MS came out of his room nth time that night fidging his mobile. He checked Hardik's room again as he again tried to call Hardik but the result is the same. The door is still locked and Phone is still switched off. 

Hardik went for some party in the club nearby but it was long past the time he was supposed to come causing MS worry. Signing he walked down to reception talking his wallet and international driving licence. 

When he reached the lobby he saw Hardik the main door. He signed in relief for a second before disappointed took over as he saw semi-conscious Hardik strolling in with the security guard balancing him. 

"I will take him. Thank you." MS said to the security guard as he took over slobby Hardik. And started dragging Hardik to his room. Glad that it's not India... This could be breaking news if any Indian reporter saw this.

"Bhhhaaaaaiii... I enjoyed sooooooo much." Hardik spoke as he registered MS.

"I can see that." MS snapped. " Don't shout Now."

He dragged Harry to his room as Harry went on mumbling something incoherently.

Harry collapsed on the bed the moment he saw it. 

"Harry one minute...sleep properly." He spoke as he tried to adjust him on the bed.

 "Bhhhaaaiiiiii... Heaaaad achhhe..... It's bursting." Harry said in a drunk incoherent tone.

"Ha... Don't you know that while drinking so much? Why drink so much that you can't handle yourself." MS scolded as he started removing his Shoes, Watches and chain.

"I...It's hurting." Hardik wailed. "I feel like puking." 

"Shhh... Sleep. It's will be fine." MS spoke as he started pressing his Hardik head until Hardik drifted into deep slumber snuggling into him.

Next day morning Hardik felt someone shaking him severely. "Get up Harry." He heard Mahi Bhai's stern voice.

"Ahh...My head... " He said holding his head as he sat on the bed

"You should have had that scene last night," MS spoke as he trusted lemonade in his hand.

"Drink it," he ordered. Hardik obeyed still in a daze. He didn't remember coming back last night. I do remember sitting the taxi and telling addresses to the driver...But after that... Ahh.. .my head...It's gonna burst.

" What was that last night? Did you return at 3 in the morning even after knowing that you have a practise session today? Remember what was your condition yesterday night Hardik?" MS asked sharply. He was highly disappointed.

"Ha... Yesterday it was a little too late. Sorry." Hardik said casually. 

"Do you even remember this is your 3rd party in this series? And you would have been late to practice today. This is heights of being irresponsible Hardik. If you can't manage your limits and maintain time you are grounded for the next three months." MS spoke out angrily.

"Stop Treating me as a kid Bhai. You cannot treat me as a child, I am an adult I can do things the way I like, if I am late to practice coach and captain will deal with it...you cannot ground me." Hardik snapped. This headache and MS's angry tone has irritated him enough.

"Adult? Very well then...I will treat you as an adult." MS said calmly after a minute. He silently started arranging his stuff and kept Hardik's stuff on the bed. It's when Hardik realised that he is in Bhai's room.  He meekly collected his stuff and went back to his room.

Only after having long cold shower things sink into Hardik. He did cross his limits and also talked rudely to Bhai. He felt even more guilty when he saw his phone having so many of the missed calls from MS last night. Not really surprising... MS generally won't sleep until they return if any one of them goes out.

"Be ready to face proper warmth from Bhai. Today it will be good punishment with good set of scoldings." Hardik taught as he entered the practice session. 

But on the contrary, Mahi bhai just smiled at him and said: "Hi Hardik...do you wanna go in the nets before me?"

"Uhh...Yeah," Hardik nodded confused. He was supposed to scold right? 

Anyways, He gets into the nets but instead of standing behind the nets and guiding him, Mahi Bhai was talking to Rohit standing a little afar.

Hardik hit next ball to six with a helicopter shot and looked at MS grinning widely. But MS continued his talk ignoring Hardik. And it hurt.

"He was supposed to say that it is a great shot. I timed it so well." Hardik sulked.

Ro left after a few minutes and Hardik smiled expecting MS to come to him but MS simply went from there to practice keeping and helping Rishab with something.

Hardik couldn't help but glance at them as Rishu messed up something and MS hit him on the head and Rishu smiled a guilty smile. 

Hardik felt so possessive... He felt like running MS and ask him to praise him. "But...But Bhai is angry." He thought.

Then MS went on to talk to Virat. Discussing some field placement that can work.in between Virat got a bit distracted and started gushing with Jaddu resulting in MS glaring at them while both smiling sheepishly.

That's it. It can't go on. Hardik at this point wanted to demand attention.

He started mistiming the ball purposefully. He knew MS would come to correct him at least.

Harry felt smug as he saw MS towards him...his plan succeeded but MS came and simply spoke "Mind if I have a go now?" in a calm tone.

"Haa?" Harry asked confused. Didn't he come to correct me?

"Can I practise now? Are you done?" MS repeated. He didn't sound angry. But Hardik wished he did.

"Ok," Hardik said and walks out. 

 Such things kept on happening. MS did talk to him normally but it all seems abnormal because he didn't tease Hardik nor he smiled or laughed on Hardik's stupid jokes for the whole day. And Hardik had enough. He needs his Mahi Bhai now.

"Bhaiiii..." Hardik shouted and ran to MS as he saw MS in the corridor. He ran and almost hopped on MS. 

"ya Hardik? What is it?" MS said moving back a little. 

"Did HIS Mahi Bhai just move away? He didn't let him snuggle?" Hardik thought in disbelief. And it hurt more than anything. 

"Bhai...I'm really sorry. Please Don't be angry." Hardik started in a hurt tone.

"Why are you sorry Hardik? And ofc I'm not angry. Don't overthink go to sleep." MS said as he walked away leaving hurt Hardik behind. 

Next day was the same MS was behaving normal But he is simply not treating Hardik as his kid any more. He doesn't let Hardik snuggle. He  doesn't like doesn't scold him for stupidity which he purposefully does to get scolded.

