We all know how Virat is hot tempered on field though he is a kind soul off it. He shouts at his players, but encourages them. In the field though he has a blind fury. What if in that fury he shouts on one of the most precious people in his life. What if the fury is just a result of his deeply hidden insecurities? Here's the first OS of the series...

Insecurities

It was Ind vs Aus, one day in MCG. Last 5 overs power play was going on, India had scored 322. Aus now needed 25 to win of 30 balls but they were 9 down. It was a batting favoured pitch, and Steve and Warner opening pair had dominated the first power play. India had almost lost it, when MSD bieng MSD came up with an ingenious field setting and along with the brilliant Bum Bum Bumrah he lured Smith into giving his wicket in the form off a catch in long off. And India bounced back. MSD was in his elements, instructing to his "Kuliya"(Kuldeep) and "Teeli" (Chahal) from behind the wickets. Warner was looking to cut the ball, the pressure getting to him. "Thora Bahar rakh Teeli" he said. He knew another wicket will be a blow to Aussies. Virat understood the plan and set field accordingly and he himself moved to second slip. But the ball slipped in Chahal's hand and it was big big wide. MS dived with his life to save the four but in the process he managed to hit his fingers. Physio quickly came and checked it, the skin had torn badly but there was no muscle or ligament tear. MS decided to not walk of the field and continue with bandaged finger. He looked at Chahal and said laughingly "Ab itna Bahar rakhega toh fir apne pas rahne de ball, daal hi mat." Chahal touched his ear tip with one hand in gesture of sorry. Both MS and Virat nodded encouragingly. Next was spot on, the just not wide yet on the verge of wide ball which Warner nicked to Virat standing in second slip who took a spectacular catch. And India was firmly back on the game. Virat was changing bowlers brilliantly and MS was helping with field. There were once or twice a slight difference in Virat's and MS's views but at the end Virat went with MS's opinion and results were great. Virat loved this, he was captain and he could learn first hand from one of the best captains of India. There was a small evil voice in him (like there is in all of us), that said "He will take all credit even if he is not captain." But he never paid heed to it. He loved Mahi Bhai like mentor, like a big brother. He would always be under him, captain or not. But sometimes like today, the voice was more nagging, mostly because he opened social media today and scrolled through random cricket news/Cricket meme pages, which he generally does not do. And they are pretty harsh things about him and his captaincy and jokes about how he was just a puppet and Mahi was real captain. Sure Bhai was there to support, teach and guide him but he captained his team at the end of the day, he deserved some credit. But he pushed those thoughts away atleast tried his best to. And now in the Third last over, the eighth wicket had fallen to a brilliant Chinaman of Kuldeep. The bails of the leg stump went flying brushing past MS's eye and giving him a pink eye. MS called for some water and washed his eyes. And continued keeping and tweaking the field. But Maxwell was intact on one end and that man was a game changer. They needed to get the 10th wicket or they might lose the match. It was decider match of the series. It was the 5th the of five match one day series, They lost two matches and won two. MS's eyes were itching and the throb was growing in his hand but he stood stead fast. But on the next ball the itch got unbearable, he blinked and indian cricket fans saw a rare sight, MS missing a basic caught behind. And that voice in Virat took over at the moment and in his characteristic angry disgusted tone said "Bhai Kar Kya rahe ho? Hoti nahi hai toh chhorke Jao na DK ko bula Leta." MS looked at him incredulously for a moment, only a moment though, before his face became his characteristic calm again. He could have said DK was already injured in the last match but he didn't, a captains anger at mistake was natural, even if he was senior Virat was Captain. And he knew Virat's anger. Instead he just said in a tender voice while signaling for water "Cheeku I am sorry. Woh aankh itna..." "On field I am your captain, stop with this Cheeku thing," Virat cut him "Please do your job properly, this is a crucial wicket. You don't have to do field placements, captain main hun I will handle. Zyada captain na banke apna jitna role hai team mein thik se kijiye, the team will benefit. You don't have to take credit for things that weren't your business. And if you can't focus on your job, we have newer talent waiting" The people nearby, even Maxwell was looking strangely at Virat. Mahi and Virat's bond was known to everyone, no rumours had ever effected them, nor had the change of captaincy. Mahi was almost protective of Virat and Virat revered Mahi like anything. "Did he just threaten to drop MS?" Jinks mouthed to Rohit. Rohit just shaked his head, Virat would regret this so so much later. MS remained calm, though his heart clenched with the words, Virat had just called him a credit monger, but he just said "I am sorry, Skipper" and remained focused on the game. Virat changed the field next ball. It was honestly a good field placement, may be conventional but good. MS didn't say anything. But Next ball when Maxwell came on strike, he signalled Rohit to suggest Virat to move the wide wicket a little inside. He knew Virat won't listen to him now. And surely Maxwell hit it there, and instead of a confirm four, it was a dot ball due to the field change. Last ball of the over, Dada in the commentary box.
