Lost but Not Forgotten

PART 21

As the atmosphere in the room grew heavy with tension, Virat, seeing everyone still clinging to hope, took a deep breath and spoke with a firm yet broken tone, "Everyone, stop hoping. She is not our Sammy. She's just Samaira Sharma, nothing more."

His voice carried a weight of resignation, each word slicing through the air as if he were convincing not just them, but himself too. "Let's just focus on the party now," he added, forcing a smile that didn't reach his eyes before walking away quietly.

He made his way to a private room—his sanctuary—where he kept all the cherished memories of his cricket journey. Photos lined the walls, mementos of championships and friendships. But as he reached the center of the room, he stopped in front of a framed picture of himself and Rohit, arms slung around each other, grinning widely in the early days of their partnership. It was a reminder of their bond that went beyond cricket, a brotherhood that couldn't be put into words.

Virat stared at the picture, the emotions he'd been holding back flooding over him in an overwhelming wave. His shoulders slumped as he whispered to the photo, his voice breaking, "Why does she look like her, Rohit? Why does she feel like our Sammy, my Baba, the one I used to carry around like my own kid?" His voice cracked as he spoke, the pent-up sorrow finally spilling out. "Why does she remind me so much of her? It hurts... it hurts so much."

He sank to the floor, his back against the wall as tears streamed down his face uncontrollably. His chest heaved with sobs, the anguish too much to bear. He had been holding onto the hope that maybe, just maybe, their Sammy had returned in some way, but now it all seemed like a cruel illusion. The realization crushed him, leaving him feeling hollow inside.

Just then, Vamika quietly entered the room. She saw her father sitting there, broken and vulnerable, something she had rarely witnessed. Without saying a word, she sat beside him and wrapped her arms around him, resting her head on his shoulder. "Papa," she whispered, her own voice soft with emotion, "I know it hurts, but maybe we need to accept that she's not our Sammy anymore."

Virat turned to look at her, his tear-streaked face filled with confusion and sadness. "But Vami... why does she feel like our Sammy?" he asked, his voice barely audible. "Every time I see her, something inside me just knows..."

Vami hugged him tighter, her own tears glistening in her eyes, but she didn't have the answer either. "Maybe we're just hoping too much," she whispered. "We loved Sammy so much... it's hard to let go."
———
Meanwhile, in another part of the house, Mahi and Ziva found themselves grappling with their emotions as well. They stood together in a quiet room, reflecting on what had just unfolded. Mahi's heart sank further with each passing moment as he recalled the laughter and the memories of his childhood with Sammy. The news that she wasn't their Sammy hit him hard, like a punch to the gut. "She's not the Sammy we thought," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

Ziva looked at him, her expression one of empathy mixed with sadness. "We can't keep hoping she is, Papa. We need to respect their wishes. She's made it clear she isn't what we thought she was ."

Mahi nodded, his heart heavy with the realization. "I just wish things were different," he said, fighting back tears. "I wish we could just have our Sammy back."

As they processed their emotions, the sound of laughter and chatter from the party seeped in, contrasting starkly with the heartache they felt. Both pairs—Virat and Vamika, Mahi and Ziva—were lost in their worlds, trying to navigate the confusing waters of nostalgia and reality.

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

As Sammy returned to the main gathering, she found Moksh sitting on a couch, a puzzled expression on his face. He looked up at her, his curiosity piqued. "Samaira didi, why is everyone getting so emotional when they see you? Why are they calling you Sammio?"

Her heart skipped a beat at the mention of that name. "Moksh," she said gently, kneeling down beside him, "sometimes people have strong feelings for others based on memories. They see someone who reminds them of someone they love, and it makes them feel emotional. It's not anything to worry about."

Moksh tilted his head, still trying to process her answer. "But you're not just anyone to them, right? You're not even their Sammy."

Sammy forced a smile, knowing how much she wanted to tell him the truth but realizing the implications of doing so. "That's right, I'm just Samaira Sharma. I'm here for you, and that's what matters."

He looked at her with wide eyes, sensing that there was more to her story than she was letting on. "But they all seem so sad, especially Virat Chachu and Mahi uncle. It's like they're losing something."

She took a deep breath, feeling the weight of her past pressing down on her. "People can be sad when they feel like they've lost someone important. But remember, Moksh, we're here to support each other. You have a big match coming up, and that's what we should focus on. We can't change the past, but we can make new memories."

Moksh nodded slowly, absorbing her words. "Okay, but can we talk about it later? I don't want to make you sad."

"Of course," she replied softly, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "We'll talk whenever you're ready. Now, let's go enjoy the party, alright?"

Moksh grinned, his spirits lifting. "Yeah! Let's show them our cricket skills!" He jumped up, ready to dive back into the festivities, while Sammy followed closely behind, her heart heavy yet determined to keep the past buried, at least for now.
***
Happy and late Diwali from me and my bf.....this is our first Diwali together as a couple and it was really great and heartwarming ❤️❤️
Hope you all enjoyed too❤️
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