Known Strangers

By SophieArshian

56.4K 2.4K 3.4K

The two poles of Indian cricket team that stood together holding the team up high now no longer stand togethe... More

Prologue
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
What a day!
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11
Part 12
Part 13
Part 14
Part 15
Epilogue

Part 4

2.7K 145 225
By SophieArshian

_____________________________

A Note before I start-
I am not biased towards Rohit and I don't need to prove it to anyone.
I am not explaining anything here because I should not have to.

It's literally been 3 chapters, please tell me where are you getting all these ideas from? How do you exactly know Virat made Rohit retire by yelling at him? How is that even logical?
Where are you getting these ideas of Virat made the team stop talking to Rohit?
In my story, the rift is ONLY between RohiRat, no other players.
Yes, Jassi is also there but they are in contact. Everyone is.

I've clearly written "Rohit and Virat haven't talked to each other for a long time" not "Rohit hasn't talked to Virat for a long time"
The difference in these sentences is, the not talking was BOTH WAYS!

God people like these are going to make me explain the entire story?🥲

Sorry to the readers who are literally my friends and support me! I just felt bad at being called biased. I love Virat too!😭🤌🏻
____________________________

Anywayyy... Nayaaa update!

This is an absolutely packed update as it has no fillers just the content we need for the story! So enjoyy!

I hope y'all like it!🤞🏻

~✿~✿~✿~✿~✿~✿~✿~✿~✿~

Rohit was walking around talking to so many people, he just had to have some air.

He walked into the balcony that was near him for some air. He was standing looking out at the view, his back faced to the door.

"Hey Sharma!" A voice called him out from the door.

He knew the voice, he turned around to see this ever beautiful woman who he used to call his sister, Anushka

(I love how everyyyyone guessed it😂)

He saw her stand there with a beautiful loving smile, he couldn't stop that smile coming on his face and how could he? The woman was so loving.

She walked closer to him to stand in front of him.
Ro- Oh Nush... Anushka! Hi!
He fumbled a little for the first time in this party.

Anushka closed her eyes a little disappointed and Rohit immediately felt bad.
Nush- Anushka? Really? Toh mai tujhe Mr. Sharma bulau ya Rohit sir?
Because I came here to meet my Sharma bro though.

Rohit kept quiet for a while before he turned back towards the railing.

Anushka just quietly stood beside him by the railing facing the same view as he did.

Rohit almost expected her to walk off, but she didn't.

He was still contemplating but in his heart he knew he couldn't do this to her, she was his wife but also like a sister to him.

After a few thoughts he casually puts a hand on her shoulder lovingly, holding her sideways lovingly.

Ro- How have you been Sharma?
He asked in a low voice.

Nush- So do I have my bro back or do I still have to reply formally.

Ro- You don't have to.
He chuckled a bit.

Anushka without any second thought flew in to hug him. Nush- Life hasn't been the same without you, Ritsy and Sammy. We all miss you.

Rohit just wrapped his hands around her in a brotherly manner and sighed,
Ro- Nush, can we...

Nush- Avoid this topic? Yes.
She knew it and she wouldn't interfere.

They both stood side by side by the railing,
Ro- We saw your female centric heroic movie Nush. 100cr club and all, Congratulations Sharma.

Nush- You liked it?
She asked smiling.

Ro- Liked it? I loved it.

Nush- Loved it loved it or loved it so much I booked an entire show for the academy I go to teach to watch?
She asked teasingly and he looked back shocked.

Ro- You've been keeping tabs.
He said surprised.

Nush- Have to, tu toh khabar deta nahi hai.

Ro- Hmm.

Nush- Congratulations on the commentary though, It's crazy funny, I love it!

Ro- Thankyou.
He laughed.

They stood quietly before Rohit broke the silence,
Ro- So how has it been? I mean with everyone, all of them and around you.
He didn't quite manage to form a sentence.

Nush- Virat has been drinking.

Ro- Huh? What?
He asked shocked.

Nush- Virat has started drinking again. No, not like a drunkard, very much in control and once a week kind of but he has started drinking.

Ro- Oh uhm...
Rohit didn't know how to react because it wasn't supposed to bother him and he didn't want to know it.

