The first two matches ended in disaster.

The team morale on absolute low.

The world going mad after their bloods like they were some high ranked sinners, who didn't deserve even a bit of peace and solace. God, wouldn't have it been actually better if people showed such outrage on topics that really mattered and went after actual sinners but no, for the world presently they were the sinners needed to be grilled alive and fried crisp in the deepest parts of hell.

Because they were losing and people were going mad.

#changethecaptain doing rounds all around and their couldn't be a place more toxic than Social media around the corner. It was affecting the kids so much that they had to disable and limit their comment sections.

Heroes and Villains had started feeling like synonyms rather antonyms.

And the management was working overtime to make sure the players weren't mentally suffocating and entrapped in the darkest prison of the whole world where no light could ever reach them, their own minds full of doubts, negativity and self-loathing.

The Captain and Management were working on making sure that all the outer barks, the critics, the haters doesn't break the boys apart. After all, it was hard anyway and it was just becoming harder and Virat actually wasn't a stereotypical ex-cricketer with firm disregard of mental health and it's affects. He actually didn't want any member of his team to break and lose themselves unable to cope up with the quarantine, isolation, critics and their own demons ready to strike at the weakest moments.

So, even if they were losing the battles. Even if the games didn't go in their favor. They couldn't let their spirits break and hence, the Captain and his team was out for a team lunch and then wandering around.

Shreyas was walking with his Virat Bhaiyaaa listening to his brother's words with apt concentration and dedication while Prithvi and Wridhi Da followed them along with Miyaan and Washii.

"Hum kaha ja rahe hai!" Prithvi's chirpy voice played in the background as Shreyas looked at Virat questioningly.

"Humein Nahi pata hum Kaha ja rahe hai just following our Cap!!!!"

"Cap leading from the front but humein abhi bhi nahi pata, where are we going?" Prithvi's sing song voice washed over them,making all of them smile. He was such a fun loving kiddo and Shreyas couldn't help but look at his smiling Virat bhai, who grinning called back.

"Popsicle khaane!!"

And Shreyas couldn't help but let his Virat bhai know that it was surely going to offend their Rahuliyaaa.

"Bhaiii! Rahul will be so displeased" Shreyas let Virat know almost giggling with happiness, imagining their Rahuliya's face when he gets to know about this.

"Well, then we have to just make sure he doesn't get to know about this, Shreyaa!!!" Virat whispered back conspiratorially to him, making him grin widely.

"What Kl doesn't know..."

"Won't kill him bhaiyaaa!!!" Shreyas laughed making Virat laugh along with him, as they walked in the shop and as it was Virat bhai's Popsicle treat. And none of them were actually surprised that the Popsicles were absolutely glutton free, refined sugar free, preservatives and artificial color free, all natural.

After all, it was their Virat bhaiya's treat.

Shreyas and Virat were quick to chose the fresh lemon flavored Popsicles while the other boys took their time choosing and having a giant Popsicle party, roaming around a little more before making their way back to the hotel.

Smiles on all of their faces as they made their way back to to their rooms, Shreyas feeling quite proud of himself as he all smiley joined his Jassi, Rahul, Harry and Monku in Monku's room proud of making his Virat bhaiya laugh and even more proud at handling the mission given to him.

The mission being to stay with Virat, while, the other boys did important work. The important work being snoop around searching the reason behind Virat's headaches and sadness.

"Sup bro logo? Kuch mila?" Shreyas asked them flopping beside Monku on the bed.

"Kuch khas nahi!" his Rahul bro let him know glaring at his Harry bro.

"Well, what did you search anyway?" Shreyas asked curiously, looking at the gloomy faces of his brothers.

"Stalked his SM!" His Monku bhaiya's face let him know how well that went, well, at least none of their phones were broken or damaged.

"That couldn't have gone well," He still commented because, well, he needed to say something, didn't he.

"You bet!" Rahul muttered flopping beside him and noticing his curious look divulged the rest.

"And...we checked and analyzed his past few days behavior and contacts,"

"He talked with AB, the most" Harry sighed.

"He talked with B-Ro too," Rahul added.

"Even Zampa, Finch, Kane and that Starc prani" Jassi commented frowning. 

"Even Dev too" Monku added.

"But not Mahi bhai" Jassi exhaled softly.

"And it feels like he hadn't contacted Mahi bhai for months" Harry breathed out tiredly.

It was a shocking revelation. Virat bhai not contacting Mahi bhai for months. It seemed quite impossible Virat bhai was always the one always in contact with Mahi Bhai.

"But why?" Shreyas asked, confused.

Mahi bhai and Virat bhai not talking seemed all impossible type of stuff.

"God knows!!! He hadn't contacted Mahi bhai even once in the whole IPl and even after that there were no calls to Mahi bhai." Harry exclaimed, feeling totally confused with this scenario.

"Something doesn't seem right, right" Monku asked them frowning. It really didn't feel right,Virat called even Ro less than what it was expected from him."

The boys just looked at each other concerned about their seniors, but,  keeping their reservations to themselves for the time being.

Noticing their looks, Rahul commented; "Neither had Mahi bhai!!!" reminding, it wasn't just Virat,  Mahi bhai could have contacted too.

