November, 2013

After the fever-dream ODI series against Australia in October of 2013 that ended on Diwali with Rohit scoring the third double hundred scored in the history of the sport came the home Test series against the West Indies. It would not have been too special if not for Sachin Tendulkar's retirement announced post the series.

When Rohit got his maiden Test call-up before that series, the first thing he felt was hollow.

Yes, he'd prayed for years for this to happen. He'd waited for years. He'd said multiple times in public that he'd be the happiest person on earth if he could play for India in whites.

But somehow, he'd never pictured that series to clash with his idol's retirement.

And hence, he couldn't be the happiest person on earth, after all, even for a day.

***

Virat, of course, had absolutely no idea.

Rohit had smashed a 177 on his Test debut, and the dismissal had also been a very questionable decision. Virat was in a delirious state of excitement and indignation that evening, alternating between, "YOU WOULD HAVE GOT THE DOUBLE HUNDRED IF NOT FOR THAT MEWLING IDIOT!" and "YOU SCORED 177 ON YOUR DEBUT! ON YOUR DEBUT, RO!"

"I know," said Rohit, wincing and tapping his ear to see if they were still fine.

"Still ten runs less than my debut," Shikhar told them, beaming (he had been summoned to the room Rohit and Virat were sharing by the latter's roars).

"But you actually got out," shot back Rohit, getting indignant, too.

"His was against Australia," said Jaddu smoothly.

"Mohali is an easier batting pitch than Eden!" shrieked Virat.

Jaddu punched Shikhar on the shoulder, presumably in support. "But Eden is Rohit's lucky ground anyway, what's the big deal about playing well in one's lucky ground?"

"He's right," Rohit told Virat in a whisper.

"You made Eden your lucky ground," said Virat, glaring. "Why it is not everyone's lucky ground if it is that benevolent a stadium?"

"Because--" Jaddu began promptly.

"Enough!" said Virat. "Enough! Where's the cake?"

"I don't want cake, Virat...the match isn't even over, and it's not such a big deal anyway..."

No one paid heed to Rohit's protests. Shikhar, Jaddu and Virat produced an enormously unhealthy-and-tasty looking frosted cake, three pitchers of orange juice and a bunch of party hats. Rohit buried his head in his arms and sat till a hat was placed on his head and he was forced to raise his face and got a heap of butterscotch whipped cream in his eyes by three violent palms.

"Get off! Get off!"

"No way! We got a bonus birthday of yours!"

"What's going on?" a mild voice interrupted.

Shikhar, Jaddu and Virat paused and looked around. It was Ajinkya Rahane, who had just joined the team for the Test series after the long limited overs series against Australia. Rohit had played with him in the Mumbai domestic team, but he did not know him well enough not to be discomfited--after all, he was covered in cake, he was being overpowered by his wily teammates, and he was sure he was coming across as a loser.

"Celebrating Rohit's debut 100," said Virat. "Come and join, Jinks. Here's an extra hat."

"We have to play tomorrow," said Rahane, still mild, though he did put on the hat. "Why don't you keep this after the match ends?"

"Because," Jaddu said. "He scored the century today."

"Technically I scored it yesterday," said Rohit.

"Oh, but we wouldn't have covered you in cake on a night if you had to bat the next day," said Virat in an angelic tone, and went off on a tangent. "Three cheers for Rohit!"

Shikhar and Jaddu cheered lustily. Rohit sighed.

No one seemed to be in the mood to listen that he wasn't in a mood to celebrate, he just wasn't, and he'd much rather sleep than be cheered for, covered in cake and shower.

***

After the 'party' was forced to an end by Mahi bhai rapping on the door sharply and giving them an earful, Shikhar and Jaddu slunk away to their rooms lightning-fast and Virat shoved Rohit back and skipped into the bathroom first to wash up.

"I am the one who needs to wash up the most!" yelled Rohit after him.

"Too bad, I reached first!" Virat slammed the door in his face.

Rohit turned around, grumbling under his breath, and found himself face to face with Rahane. He'd been so quiet against the chaos that Rohit had almost forgotten he'd been here all the while.

"You seem a little down," said Rahane, most unexpectedly. "Anything the matter?"

"I'm covered in cream," said Rohit plaintively.

"That's a minor setback, though. Why're you so against celebrating a good thing?"

"At least someone sees I'm against celebrating it!" said Rohit. "Did you see those three?"

"Yeah, they are a bit thick-skinned," said Rahane sympathetically. "But you can't quite blame their wish to celebrate."

Rahane settled down on the couch, crossed his legs and looked up at Rohit steadily. Rohit blinked back, and suddenly realized he was looking at someone who did not back off--not in a howling, tantrummy way like Virat, but by just being steadfastly quiet.

"I don't think this series is a cause of celebration, for anyone in the country," he found himself saying. "It's Sachin sir's last series."

Rahane nodded.

"I don't know how they can be so happy at anything right now," said Rohit, though he still wasn't sure why he was confiding in someone he didn't know well. "We've spent our whole lives watching him play...he's the one who gives us hope when nothing seems to be going our way...how can Indian cricket stay alive without Sachin sir?"

"I dunno," admitted Rahane. "Though I wondered the same when Dravid sir retired--but Indian Test cricket is still living, isn't it?"

"That's a sensible point," said Rohit thoughtfully.

"Either way, it doesn't make your achievement any smaller, you know, Rohit."

"Oh, I just got lucky," said Rohit, with a grin. "My debut in my lucky ground and all."

"Wise men say people make their own luck." Rahane grinned back. "So who knows, maybe luck is worth celebrating, too."

Virat emerged out of the bathroom, looking spotlessly clean, that made Rohit wrinkle his nose and want to throw the remaining crumbs on the table on his face.

"Thought I heard your voice, Jinks," said Virat. "The nerve of you, disobeying Mahi bhai!"

"Mahi bhai told you to stop the party," said Rahane, "he didn't tell people to stop talking."

"What's up with this name Jinks anyway?" asked Rohit.

"A-jink-ya," enunciated Virat. "Hear the jink in his name?"

"I do," said Rohit.

"However, Jink would be a terrible nickname," said Virat. "So I made it Jinks."

"Which is not at all a terrible nickname." Rohit gave Jinks a sympathetic nod.

"Exactly! Exactly!" cried Virat. "See, Jinks? Everyone except you thinks it's brilliant."

He was greeted with two deadpans.

"No one except you thinks it's brilliant, Virat," said Jinks.

"Doesn't stop 'em from using it, does it?" said Virat with a rather evil grin. "What are we supposed to call you anyway? Ajinkya?"

"No. Ajju. A perfectly normal nickname."

"It is a lot more normal than Jinks," agreed Rohit.

Virat opened his mouth with that expression of his that meant he'd badger and badger till his companions gave in.

"I'll be going," said Rahane, hastily getting up. "Good night, guys."

"Good night, Jinks."

Except it wasn't one obnoxious voice that called after him after all, but two.

Most precious moment of the duo: Even as the whole team runs on to the field to hug Rishabh after the unforgettable win at Gabba 2021, a teary Jinks collapsing against a swearing Rohit, and they keep hugging and hugging.