Nush- You don't need to say it, I'll complete.
Well after what happened he was a bit alone and cricket was his relief but now that he is retiring, cricket isn't a distraction now.

Ro- So drinking? Really?

Nush- Yeah, apparently.

Rohit didn't know what needed to be said, he was going to take it as if someone told him something about an entire stranger who he had nothing to do with except, this time, it was a known stranger.

He hugged Anushka sideways as they stood calmly.

Meanwhile, Virat was happy after meeting Rits as his sister and not a fellow cricketers wife.

He was trying to find Rohit with his eyes and he just didn't seem to be in the room.

He looked around a little more and his eyes finally stopped at the balcony.

He saw Rohit put his hand on her shoulder in his brotherly manner and Anushka jumping in to hug him.

He saw him laugh at something Anushka said and having a deep conversation.

He knew he should've been glad that atleast their fall out hadn't hampered Anushka's relation with him but all he couldn't help but feel jealous.

He was jealous of her to be able to talk to him and get a natural and genuine smile.

He was supposed to be his best friend and yet he couldn't even go say hi! He felt hollow at that feeling.
This was what they had come to.

In the balcony,
Rohit and Anushka were about to get out of the balcony when Anushka just stopped him.
Nush- Bro... Stay, please.

He knew what she was saying, the party was a get-together on the evening and an extended 3 day stay for the team.

Ro- Nush... Things aren't the same anymore, you know it.

Nush- I know but don't you think this might be one of the only times everyone would be together like this?

Ro- I'll... try.
He said weakly.

The seniors meanwhile were surprised yet happy.

They were in contact with both of them but separately and it hurt them too.

Bhuvi- I can't believe he is here.

Jaddu- I can't believe Virat called him.

Jinks- I kind of expected him to, I knew it.

Ash- I think it had to be something to do with Virat for Rohit to come around.

They all nodded their heads in agreement.

Rohit was now back in the room meeting people and chatting.

Virat knew this was the time, after calling him to the party, he couldn't just let him just go back without talking.

He took deep breaths and finally tapped him on the back to garner his attention.

Rohit was laughing at something someone had said and his laugh died in his throat as he turned around.

He was now facing Virat who stood there not smiling himself, they both stood expressionless.

The silence was thick and disturbing.

It was surprisingly Rohit who broke the silence this time,
Ro- Hey.

Vi- Oh, Hi, umm hey.

Rohit forwarded his hand for a handshake and so did Virat, they shook hands as a meeting gesture.

Was this really them?
The ones who'd jump on each other when they met after a day and now they shake hands.

Vi- How have you been?
He put a plastered smile on his face.

Ro- Great.

Rohit realised how awkward the silence was with his one word answers.
If he was here in his party on his invite, he had to atleast have two sentences of conversation and then leave the party knowing he didn't care anymore.

Ro- I've started commentating.

Vi- I know, that's great.
It was all his managed to say.

Can't I just tell him I miss him? Virat thought to himself.

Vi- I've...

Ro- It's a great place Kohli, congratulations.
Rohit said before Virat could.

The very fake plastered smile also fell off his face.

Vi- Thankyou.
He mumbled softly.

They knew the conversation was over as they walked different ways.

Virat was reminded of their reality. This was it.

Virat knew Rohit had started calling him... Who was he kidding? Adressing him as Kohli always.

It did hurt but did it hurt as bad as when he heard him adress him as Kohli for the first time? No.

*Flashback*

Rohit had taken his decision and had retired from cricket 6 months back.

Rohit and Virat didn't talk for the entire course of 6 months, they just didn't.

But today, Rohit was going to debut as a commentator and it was their match as they were playing against Srilanka.

Today Virat had it all planned to go talk to Rohit once and for all and end this facade.

Everybody knew Rohit was in the commentary box and everyone was excited to say the least.

But excited was a small word for Virat, he was ecstatic, he was beyond just being happy.

He spent his entire day telling the team how they had to play well in front of his best friend and how proud he should be of them.

Rahul and Ishan were the new opening pair as they walked out and started the inning.

Ishan unfortunately got out at 43.

