"But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow; even darkness must pass."

— Sam Gamgee

Lords of Ring

The shock of two creepy sounds exactly similar to what the ghost was saying on the screen coming from the balcony when all of them were so much lost in the movie, was a nerve-wracking, terrifying experience.

An experience which even managed to terrify the Sir Jadeja. No matter, what he denied later. Virat and Rahul had apt proofs to prove even he was terrified.

Even though the onslaught of well-aimed cushions were quite stunning for the new members as they watched their seniors have a care-free go on their captain and Rahul who continued laughing like maniacs even after getting hit.

"Ouch...what did you put in your cushion, stones?" Virat suddenly demanded from Rohit when his pillow smacked him directly on the face.

"What the hell were you trying to do? From when both of you were hiding out there?" Rohit demanded back from Virat glaring at him.

"We weren't hiding, we climbed in," Virat replied rolling his eyes at Rohit's interrogation.

"Climbed in?" Rohit asked him looking totally suspicious.

And Virat couldn't help but roll his eyes again.

"I'm not entitled to answer you, " Virat spoke haughtily as he plopped himself on the bed and Rohit wanted to smack him again.

"You all started the movie without me." And now he was sulking, he is a total Drama Queen. Rohit thought grumbling fondly looking at his annoying bestie.

"I went to call you, Virat bhaiya. You weren't in your room." Kuliya jumped in immediately looking all guilty and Rohit again pondered what black magic Virat did on the poor fellow for him to idolize Virat this much.

"Areey it's fine, Kuliya you know I don't like movies that much anyway and I was out jogging with Rahul. Enjoying the breeze and plotting a perfect plan to surprise Rohit." Virat answered back to Kuliya merrily not liking how guilty the kid sounded.

"You were out jogging at this time, after match? Have you totally lost it?"

"You plotted this fantastic idea without me. I could have acted a more perfect ghost."

Rohit and Sir Jadeja demanded at the same time making Jassi facepalm and wish for Bhuvi, Jinks or Ash's presence here with all his heart.

But thankfully Virat ignored them this time and asked Yuzi (who was holding the remote) to start playing the movie again.

Rohit watched as Jadu sulked over the whole matter of this ploy coming in play without him. Rahul instead of going to sit on the air sofa between Manish and Yuzi went and sat along with Virat clinging to him much to the chagrin of the whole room. Especially, Manish's and Yuzi's who stared at Rahul as if he broke some international law right now.

But Rohit was more surprised when Jassi who was till now sitting with him went and made himself comfortable on the other side of Virat and snuggled comfortably with Virat. Now, this led to a very peculiar situation Kulcha were now staring at them like a very possessive hawk as they took their position on the sofa arranging it below the bed in such a manner that they were as near as possible to Virat.

And Rohit at that moment got a very funny mental image. Rahul and Jassi pulling Virat's hand and Kulcha pulling Virat's leg yelling "Virat bhaiya is mine"  and Jadu acting as a solemn overexcited referee, instigating them to pull harder.

Rohit couldn't help but snort on the mental image as he successfully gained Virat's attention and they had a quick eye conversation.

"What happened?" Virat asked him both confused and eager to know the reason behind his sudden snort.

"Nothing, what's wrong with those two btw." Rohit wasn't going to tell Virat about his mental image at all. He will like to have a peaceful sleep tonight, thank you very much.

Still, he couldn't help but worry about those two clinging to Virat. He means there are better person around to cling too if someone's really afraid of haunted movies.

"You don't go and cling to the only ghost present in the whole team." Rohit thought gravely while shaking his head looking towards the poor kids attached to Virat, for god's know what reason as Virat gave him an "I'll tell you later" look and Rohit nodded concentrating back around the room as he watched everyone else settling down again.

He along with Jassi, Vi, Rahul and Jadu were lounging somehow on a specifically four-person bed now adjusting five people though the fact that both Rahul and Jassi were clinging to Virat helped in adjusting them somehow. 

