It was another boring, way to monotonous day in the life of one Bhuveneshwar Kumar. Since, the day he had been injured and had to return back home. Everything seemed repetitive to him. It was the same old routine and Bhuvi wanted to do something, something to break the monotonous routine, he had fallen into.

And as they say, to much free time leads to over-thinking, overthinking leads to making up of things and then that leads to more overthinking sadness, gloom and unwarranted fears and Bhuvi had been thinking about all these things from the past few free months, after all, injuries have destroyed careers of more important people then him.

And not being there with his team, with his family, was a very suffocating feeling. Bhuvi couldn't define it in words. It was strangling him everyday.

What if they didn't want him in the team anymore? After all, better youngsters had taken up the mantle and were doing the job well too. Was he really needed in the team anymore? Bhuvi didn't know, he just wanted to be there, with his brothers, even as an extra. He didn't mind sitting out if he just could be there.

But he couldn't be for he was injured.

And so, he was stuck up here, repeating the same routine everyday. He has gotten so tired of it. He didn't know what to do anymore? Unknown to Bhuvi, Nupur had been noticing his distress everyday and so when Bhuvi complained for the millionth time of being bored, Nupur simply suggested him to have a QnA session on Insta.

After pondering a little, Bhuvi decided to go with the idea. Well, it sounded like something new to him. After all, He wasn't really active on social media like some kid in his team were. He even installed and uninstalled all social media apps on his phone beside Whatsapp like every few days, depending on his mood. He wasn't at all made for social media but since he was absolutely bored and over-thinking more than Virat, he decided to give the idea an go.

He started the QnA session on Insta and thousands of questions graced his inbox. But one, one made him think, tugging at the most precious memory string of his mind, reminding him of a brother, he could never describe in a one word.

"Hello Bhuvi, One word to describe skipper Virat"

Okay, how the hell he describes Virat in a single word? Virat-his Virat, can't ever fit a single word. How to describe the guy he knows in one word? His brother, his friend, his roommate, his strength, his shield, his skipper, his Virat.

Memories swirled in his mind, the aggressive almost brash lad he had seen playing for Delhi in Ranji trophy. And then the silent support beside him in his RCB days. Bhuvi remembered the gloom surrounding him when he wasn't given any chance to play in the 2009 IPL in a RCB led by Kevin Peterson and even 2010 season led by Anil Kumble. He might not have played for RCB ever but he had made some quite good friends there while bowling in the nets.

Virat being one of them. The young lad just like him wasn't having a good season too but he always chatted with Bhuvi. Sometimes laughing, sometimes teasing, sometimes just being totally overbearing. He was a strange mix, so different from the people they had grown up watching on the screens. He was brash, he was aggressive and he totally backed his attitude defiantly.

He was different and Bhuvi's teammate, acquaintance and friend.

And then he was their in the world cup squad while Bhuvi still was struggling.

He was part of the world cup squad and they weren't in much contact anymore. After all, he wasn't a part of RCB anymore. The December of 2012 brought happiness for him. He got selected for the national team. He was nervous, unsure and a bundle of anxieties.

He didn't meet anyone from the team first. He didn't see the MSD, Gautam Gambhir, Virendra Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh or even Suresh Raina. He was just greeted by the team manager informing him about his room number and he had to share the room with another member of the team. He didn't inform which member though and Bhuvi didn't mind sharing much, after all, in Ranji teams you always had to share. So, he was experienced.

He just hoped he didn't make much fool out of himself in front of the ICT members.

He was unpacking when the door of his room opened and closed with a bang, letting in angry vibes as someone stormed in the room fuming. The guy chucked his shoes messily around, pulled a water bottle and flopped on the bed facing away from Bhuvi.

Bhuvi was startled, shocked and feeling very nervous. He didn't know what to do? It was clear his roommate was unhappy with the arrangement. Should he introduce himself or not? Bhuvi didn't know? Yet, something in him pestered him to be brave.

"Hello!" He said softly, trying to bring his presence in front of his visibly emitting angry vibes roommate.

When his roommate, didn't turn around, Bhuvi tried again a little louder, "Hello! I'm..." though he didn't get to finish his statement as his roommate had apparently choked on the water he was drinking and Bhuvi being Bhuvi went to his rescue fast patting his back.