Virat walked out on the field feeling more confident than before somehow. He walked in chest high as a man with a plan and his plan was to make his bestie proud.

Virat was in great space as he scored a quick half century.

He gave out a proud smile and raised his bat happily thinking about what all his best friend must be talking about him and how proud would he be.

He got out at 82 unfortunately missing his century by a bit but he wasn't even remotely sad.

He knew he had contributed valuable runs to his team and he did well.

He ran back inside expecting to see his team mates beaming and jumping to tell him how Ro must've gloated about his best friend.

To his shock, he was welcomed by an eerily silent dressing room.

He received a few pats of well played but that was it.
Vi- What happened guys?

Jassi- Nothing, you go rest bhaiya.
He said immediately.

Vi- Rest? Are you crazy? Put on the match on the smart tv,
I want to sit back and rewind the match to my batting, I am going to listen to my best friend!
He said enthusiastically.

Everyone went quiet for a second before Jassi broke the silence,
Jassi- Bhaiya you can watch that after the match gets over, you can rest till then.

Vi- Nonsense! I really can't wait anymore.

Surya gave Jassi a negative nod saying you've just gotta let him watch man.

Virat rewinded to his batting as he walked in the field.

Commentator 1- Well I don't think SL has it in its hands, Virat kohli has walked out and he looks pretty confident today.
What do you have to say about that Rohit since you've played with him for so long?

Ro- I think Kohli can do well for the team from here, he has been a great player.
I think Rahul has to accelerate from here and let his partner settle down a bit.

Commentator 1- Yes absolutely.

Virat was shocked at how formally Rohit reacted to Virat entering the field.

He kept forwarding till Virat had hit a huge six.
Commentator 1- That has gone straight over their heads!

Rohit had stayed quiet on that shot.

There was an over where he had hit three continuous boundaries and he forwarded to that expecting something.

Commentator 1- This is what Virat Kohli is known for, being the destructive batsmen.

Ro- Absolutely, this over has shifted the momentum towards India now.
India looks in total control.

Virat directly forwarded hastily to his half century hoping to hear something!

Ro- Kohli has easily reached his half century, valuable and important runs for the team.

The remote fell from his hands, he still gathered courage to forward it to him getting out.

Commentator 1- Oooh! Virat loses his wicket to a tricky Yorker, he was very close to his century, just 18 runs far!

Ro- But that ball was a class! That Yorker was unplayable, what a delivery, this might just be the delivery of the match!

Virat just shut the tv off not wanting to see anymore, he didn't even know what the score was now or who was playing right now, just those merely 2 sentences that Rohit had said about him kept ringing on his ears.

"Kohli can do great."

Vi- Not vi, not Virat, he called me Kohli?

Virat didn't dare look up knowing all his team mates were looking at him with pity and sadness maybe?

The embarrassment he felt, the absolute pain he was feeling was just about to come out in the form of tears but he had an image to maintain.

He walked into his room not looking at anyone, he didn't raise his eyes once lest he meets someone else's eyes and finds pity in them.

He walked straight back to his room, as soon as the door closed he slipped down by the door in embarrassment, in despair, in pain and in fear of finally pushing Rohit away to the brink.

*Flashback ends*
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Yep... That happened!

So I wanted the flashback to be an emotional one but somehow I think I dodnt quite hit the mark, I don't know... What do y'all think? How was that flashback?

I think the pace is now fastening up and I hope that is fine!

Did y'all like the update?? How was it!?

Also, Seee yaaa soon!!❤️

Continue Reading

You'll Also Like

77.7K 4.5K 33
Story of two best friends who were always there for each other in their highs and lows ! Will their relation survive a tough challenge ? To know mo...
60.9K 2.1K 12
In the end he wanted to take back his words, in the end all of them wanted to take their words back but sometimes somethings can't be unsaid no matte...
6.1K 487 14
He is jaddu, Sir Ravindra Jadeja, nothing can affects him or that's what they thought. What happened when the strongest of them break?
33K 1.3K 12
Everything seems to be going wrong for Hardik. First the Koffee with Karan fiasco, then the suspension and now coming back in the team, he senses tha...