Sanju, Shreyas and Rishu were sitting on a single air sofa who was scaring whom more, he didn't know yet. Manish, Shardul and Sundar were sitting together now as Rahul didn't go to sit beside Manish. Kulcha has pulled Navi with them in such a manner that Navi was sandwiched between them both well at least they were trying to play good elder brothers. Ro didn't want to ask the success rate of that mission yet. Shami being, the good and caring senior he is had pulled Shivam under his wings the poor fellow really had a very bad day today.

Now, that everyone has properly settled in their positions. Yuzi played back the movie and all of them were again lost in the movie world.

It was a few minutes after the movie has started again and Virat was watching the reaction of people around him more than the movie. Thankfully, they had played the Hindi dubbed version of Conjuring with subtitles keeping in mind Navi and Vi was sure this was Ro's idea. He was more than considerate in all these matters.

Few minutes into the movie and Virat knew Jassi wanted to talk about something with him. He was acting like a guilty child and Virat went through the series of things he might have said or done to hurt Jassi but came with a blank.

"I...I'm sorry Virat bhaiya." Virat wouldn't have heard Jass mumble sorrily if he wasn't already concentrating on Jassi.

"Why, Jass? What happened?" He whispered back, trying his best to not bring anyone else attention to their conversation.

"Voh...bhaiya...I failed you in both the super overs. You trusted me and I..." Jass whispered not meeting Virat's eyes.

And Virat groaned inwardly, what's with his team apologizing to him for useless matters. Even he knew Jassi wasn't in rhythm but he still went with his decision for it has to be Jass. He wanted Jass to get back his form and the drop catches weren't Jassi's fault.

"Then I'm sorry for dropping that catch," Virat whispered back very-very seriously to Jass, realising only one way to deal with this useless guilt.

"But it wasn't your fault, you tried your best but it happens sometimes." Jassi came to his defence without thinking twice. How can he be ever angry or even suspect his Virat bhaiya for something like dropping his catch? His Virat Bhaiya always is the one the most over-excited on his success.

"Ditto, it happens sometimes and it wasn't your fault. And why are you apologising on such a stupid thing? Leave it, what made you think I'm angry in the first place?" Virat threw questions after questions in Jassi's direction, surprising the poor fellow.

Rahul who was till now acting as if he was lost in the movie and didn't have any clue about the whispered conversation happening beside him couldn't help but smile at the exasperated tone Virat was currently using.

Jassi didn't bother replying as he just forwarded his phone to Virat.

Virat couldn't help but mentally sigh and prepare himself to not let out any anger, no matter how much angry he feels skimming though the tweets and as he thought there were tweets calling Jassi Rohit's pet and boasting about how he gained back his form under Rohit's captainship.

"Jass, you know I trust you, right," Virat questioned Jass looking very doubtful and ready to berate himself any time for failing to make Jassi believe he trusted him.

"Yes, of course, Virat Bhaiya," Jass said hastily getting Virat's emotions just fine.

"Then there's no problem. I trust you, you trust me the rest of the world can go to hell." Virat said happily disregarding everyone else's thoughts as he ruffled Jassi's hair fondly making the kid grin back brilliantly at him.

"You can't speak like that Virat bhaiya." Jassi reminded Virat being the kind soul he is.

"Of course, I can, I'm the Virat Kohli. I can do anything, kiddo." And this time Virat spoke perfectly, impersonating Tony Stark making Jass shake his head and Rahul snort amused.

"What are you laughing at Rahuliya?" Virat demanded from Rahul making the lad roll his eyes for the millionth time today.

"Rahuliya?" Jass asked both of them looking all confused at the sudden nickname.

"Never mind him, jass. He is speaking nonsense, right now." Rahul dismissed Virat's nickname hastily. He really didn't want the other pranksters to even get a sniff about the story behind Rahuliya name or God forbid call him Rahuliya, all day.

