"Cheeku", he whispered and the lights were on with a loud cheer.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAHI BHAI!!" everyone shouted and ran up to him in an attempt to hug and wish him first.

"We are two seconds late because of Harry.", said Jassi waiting for his turn.

"Not because of me!", shrieked Hardik while trying to not let anyone else cling up to Mahi Bhai.

"Harry, leave Bhai! Even we want to wish him.", said Rohit trying to hug Mahi Bhai and Hardik reluctantly moved.

"Happy Birthday, Bhai!", Rohit hugged Mahi Bhai and everyone else followed.

Mahi Bhai hugged everyone with that indulgent smile on his face. Even though he was pro at hiding his emotions, no one could miss that evident happiness and fondness in his eyes at that moment.

He has the best family in the world! And he couldn't ask for anything better!

But right now this family was incomplete as Mahi bhai's one of the most favorite member was missing. And Mahi Bhai was searching for his Cheeku all the while to come and hug him. But instead the lights went off once again and he looked at others confused while others just smiled and gestured him to look at the screen which was in front.

And he looked in they direction and was amused to see the pictures flashing on the screen.

"When I was asking you whom do you love more, me or Ro in between the match and the expression you gave me, remember?", came a voice and Mahi Bhai chuckled reminiscing the incident.

"A special one we shared! But the pride of sharing cups can never match up to the happiness of laughs I share with you every moment, Mahi Bhai!"

"You scolded me for 20 whole minutes without listening to me and when I told you it was not me but Jaddu who pranked Jinks.. yaad hai?"

"You are always both my pillar of support in the darkest times and the person I have had the most laughter with! Another year is here to make yet again those crazy memories!"

"Wrapped in the tricolor with you in the India's happiest moment was one of the best feelings I've ever had!"

"Look, we even do the same things at same time! We are so similar and that's why you are MY Mahi Bhai!!"

"I will tell Bhabhi that you smiled looking at her.. I haven't forgotten it yet!"

"Bhai, please forgive me.. I promise I'll give you shoulder massage everyday even without you asking me to.. Forgive your kiddo, Bhai! Forgive your Cheeku!"

"Thank you for always being there for us, Bhai! For being the Captain Cool and teaching us not to care about what others say, for telling us to follow our heart, for making us what we are today, for always assuring us that you've got our back, for being our inspiration, for giving the best advises, for always being our shoulder to lean upon, for correcting us whenever we were wrong, for being the best brother... For being our Mahi Bhai!!"

"Did I ever tell you that your hugs are the warmest in the whole world?! It can solve any problem in just fraction of seconds."

"I love you so much, Bhai! Your Cheeku loves you a lot!"

The lights were on and Mahi was filled with a sense of nostalgia. All those pictures brought back so many memories.

At last, Virat came in front. He held his ears looking down without saying anything.

Mahi Bhai went near him and pried off his hands saying, "Cheeku, look at me."

Virat looked up at him.
"You forgave me? Aren't you angry?"

Mahi Bhai smiled at him complacently.
"I'm not angry. You know I can never be too angry from you."

Virat smiled brightly after the exchange of their unsaid but understood words and hugged Mahi Bhai.

"Happy Birthday, Mahi Bhai! You are the best-est brother in the world!", cried Virat joyfully hugging the life out of him. "I love you so much", Virat completed.

"I love you too, Cheeku", said Mahi Bhai in the hug and ruffled his hair.

The whole team was so happy to see them like before. After all this was their family.

"You liked my gift?", asked Virat returning to his usual self around MS.

"I loved it, Cheeku. It was so... ", he tried to come up with something that could describe his feeling right then but ended up with, " beautiful.. I mean amazing. Thank you so much, kiddo!"

"I knew you will like it", exclaimed Virat happily and hugged him again.

"Bharat milap ho gya ho toh cake cut kare", said Rohit breaking their moment and everyone laughed.

"Tujhe toh bas cake Khana hai", accused Virat departing.

"Don't you two start again.", Interrupted Jinks. "Mahi Bhai, come cut the cake".

"Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday, dear Mahi Bhai", everyone was singing along.