"Bumrah to Maxwell. Slower one, he swings and misses. There's an appeal and the finger goes up. Maxwell's gone and once again a brilliant stumping by none other than Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Maxwell didn't see that coming it was a split second job. India wins the series 3-2. Brilliant cricket by both teams, brilliant captaincy by both young captains but one MSD makes a difference. The team has erupted in celebration, but the man himself looks unfazed."

And indeed MSD wasn't very ecstatic, Virat's angry wands resounding in his head, even if he tried to sush them, and tell himself Virat always lost control when angry. "Never with you though" a small voice inside him said. He willed that voice to shut up. He willed himself to come down. His grip on his emotions bieng vice like. Virat was his captain, he had every right to shout on him if he committed a mistake, sure his hand was hurting and eyes burning but a mistake was a mistake. Sure, he decided to go through the pain so that DK doesn't have to keep with his sprained knee, knowing it might aggreviate the sprain also he wouldn't be able to perform 100%. But he dropped the catch, one catch but he dropped it and Virat had right to tell him anything he felt like. He was foolish to assume that he would always remain like a little brother to him after all when he knew things always change.
Post match:
Interviewer: So Virat was livid on you on the field.
Mahi: Yeah it was a rookie mistake there and Skipper just chastised his wicket keeper.
Interviewer: But the wicket keeper happens to be MSD?
Mahi: So what, at the end of the he is a player.
Interviewer: oh common we have all seen you helping with the field setting, with the plans and attacks. You are not just a player.
Mahi: Of course I am. Just a bit more experienced than others. I try to help out as much as I can but at the end it's captains call. And it's always Chee- I mean, Virat who deserves the credit. He is brilliant captain. And about the field incident every captain has right to scold his players.

Virat who was standing behind swallowed a painful lump in his throat. He was calming down, the evil voice had quieted and just vanished. And his conscience was pricking and with every gracious word from Mahi it pricked more. But when he stopped himself from saying Cheeku, Virat knew Bhai was hurt and angry.

In the dressing room and in the journey back, throughout the celebration, MS was formal with Virat. And Virat's conscience started pricking him even more. But his ego stopped him from just rushing to Mahi and saying sorry.
Later that night team was having dinner together only one person missing, Mahi. Everyone of course noticed it. Though Virat came he did not even eat a bit of his food and didn't speak to anyone properly, guilt was eating him but his ego wouldn't let him admit that. They had called Mahi, even went to his room (Not Virat, he couldn't face him) but Mahi had said no with such a firm expression that nobody dared to force him. Nobody joked much. After all in a family, when anyone was unhappy how could others be happy. Virat and Mahi both were travelling without their families this time. So Mahi sat alone in his room, not feeling like eating, trying to get a grip on his hurt.