"You know he doesn't call" Harry stated rolling his eyes at Rahul, because,  Rahul was actually being stupid.

"He can make an exception once in a while," Rah muttered getting up and taking Virat's phone from Shreyas, walking towards the door.

"Kaha ja raha hai ab?" Mayank called after him, sharing confused looks with the other boys.

"Phone wapis krne" Rahul said walking away, letting his brothers explain how exactly they got Virat's phone. And he obviously didnt grin when he heard Harry drawl his name as if it explained everything.

But that smile didn't stay for long on his face as he made his way towards his brother's room. His perfect poker face on even though his heart palpitating with worry. It didn't show on his face as he entered Virat's room with a casual yell of, "VEERAT"

Finding his brother sitting near the balcony, Rahul was quick to make a beeline for him.

"Kohlito your phone" He dropped the said phone on Virat's lap, flopping beside him watching Virat look at him with a perfectly arched eyebrow asking, "done"

"Obviously wrna phone wapis thori krta broski, you bhi na asking stupid things," Rah commented rolling his eyes at his brother's obviously stupid question in his eyes and the way his brother's eyes shined with absolute amusement at his quip was an additional advantage. Even though it diminished a little when Virat didn't indulged in a witty battle of quips.

"Btw what happened to your phone?"

"Areey bro bataya na Skiddy wasn't answering my call, issliye used yours that gadha was doing absolute nakhre" Rahul will always absolutely deny being a good actor but right now he was using all his expression skills to appear indignant, exasperated, sulky and fond all at the same time.

"Jhagda hua" It was an statement that he could elaborate if he wanted too, if he needed to rant he could and if he didn't want too. He could just nod and change the topic too. All the options and choices were his and that's why more often than not he was ranting to this guy about everything.

"sort of, I am tired of explaining to that guy that friends maybe fallible but friendships are forever, aren't they bro?" Rah asked softly, expecting, the absolutely yes from Virat without missing a beat, after all he was quoting Virat's words from the darkest time in his life only. He didn't expect Virat to smile sadly at his statement.

"Nothing is forever, Rahul" Virat stated looking away from him and he didn't like the sad undertones or the implications of those words.

"But we are na Kohlito! Brothers Forever" this was a fact and an absolutely unchangeable one for him.

"But everything changes, Rahul. People leave. People change. Bonds change. Things change. Everything changes and that's the only thing that's forever, I guess" The way Virat's shoulders slumped and the sad broken tug at the corner of his lips, the absolutely sad smile with eyes letting Rahul know his Virat bhaiya had starting believing this. Something made him believe this and Rahul didn't like this at all.

"But I won't leave na Virat. We won't leave each other ever na. We will be like this. We've been like this. We will be like this," And Rahul meant every single word he spoke  right now. He believed it with every single cell of his being. Nothing and he meant nothing could ever come between him and his Virat bhaiya.

"Everyone does, Rahul..." Virat said and Rahul absolutely, and he meant it, he absolutely hated the sad look of absolute conviction on Virat's face while he said so. He believed it and Rahul hated it.

"But we won't na bhaiyaaa. I'll always hold onto you. You'll always have to listen to me rant and my fears and give your expertise advice. I'm not leaving you ever, alright." And Rahul said so looking at Virat with absolute conviction wanting Virat to believe his words. After all, Rahul believed it when his Virat bhaiya told him friends, brothers, family can be fallible but the bonds were forever. They couldn't be forgotten ever.

And just to prove his point he embraced Virat, holding onto him, clinging to him, forcing Virat to hug him back. They weren't going to change or leave each other. It didn't work like that Virat had taken him under his wings, he had chosen him as his little brother and they were going to be brothers forever. No matter what.

"Brotherhood is forever, bhaiyaa, you said so, once remember," Rah tried jogging Virat's memory and before Virat could reply the door of his room was opened with a bang. The remaining squad dropping by and Rahul took that exact moment to let Harry know through his eyes to be his clownish self and hug their brother. He needs it.

"HUG WITHOUT ME! NOO!" Harry's dramatic voice echoed in the room as the crazy creature threw himself on them yelling "GROUP HUG" on top of his voice.

And soon as Hardik quite predicted in his yell all of them were locked in a group hug.  Laughing. But Rahul couldn't quite forget Virat's words or lack of words for that matter as he whispered to his brother.

"And even if change is constant, our bond will change into better only and keep on changing but it'll be forever," Rahul states certain and  Virat's answering hair ruffle and small smile wasn't the reaction he was expecting or wanting.

But he was certain, something, something forced his brother to change his thoughts and he was going to find the reason, all the while making sure his brother understand that their bond is forever.

His eyes running over his brothers laughing and cracking jokes.

Yeah, they were forever!!!

And he will keep on holding on to all of them!

They were his brothers and they were family.

And whatever made Virat think this can be changed! They won't be like this forever! Rahul was sure going to find that and erase that part.

For their brotherhood was forever.

And he was going to do everything in his power to make sure Virat believes this sentiment again too.

~to be continued~

Okay!! Hello everyone finally back after what feels ages!! Sorry, if the update isn't up to mark but trying to regain my footing and flow. And you can expect weekly updates from now on.