When things are right

Then you just know

forever

/fəˈrɛvə/adverbfor all future time; for always."they would love each other forever"

***

So that was how 'us' was formed.

Ten years have gone by, and they don't meet every day anymore, don't travel to all tournaments together anymore. They have their own families, including ten kids between them. The ones still in the team...they are now the seniors, and pretty celebrated ones, too.

On the surface, so much has changed.

Deep down, though, they wonder if anything really has changed.

Because last year, when four of them lost a World Cup final, the other three's calls were the first ones received; most others, ignored. When three of them did finally win a World Cup, for the other four, it was the next best thing to winning one themselves. When one of them was deprived of watching his son grow by a witch he'd had the misfortune of marrying, the others nearly lost their sanity, since their hands were tied and they couldn't do anything. When one's wife got complications while delivering their son, two others kept defending his right to privacy to the press. Whenever any of them were doubted or questioned, the others considered their duty to stand up.

They were there for each other every time Shikhar missed Zoravar.

They were there for each other when Ash's mother fell ill in the middle of a series and he had to rush home.

They were there for each other when Virat got so bogged down by administrative run-ins with the board that he felt like giving up the sport.

They were there for each other when Rohit couldn't get up for weeks after losing the final.

They were there for each other, celebrating together when Jinks got a dream comeback for the WTC final.

They were there for each other to keep Bhuvi's spirits up each time an injury forced him out of a tournament.

They were there for each other supporting Jaddu through problems with his father.

They were always there for each other, through the ups and the downs, the laughter and the tears.

Then, maybe in all the ways that matter, nothing has changed between 'us', and nothing ever will.