After dinner Rohit managed to catch Virat alone. "Phaila liya raita?" Rohit asked Virat directly "Ab pochha kab marega?" (Made a mistake? When will you ammend it?) "Matlab?" Virat said trying to feign ignorance. "Ban mat!" Rohit said "You can hide that you are feeling guilty from everyone but mere se nahi chhupa sakta aur nahi Mahi Bhai se" "Unhe toh nahin dikh raha" Virat said like a child "He didn't even come
to eat with us." "Idiot!." Rohit said "Tu yeh soch raha hai ki aaj Jo bhi tune waha pe sabke samne bola, unhe kaise laga. Wo kabhi jatate nahi hai iska matlab yeh nahi hai ki unhe bilkul bura nahi lagta hai kisi bhi chiz ka. Aise hi itni negativity hai humare charon taraf, media just needs a issue. They will burn you and they will burn him. Ek toh Yuvi pa ke father unki jaan nahi chhorte. Media waits for his one bad knock and after that you reacted like a complete jerk." "Yaar important catch Chhutaa unse" Virat weakly tried to defend "Isiliye main Thora gussa ho gaya" "Really Virat" Rohit said "Was it just about the catch? Sach mein, khud se puch. Bhai ke hat pe chot thhi, eyes were watering...he was holding on kyunki DK Bhai already had an injury. Uske bad ek chhoti si galti and you accused him of bieng selfish and taking your credit. No Virat it wasn't about the catch, it was about the insecurities you are hiding" Virat was taken aback. How Ro saw through him like a open book. The memes that morning, combined with his own self doubt that was he good enough to be a captain had somehow led him to the outburst that morning. Somehow him insulting MS, shouting at him like any other player, on the great MSD made him feel validated. "Sahi kaha na Maine?" Rohit asked. Virat just nodded, swallowing a painful lump in his throat. "Virat, Mahi Bhai bas tujhe guide karna chahte hain." He said "He knows what you are capable of, he just wants to give you enough time to enjoy the space before the burden of captaincy falls completely on you." Virat nodded again, he knew this of course and that's why he felt so bad now. "I know Ro, I know." Virat said "I don't know what came over me, shouting on him made me feel powerful. I am such a shitty friend and brother. He protects and cares for me and just..." "If you are feeling that bad, put your God forbidden hesitation aside and go and sort it out with him" Rohit said. "How would I face him Ro?" Virat said "What could I possibly say to make him forgive me? He probably hates me by now." "He will forgive you Virat, that's what big brothers do." Rohit said "Just say whatever is in your heart. Trust me, he doesn't hate you. He might be little angry on you but hate...nah...not possible. That's our weakness, me and MS can never hate you even if you are a god forbidden jerk to us. You love you too much." Virat  hugged him "Thanks buddy. What did I ever do to deserve you." he muttered in the hug. "Go talk to him" Rohit said parting from the hug "Sort this out and stop looking like a kicked puppy." Virat left for MS's room.
MS was lying on his bed, his hand was still slightly throbbing. He was trying to tell himself he shouldn't be angry on Virat, that he was the captain and he didn't like his interception anymore. But he had never wanted credit of Virat's success. He had just wanted good for India. He wanted success for Virat. Why had Virat taken it in such a wrong way? Virat had always respected him. He though they were brothers-in-arms, but may be Virat didn't want it anymore. He was trying to stop this uncharacteristic overthinking but his love and care for Virat and consequently the hurt was stopping him from doing that. Yes it had hurt so much. He wanted to give himself time before he faced Virat again, so he decided not go to the team dinner. He didn't feel like eating anyway. He was trying to sleep but sleep won't come. He just lay there with eyes closed.
Virat gathered all his courage and walked down to MS's room. As always the door wasn't locked. He pushed it open. And saw MS, half lying, with his back against the wall. As soon as he noticed Virat he said "Oh, Skipper what is it?" He asked, tone formal and cold. Virat felt as though someone stabbed him. "Aap dinner pe nahi aaye?" He asked, his tone almost shaking. "Bhook nahin thhi." He said now sitting up and looking at Virat searchingly "Sorry, I missed a bonding moment" Virat didn't reply, he just vowed his head and stood there trying to gather his thoughts and frame an apology. His deamenour was conveying enough to MS, he wanted to go to Virat and tell him it's ok, but a small part in MS wanted Virat to apologise, to convey it verbally. So he just asked "Kuchh bolna hain Kya, Virat?" His tone much warmer than before. Virat gathered himself and walked up to MS, remembering what Rohit had said to him, "Say whatever is in your heart." He waited for a split second and then much to MS's shock went down on his knees by the bed and held his ears. "Bhai I am sorry." He spoke in a flow of tears "I am really, awfully sorry about what I said on the field that day. Main iss duniya ka sabse bara