"No, mind me. He is Rahuliya." Virat butted in smiling devilishly while Rahul facepalmed and Jass grined at Virat. He was suddenly feeling very light and stupid, all together. He should have known his Virat Bhaiya wouldn't care about the trolls but then his same Virat bhaiya doubts his place as captain every time because of the trolls.

While Virat, on the other hand, was thinking ways to lessen the trolls generated insecurities developed in his team. Can't he just ban twitter or something? Or make sure all the player accounts are handled by someone and none of the negativity reaches the players? Well, the negativity that's not being sprouted by likes of Manjekar and all. And to think about it, they didn't even give the new youngsters a proper welcome too worried about Sikh, Bhuvi and Harry. No doubt, they all were feeling gloomy around.

While thinking all this his eyes sweeped over the players present in the room. Shivam looked totally depressed and he doesn't even want to imagine what all the criticism might be doing to him, right now. Manish looked sad too reason totally unknown to him while Rishu, Sanju and Iyer were totally invested in the movie though the two kids with him again seemed lost.

"Jass, I was thinking why don't we make Rahul bowl the first over in the next match," Virat suggested all too innocently as both Jass and Rahul gave him a not funny look.

"You know he can break my world record, bowling like me getting wicket on the zeroth ball," Virat said totally gleefully looking at Rahul and then looked at Jassi with sparkly eyes as if he suggested the greatest suggestion of all time, right now.

Though both Rahul and Jassi looked totally unmoved and unamused by his words as they both deadpanned in sync "no, kidding around in International matches."

The matching looks of Rahul and Jassi and the bashed puppy look of Virat did the unimaginable. It made Rahul and Jassi cackle like mad when the ending exorcism scene was taking place and they were promptly joined in laughter by Jadu and even Virat added his own version of hyena-like laughter to the symphony of mad laughter.

Scaring, the poor fellow's lost in the movie who were already terrified by the bloody sheet and the ghost's antics and the new sudden commotion in the once pin-drop silent room wasn't helping.

The moment the spirit possessing the lady on the screen said: "you're all gonna killed."

Virat screamed "kill Mufasa" intimating the female hyena perfectly as Jadu gave the perfect "pew pew pew" background hyena laughter. Rahul and Jassi laughed for reasons known to them only and Rohit screamed: "Abey in mein kiski aatma aa gyi ab."

Making all the crazy people on the bed, roll around in laughter in such a way that both Rahul and Virat fell down from the bed laughing and the horror movie ended in a total comedy movie with total confusion as no one knew whether to watch the movie or the people cackling in laughter like mad.

Getting that the commotion was scaring the kids and Rohit's voice was making the laughing morons laugh on even higher notes drowning his voice. Shami took matters in his hand for the sake of the terrified people around him.

"Why are you making that demonic sound, Jadu?" Shami demanded from his place noticing the terrified look on Kulcha and Rishu's face who really seemed to believe that the guys were possessed.

"Because it's fun," Jadu answered shrugging and getting smacked by both Rohit and Shami as both of them threw their pillows on his face.

"You two stop rolling this instant," Rohit ordered the still rolling on the floor in laughter Virat and Rahul, not believing he is acting as the voice of the reason and that too in Virat's case. Oh! The doom's day must be really near.

Rahul, Jassi and Virat stopped but neither of them even tried to meet each other's eyes in the fear of breaking down in fits of laughter again.

"What were you laughing at, now?" Shami demanded from the people on the floor looking around sheepishly.

"The movie, it wasn't scary at all," Virat replied shrugging casually with pseudo bravery. He hadn't watched even a single scene of the whole movie yet here he was stating the movie wasn't scary.

And the reaction to his statement was instantaneous. Rohit, Jadu and Shami looked like they totally doubted his words. Kulcha, Rishu and Sanju were looking at him with wide wonder-filled eyes. Manish looked totally confused with all this. While Jassi and Rahul seemed to be in a fix whether to look grateful or amused, they didn't exactly know.

