Beyond the Boundary: fanfiction of cheekuu

veintiuno

Chapter 21: Rumors and Realities

The morning after their cozy Sunday, Virat and Aashna woke up to a barrage of notifications on their phones. They had both anticipated some reaction to their Instagram stories, but the volume and intensity of the responses were overwhelming.

"Aashna, have you seen this?" Virat called out from the kitchen, holding up his phone. He had just finished making a pot of coffee, hoping for a calm start to the day.

Aashna walked in, her own phone buzzing incessantly. "Yeah, it's all over the place. There are so many messages and comments. This is getting out of hand."

Virat scrolled through the headlines flashing across his screen. "Looks like the paparazzi picked up on our posts and ran with it. They're speculating about our relationship, and Anushka has seen the stories."

Aashna took a deep breath, her mind racing. "We knew this might happen, but it doesn't make it any easier. How do you want to handle this?"

Virat placed his phone on the counter and took her hands in his. "We need to stay calm and deal with this together. Let's talk to my PR team and figure out the best way to address it."

They spent the next hour on a conference call with Virat's PR team, discussing the situation and drafting a statement. They decided to focus on Kiara's well-being and the positive aspects of their relationship, hoping to quell the media frenzy.

Meanwhile, in another part of town, Anushka Sharma was dealing with her own set of emotions. She had seen the stories and the pictures, and although she had moved on from her relationship with Virat, seeing him with Aashna and Kiara stirred unexpected feelings.

As she sat in her makeup trailer on a film set, her phone buzzed with messages from friends and colleagues. She debated whether to call Virat, concerned about how this might affect Kiara. Finally, she decided to reach out, if only to ensure their daughter was okay.

Virat's phone rang just as he and Aashna were about to release their statement. Seeing Anushka's name on the screen, he hesitated for a moment before answering.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Virat. It's Anushka."

"Hey, Anushka. How are you?" Virat replied, trying to keep his voice steady.

"I'm fine. Listen, I saw the news, and I just wanted to talk to you about Kiara," Anushka said, her tone calm but concerned.

"Of course. What about her?"

"I just want to make sure she's okay with all this attention. I know it's a lot for a little girl to handle," Anushka explained.

"She's doing fine," Virat assured her. "Aashna and I are doing everything we can to keep things normal for her. She's happy and adjusting well."

"That's good to hear," Anushka said, relief evident in her voice. "I just wanted to check in. If there's anything I can do to help, please let me know."

"Thanks, Anushka. I appreciate that. We'll keep you updated if anything changes," Virat said, grateful for her concern.

After the call, Virat relayed the conversation to Aashna. "Anushka's just worried about Kiara. It's good to know she cares."

"Yeah, it is," Aashna agreed. "Let's focus on making sure Kiara stays happy and protected."

Later that day, Virat and Aashna posted their carefully crafted statement on social media. It read:

"To our friends, fans, and the media,
We understand that there has been a lot of speculation about our relationship and recent activities. Our primary concern is and always will be the well-being and happiness of Kiara. She is thriving and adjusting wonderfully, and we are dedicated to providing her with a loving and stable environment.
We ask for your respect and privacy as we navigate this new chapter of our lives. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Virat & Aashna🤍"

The response was immediate. Supportive comments flooded in, and many fans appreciated the couple's focus on Kiara and their request for privacy.

That evening, as they prepared dinner together, Virat felt a sense of relief. "I think that went well. People seem to understand our priorities."

"Yeah, it looks like the message got through," Aashna said, stirring a pot of pasta. "Let's hope things calm down now."

As they sat down to eat, Kiara babbled happily about her day at the park, oblivious to the turmoil around her. Virat and Aashna exchanged a look of shared determination. They were in this together, and they would face whatever came their way as a team.

The next day, life began to settle into a more normal routine. Virat had a training session with his teammates, while Aashna headed to the hospital. The media buzz was still there, but it had begun to die down, allowing them to breathe a little easier.

At the training session, Virat's teammates greeted him with supportive comments and good-natured teasing.

"Hey, lover boy, how's it going?" Rohit Sharma joked, giving him a playful nudge.

"Can't complain," Virat replied with a grin. "Just focusing on what's important."

As they trained, Virat felt a renewed sense of gratitude for his friends and teammates. He knew that no matter what happened, he had a strong support system around him.

That evening, Virat returned home to find Aashna and Kiara waiting for him. They had prepared a special dinner, and as they sat down to eat, Virat raised his glass.

"To us, and to protecting what matters most," he said, smiling at Aashna and Kiara.

Aashna raised her glass in return. "To us."

In the days that followed, the media's attention gradually shifted to other stories. Virat and Aashna continued to focus on their life together, building a strong foundation for their future. And through it all, they knew that the love they shared and the family they were creating would see them through any challenge.