Family Above Everything

"Can we talk vk?"

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"Don't you dare drive! Move to the passenger side!" Rohit warned and pulled Virat back. There was no way in hell he was going to let him drive while his whole body was burning up with anger.

"I hate you." Virat scowled before moving to the passenger seat and slamming the door loudly.

"Love you too darling." Rohit chuckled and fastened Virat's seatbelt for him. "Where do you wanna go?"

"Shikhi's restaurant."

Rohit nodded. Shikhar was one of their closest friends and teammates. His family's restaurant was their go-to place whenever they were in Delhi.

Virat leaned his head back against the carseat, closing his eyes and taking deep breathes. He didn't care about the spat with his father, didn't mind MS's words too though they hurt a bit but his mind kept wandering back to his childhood friend. Shanaya Singhania.

Was she fine? Will she be forced to marry another stranger if he turns down this proposal? Is she even aware of what's happening? Is she okay with this?

Virat has known her since they were five year olds, playing cricket and badminton together. Virat remembered her crying when they were 17 and her family moved to Paris. He remembered her doing his schoolwork and helping him with maths. He remembered her braiding Amulya's hair. He remembered teaching her driving. He remembered everything.

Shanaya was one of his first friends and she still remained one of his most special ones though their lives were as different as they could be.

Virat was in India, living with his family, having fun with his friends, doing what he loves and keeping his distance from his father.

Whereas, Shanaya was in Paris, forced into modelling, attending extravagant parties, having nearly no genuineness in her life and still stuck with her father.

Her father, Harish Singhania, a business tycoon, Raman Malhotra's best friend and another man with an immense need for control.

"She cried for a week when they moved to Paris y'know. And I was so damn scared for her, Ro. I can't even imagine how she must have handled herself." Virat started suddenly, remembering all the times Shanaya had sent him voice notes sobbing.

"The way they treated her- as if she is some showpiece. She loved when her parents would go abroad because- because she got to stay with us and she finally got to eat properly. She loved rajma-chawal and yet she could only have it when I brought it for lunch. Her breakfast was 5 almonds and water! Can you believe it? She could never play in the rain because her hair would be ruined, her mom used to say. She couldn't play holi because her skin would break out. Couldn't eat chocolates because she would get acne."

Rohit's heart twisted painfully as his brother spoke. He remembered Shanaya too, though they weren't as close as her and Virat were. A girl who smiled brightly all the time. Rohit couldn't believe she was going though so much behind the doors.

"She never cried or complained in front of anybody else. She wasn't allowed to. She had to smile 24/7, be polite, dress well, be well-mannered, treated like a fucking business deal all her life." Virat let out a dry chuckle. "And when they moved. I tried to be there for her, Ro. I really did. But the time difference- and ofcourse her parents didn't make it any easier. She couldn't be honest with me when they were around. She would laugh, say everything's fine and I got the clue to hang up. But then- slowly with cricket, U-19 worldcup, other stuff in life became more important. Calls stopped. Texts became infrequent as well. And now- now it's just happy birthday texts and that's it. I don't even know if she is aware of what her dad is thinking."