Jassi noticed Hardik doing something extremely stupid and looking at MS with hope each time and MS simply ignoring it. Last stupid thing Hardik did was pouring sauce on Rishab's clothes and got scolded by everyone but MS. Finally giving up Hardik goes to the terrace sadly to be alone. He missed Krunal. He missed Mahi Bhai...His Mahi Bhai.

 "What did you say to Mahi bhai? Why is he treating you like this?" Jassi's voice disturbed him.

"How do you know?" Hardik asked back sadly. "Is it so much noticeable?"He wondered.

"Ofc... Mahi Bhai won't be so angry if you don't do anything out of the world stupid." Jassi spoke.

"I don't know what came over me, that day I went out to party, and then j wanted to come back early, and my friends started teasing me that I am still a kid who has curfews. And somehow that was in my head and when Mahi bhai started scolding me I just said he should treat me like an adult...and now..." Hardik trailed off. 

"Mad now he is treating you like one and you hate it. Harry don't you think we are privileged that we got family in the name of the team. There someone to correct us, guide us, look out for us...He scolds us for our good only and..." Jassi started explaining his dumb friend.

"Ofc I know all that Jassi. I can never complain about Bhai scolding me...even Virat and Rohit for that matter." Hardik said impatiently. Jassi is just making him feel more guilty and sad.

"Oh really? Then why did you say all that Bhai? For fun?"Jassi questioned. "I know all that Jassi."He imitated Hardik's tone.

"Because I am a fool. Krunal is right... I take my family for granted... I just said that inflow...I wasn't thinking and Mahi Bhai doesn't treat me as his Kid anymore." Hardik said sadly.

"He is just angry Harry. Go and say sorry now." Jassi said feeling bad for his friend now.

"I tried...but whenever I try he says he is not angry and works away. You know he didn't even let me hug him. He doesn't love me anymore." Hardik said in a very sad tone.

"You will have to find a way...think...think he might have given some hint to make it up. He always does." Jassi said trying to cheer up Hardik

"But he didn't this time. And why would he?" Hardik asked confused.

"Because even he doesn't like to be angry with us Dumbo. He just wants us to learn...So...Think."Jassi encouraged. 

"But He didn't talk to me properly" Hardik complained. "He doesn't love me anymore."

Jassi rolled his eyes. Hardik is being dramatic.

"what was he saying when he was scolding you...and may be you will know how to make it upto him," Jassi asked trying to help his stupid friend.

Harry thinks back...

"Ntg... He said I'm grounded for 3 months." Hardik said trying to remember hard to find anything else.

"Then That's it. Can't you stop going to the damn parties for just 3 months?" Jassi asked in an angry tone.

"Ofc...I can. Who said I'm going to a party now? That's not the issue now." Hardik snapped looking at Jassi as if he is a fool.

"But You said... you told Bhai that he can't ground you?" Jassi asked confused. Without a doubt, he managed to get a stupidest man on earth as his best friend.

"But I said all that just like that. I never meant it." Hardik half yelled. How fool can Jassi be.

"Ok... Try saying that to Bhai. Let's go for dinner now." Jassi said tiredly. Why would Bhai be angry if Harry has already decided to be a good boy?

They were all having dinner together on a long single table. Hardik sat right across MS with a sulking face.

Virat was ordering for everyone and he ordered lobsters for Harry cuz Harry loved eating lobsters and soon the food arrived.

Here comes the real problem. Harry was staring at his lobster. He doesn't know to de-shell it. Bhai does it for him always. But now? 

Mahi looked at him once and went back to eating. "He can ask the waiter to get it deshelled like an adult," He thought.

Just then their team manager Abhishek was walking by the table. He stopped by Hardik and asked, "Harry, Aaj ka party ka plan on hai na, you are going right?"

"Sorry yaar Upadhyay Nahi ho sakta," Harry replied almost made Ro choke on his food. He started couching and Jaddu started beating on his head little too harshly.

"You ok Harry?" Rohit asked surprised pushing Jaddu away.

"I am grounded for 3 months." Hardik simply said as he shrugged.

Mahi looks up at Harry. Abhishek shrugs and leaves. Everyone else minded their own business as they know who might have grounded him.

Harry looks back at Mahi touches his ear with one hand and then bows his head to stare at his plate.

Jassi takes the cue and says: Arey Hardik I will call the waiter to get your lobster...

"No need" MS stopped him. "Harry la plate idhar de, mai de shell karke deta hun"

Harry looks up with the biggest smile on his face and hands the plate over to Mahi. 

"I will come there?" He asked pointing to the empty chair beside MS. MS nods smiling.

Hardik jumps across the table almost knocking downing Rohit's food.

"Moron," Rohit muttered as he wanted back to eating.

That night MS was seeing some mails in his room when Harry comes in. Without a word, he slips beside him and promptly snuggles into his arm. Mahi holds him as lovingly as ever. 

Hardik gave a happy smile...He did have a little fear that MS might push him away. MS just ruffles his hair lovingly and continues to his work.

"Sorry," Hardik mumbles a while later.

"It's Ok Harry," MS said smiling.

"I loooooooove you." Hardik said in a kiddish tone.

"I love you too... Now sleep." MS spoke patting Hardik silently as he went back to his work.

"MY MAHI BHAI" Hardik said a while later hugging MS making MS smile.

"Bhai... MY Harry Bolo na..." He demanded as MS was silent. MS laughed out.

"Bolo na Bhai..." Hardik winced.

"MY MONKEY... MY HARRY."  MS said ruffling his hair. while Hardik gave a full smile.

OK.... I know im super late,....I'm really really sorry for it... But ya....Love you a lot.... Happy happy bday shivani... Kumarishivani