Once upon a time, under a starry sky two eighteen-year-old lads made a promise to each other. A promise to represent their country together again. A promise to reach their ultimate goal. A promise to be with each other through thick and thin forever. A promise to be friends forever no matter what.

Gazing at the starry NZ sky with red moist eyes full of tears. They had just witnessed one of their immediate aim, their dream shatter. A few steps away from the U-19 world cup, their dream shattered. They made a wish, an unfathomable, unrealistic wish to represent their nation together again on the world stage. The defeat was heartbreaking, the pain soul shattering and weight of an uncertain towering future on their shoulders yet the two friends, brothers actually, decided to be optimistic, confident and certain of each others ability.

They will play for India together one day. It was a promise, a wish and a dream all mixed together.

The last tears were left on the return flight from NZ to IND, resolution flowed through the veins of the two brothers. Students of same university, roommates and brothers they did everything together. They took small steps towards their goals, playing matches for their state team and trying to put the heartbreak of loss behind them. The days were going such and one of these days, Mayank decided it was time to introduce his love of life to his soul brother and bestie.

"You're joking right. Monku, you can't be serious. You absolutely can't be," Rahul muttered looking at his bestie, brother from another mother totally vexed. He couldn't be serious not at all.

"No, I'm serious Hul," Mayank admitted looking at his bestie half amused, half exasperated.

"Monku dande parenge. We will get locked in Jail. How will I even look in Jail? Mujhe toh mom-dad bail out bhi ni  krenge, Monku reconsider please," Rahul begged melodramatically looking at his bestie with wide eyes.

"Let's go," Mayank said dragging a wide eyed Rahul with him.

"Are we really going to break in an IPS officer's home?"

"Couldn't you find someone else?"

"This is crazy"

"If I end up in Jail, I'm going to kill you"

"Monkuuuu, there's still time, its not too late to back off,"

"Monkuuuu,"

Rahul whined the whole way yet he was the one standing on whose shoulder Mayank wished Aashita a happy B'day. The boys managed to escape the house undetected after giving Aashita surprise B'day gift. After that day, Rahul had been declared the official third wheel and warning giver whenever Mayank and Aashita decided to meet though after sometimes, Mayank really-really regretted introducing both of them for the way they'll gang up on him.

2011 came as a happy year for Mayank and Rahul was so happy for his bestie. Mayank got in RCB and became quite popular. Rahul was really happy for his bestie, he was getting to play with stars but personally he was disappointed with himself. He wanted to with his bestie forever but on the first step of their future his bestie was ahead of him. Resolution flowing through his veins, Rahul decided to up his game. He made a promise to be there with his bestie again. They'll play together. Their dream will come true. He won't ever give up on their dream.

They watched the world cup lifting moment together dreaming one day they'll open for India like Virendra Sehwag and Sachin sir. They had celebrated the whole night with their dreams resting on their eyelashes. Dreaming with open eyes, they could quite easily imagine themselves in Indian blues together.

2012 came and went and Rahul still didn't get his IPL debut. Mayank had an amazing year. In 2013, Rahul was dominating the domestic circle with big hundreds and even got his IPL debut. But to his dismay, his bestie got brought by another team and was still more famous than him. Rahul was really happy for him but still a part of him wished to play with his Monku in the same team. Here, in RCB he met a totally meddlesome being with an antagonizing nickname giving syndrome. A being who was a superstar, the fire of the Indian Cricket Team and Rahul's Virat Bhaiya. Rahul will never call him that though. His crazy monkey of a brother.

Rahul had always thought Mayank will get selected in Indian team before him. He was the famous one after all and had even performed well in IPL. But to his utter surprise, he got selected to play for India before. The test debut in 2014 a dream, the debut century a dream come true and letting his emotions freely flow in his Virat bhai's arms love. Pure love. Rahul was happy for himself yet at the same time worrying and motivating his brother to not give up on their dream. Mayank was struggling to get in Karnatka's Rajni team while Rahul soared in Indian whites with his big bro guiding him.

Yet, none of the two were the once to give up on their promises or their brotherhood. Rahul kept on backing and encouraging his Monku as once upon a time his Monku had done for him. And yet, the boys contradicting fortunes kept on troubling them. Their stars didn't seem to be in the mood of aligning  together. In 2018, when Rahul was having the bleakest and blackest face of his career, Mayank was soaring and in an almost cruel turn of events was Rahul's replacement in the national team.

Rahul was happy for his Monku. Even tweeted his support to his Monku but inside a part of both of them was sad. Their dream seemed so close yet so far. But in a strange turn of events, their dream moment was presented to them by one Cheeku. A brother choosing Rahul to take Rohit's place without a second thought. Believing in his Rahuliyaa forever. It was a historic moment, for the first time in history two Karnatka openers were opening together again, two brothers dream was coming true.

They opened together but couldn't quite play their dream innings. For Rahul's bad form continued. He gifted his wicket early again while chasing an off-side delivery. Rahul was unhappy yet happy. Conflicting emotions seemed to be his constant.

The starting of 2019 turned out to be even worse year for Rahul. Getting suspended from the team with prior performances being totally off mark. Rahul was drowning in a pool of gloom. But he wasn't alone. He never would be alone for he had brothers, brothers who loved him, brothers who promised to be with him forever. Brother's who won't ever forsake their promises. When in practice some envious players tried to put Rahul down Mayank stood in front of his brother like a wall of granite. When Rahul drowned in his own darkness, Mayank reminded him of his light. His brothers pulled him up, motivated him, made him build himself again.

Mayank didn't let Rahul forgot his promises, his dreams, his aim even when the world seemed without an ounce of light. Together, they always were the strongest. Each other's support system forever though now they had some more people looking after them.

