2015... Mumbai...

Indian cricket team were having their late-night dinner. MS Dhoni was eating his grilled fish, occasionally popping a piece of butter chicken from Sonu's plate because he has stopped eating it (from his own plate) 6 years back for diet. 

An extremely grumpy looking Rohit was munching his food silently. He was sleeping peacefully when MS woke him up and dragged him for dinner. But he DON'T want to eat... But sleep. 

Grampy Rohit was enough to make Virat's mood very pleasant.  

Harry was sitting between Rohit and Virat with forks in both hands getting ready to operate the crab he has just ordered. He punched his crab hard with a fork in an attempt to deshell it.. it slid away and gravy spill right on Rohit's face. 

"what the... Noone lets me eat. Noone lets me sleep. why is everyone behind my life?" He spoke dramatically.

Virat was about to laugh but harry repeated his action with other hand and this time, a small piece of crab flow and landed on Virat's head.

Jaddu burst out laughing, soon everyone at the table joined followed by famous Rohirat fight about who is looking more funny and stupid.

"Jaddu... stop that," MS ordered as he saw jaddu climbing on the table to click the pictures of Rohirat with curry on their faces.

"Ro, Cheeku... Go wash your face," MS spoke shaking his head tiredly as he wondered if there any one thing in the world on which these two can't fight.

"It's all because of you. I was sleeping peacefully. You woke me up." Ro complained childishly as he stormed away to wash his face. Virat followed him thinking if it would be a great idea if he get Rohit entirely wet by messing with the tap.

Here, Hardik took his fork to start his 'adventures with the crab' MS silently dragged Hardik's plate towards himself and started deshelling it. A grinning Hardik started telling MS about some awesome bright green jacket he brought the day before. 

Everyone went back to minding their own business such as Jaddu and Shikar betting on what topic Rohit and Virat would be fighting as they return, Kulcha discussing about how to bet Hardik-Rahul in pubg, Jassi & Bhuvi planning their movie night, Shami Concentrating only and only his biryani.

Amidst all this, Suresh Raina was struck at MS deshelling Hardik's crab. It took his back 10 years down the line, to the days when he was a 19-year debutant. 

2005... Srilanka.

Technically that was his first day with the team because the day before they were in the flight to Srilanka. Suresh Raina has spent all day in his room alone as his room partner MS Dhoni has just dumped his language in the room and vanished into Yuvi's room for some video game competition. 

But Raina wasn't complaining, he got his lone time to think his dream coming true. Seeing Sachin from so close. Sitting beside Dravid in the flight. He actually liked Rahul Bhai. He is sweet just like Kaif Bhaiya.  It still felt like a dream.

At dinner time Sonu was wondering if he should go down or he should just eat his snacks and sleep. But... But he was terribly hungry. "should I just go to Kaif bhaiya?  But I didn't ask his room number." He thought. 

just then, Kaif entered the room saying "Chel Sonu, Dinner karthe hai." And Sonu gave him the big happy smile.

"Mahi didn't come yet?" Kaifu asked as they started walking down to the restaurant. Sonu just nodded no.

"There video game competition his still on I guess. they won't be done until they get good scoldings from Paaji." Kaif said mentally making a note to complain to paaji.

"You know I was actually worried when I saw Bajju is your room partner but I guess Rahul Bhai changed it to Mahi. Thank God." Kaif spoke again.

Sonu didn't understand how does that make any difference but before he could ask they approached the team table. The entire team was already settled. Sonu and Kaif occupied the empty seats. Sonu looked around. Rahul Dravid was missing. "Where is he?" Sonu wondered but decided to stay silent.

"I will order for everyone today," Yuvi announced out of nowhere.

"No need," MS retorted almost immediately.

" Saying as you would pay today, miser" Zak added lazily.

"No... I'm ordering and Paaji is paying today." Yuvi announced. 

"Me? When did I say I will?"  Sachin spoke.

"Are kardo na paaji. What will you do with SO MUCH money?" Yuvi spoke making everyone roll their eyes.

 "Aree... Mujhe sab pata hai... I will order the best and your fav food only." Yuvi assured. 

Some of them ignored Yuvi and changed their order but many decided to keep it as Yuvi did order the good food that day.

Sonu didn't dare to say no to Yuvi, especially when Yuvi was hovering over him asking "Won't you eat the food I have ordered."  

"Leave him alone yuvi." Kaif tried but no use. Sonu nodded.

 And yuvi ordered some weird looking food for him and sonu has no idea how to eat it.

And somehow that didn't strike kaif that. He is eating happily because Yuvi ordered good dish. "Maybe he is not in the mood to prank today." Kaif thought.