"Are you okay?" He asked when the mad coughs of the guy was relatively in control.

"Yeah...M'kay, you can go" the guy's tone seemed really rude to Bhuvi. Atleast, he could say a little 'Thank you' Bhuvi thought grumpily as he stood there, a bullied look etched on his face. It was the moment the guy finally looked at Bhuvi, really looked at Bhuvi.

And spluttered, "Bhuvii!!"

The familiar nickname made Bhuvi look at the guy and to his total surprise, his angry roommate turned out to be one "Virat Kohli"

"Virat!" said Bhuvi, at least his roommate was someone familiar though he still didn't know what to think of this Virat. He is a star currently, permanent member of ICT since the last four years, also the Vice-captain of the team. Bhuvi didn't know what to expect from Virat.

"It's you!!! of course Bhuvneshwar, ugh, why didn't I think it before? Hey, Bhuvi?? How are you? Did you miss me? Well, which side of bed you want? Do you need help in unpacking? I'm sorry for not greeting before I kinda had a disagreement with someone. ugh...you didn't say whether you need any help or not? Is your luggage here? Did you count? These people had misplaced luggage many times," Virat rambled looking all flustered and embarrassed, looking at Bhuvi with earnest eyes, ready to do whatever Bhuvi asked him too.

And like that Bhuvi's worry flew out of his mind. Virat was still the rambling fool, Bhuvi remembered and smiling in his eternal patient manner Bhuvi told Virat, "It was alright. He didn't need any help,"

But again, his roommate was Virat over-enthusiastic Kohli, who self-invited himself, in helping Bhuvi unpack. He helped while telling Bhuvi about the punishment laden on him for pranking Yuvi paji.

At the end of it all, begging Bhuvi to not tell Mahi bhai that this wasn't the first time they met. Virat begged Bhuvi to not tell Mahi Bhai they were already friends.

"Please Bhuvii!! It'll be our secret. The secret friends. The silent bond. Please!! Pretty Please! Don't tell Bhai or he'll make me share room with someone totally new. Please!!!"

Back then and even now, Bhuvi was unable to say no to Virat's earnest begging eyes. Plus, even he didn't want to share room with a stranger and went with Virat's plan. Back then, he didn't know this plan meant every time Rohirat and Jaddu were prohibited to share room by Mahi Bhai.

Virat automatically came back to his silent prank partner.

It was always them doing story sessions or talking philosophy in midnight as roommates. The extrovert and his introvert, the perfect roomies, always considerate of each other's habits and Virat's safe place and till now, his greatest achievement, every night he'll boast about fooling Mahi bhai and cheer over the fact Rohit, Jinks and Jaddu were really facing the punishment while Virat was all happy sharing room with Bhuvii.

And Bhuvi would always retort wryly, "And I'm baby sitting a kid on sugar high always,"

Virat will sulk a little at being called kid, reminding Bhuvi once and again, how he was two years older than Bhuvi but in the next second, he'll again start behaving like an absolute kid with ideas of mayhem and madness in his mind.

He remembers Virat's on-field emotions getting the best of him after he concedes a no ball six in the last over and bowing his head low because he thought he deserved it and then there was Virat begging forgiveness from him for the rest of week, not leaving him alone at all. Even after he told the guy like a thousand times, he didn't mind. He understood where Virat's emotions were coming from but did this affect the guy even a little? No, he still went out of his way for the rest of week to make Bhuvi feel better.

And Bhuvi remembers, Virat bowing to him when he unexpectedly hits a six too. There were numerous such on-field incidences and innumerous of-field memories. Special memories close to his heart, absolutely close to his heart. The numerous conversations about the game, Virat and he had. The midnight conversations about leaders and Captains, the absolute trust for him in those brown eyes always.

"But you're my bowling Captain na, Bhuvi!!! You tell me what you want, you tell me what you want to be done and I'll make it happen. You're the leader of the bowling group and it'll always be you," Those were Virat's words to him.

The bowling leader.

And Virat always made sure to remind him of those words even when he joked around of the field. Even when he made a show of intimidating people to follow Bhuvi's orders. It was always them and their silent bond of absolute trust on each other.

"My Swing King!!!!"

