MSD was not a over thinker. That's one thing about him. He never over plans and most importantly he never expects too much from people around him.

But at this moment in the hotel terrace he WAS overthinking. He sat there staring at the horizon from the top floor of the hotel. This thought had been nagging him so much from like almost a month now. It all began with that little chance commentary he overheard...

"You have to step down once you have stepped down...but MS Dhoni seems to have a hard time letting go." Gambhir said in the commentary box chuckling.

"Well he is doing what he seems to think is good for India and it's clearly working" Sourav said coming to MSD's support as usual.

The conversation was about a stump mic bit that was caught by camere.

Virat as usually goofing with Rohit in the slip and distracting each other. To be frank it was against Bangladesh and they would focus when needed but MS knew he would have chide once or twice for that. "Cheeku sidhe khare ho ja" MS had shouted "Aur usko Bahar rakh Thora." It was a very usual conversation.

And Virat and Ro literally looking like guilty kids and straightened up and Rohit had moved a little outside.

And that had started that conversation in the commentary box.

Kuli was bowling and MS was doing his usual "Sabash Sabash Kuli." After every ball cuz honestly he loved the way the boy's face lit up every time he said that.

"Kuli agla Wala halka aage rakh, halka aage aur Thora upar...ek khali daal waise." MS said.

Kuldeep tried but the ball slipped in his.

"Kya Kar raha hai Kuli" MS said "Bahar mat rakh."

The next ball was perfect as MS had asked. "Badhiy badhiya" MS appreciated making Kuldeep smile.

At the end of the over Rohit, Virat and MS huddled discussing strategies

"I think the give and take works brilliantly." Sourav said from the commentary box "He is putting all his experiences in these young minds."

"Well with the bowlers it's fine but the captain?' Gambhir reigerated.

"Well their Dynamics are for them to figure out. What works for the team, works for the team. We shouldn't have a say in it." Sourav said.

"I will still stick to the point that if you have let go you have to let go completely, you aren't the captain or even the vice captain." Gbhir replied.

And the conversation ended their because Jassi took a brilliant wicket in the first ball if the over.

MS hadn't heard this conversation. But that evening MS was passing by Rohit's room when he had just caught Rohit saying,

"Gauti Bhai is saying Bhai bosses around us." Rohit was laughing looking at his phone.

"Well that he does." Virat had said in an endearing tone "But we love it."

But MS hadn't heard the last bit. He had walked off fast.

And since that evening a month back it had been nagging him. Was he bieng overbearing on the team? He had tried to be little aloof even, but it was hard. He always felt this inherent sense of protectiveness about them. And the scolding was a part of it, as were the hugs and the appreciation.

But this thought had stuck with MS. He would find himself unconsciously judging his own previously routine actions. He tried to shake it away, but he couldn't. Because in the back of mind he knew, even thought of his actions making his kids uncomfortable was unbearable to him. But he generally managed to push those thoughts away because the team always hung around him.

Yesterday in the match, there was a little argument, well rather discussion about a DRS. Kohli wanted to take it, MS knew it was a not out. And at that time India couldn't afford to lose a review. But Virat was insisting, MS forcefully said no.

"Kabhi toh meri baat man lo Bhai." Virat said, and that hit MS. Virat had said in a way of saying, not meaning anything, because MS always suggested things, didn't push Virat and was mostly always right and Virat knew Bhai was just looking out for him.

"I am sorry" MS quickly apologized surprising Virat "Le leta review, main hi zyada..."

"Bhai Kya ho Gaya?" Virat asked.

"Kuch nahi" MS said focusing back on the game.

Virat looked at MS, Bhai did this now sometimes. He would scold them like he generally does and then quickly apologise and then try to refrain from saying anything else to them.

After sometimes when the big screen showed the slo-mo, it showed that MS was correct it was missing the leg stump by an inch. Virat did a mock salute to MS and MS grinned back. But he couldn't shake the feeling off.

In the evening MS didn't feel like talking to anyone so he escaped to the terrace. Now he was sitting there with his legs on a foot stool and playing every time he had scolded any of them, which was numerous times over and over in his head.

"The kids have never said anything though" he thought "but did any of them feel like I am over bearing, at the end of the day I am their team mate after all not their gaurdians. What right do I have to always discipline them? But I just do that for their own good but do I have any right to do that?"

