowing that the other is always there. Because behind locked doors they were always there for each other.

In all good, and in all bad.

*****

First off thank you RoshneeRodrigues Di for proofreading this.

Secondly amidst all this romance I thought we needed some Bromance content so here it is.