Lost but Not Forgotten

PART 19

As Moksh and Akaay got caught up in their cricket and conversations, Sammy slipped away from the crowd, her thoughts occupied by concern for her father. She needed to check on Rohit, to make sure he was doing okay after all the stress he had been through. Hurrying through the farmhouse, she looked for a quiet, secluded corner to make the call to Ritika. But just as she rounded a corner, she bumped into someone.

Both girls quickly apologized and began to introduce themselves at the same time.

"I'm Samaira," Sammy said.

"I'm Vamika," the other girl replied.

The moment the names left their lips, both stopped. Their eyes met, and for a few seconds, the world seemed to pause. Sammy's heart skipped a beat. She couldn't believe it—standing in front of her was Vami, the little girl she had once shared her deepest secrets and dreams with, her best friend from those long-ago days.

On the other side, Vamika stared at her in equal shock. It was impossible. The girl before her wasn't just Samaira—this was Sammy, her Sammio, her childhood best friend.

"Sammy?" Vamika whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

The name hit Sammy like a wave of emotion. For a split second, she felt like breaking down, hugging Vami, and letting herself cry. Memories of their shared moments flooded back—of the times when they'd giggled over silly things, made promises to each other, and whispered dreams only best friends could share. But just as quickly as those emotions surged, the harsh reminder of her father's pain and the reason she was hiding hit her like a brick.

She couldn't afford to be weak. She couldn't let her identity slip out like this. Not after everything her father had gone through.

"I'm not Sammy," she said firmly, swallowing back the lump in her throat. "I'm Samaira Sharma.  Moksh's sister."

Vamika's eyes filled with confusion and hurt as she took a step closer. "Sammy, don't do this. It's me, Vami... your Vami. We were best friends, remember?"

Sammy clenched her fists, trying to keep her emotions in check. "I'm sorry, you've got the wrong person," she said, her voice colder than she intended. "I need to go."

Without waiting for a response, Sammy turned and hurried away, her heart pounding. She couldn't bear to look back at Vamika, knowing she had left her best friend standing there in disbelief.

Vamika stood rooted to the spot, her mind racing. This couldn't be real. How could Samaira—Sammy—deny their friendship like that? There was no mistaking it. That was her Sammy. The resemblance, the mannerisms, everything was the same.

Before she could think of what to do next, she grabbed her phone and, without hesitation, dialed the number of the one person who might help her make sense of all this—Ziva dii.

As the phone rang, Vamika's heart raced. She couldn't let this slip. Sammy was here, and something was very, very wrong.

***************

Meanwhile, in London, Rohit was pacing the room, his worry for Sammy, Moksh, and Ajinkya growing by the second. His anxiety was palpable, and Ritika was trying her best to calm him down, but nothing was working. Rohit had called them multiple times, but none of them were answering, which only added to his distress. Ritika placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, her voice soft but firm, "Rohit, they're probably busy. Let's wait a little longer, okay?"

Just as Rohit was about to respond, his phone rang, breaking the tense atmosphere. He quickly grabbed it and saw Sammy's name flashing on the screen. Relief washed over him as he answered, his voice flooding with concern, "Sammy, where have you been? Why weren't you picking up? Is everything okay? How's Moksh? Are you safe?"

On the other end, Sammy smiled softly, hearing her father's familiar barrage of questions. She answered each one patiently, reassuring him that everything was fine. Moksh was doing great, and they were safe at Ajinkya's place.

Ritika, standing beside Rohit, leaned closer and asked with a hint of worry, "But Sammy, why didn't you call earlier? You know how much your dad worries."

At that, Sammy's face paled slightly. She froze, her words getting caught in her throat. She hadn't wanted to bring up her encounter with Virat or the overwhelming emotions she was battling. But now, her silence was drawing attention.

Rohit, always in tune with his daughter's emotions, noticed the shift in her expression. His voice grew softer, but the concern was still there. "Sammy, is everything really okay? What happened?"

Sammy quickly tried to manage the situation, forcing a smile onto her face. "Nothing, Papa. Everything's fine," she said, her voice steady but her heart heavy with the weight of the truth she wasn't ready to share.

But before she could say more, something happened that made her heart stop. In the background of the call, someone passed by—a familiar figure that Rohit recognized in an instant. It was just a brief glimpse, but it was enough to make Rohit's breath catch in his throat. It was Virat. His Virat, the best friend he hadn't seen properly in two years. The sight of him, even just a fleeting glance, brought a rush of emotions to the surface.

Tears welled up in Rohit's eyes, and his voice broke as he whispered, "Virat..."

Sammy immediately noticed her father's change in tone. Before she could react or say anything to comfort him, the call suddenly disconnected. Panic surged through her, and she quickly sent a message to her mother.

"Maa, Papa's upset. I don't know what happened, but something's wrong," she texted, her heart pounding.

Ritika read the message and sighed softly, knowing exactly what had caused Rohit's emotional reaction. She replied, "He's missing you both. And seeing Virat just now... It's hard for him, Sammy."

Sammy stared at the message, guilt creeping into her heart. She had wanted to protect her father from more pain, but it seemed like the truth was catching up with them all faster than she could handle.

************

As the party settled into a comfortable atmosphere, the tension of Sammy and Moksh's hidden identities seemed to fade. Everyone had accepted that they weren't the people they thought they were, and no one pressed them for answers anymore. It was a rare moment of peace, and Sammy finally felt like she could breathe, even if only for a little while.

But then, the doorbell rang, and Anushka, who was busy with something, looked at Sammy, who was nearby. "Samaira, could you get the door, please?" she asked casually.

Sammy nodded, her mind elsewhere as she moved toward the door, not expecting anything out of the ordinary. But as she opened it, her breath hitched, and she froze in place. Standing right there, at the threshold, was her Bade Papa—Mahendra Singh Dhoni—along with Sakshi Badi Mumma and Ziva Di. The sight of them, her once beloved second family, made her heart race. For a moment, time seemed to stop.

******
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