He tried to get a grip over his thoughts, to push it aside like everything else but for the first time he couldn't.

Virat was looking for MS, he couldn't find him in his room, nor with the kids or Ro. Virat wanted to hang out with him and tell him how awesomely the team had won the test and what he had done, because he hadn't done that yet. He knew Mahi Bhai watches the tests but he still loves narrating it to him. And also Virat had a slight headache and he just wanted to be with Mahi Bhai. At last he found him in the terrace.

He looked at Mahi Bhai's bent form in the chair and his gut told him something was up with Bhai. He had noticed it from a few days Bhai was trying to be a little...he didn't know...aloof...or may be he was imagining things. But he would talk to Bhai he decided. He was always there when Virat needed him but now if he needs someone Virat would by all means do what he can.

"Bhai" Virat approached MS "Kya baat hai? Yaha akele kyun baithe ho?"

"Kuchh nahi?" MS said.

"Are your shoulders aching?" Virat asked knowing that MS sometimes had shoulder strains due Wicket keeping "Do you want me to massage them?"

He didn't wait for an answer he just went behind MS and started massaging his shoulder.

"Virat chhor, Kya Kar raha hai?" MS said.

"Karne do na, humesha to karta hun." Virat said confused, why was Bhai getting worked up, he often massaged his shoulders while he talked to Bhai.

"Wo nahi Virat..." MS tried but words were failing him, how could he tell Virat what was going on in his mind.

"Bhai baat Kya hai?" Virat asked.

"Kuchh nahi" MS said bowing his head.

Virat could sense something was wrong. He went around in front of MS and said "Bhai move your legs." pointing to the his legs on the foot stool.

"What?" MS asked confused.

"Move your legs." Virat said in a whiny tone and MS obliged.

Virat pulled the stool as close to MS as he could and sat down. As the foot stool was low it was almost like Virat was sitting on the ground.

"Kya Kar raha hai Virat that's a foot stool upar baith ja." MS said pointing at other chairs in the terrace.

"Mahi main yahi thik hun" Virat said stubbornly "Aap Meri baat suno pehle, batao na Kya baat hai?"

"It's nothing Virat" MS insisted.

"Bhai" Virat said taking MS's hand "You only say that problems can only be solved by talking. Please bolo na Kya baat hai?"

"Virat..." MS tried.

"Please don't try to convince me ki kuch nahi hai." Virat cut him "Ha aap jitna nahi but thora boht sense mujhme bhi hai. Aur dant ke chup karane ka toh sochna bhi mat main nahi sunne wala."

"Nahi Virat" MS said "main tujhe kyun datunga, you have become the captain now, how can I..."

"Ek second, ek second. Kya kaha apne?" Virat said interrupting again and the he got serious "Bhai Maine kuchh kaha hai aapse? Mujhse koi galati huyi hai? You are upset with me? Did I hurt you in anyway? Please tell me I will make it up to way."

"Nahi Virat" MS said quickly and placatingly "you didn't do anything"

"Then what is it?" Virat said

"Virat its just" MS said hesitantly and then decided to speak out to Virat because if there was anyone Mahi Bhai will be able to talk about this to it was Virat.

"Virat tell me something truthfully, do I, do I ever make you, any of you, feel like I am bieng overbearing on you." MS said "Like I am imposing things on you, treading in territories where I shouldn't. If there's anything please tell me."

"Bhai what are you talking about?" Virat said gripping MS's hand and looking up at him "why are is this coming from? Did any of us say something that made you think this? Because if it is so I am sure they didn't mean it."

"None of you said anything" MS said, actually, MS told Virat what had put this into his head.

"Virat I know I might be overthinking, but I just can't shake this off and mostly about you. Because at the end of the day you are the captain. And I do treat you like..."

"Little brother" Virat completed gripping Mahi Bhai's hand

"Huh?" MS looked Virat searchingly

"You treat me like your little brother" Virat said firmly "because THAT'S what I am." Virat Drew himself closer to MS.

"Apko yaad hai Mahi Bhai, 2014? How you protected my despite everything?" Virat said his voice a little thick "Or 2012 when selectors wanted to drop me. Or when my idol retired in 2013 and I was measerable and you were the one who helped me out."