Virat's over-enthusiastic yells after Bhuvi's wickets and random messages checking on him. So, how will he define all those mad moments, lovely gestures, heartbreaks, strengths, love and care in a word. How'll he define everything that made Virat-Virat in a word?

How'll he describe him without missing something or other?

How will he define his Kohli in a word?

But the question was still there and so, was Virat's flashing mischievous smile in his mind as he looked at ICC's king portrait of him.

"Umm...They should have made one for all of us. The team of Kings," Those were Virat's words.

"Okay, how's this a king's team Virat?" Rahul's wry question resonated with all of them.

"Well,Yorker King, Swing king, double hundred kings but then again Ro can be sleeping king too and so, on the list goes on...."said Virat laughingly, making the whole team think he was joking.

But he wasn't, for Bhuvi knew in Virat's eyes all of them were kings.

And how to describe that in a word? The trust, the confidence, the bond, the belief there wasn't a single word to describe his Virat. Bhuvi could do it in few paragraphs or so, giving the gist of his Virat. But again the question specifically asked for a single bond and so, Bhuvi thought,smiled and replied, "G.O.A.T"

It wasn't a single word but it was enough for now.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After the session, Bhuvi really needed to talk with Virat. He wasn't blind or deaf to miss the things going around him. He wasn't in the team but he did check news and all, every now and then and the verbal diarrhea some blue tick accounts were spreading on twitter was unbearable, so were few people in commentary box.

Their words unacceptable, their logic unpalatable, their lines screaming agenda and vile.

And hearing all of them, all Bhuvi wanted to do was teach them some lessons.

When Viru pa called Ro, "Bada Vadapav" and Saurav "Samosa"

Bhuvi felt unquenchable amount of dislike generating towards that man. He respected the legend but the legend's words were making it very difficult to continue respecting him. But when Rohit silently, targeted everyone speaking against him.

Bhuvi felt very proud that was his Rohit, never to take any s**t silently.

And then their was his another brother on silent mode.

"Nasty behavior with Jinks and Ash," Bhuvi couldn't see any nasty behavior done with them and if, he thinks about this he could absolutely see some blue ticked moron tweeting about the great injustice done to him by Virat.

Yeah, he could absolutely see them writing something like that and his stupid idiot of a brother remaining silent as always.

Bhuvi wanted to rant so many things to Virat but when Virat answered the call and exhaled his name in that relived tone of his and talked about only positive and good things, asking about his progress, Nupur and everyone else in family. Sharing the anxiety plus excitement of expecting parenthood with him. Bhuvi couldn't make himself rant and scold Virat.

He went along with Virat, talking about the good old days, cursing corona and people still lacking empathy in their minds. It was after some hours of talking and agreeing to be Virat's virtual match watching partner that Bhuvi finally asked Virat something.

"Did you see the Jay Shah vs Dada match?"

"umm..no, I heard about it. Why?" Virat asked Bhuvi sounding totally confused about this sudden change of topic.

"No, it's just I was wondering if you can pester Dada enough to arrange a match, a single match will do, with few over-knowledgeable people and us. Some sort of charity match, after all, who wouldn't want to see Sunny Gavaskar bat again, 10 or 15 over match will be fine," Bhuvi said casually.

"Why though?" asked Virat, not understanding why Bhuvi was suddenly asking for this kinda match.

"Nothing!! just wanted to ask some questions," Bhuvi smiled all innocently at Virat.

After all, he really needed to ask some questions. Even Jassi would be delighted to ask them questions. Questions they can't ask in front of the press because it'll be termed as disrespecting the legends of the game.

But.

But.

On field, they can't question their bowling, now.

Could they?

Bhuvi just smiled when Virat said he'll ask Dada if it was possible or not. Before continuing telling Bhuvi about the recent happenings of his life and Bhuvi continued listening to Virat attentively.

He might look the mild, innocent being in a team of hooligans. He was all up for morals and mannerisms.

But he also had a moral that he followed with all his might, a moral, that sounded something like this, "Protect your brothers at all costs,"

So, if sometimes he shifted towards darker morality. People shouldn't be really surprised.

If they unleashed their dark sides, the devils residing in their brains.

People shouldn't be surprised.

For the bonds they shared were greatest of all time and it pushed them beyond their limits to do some things, they normally, never would.

All of them went, few extra miles because of this G.O.A.T bond.

Always.

~the end~