Mahi cut the cake and the ritual of cake bath started within them. All of them attacked their Mahi Bhai with cake. And of course, he didn't leave them either. Soon all of them were drenched in the cake and the cake was begging for mercy crying "I'm for the purpose of eating not this" but who cares. The cake would have been luckier if it was for a 5 year old's birthday but to its greatest fortune, it was in the hands of our ICT members.

"This time I was the first one to wish Mahi Bhai!", exclaimed Hardik excitedly.

"No, I wished him first!", said Jassi.

"Technically, we all wished him together so stop fighting.", said Jinks sensibly.

"No, I was the first one to wish him. You all were two seconds late.", cried Virat happily.

"Then also you wished him after all of us.", said Rohit.

"I wished Bhai even before the countdown was over. So I wished him first.", said Virat raising his imaginary collar in self appreciation.

"How's that... " started Rohit again but was cut off by Mahi Bhai.

"Ro, Cheeku, stop it.", interrupted Mahi Bhai closing the discussion.

Soon enough, they all settled themselves around Mahi Bhai sitting on the sofa to show him their gifts.
After being done with all the gifts and party which was almost till early morning, everyone departed to their own rooms for having some rest.

After getting changed, Virat sneaked out to Mahi Bhai's room. Mahi was resting, half lying on bed with his back against cushion. Virat slipped beside him and snuggled in his arms and Mahi Bhai let him do so ruffling his hair.

"I'm sorry, Bhai.", Virat said in a hushed whisper. "I promise I will never talk to you that way again. I will always be your kiddo. Your Cheeku!", he said slowly.

"It's okay, Cheeku.", replied Mahi Bhai making Virat look at him. "I just wanted you to realise your mistake, bacha. I wanted you to realise the intensity of speaking without acknowledgement. And now I know you won't do this again. You will always be my kiddo, Cheeku.", he said while palming his cheek.

"I promise, Bhai, I won't.", promised Virat. "It was just because of the stupid talks I had that day.", He added.

"I've always asked you to not listen to others, right? You should know where you belong to and which people belong to be around you. I've always wanted success for you, kiddo because I feel proud when my Cheeku achieves a milestone..", explained Mahi Bhai.

"You don't need to say that, Mahi Bhai. I know you always want the best for me. It was just me. It was stupid of me to say something like that to you. I can't even think of talking to you in that tone again, Bhai." Virat said sounding guilty.

"Now, it's done. Forget it and stop feeling guilty.", said Mahi Bhai making him smile.

"I love you, Bhai!", said Virat and laid his head in Mahi Bhai's lap and Mahi Bhai started caressing his head.

"Cheeku, you weren't well last night?", asked Mahi Bhai raising his eyebrows at him.

"Wo toh, Bhai..", Virat bit his tongue and replied cheekily, "I said that intentionally so that you would speak to me."

"I guessed so.", Mahi Bhai replied shaking his head and hit Virat's head slightly. He knew he was doing such antics since morning to talk to him but deep down he really wanted to ensure that Virat was just joking and wasn't actually unwell.

"Now say that I was the first one to wish you!", demanded Virat.

"Cheeku!"

"Bhai, please!"

"Okay! You wished me first! Happy?"

"Very happy.", replied Virat and Mahi Bhai shook his head at his childishness but then he realised Cheeku is always like this around him.

"Bhai, headache!", said Virat gesturing him for a massage.

"Go to sleep, Cheeku.", Mahi Bhai started massaging his head knowing Virat must have been tired in making the preparations throughout the day.

Virat fell asleep in Mahi Bhai's lap snuggled in him and Mahi Bhai, not having the heart to move his Cheeku, also fell asleep in that position only, with Virat holding his one hand and snuggled in his arms and his back against a cushion.

And this scene couldn't be more adorable!

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A/n

So this was the last chapter of this story. Mahirat is such a bliss! I was in awe when I saw Virat's wish for Mahi Bhai on insta (See the cover pic of chapter). Such a cute collage it was!

They are just adorable!! Aren't they?!

Tell me how was the chapter and you liked it or not.

Do vote and comment!

Love ❤️