"I remember everything Virat." MS said

"No! No you don't" Virat said like a offended child "If you did you would never think like this. When I feel ill during the England tour, you were awake by my side. You chided me for my attitude, teased me like every older brother ever and protected me at all points. At non of those points were you behaving like just my captain. No you were brother, my Mahi Bhai. And I have never been just Virat Kohli for you, I am your Cheeku."

MS just looked at Virat like he was the most precious thing in the world. And for Mahi he actually was one of theost precious things.

"Bhai...we can never tell you what you mean to us." Virat said "Because no words will be ever be enough. But I can tell you I don't care what the world thinks of me for bieng your kid, I am your kid and not even you can change my mind on this. And I can guarantee you they all feel the same. Ro always whine to you about me, he never wakes up when we call, but if you call him once he will get up, Jassi and Hardik, they have fallen asleep with their head in your lap for more time than I can count they literally turn to you for everything, for KulCha you are their voice of reason, you are their coach, their brother, their gaurdian for Bhuvi and Jinks you are the place where even they can be silly. And none of us care what Gauti said, or anyone else and I know even you don't. You are just overthinking that what of I feel that. But Bhai have we ever made you feel that we don't like your anchor around us?"

"No Cheeku never." MS said sincerely.

"Bhai when you call me Cheeku or bachcha I feel I belong to you. That even if tomorrow I don't have this stardom you are one of the people I will still have, I will still be your Cheeku and it's same with all of us" Virat said gripping Mahi Bhai's hand in his "Bhai you have been a guiding influence, a shield, a shade over our heads and we are nothing but grateful to you. Aur ap yeh sab such rahe ho, if the kids hear this, they will think they did something."

MS smiled hearing that, he felt like a warm balloon was filling his heart. He had kind of known all this but to hear Virat say this to him sitting near his legs was something else.

He felt that he had achieved something in life that no captain ever could have, he had made a family out of this team.

"Phir kabhi apne Aisa Socha na toh main Sach mein boht gussa ho jaunga aap se?" Virat pouted childishly "Never try to take my Mahi Bhai away from me."

"I promise I never will Kiddo" MS said cupping Virat's cheeks, his eyes misting over. He stared at Virat with warm eyes

"What are you looking at Bhai?" Virat asked.

"Nothing I am just seeing that, how much you have grown as a person, today you made me overcome my dilemma." MS said "I am so proud of how far you have come." He caressed Virat's face and kissed him on the fore head.

"But I still when I am scared, insecured, unsure, sad I look for only you." Virat said sincerely.

"I know my kiddo" MS nodded ruffling Virat's hair and that indulgent smile returning to his face.

Virat smiled back and laid is head in MS's lap.

"Please sar pe haath phaira do na" he said becoming childish like he always is with MS "Jaise Jassi ka karte ho."

"Cheeku tu Jassi hai Kya?" MS laughed lightly hitting Virat's head.

"Captain ban gay toh apka bachcha nahi Raha Kya? Sari importance Jassi, Hardik aur Kuliya ki" he said in an annoyed whiny voice "Please Kar do na. Aur aaj Jassi ke room mein game night hai and you are gonna play for my team in PUBG aap humesa bachchon ka side lete ho."

"You also take their side only Cheeku."MS laughed "But ok I promise today I will play from your team" MS said and started to gently and lovingly massage Virat's head and patting his back just as Virat had asked.

Virat wrapped his arms round Mahi bhai's waist and buried his face in his lap. He said in a very small sincere voice "I will always be your little brother Bhai, because I don't ever want to be anything else."

"I too will always be your Mahi Bhai kiddo, that is the best title I wear and I wear it with pride, Cheeku." MS said.

And they stayed like that with Virat on the foot stool, his head in Mahi Bhai's lap, arms wrapped around his waist and Mahi Bhai caressing his head, a content smile on Mahi bhai's face.

And in that moment there was no Captain Kohli or The great Mahendra Singh Dhoni. There was only Mahi Bhai and his Cheeku. There was only MahiRat.

(The concern in Cheeku's eyes for his Mahi Bhai is unmistakable)

A/N: I have always written about Mahi Bhai bieng so self assured but I wanted write one where he is in a weak moment too cuz Mahi Bhai is human after all.

Guys this MahiRat fic is the first in my exclusive MahiRat book. It's my pride and joy and very special fic for me. So please I request everyone fill this one with comments.