stupid, idiot, gadha, bandar aur sab kuchh hun. Maine apni khud ki insecurities ki vajah se apki insult ki. I don't deserve to be your brother. But bhaiya please please apne chhote Bhai ko yeh ek baar maaf Kar do. Please don't hate me." He was pulling hard on his ears, he was kneeling and his head was bowed. He looked so belittled. MS's hurt and anger has vanished, replaced with only concern. "Cheeku" he said tenderly, lifting his head and gently prying his hand off his ears "It's ok, kiddo. It's all right. I am not angry, not even a bit. Look at me" He said forcing Virat to look up and cupping his cheek with one hand and rubbing his arm with the other "And I can never hate you Cheeku. You are my little brother, whatever you do I can never ever hate you. I love you, kiddo. I care for you, I really do." He said pulling Virat in hug and rubbing his back. Virat cried his guilt out while MS held him. At last MS firmly pushed him back. "What are the insecurities that are bothering you so much?" Mahi asked looking into Virat's eyes "You are the best of the best, why do you doubt yourself." "I am good batsman" Virat said "But am I good enough to be a captain? I mean RCB loses under me, and people seem to think India wins just because you are there." "That's not true. You know that Virat" MS said "Come on get up from there and sit on the bed." He made Virat sit beside him. "Listen to me carefully." MS said running his hand in Virat's hair. "You won the under 19 world cup, you didn't have me their. You have better winning streak than me in test, and I am not there either. People will keep judging you, you need to believe in yourself, kiddo." "But what about my record in ipl." He said. "Virat, ipl is different" MS said "Those red, yellow, sky jersey are insignificant. You are different in the blue jersey. You are winner, a fighter, a hero in it. Virat, yes I do give  you suggestions to help you out, just because I am a little more experienced than you, I try to teach you whatever I have learned throughout the years, that's what big brothers do. But in no way does it make your contribution smaller because at the end it's your call, your decision are what lead us to victories." Virat nodded, but MS saw there is still doubt in him. "Virat, do you trust me, do you trust my judgement?" He asked firmly. "With my life, Bhai" Virat said his voice dripping with sincerity. "Then why do you doubt that you are good enough or not when I know that you are the best. I wanted you to captain after me, Cheeku." MS said looking straight into his eyes "Believe in yourself Cheeku. You are the best." Virat looked at MS for a moment before throwing his arms around him. "How could I shout those aweful things to this man?" He thought "just because of those useless memes and posts. I should be bigger than that." He burried his face in MS's shoulder, "Thank you so much, Bhai" he muttered "And I am so so sorry. I will never speak to you like that ever again." "It's ok Cheeku." MS ruffled his hair "loosing your temper is ok. But from next time promise me, if you are having issues like this, you will speak to me or Rohit instead of burying them." "I promise." Virat nodded in the hug and squeezed Mahi tighter. MS also wrapped him securely let him stay like that for sometime before pushing him back and wiping his tears. "Khaya toh nahi hoga tune" MS said "Kuch mangake khate Hain" "Haan Bhai bohut bhuk lagi hai." Virat said making MS laugh.

When he Rohit came to check on Virat and MSD, he walked in to find, much to his pleasure, that Virat and MS were sitting on the bed while Virat changed dressing on MS's fingers with utmost care while telling him something about how he planned to execute the first T20 against the Aussies while MS listened carefully with that ever indulgent smile on his face. "Am I invited?" He asked. "Of course you are!" MS said. "Thank you for talking to this, idiot. Varna ye khud se toh baat karne nahi aata mujhse." He said pointing at Virat. "Arey! Mention not" Rohit said "I know I am the best." "Abey best ke bachche, Bhau khana bandh Kar aur Teeli ko phn laga, bol ki Kuliya ko leke aa jaye, FIFA khelenge, me and Mahi Bhai verses them." Virat said carefully wrapping the bandage. "MahiRat vs KulCha, great idea!"He said before he narrowed his eyes and asked "Aur main?" "Tu cheer leader" Virat said "Jaise tujhe bara FiFA khelna ata hai. Laga na phone." "Nahin laga sakta" Rohit said sheepishly. "Kyun?" MS said looking suspicious "Don't tell me tu phir kahi ohn chhorke Aya hai" "Stadium ke dressing room mein.Logistics manager ne abhi bataya." He said scratching his head "Kal Tak mil jayega" he added quickly. MS and Virat stared at him a while before bursting out laughing. This was so typical of Rohit that this had become funny. How could a man be this sorted out yet this immature at the same time. After that, Virat called up KulCha and they ended up having a game night with almost all the team in Mahi's room cheering for either MahiRat or KulCha, while Rohit passed on funny comments. Everything was good again.