Love Me Again

Chapter 36

Rahul and Rohit were seated at the dining table, sneaking glances at Virat, who was playing with Samira in the living area. They were whispering to each other, trying to decide who would be the one to break the news about their upcoming trip to Virat.

"Why don't you just tell him?" Rohit hissed under his breath, nudging Rahul.

"You tell him!" Rahul shot back, crossing his arms. "He's more likely to listen to you."

Virat, noticing the two whispering and arguing, pretended not to hear them, but it was clear he wasn't in the mood for whatever they were planning.

Just then, Hardik joined them, fresh from a call with Mahi Bhai, Virat's cousin, whom they had informed about their plan to come to Chennai for a holiday.

Of course, this decision came about because Rohit had convinced-or rather, ordered-Hardik to handle the call. Rohit was still a little scared of Mahi Bhai, but he masked it well in front of Rahul and Hardik.

Hardik noticed the two still hadn't told Virat about the trip. Sighing, Rohit and Rahul shared a look, then quickly decided that maybe Hardik should be the one to handle it.

"Virat hasn't been talking to us much," Rohit reasoned, pointing subtly in Virat's direction. "Maybe you could give it a shot, Hardik?"

Hardik hesitated. "But he's not exactly on speaking terms with me either..."

Rahul, ever the persuasive one, gave Hardik his best puppy-dog eyes and a pout that no one could resist. "Please, Hardik? For me?"

Hardik rolled his eyes but eventually gave in, grumbling as he approached Virat. "Hey, Virat," he started casually, "we're planning a trip..."

Virat didn't even look up. "I'm not interested."

Hardik wasn't deterred. "We're going to Chennai. To your Mahi Bhai's place."

That got Virat's attention. He raised an eyebrow. "Mahi's?"

Hardik nodded quickly, thinking on his feet. "Yeah, yeah. And, uh, there's a business deal too. So it's not just a vacation."

Samira's eyes lit up at the mention of going somewhere. "We're going on a trip? Yay!" she cheered, clapping her hands.

Virat, caught between his daughter's excitement and his usual reserved demeanor, eventually sighed. "Fine. We'll go."

Rohit and Rahul let out a collective sigh of relief, giving Hardik appreciative nods from behind Virat's back.

But before the atmosphere could settle, Rahul added, "Oh, by the way, Ishan and Shubman are coming too."

Rohit and Hardik's jaws dropped simultaneously. "What?" they exclaimed in unison.

Rahul shrugged, smiling innocently. "Ishan's family too. He needs to spend time with us, just like everyone else."

Rohit rubbed his temples, muttering under his breath, "This is going to be some trip, everyone together."

Virat smirked, a hint of the old warmth peeking through. "Yeah. Together."

---

Rohit watched Virat from a distance as he sat at the airport with his sunglasses on, absorbed in his phone. Samira was darting around energetically, and though Virat seemed preoccupied, he kept glancing up every few seconds to check on her, making sure she was safe.

Rohit sighed, feeling the weight of everything that had transpired between them.

Hardik and Rahul were sitting close by, with Hardik's arm draped protectively over Rahul's shoulder, his other hand resting gently on Rahul's stomach.

Rahul had experienced another bout of morning sickness earlier, and Hardik had been by his side the whole time, fussing over him as usual.

Rohit's attention shifted when he noticed Shubman approaching, carrying bags in his hands.

Ishan followed closely, holding Ayansh, and Rohit couldn't help but smile briefly at the sight of father and son in matching outfits. Rahul's face lit up at the sight of Ishan, and he quickly stood up to greet him.

"Ishan!" Rahul exclaimed, wrapping his arms around his brother-in-law in a warm hug.

Ishan grinned, hugging Rahul back. "Hey, Rahul bhaiya! You look... queasy," he said, noting the slight pallor on Rahul's face.

Rahul chuckled, patting his stomach. "Morning sickness. It's been... fun," he said, rolling his eyes playfully.

Hardik, who had been silent until now, approached Ishan, his expression softening slightly as he looked at Ayansh.

He didn't say anything to Ishan but reached out to take Ayansh into his arms, holding the little boy gently.

Ayansh giggled, happy to be held by his uncle.

Samira, seeing Ayansh in Hardik's arms, ran over to Rohit, tugging on his shirt. "Papa! Up, up!" she demanded, wanting to be held at the same level as Ayansh.

Rohit picked her up, balancing her on his hip, and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.

"You're such a little boss, aren't you?" he teased, making Samira giggle.

Meanwhile, Virat had noticed Shubman's arrival and stood up, making his way over to him. He still wasn't in the mood for friendly chatter with anyone else, but Shubman had always been different.

"Shubman..." Virat greeted quietly, his tone guarded but polite. "How have you been?"

Shubman smiled warmly, reaching out to hug Virat. "I'm good, Virat Bhai.. It's been... busy, but good."

Virat nodded, stepping back as he glanced at Ishan and Ayansh.

His expression remained neutral, but there was a hint of softness in his eyes whenever they landed on the children.

The announcement for their flight echoed through the terminal, and everyone began to gather their things. Rohit had arranged for a private jet, wanting the trip to be as comfortable as possible, though he knew it would take more than luxury to ease the tension among them.

As they made their way towards the gate, Virat kept his distance from the group, holding Samira's hand while she chattered excitedly about flying.

Rohit tried to catch Virat's eye, but Virat's anger was still palpable, his interactions limited to what was necessary.

"Virat," Rohit called softly, falling into step beside him. "Do you need anything before we board?"

Virat glanced at him briefly, his expression unreadable. "No, I'm fine," he replied curtly, turning his attention back to Samira.

Rohit sighed again, feeling the weight of the unspoken words between them. He knew it would take time for Virat to thaw, if he ever did. As they boarded the jet, Rohit silently vowed to keep trying, even if it meant facing Virat's cold shoulder for a while longer.

Once on the plane, everyone settled in.

Ishan was busy entertaining Ayansh, showing him around the jet, while Shubman quietly watched, a small smile on his face. Hardik and Rahul took their seats, with Hardik immediately checking on Rahul, making sure he was comfortable.

Rohit, taking his seat across from Virat and Samira, couldn't help but steal glances at Virat, hoping for any sign of warmth. But Virat remained distant, focused on Samira, who was thrilled with the novelty of flying in a private jet.

"Mumma, look!" Samira pointed out the window, her little face pressed against the glass. "We're in the sky!"

Virat smiled at her excitement, brushing a hand through her hair. "Yeah, we are, sweetheart."

Rohit watched them, a pang of longing in his chest. He knew he had a long way to go, but seeing Virat's gentle side with Samira gave him a glimmer of hope.

As the jet ascended into the clouds, the family sat together, each in their own world of thoughts, memories, and unspoken words. It wasn't perfect, but it was a start-one small step towards healing the fractures between them.

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