And now, Rahul and Mayank were back in team India. It was the West Indies series of India and Mayank was lounging in Rahul's room checking on his brother's mood. Mayank didn't know why but his bestie was turning into a gloomy soul. He was lying on his bed glaring at the ceiling.

"Hul!!!" Mayank poked his bestie again trying to get any reaction from his brother, who was behaving like a monk.

"Hmmm," Rahul hummed not giving any proper reaction again.

"Yrr, let's go out na," Mayank whined, he wanted to go out, get fresh air and all.

"I'm not feeling like it," Rahul mumbled continuing with his staring tirade.

Mayank rolled his eyes at his brooding bestie looking like baby yoda wrapped in his blanket and all.

At that precise moment, the captain of the ICT barged in Rahul's room yelling "Rahuliyaaaaaaaaaaa" on top of his voice. Staggered in his steps a bit watching both Rahul and Mayank looking like depresses souls then continued as if nothing had happened flopping beside them.

"What's up?" Vi asked looking between the pouting Rahuliya and sour looking Mayank.

Rahul shrugged.

Mayank looked ready to complain about Rahul to Virat but thought better of it.

Virat looked kinda more intrigued by both of their behavior.

"Rahuliyaaaaaaaaa, Monkuuuuu" Virat pestered in his usual Viratish manner. He had heard about Mayank from Rahul non-stop for the last six years. He thinks he got to know about Mayank more than ever from Rahul. He hadn't known Mayank enough while playing for him 2 years in RCB. And as Rahul is kinda his kiddo, his little brother, Rahul's talks about Mayank made him view Mayank in a brotherly manner too. No, he didn't think of Mayank as a little brother in 2011. He was kinda a kid back then himself.

"Don't call us that, only I call him Monku," Rahul frowned looking at his elder brother pointedly. Monku was his nickname for Mayank, only he can call Mayank, Monku.

"I'm the captain, I can do anything. Mayank do you mind?" Virat said flamboyantly and then asked Mayank in a purely cheeky tone. It's not like he couldn't invent any new nickname in about seconds, but it was so fun vexing his Rahuliyaa.

Mayank nodded in negative. What else was he supposed to tell the captain? He had just one heart to heart with Virat after all. He was still embarrassed about whining and being totally like a child in front of Virat.

Rahul scowled.

"Why are you here? Don't you have Ro to pester or something?" Rahul asked Vi dourly. He wasn't in a cheery mood at all.

Virat looked totally unimpressed by his little brother.

"Well, Ro throw me out of his room. What's up with him? Monku" Virat shrugged plainly then turned to Mayank for answer when Rahul just pulled a face in reply.

"IDK" Mayank stated then continued in a totally long suffering complaining tone, "I've been trying to get him out of his self-made burrow from ages but he won't just move. I don't know what's wrong with him? He didn't broke down or something did he?"

"Hmm," Virat made a contemplative face,"Their could have been a short circuit in his brain or maybe it's missing Harry syndrome. I don't think it could be this strong or maybe he ate something wrong,"

"Can't be, I ate with him but yeah, he could have finally lost it. I always knew he fell down on his head one too many times," Mayank nodded along Virat totally in support with his skip. Well, insulting one's bestie is a whole mood.

"You guys know I'm right here, right" Rahul asked both of them sounding almost exasperated.

"Nops, not at all," Vi said acting as if he couldn't spot Rahul anywhere.

Rahul scowled. Mayank giggled at Virat's antics.

"Vi!! I'm not in a mood," Rahul sulked trying his best to not give up on his emotions.

"Why?" Vi asked.

"VI" Rahul warned.

"Monku" Virat whined.

"Rahuliyaaa," Mayank whined finishing the circle.

Rahul scowled totally exasperated with these annoying people. Why won't they leave when he is asking them to leave? Frustrated, he covered his face with the duvet.

"Kiddoliyaaaaaa," Virat called, pulling away his face cover.

Mayank tried his best to not snicker. Kiddoliya sounded absurd. Totally absurd.

Rahul couldn't help but stare at his cap totally baffled. How did he come up with such names?

"Rahul, let's go out naa," Mayank moved his puppy eyes towards Rahul before he could say something and again before Rahul could deny again. Virat jumped in.

"Kiddoliyaa don't be a Karela now," Virat said pointing Rahul with an exasperated look.

"Really," Rahul started looking at Virat as if he had lost his mind. Karela. How come he looked like a Karela?

But Rahul wasn't given any chance as both Virat and Mayank hauled him up and dragged him out of the bed.

"Now this is called manhandling," Rahul complained as both of his brothers dragged him away from his peacefully made burrow.

"Did you hear something Monku?" Virat asked acting totally ignorant.

"Nops," Monku agreed totally with Virat both of them turning deaf to Rahul's protests.

"So where to?" Virat asked Mayank.

"Pool?" Mayank suggested.

"I'm hungry though," Virat said

"Me too actually," Mayank agreed.

"GUYS, at least let me wear my slippers," Rahul finally said alarmed when his brothers dragged him towards the door slipper less.

"Enjoy a barefoot evening walk," Virat grinned.

Rahul looked totally alarmed as Virat dragged him out of the room. Mayank fetched Rahul's slippers though both Virat and Mayank quite enjoyed teasing Rahul on his expression of utter shock. In, Rahul's defense his brothers were both unpredictable and insane by the time they returned from their outing. Rahul had totally forgotten why was he feeling gloomy at the first place. He should have let his brothers drag him out. He should have known by now they get their way, one way or other.

_The End_

@bleedblue2011, What do ya think??????