"Umm, if the movie is over. Should we retire to our rooms?" Manish asked looking around confused by all the chaos. He didn't know what to expect in this situation. The calm people were acting like total children right now.

"Naah, we are having a sleepover here tonight," Virat exclaimed happily startling the whole team. Well, specially Shreyas, Shivam, Navi, Shardul and Sanju.

They didn't have even a single team sleepover since they joined the team under Virat and the sudden demand by the slightly possessed looking captain was scary though Rohit seemed the saviour to them with his contradictory words.

"You can't have a sleepover in my room without my permission." Rohit piped in from the side as Virat ignored him again.

"Well, its already quite late at night. Totally, past Jassi's bedtime and think if in the night you hear sudden noises from above you or at door suddenly bangs open or someone bangs on the door and windows in middle of night or you see someone staring at you from your ceiling." Virat said with a thoughtful look as Rohit looked totally agitated, Jadu looked gleeful, Jassi didn't know what to say and Rahul again thought what he did to bear this drama while others looked totally afraid and Virat continued unaffected "so, won't it be wonderful if we all have a sleepover, right here."

Virat finished looking hopefully all around.

"It's a wonderful idea, Virat bhaiya." Kulya was the first one to agree soon followed by Yuzi and the rest of the youngsters. No one wanted to face a spiteful ghost alone.

"But it's my room and your room is bigger than mine." Rohit accused watching the smug look on Virat's face.

"That's a lie and you know it, Ro. And you're ruled out by your Captain. Captain's orders you've to follow it."

"What Captain? I can still throw you all out."

"And face a ghost alone, I hope not Ro."

"It's really necessary, Virat?" Manish asked Virat sceptically while he looked at Rahul and Jassi hoping they'll put forward their views but both of them looked too content on their places, already knowing they won't have any option but to go with Virat's plan.

"I...I'll go Virat bhaiya," Shivam spoke looking all gloomy and depressed. He couldn't meet their eyes after his single over and to think he balled a no ball.

While Virat thought "Idiot, I'm doing this for you. I don't want you all to feel totally alone and lonely here, you fools. We are a family and I'm sorry, if I failed to make you feel so."

Virat sent a look to Shami who pulled back Shivam on his spot and both Jadu and Ro got the plan. They knew what they needed to do, though not exactly sure about Virat's sanity.

"Well, as you're being an idiotic moron. I'll allow you to have a sleepover here."  Ro spoke haughtily making Virat roll his eyes again and mumble drama queen.

Rahul snorted hearing this as he thought about the nautanki, Virat is doing currently. Virat calling someone else drama queen was disillusion at its best.

" So, that's settled, people. We are having a sleepover in the one and only Rohita's room." Virat announced Rohit scowled and Manish, Shivam looked about to protest which was settled by Virat's one look.

"You're not allowed to say, no and now gentleman we are going to see a real horror story known as Gokuldham's bhootni episodes." And with that, Rohit concluded Virat had absolutely gone bonkers.

"I thought it was past someone's bedtime, " Rohit reminded and Virat ignored him smiling gleefully as he spoke dryly "who sleeps so early in a sleepover, party."

"Who watched TMKOC at a sleepover party?"

"Never mind you, Ro but it's going to be fun."

"How by disturbing my precious sleep?"

"Precisely."

"Umm, can we start watching whatever Virat bhaiya is showing us, please." Kuliya intervened knowing otherwise this argument will go on the whole night.

Jadu looked upset as according to him an interesting tennis match was happening between Rohit and Virat.

Virat again jumped in his previous seat and pulled back Rahul too as he started the correct episode and settled back happily after sticking his tongue out at Ro.

"I'm surrounded by children," Ro muttered gravely but nonetheless concentrated on Jetha lal on the screen.

After that night, the Indian team could proudly say "uss raat humne raat k dhai  baje tk Tarak mehta dekha tha kis gham mein humein aaj tk nhi pta."