Manish Pandey was a quite well known name in the cricketing world. He was captain of Indian A team and is known as one of the best fielders in Indian teams. Manish has one too many feathers in his cap and has an equally charming personality to match.

Though a very few knew about his charms and the mischief flowing through his blood. To the outside world he was kinda innocent sophisticated being but they didn't know it was kinda requirement when someone is best buddies with sir Jadeja and Virat kohli from U-19 days.

Do you guys have any idea how many times he was saved from punishment because of his looks?

Well, plus,Jaddu and Vi unable to keep a straight face to save their lives was also one of the reason. But still, they were the good old mad days with insanity flowing through them. Well, dont get him wrong they're still insane but they had gotten better at hidding their emotions.

So, Manish shouldn't have been surprised to find Virat calling him at 3 am. He absolutely shouldn't have but he was. Sleepy and cursing his best friend for the his lack of understanding the word acceptable time. Manish picked up the call.

"So rha tha?" Virat's obnoxiously chirpy voice greeted him and Manish wanted to bang his head somewhere.

"Nhi bhangra kr rha tha," Manish deadpanned.

"Mere bina" Virat whined and Manish really let his face drop on his pillow exasperated. Was this being serious? Why did he have such kinda besties anyway? Can't he have some normal friends? Please.

"Viraaaaat" Manish said dragging the a's in Virat till infinity quite frustrated. He really wasn't upto bantering at 3 am.

"Manishaaaaaa" Virat reflected his tone and Manish groaned though he didn't ask Virat what he wanted at all? He could quite imagine if they were face to face right now. They would have been looking at each other very seriously with both of their hands resting on their waist in a domineering manner and then both of them would have broken down in fits of giggles.

They weren't face to face and Manish wanted to sleep. He really wanted to sleep. So, he called Virat's name again. He received static from Virat's side and was that sniffling sounds.

Suddenly very worried and very concerned Manish was wide awake.

"Virat" Manish repeated Virat's name again but concernedly this time.

"Hmmm," Virat hummed and Manish could feel the pain in his voice this time.

"What happened?" Manish asked Virat softly, certain Virat wouldn't have called him if he didn't wanted to talk.

"Idk, its hurting" Virat's soft feeble voice washed over Manish firing his worry more.

"What's hurting, Vi?" Manish questioned worried sitting straight on his bed. He knew he won't be able to sit still if something's wrong with his brother. Where were his shoes anyway? And why is he thinking about shoes it isn't like he could run to Virat's hotel or whatsoever.

"IDK, I feel odd. It feels so stuffy. My heart feels so heavy. How can heart feel heavy, Maniiii?" Virat sounded so broken yet so innocent at that moment it tugged at Manish's heart and it was taking his full efforts to not run to Virat.  He was feeling very worried.

"What's wrong Vi?" Manish asked softly knowing Vi called him to talk about it all and even though he was feeling very scared and ready to dial Jaddu's number on speed dial. He wanted to let Virat talk first.

"IDK. I shouldn't have scolded them but I was so worried and now, it hurts. I lost control and it got ugly. Even Ro said I'm being too controlling. Idk, Mani, I didn't want to hurt them. I was so worried and I'm feeling so stuffy," Vi mumbled sounding all dejected and gloomy.

And Manish was feeling extremely worried. He hasn't ever seen his bestie so worried. It was kinda a new type of feeling for him.

"Who you scolded? Why were you worried?" Manish fired his questions pacing around his bedroom. He was worried about his Vi. His Vi was a free spirit who didn't think much about consequences. Here, this worried sick guy wasn't quite the Vi he remembered.

"Harry and Rahuliyaaaaa," Virat almost sobbed and it took Manish few minutes to realize who these people were really. God, why does Vi sounds like this whenever these two were involved?

"What happened? What they didn't understand?" Manish asked worried and pacing. He didn't like his Vi sounding down. Vi was always the happy and mad one.

