Cricketers and their coffins have strange relation. No coffin here doesn't mean the things you bury a dead body in, cricketers refer to their kits as coffins.

Arguably thats one of their most personal spaces in the world, more often then not they carry their entire world.

And right now Indian skipper Virat Kohli was staring right into his coffin.

First series after the official retirement, after HIS official retirement. It was for good, Mahi bhai wasn't returning to field and Virat felt hollow more than sad. It felt strange, thought it shouldn't, he has played the test without him for years now, for the last 1.5 years Mahi bhai had been on a sabbatical, honestly Mahi bhai had given him enough time to adjust to the mindset.

But can you ever adjust to a thing like this. Somehow that sense of security being drawn away from under him, that cold hard truth that he is not coming back, it was a hard pill to take.

Today was a decider match...Aus was tied with India for the series win, this was a decider, they had to win it and Vi was frantically looking for his Mahi bhai.

"Where are you Mahi bhai?" Vi said to the air "You told me I will always have Home in you always, then where are you when I need you?"

The innings had begin outside, Sikhi and Ro were on the crease. KL looked inside the dressing room again and again. Virat had asked no one too come in, but Sikhi was looking too shaky and Vi needed to pad up. Also KL didn't feel good about Vi being there alone in his corner in the dressing room.

"Cheeku I will always be with you...Cheeku I will be there for you...where are you Mahi bhai" Vi shouted through his teeth "WHERE ARE YOU WHEN I NEED YOU?"

He threw his kit on the ground in frustration and covered his face with his hands.

"I just need one word from you bhai...just one word" He breathed heavily "Please come."

Suddenly something hit his shoes, he looked down to see a tarnished white ball.
Vi picked it up and stared at it.

Vi stared at the ball, at the inscription on the ball to be specific, as though in a different zone.

He returned back to the time he got it.

*Flashback*

"Why did you do this bhai?" Virat whined "Kya zarurat thhi?"

"Because" Mahi said pinching Virat's cheeks, making Vi pout "Its the right time to do it kiddo."

"But why? Thik toh thha, why did you step down?" Vi asked.

"Because I want to see my kiddo become the captain he can be, while I am still playing" Mahi said sitting beside Vi "I want to see in safe hands kiddo"

"Bhai!" Virat hugged Mahi tightly, he hated when bhai talked of retiring.

"Kiddo, abhi thori na ja raha hun" Mahi patted his back "Aise mat kar"

"What if I fail bhai?" VI said

"Why would you kiddo?" Mahi said "I know my Cheeku, if he puts his mind and heart into something he gets it done. And you are not alone kiddo, I am always there bachcha, no matter what you have a home in me."

"Promise?" Virat asked.

"Pakka promise bachcha" Mahi said "Now you have a big day tomorrow, your first match as full time captain, go get some sleep."

"Main yahi so raha hu" Virat whined.

"Achha thik hai" Mahi laughed ruffling his hair.

Ind vs England series commenced the next day.
And in no time Indian was up by 2 - 0, in 3 odi series.

Mahi guided Virat without being over bearing and Vi relaxed into his new role.

At the end of the second match of the series, Mahi talked with the bcci official and umpire to take the match ball, he would send the check to bcci later for it.

As Vi was packing his kit, Mahi tapped him on the shoulder,

"Ha bhai" Vi smiled.

"Ye le" Mahi said handing him the ball.

"This?" Virat looked at him questioningly.

"Tera pehla series win as full time Indian captain, its special ball kiddo" Mahi ruffled his hair, his eyes shined with pride.

Vi looked at the ball for a moment and handed back to Mahi.

"Kya hua bachcha?" Mahi asked.

"Sign it" Vi said "My first series win as captain, and my Mahi bhai gave the ball to me thats what makes the ball special to me, so sign it."

MS smiled and scribbled something at the ball and handed it back to Virat.

Vi looked at the ball and smiled, he hugged Mahi

"Don't ever leave me bhai" He snuggled into Mahi's shoulder

"Kaha jaunga tujhe chhorke bachcha" Mahi said "Even if I am not physically with you, I am always bear you kiddo"

He showed the ball to Vi, "As long as you have this with you" Mahi said "I am with you...because...

*End of flashback*

Virat snapped out of the trans with Rahul's voice,
"You ok?"

"I am fine" Virat said, steadying his voice.

"I think you should pad up, Sikhi isn't looking very..." Rahul trailed off

"Yeah" Vi said, "You go I will be out in a moment Rahuliya"

"OK" Rahul said, deciding not to protest about the name this one time and left.

Vi focused back on the ball,

"As long as you have this ball, I am always with you kiddo, because 'You got this, and I got your' " Virat could almost hear his voice.

The faded Black inscription, felt like it brought the warmth of Mahi bhai's voice with it, it read "You got this, I got you - Mahi bhai"

"I got this bhai" Vi whispered to the air as he tightened his pads and picked up the bat and walked out, his face radiating his easy confidence.

Soon one wicket fell, as Vi walked out to bat, one man all the way back in Ranchi, with his daughter cheering in his lap, said to the universe in general, "Its time to do it kiddo, I know, you got this."

The camera panned and Virat's face and he flashed a confident smile at the camera, as though smiling right at bhai, as though telling him "Your kiddo got this bhai"

Because, no matter how much distance comes between them, Mahi bhai will always be with his Cheeku.

A/N: This shall always be my fav puc of them.

A/N: And suprise I am not dead after all and I am back with an OS.

Well its out Virat Kohli is birthday and its only fair that I post a Mahirat today.

So Happy birthday Virat Kohli, whose extra cover drive, in my opinion shall always be one of the finest pleasures of life.

This one is for pranushka_23 and mishika_agarwal and all others who have been requesting a Mahirat for so long to me, I am sorry I couldn't do it earlier.