Raina doesn't know what to do. first of all, he is so hungry and now this. it was difficult to reach kaif Bhaiya, went to Anil Bhai complaining as he and Yuvi fought for something. Raina felt a bit embarrassed to ask anyone else.

Rahul Dravid joined them and sat in the chair opposite to Sonu but Sonu was too sad and hungry to smile at him. He just kept looking at his plate feeling more and more hungry.

After 5 mins Sonu looked around randomly wondering if he should leave and eat some snacks he brought. Just as he looked at Dravid who was already looking at him. Dravid gave a small smile and nodded at his plate with a fork and knife in his hand.

Sonu noticed that he has the same food as of Sonu's. Excited Sonu decided to follow him. Sonu got a doubt that if Bhai was cutting it slowly just so that he could copy him, just like he did in the plane while fixing the seat belt. But he pushed that thought away and decided to concentrate on his hungry stomach and food.

He ate it full-fledged smile, food was really yummy. While everyone was busy with Yuvi's and Bajju's yells and fights to notice this.

 When they were just about to finish Zak asks. "Rahul Bhai... why did you order that? You don't like that right?"

Sonu looks at Rahul a bit shocked and also with so much of love and gratitude. 

"Woh... I...I just felt like eating today." Rahul shrugged and buried his face back into his plate a bit embarrassed by Raina's gaze.

"MY Rahul Bhai is sweetest. I can do anything if he asks me to that much I loooove and respect him." Raina thought to himself.

"Abey... Tujhe kya hogaya?" MS's voice brought Raina back to his thoughts. He was again taking a piece of butter chicken from his plate.

"Do one thing... Pura kha le." Sonu snaped and went away to his room.

"Hey  Bhavesh... Kya huva?" Virat shouted but Sonu was in no mood to listen. 

He is angry. He is sad. He miss 'his kiddo days'. He miss 'His Bhai'. He miss being an overpampered kiddo.

He goes to his room and took his phone to call Rahul Dravid. It's 11 at night but who cares.

"Sonu? What happened? at this time? Is everything ok?" Dravid spoke in a sleepy voice.

"Bhai... Come to Mumbai tomorrow." Sonu demanded stubbornly.   

"Ha? Kyu? What happened? You ok sonu?" Rahul asked confused and worried as all his sleep flew out of the window.

"You... You just come... pleaseeee" Sonu spoke in a teary wince.

"Sonu? I will... Of course, I will. But why? Should I ask Sachin to come to you now? kuch problem huva kya? You are safe right?" Rahul asked worriedly.

"No... You come... I want only you... I want you to deshell my Crab." Sonu demanded again.

"Ha... Kiddo...i will come tomorrow...but for now...wait what? For what? Deshell?" 

"Haa..." Sonu whispered. 

"God Sonu... I thought something serious happened... I was so worried and... You are pranking me..Stop being around yuvi and Mahi..." Rahul spoke both relieved and pissed.

"Noooo...It's not a prank... It's serious... I'm missing you so much... It's so serious." Raina protested.

"But Sonu..." Rahul started.

"It had been soooooo long." Raina winced.

"It had just been 3 months since you have come to Banglore Sonu." Rahul replied logically.

"I... I need you... please... please come." Sonu begged slowly. 

"I really miss you.....sooo much." He added.

And now that was the tone Dravid could never refuse. 

"Ok Baba... I will come. Let's go for lunch tomorrow after your practice. Happy? Now don't make that face and smile." Dravid spoke.

"Really?" Sonu grinned. "But only you and me. No Mahi, No Yuvi or others..." 

"if you let me sleep now as I have to catch the flight early in the morning," Rahul smiled.

"Ok... Bhai. Good Night, Looooove you." Sonu winced.

Dravid smiled at the other end as he cut the call... Somethings never change. 

A/n: This tale is kinda mess but bare with it, please...

"Hume tho bus cricket khelna atha tha... Baki kaise khana hai, kaise rahna hai, Kaise behave karna hai... sab kuch Rahul Bhai sai sika hai." --Suresh Raina.

"I have idolized Rahul bhai. He has always been like an  elder brother to me.. Agar koi Rahul Bhai ki tarah motivate kare toh hum toh aise hai ki apne jaan bhi de de." --Suresh Raina.

"Rahul Dravid is my Idol... got my ODI and Test cap's from him, a true honour. A dream come true." -- Suresh Raina.

Sonu never failed to shout out how much Rahul Bhai means to him... and I was super happy that Dravid was Partial towards Sonu and made that awesome Video after his retirement... even though he is always away from Social media.

Maybe he just wants to say... " I'm proud of you of kiddo... And I will always be." 

So am I... I loooooove Raina...and will always do.

Do vote and comment... 

--Siri...