"They were out partying and I scolded them. I shouldn't have but I was so worried and they are being distracted. I know, they are. It's like watching a repeat telecast of our youths and I...I don't want them to get hurt like we did Mani. I'm trying to tell them that's bad company but they just won't listen," Vi whined seemingly frustrated with the whole world or he just needed someone to rant too. When Vi continued unbothered by Manish's lack of response. Manish knew it was the rant point and Manish was happy to be so. Their friendship had survived thick and thins of the world.

"Mahi bhai said they'll learn their own. Sometimes life is the best teacher or something," Vi said and Manish could totally imagine the scowl on Virat's face.

"Mahi bhai is right," Manish added his point. Didn't they learn with time too?

"Isn't he always right? But...they're my brothers I don't want them to get hurt when I know they chose the wrong group," Virat admitted sounding perfectly defeated.

"You warned them, didn't you?" Manish repeated calmly, all of them were quite aware of bad companies and how it was capable of destroying careers. Heck, once angry with everything he had also fallen in clutches of such bad friends and had his career almost destroyed before Jaddu and Vi scooped down and pulled him out of the hell hole.

"You don't talk sense, let me moan and complain," Virat grumbled and Manish could all but imagine the annoyed look Virat might have shot in his direction if he was here.

"Okay, okay, baba...continue, it's not like I've to sleep or something," Manish said sitting back on his bed knowing Virat wasn't really in grave danger. He just had kinda lost his emotional stability.

"Don't be smartass," Virat scowled.

"Well, hard not to when everything about me is smart," Manish retorted lazily toying with his pillow.

"When did you become self praiser?" Virat grumbled scowling.

"Since you stopped praising me," Manish sang still pondering why was he called.

"I praise you. I even said you're the best footballer when it's me actually," Virat said so sincerely Manish would have beileved him if he didn't know him better.

"Now,  you're being plain disillusioned, " Manish snorted

"That's you again," Virat grumbled.

"Naah, didn't hear you" Manish sang off-tune. Virat laughed.

"You're not funny, you know Mani,"

"Well, I'm more than funny you mean," Manish asked and with chosen retorts and bickerings Virat was brought back to normal.  Well, almost normal. They were talking about the pranks pulled together and their Jamnagar trip with Jaddu.  They had decided to never let Jaddu drive an Auto after that, well,  they have kinda prayed every god for safety till they were journeying in an auto driven by Jaddu.

"Mani, if...if something happens will you look after that kid? I mean he is in your Rajni team and all. Please help him out," In all his life, Manish had never heard Virat say please. He always demanded from him if he wanted something as his bestie. But first time Virat was asking so tenderly and Manish promised Virat, he'll.

He'll look after Virat's Rahul for him. It has been months after that conversation with Virat. Manish had almost forgotten about it. But then the KWK storm hit and he was handled a very broken, lacking confident Rahul or Rahuliyaa as his Virat continued calling the guy.

Rahul had always given him grownup,  composed vibes. He couldn't even in his wildest dreams imagine a very shy introverted kid hiding behind the surface and so, as he has promised Vi to take care of his kid. He did backing and supporting Rahul.

With the help of Mayank, he brought back Rahul to his normal while receiving about 200 messages asking about Rahul daily from Virat. Manish being the delightful bestie that he was diligently reported everything about Rahul to Virat.

(Check What brothers are for to know about the things he told Vi.)

While his bond with Rahul improved.  Well, he had started viewing Rahul as a kid to be truthful all thanks to a certain overbearing Kohli. He couldn't help but think when had his bestfriend turned into a mature, caring, concerned and over bearing older brother.

Unknown to Mani, Virat had used his friends in every single team to give him reports about his brothers and the people bullying them.

_The end_

This shot kinda swirled in my mind. It doesn't have any head or tales. But I liked thinking Vi worrying about his kids and taking extreme steps to help them in anyway he can.

😊