MS had gotten out of the shower and was sitting on his bed when his phone rang. It was Sakshi. He talked with her a little. He had atleast told her everything. She was also sad. But she tried to be strong and tried to console Mahi. She was worried that after that small outburst in front of Raina, Mahi hadn't shed a single tear. She knew he was hurting and he was not letting it out. And that scared her. After some time he cut the call and sat on the bed closing his eyes, just thinking about how he would deal with everything when he heard urgent yet hesitant knocks on the door. He didn't feel like opening the door. But the knocker seemed persistent, he sighed and got up to open it cursing under his breath. When he opened the door he was almost shocked to find all of the core team members standing at his door, their faces red and head hung low. The shock was momentary though, it was replaced by a cold expressionless stair almost immediately. Virat's heart plummeted when he saw that gaze. He knew he had hurt MS beyond anything. "Can we come in?" Bhuvi asked bieng the first to find his voice. "What do you want?" MS asked his voice as cold as ice "anyway come in by all means or you might say I am still manipulating you to be under me." They silently swallowed the taunt and quietly walked in. "You know you all didn't have to come to my room" MS said "I will do as you have wished, after I return to India, I will retire quitely and never come near the game again." His voice was so matter of fact and emotionless that it scared them. "Or do you want accuse me of something more?" MS asked. "Bas Bhai, pls bas kijiye" Virat
spoke at last his voice coming out in a whisper. "Humse bohat bari galti ho gayi" Virat said folding his hands "Humein maafi me layak nahi hai. Phir bhi pls Bhai pls humein ekbar maaf kardo, I am begging you." Others followed Virat. "Bhai I know what we have said has hurt you, punish us Bhai, punish us as harshly as you want but pls Bhai song speak of retiring." Hardik said. "Shut up" MS almost thundered "Shut up. Sorry, do you think your sorry is any good. You believed a photograph over me. You believed someone else's words over mine. It didn't even occur to you to cross check those photographs. You said I was dead to you then well and good your brother's dead." "Bhai pls don't say this, punish us, hit us, taunt us do whatever you wish, but don't leave us please" Hardik said brokenly crying. "Haa Bhai, humse galti huyi aap kyun kahi jaoge" Rohit spoke his voice thick with tears. "Bhai I was the one who started it" Virat said, sinking down on his knees "Punish me however you want I won't utter even a single complaint but pls Bhai don't leave your Cheeku pls." "Don't leave us please we all beg you" all of them said kneeling down. "We all supported Virat Bhai, hum sabse galati huyi hai." Yuzi said. "You have every right to punish us" Bhuvi said. "But pls don't leave us" Bumrah said in the smallest voice possible. "Stop this drama right now" MS said "I am not your Bhai. I have no right on you. And where's my Cheeku, where are my brothers, you guys are not my brothers. My brothers trust me, they don't call me match fixer and team wrecker. My Cheeku doesn't complain about me to CoA. No, you are just captain Virat Kohli and co.. And I have taken my decision and it is not changing." "Pls Bhai we are begging of you" Hardik said "We know what we have done is unforgivable. But pls don't leave cricket." "Get out of my room" MS said. "Nahi Bhai" Virat said stubbornly, he was crying now "Even if you kick me out, I won't move until you forgive me." His words were wrecked with sobs. "Main bhi nhi uthunga" Hardik said bieng equally stubborn. "Get out before I call the reception" MS said his voice steady and threatening "Get out I said." "Bhai pls ekbar humari bat sunlo" Kuldeep said "Aisi galati phir kabhi nhi hogi." "I don't want to hear anything after what has happened. Please leave. If you had ever respected me pls leave now. Or I will be forced to call the reception. Please leave me alone. At least give this much respect." Virat was sitting stubbornly, but Rohit pulled him by his arm, signalling to him with his eyes to get up. Slowly they left the room. Once they were all out. MS closed the door and sank down on the floor crying. Half of him wanted hug them all, wipe their tears and tell them it's all right and other half was too angry to even see their face.

Once out in the corridor before anybody could say anything, Hardik simply walked off to his room and locked himself in.

Others went towards Virat's room. "Why did you bring us out?" Virat asked. "Kyunki Bhai humein abhi maaf nahi karenge" Rohit said "Give him some time, Virat." Yuzi was almost shaking. Even in this state Virat reached out to rub his back. Bumrah clung to Bhuvi as usual. "We haven't changed since we came back" Bhuvi said "let's get changed and then think what we can do."

Hardik locked himself in his room. And opened the liquor freezer. His heart seemed like it will burst with pain. He wasn't a regular drinker but it felt like the drink might numb the pain right now.

Virat came to his room changed and sat down on his bed and cried. Not knowing how to make up for what he has done. Honestly speaking he wanted to tell the whole world what a shitty person he is. He wanted Mahi Bhai to shout on him,slap him but be near him. But he was alone in his room.

Rohit was thankful he was traveling with his family, Samara provided a distraction. He watched her play innocently and tried to stabilize his mind but for once he failed miserably.

Bumrah seemed to not want to leave Bhuvi's room for any cause. "Bhuvi bhaiya" Bumrah asked "Mahi Bhai phir kabhi humein Gale nahi lagayenge na? Kabhi maaf Nahi karenge?" "Nahi Jas" Bumrah said acquiring the mother hen voice "he will forgive us dekhna. Phir wahi uss Manjarekar ko sidha karne ka plan bhi batayenge. Don't think about it so much Jassi."

MS composed himself after a long time and then made the decision. If he stayed near them, he will end up forgiving them anyways. No after this incident he should retire. He looked around the empty room, due to some mix up he has been allotted a double bedded family suite with a king size bed and couch which can be extended into a queen size bed even though he was traveling alone. The emptiness seemed swallow him, if this had been a normal time, this room would have been the meet up place for the youngies, you could have seen at least Kuli and Yuzi playing FiFA on the couch. Virat just randomly relaxing on the bed beacuse there was space. But no everything has been jeopardized now. MS quickly composed a male and sent it CoA and CC ed it to Virat.

When Virat saw the mail his entire world crashed. He was giving them the biggest punishment possible. Virat didn't know how to handle it. He couldn't stay in his room. He knew talking to MS won't work. He just wanted to run away and that's what he did. He just went out of the hotel in the freezing November night of England.

Bhuvi had checked on Hardik thrice from the evening. He had knocked and knocked on the door to no avail. He could hear him sobbing at first but now even that couldn't be heard. Bhuvi was panicking. He went to Virat's room to only find it locked from outside. He called Rohit. His heart had started to thump.

Minutes later Bhuvi, Bumrah and Yuzi were gathered in front of Hardik's door while Kuldeep and Rohit looked for Virat but he was nowhere to be found. Rohit heart had started racing, Virat's phone was coming switched off. All the negative thoughts crowded on his head. He returned to Hardik's room.

Here Yuzi was already working himself into a stage of nervous panic. All the stress was culminating. "Wo darwaza kyu nahi khol Raha." He asked voice trembling. "I don't think he will open it for us" Rohit said. "Toh Kya karein?" Jassi asked in a scared tone. "He will open it for only one person I know." Rohit said and suddenly rushed to wards MS's room. His heart racing as he silently prayed that MS helped them.