A love lost, A life gained

Loosening the noose

Mahi got up with a surprisingly blank mind. Last night after Dada left, he remembered that there was going to be a selector's meeting soon. Today was going to either be his day or the last day. Luck was not in his control, but he had control over his cricket, he knew it. Also, he had shared the dressing room with his heroes. That was something few people could say. With that thought he had gone to sleep and in the morning, surprisingly he wasn't feeling much. No excitement no dread. Shrugging and deciding not to waste time over it, he went to get ready

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The head empty no thoughts feeling didn't really go away, everything seemed a bit far off. He smiled absent mindedly watching Dada try to push Jammy bhai around who was having none of it. He hummed along to Yuvi's conversation. He watched Sachin Pajji drag Viru Pajji off to whatever he wanted to do. But it was all happening in a third person point of view, his mind was absent. Then he walked out to bat.

It was like his mind had been on a power saving mode and now it was hyper focused on the game. He and Viru Pa built a good partnership. Then Viru Pa got caught out and Dada walked in.

"Going good Mahi, keep playing like that,".

He nodded back. Unfortunately, Dada didn't last long at the crease, but Jammy bhai did. They had been playing together for 5-6 months now. Mahi knew everyone's playing style just enough. Sachin Pajji was Sachin Tendulkar no further words needed; and Viru pa and Yuvi were explosive. Jammy Bhai and Dada were different ends of versatility. As soon as he touched sixty, he knew he could go off now, Bhai would rotate the strike and anchor. Pakistan's attack seemed to have holes now. It was exhilarating, the way everything seemed to be falling in place. Despite the awful heat, the dehydration everyone was feeling, his century approached him in what felt like mere seconds though it was months of disappointment that bore it. He laughed breathlessly and punched the air with his bat.

"Doing an amazing job buddy. Hit them all over the place," Jammy Bhai whispered while hugging him. And Mahi did just that. 

When he finally walked back to the pavilion with everyone giving him a standing ovation, it felt like nothing could go wrong though he had a suspicion that his father will ask why he had to get out before the perfect one fifty.

As soon as he reached the dressing room, Dada pulled him into the room with a fierce "Mere sher!" and wrapped him in a tight hug.

"Owe it all to you, Dada," Mahi whispered into his shoulder.

"Nonsense, it was all you,", Dada slung his arm over his shoulder and let the rest congratulate and hug him while he stood proudly showing him off. 

It was not a particularly hard win. Mahi had ensured they had set up a monstrous target and while Pakistan fought, they had come to win. Mahi collapsed onto the dressing room couch the adrenaline high coming off. Yuvi shoved his legs off and collapsed right on him, ignoring the rest of the empty seats.

"Yuvi" he groaned trying to pull himself free.

"Shhh. Listen to your elders,".

"I am pretty sure I am a few months older,".

"You are little brother shaped shut up, let me rest,".

Mahi wiggled his fingers trying to pull them free from under the rather heavy body of Yuvraj Singh. An unholy screech burst his eardrums the next second and both the boys landed smack on the floor.

"What the hell was that?" Mahi asked startled.

"Kya ho rha hai wahan?" Dada shouted from the other side of the room. 

"Why the hell did you tickle me?" Yuvi shoved him lightly.

Mahi paused for a second, a slow amused smile appearing on his face, "You are ticklish?", he asked experimentally poking him on the side. Yuvi screeched again and tackled him in response.

"Ow, I am sorry! I didn't know, let me go!" Mahi groaned as he got pinned again by the other man. Dada who had by now crossed the room, dragged Yuvi off him, and lightly cuffed him on the head.

"Dada, he tickled me!".

Dada rolled his eyes, "I don't care, stop bothering him,".

Yuvi huffed but got off him.

"Both of you go change so we can go back and rest. We are going out for team dinner tonight, you won't get time,".

Mahi lay back on the floor exhausted, he could not wait to call Pri.

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Saurav couldn't help but feel immense pride when Mahi started loosening up little by little over the next few days. He also couldn't help but laugh exasperatedly when the kid started tailing them around, still way too gracious and respectful, but intensely focused on noting what they did in the field and how. He used to do that before too, but now with the newfound confidence that he won't be thrown out soon, he had a barrage of questions that didn't seem to end. Out of all of them, Jammy was the one who was the most enthusiastic while explaining the more intrinsic aspects of the game Mahi was showing interest in. Sachin was patient with the unending barrel of questions, Viru's answers were confusing to everyone, Bhajji and Yuvi liked asking back a few of their own. Well, he was unfortunately at the receiving end of most those damn questions but he could never push the boy away. To his credit, Mahi never asked the same question twice. And it was always something intelligent that sometimes he himself wouldn't know the answer.

It was a pleasant change though from the Mahi, who would visibly be holding his tongue while curiosity killed him. He still didn't speak much, but they soon were starting to learn he had his own brand of one liner humor. He was still adorably confused by a lot around him, he still had not figured out that Yuvi wasn't that hotheaded, but they were getting rewarded so often with that million dollar toothy smile of his that everyone, even the kids of his age were soft on him. That sweet, childlike smile that was making Saurav fiercely protective all over again. That smile was meant to stay.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sorry not much or good, but I have exams :)