Lost but Not Forgotten

PART 14

In the quiet of the night, as the stars shimmered faintly outside their peaceful home, Rohit Sharma tossed and turned in bed. His face was tense, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. Deep in the throes of a nightmare, the events of that fateful day played out in his mind once again—the day everything changed.

Rohit's heart raced as memories surged forward, clear and painful. He saw the accusatory faces, heard the harsh words. The sting of betrayal when he was removed from the team under false allegations of match-fixing. The looks of disbelief and judgment from the world and, most heartbreakingly, from his "kiddos"—Jassi, Harry, and Rahul—who had doubted him. The silence from Mahi Bhai, the cold distance from Virat. The media had not only dragged him but had dragged his family through the mud too.

Ritika's tear-streaked face, holding onto Sammy tightly, while Moksh—his sweet, innocent Moksh. He couldn't protect them. The memory of Sammy crying and Ritika breaking down tore at his heart, and in his nightmare, the images overlapped with reality, suffocating him.

Rohit jolted awake, gasping for breath. His heart pounded painfully in his chest, his mind clouded with fear. Ritika, who had been lightly asleep next to him, immediately stirred. She sat up, gently placing her hand on his back. "Rohit... Rohit, it's okay. Breathe, love," she whispered soothingly, her touch familiar and comforting.

Rohit blinked, trying to orient himself, but the panic wouldn't subside. "I—I couldn't protect them... Ritika... Moksh... Sammy... everything's slipping away..." he muttered, his voice thick with emotion.

By then, Sammy had woken up too. From the other room, she rushed in, sensing something was wrong. Seeing her father in such a state broke her heart. "Papa!" she called softly, sitting beside him, already knowing the drill.

Samaira Sharma had grown into a strong, capable woman, now a doctor. Without hesitation, she checked her father's vitals, her hands steady but her heart heavy. She gave him his medication, the one that helped him sleep when the memories became too much to bear.

Ritika sighed, sitting by Rohit's side, stroking his hair to soothe him as his breathing gradually calmed. "He's been like this ever since Moksh left," Ritika whispered to Sammy, her voice tired but filled with love. "He misses Moksh terribly, and the fear of something happening to him keeps haunting him. He still carries the scars of what we all went through."

Sammy nodded, her heart heavy. She had seen it too, the way her father's anxiety spiked every time someone mentioned Moksh, or even India. He had become overprotective, fearing the worst, always imagining his son going through the same pain he did.

After Rohit had finally fallen back into a restless sleep, thanks to the medicine, Sammy stood in silence for a moment, watching him. She felt the weight of responsibility settling on her shoulders. She needed to do something. It wasn't just about her father—it was about Moksh too.

Ritika glanced up at her daughter, sensing her thoughts. "What are you thinking, Sammy?" she asked, her voice low.

Sammy inhaled deeply, determination shining in her eyes. "I'm going to India. I'll be with Moksh. Maybe if I'm there, Papa won't worry as much. He won't have to live in fear every night, wondering if something will happen."

Ritika looked at her, a mix of pride and worry in her eyes. "You know how your father will react. He'll panic."

"I know," Sammy replied quietly. "But he needs to face this. I can't let him be consumed by fear forever. And Moksh... he needs someone too. We can't leave him to face everything alone."

The next morning, Sammy went to talk to her father, already expecting resistance. As expected, when she informed Rohit of her plan, his face immediately clouded with fear.

"No, Sammy! You're not going to India!" Rohit's voice was shaky, his eyes wide with panic. "I can't lose you too. Moksh is already there—what if something happens to both of you?"

Sammy stood her ground, her voice calm but firm. "Papa, nothing is going to happen. I'm not a little girl anymore. I'm going to be with Moksh so you don't have to worry all the time. You can trust me."

But Rohit was spiraling. "No, no... I can't let you go. You don't understand what it's like—what they'll do. They'll drag you down, just like they did to me. Sammy, please, listen to me!"

Ritika, who had been watching quietly, stepped in, placing a hand on Rohit's arm. "Rohit, you have to let go," she said softly, her eyes filled with empathy. "You can't keep them sheltered forever. Sammy is strong, just like you. She'll be there for Moksh, and you have to trust her. Trust us."

Rohit's breath hitched, his eyes darting between his wife and daughter. He wanted to protect them from everything, but deep down, he knew he couldn't. He knew they were right, but his heart ached with the fear of letting them go.

Sammy knelt down beside him, taking his hands in hers. "Papa, I promise I'll be careful. I'll make sure Moksh is okay. And we'll come back whenever you need us. But you can't live in fear forever. You've taught us how to be strong. Let me be strong for you now."

There was a long pause, the silence heavy with emotion. Finally, Rohit nodded, though his heart felt like it was being ripped apart. "Okay," he whispered, his voice hoarse. "But you'll stay in touch. Every day."

Sammy smiled softly, relieved. "Every day, Papa. I promise."

As Sammy prepared to leave for India, Rohit watched her go with a mixture of pride and fear. He hugged her tightly before she left, lingering as if he wasn't ready to let her go. "Take care of Moksh... and yourself," he whispered.

"I will, Papa. Don't worry. We'll be back soon," she reassured him.

As the door closed behind her, Rohit sat back, his heart heavy. Ritika came and sat beside him, wrapping her arms around him. "She'll be fine, Rohit. They both will."

Rohit nodded, though the fear still lingered in his chest. "I just don't want the past to repeat itself," he whispered, more to himself than anyone else.

Ritika kissed his forehead, her love and strength keeping him grounded. "We've raised them to face the world, Rohit. Trust them. And trust yourself."

But as much as he tried, Rohit couldn't shake the unease. All he could do now was hope that his children—both of them—would come back to him safely, without the scars he had endured.

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