Lost but Not Forgotten

PART 24

His breath caught in his throat. It had been two decades since he had seen his best friend, and the shock of the moment sent him reeling. Virat's mind raced with memories of their days on the field, the laughter they had shared, and the bond that had once been unbreakable.

"No way..." he murmured, frozen in disbelief.

Before he could even shout out Rohit's name or reach for his phone, Rohit glanced back over his shoulder. Their eyes met for a fleeting moment—two old friends connecting through time and distance. There was no mistaking it; Rohit hadn't changed much, his eyes still held that spark of mischief and determination.

But then, in an instant, the moment was shattered. Rohit's foot pressed down on the accelerator, and the car lurched forward, speeding away from the stadium.

"Rohit!" Virat shouted, but the words fell into the void as the car disappeared down the road.

Panic surged through him as he realized the opportunity had slipped away. He had to find him.

With adrenaline coursing through his veins, Virat dashed back into the stadium, determination driving his every step. He had to tell the team, to find out what had happened, why Rohit had returned after all these years.

Inside, the cheers of the crowd faded into the background as he rushed to gather the others.

He spotted Anushka and pulled her aside, urgency etched on his face. "Anushka, I just saw Rohit!"

Her eyes widened in shock. "What? Where? Is he here?"

"He was just outside the stadium. He looked... different. But it was definitely him," Virat explained, pacing with a mix of excitement and anxiety. "He left before I could talk to him. I need you to gather everyone. We need to find him."

Anushka felt a wave of emotions wash over her—confusion, excitement, and a hint of hope. "Do you think he's back for good?"

Virat shook his head, troubled. "I don't know. But he's here, and we can't let this chance slip away again. If something's going on, we get to help him."

As Anushka quickly informed the team, the atmosphere shifted. Players and their families started gathering, curious about the sudden commotion. The news of Rohit's unexpected appearance rippled through the group, igniting a mixture of disbelief and hope.

Meanwhile, in the car, Rohit gripped the steering wheel tightly, the weight of the moment crashing down on him. He couldn't believe he had come face-to-face with Virat after all this time. But the fear of exposing his identity loomed large in his mind, along with the threats that still hovered over his family.

"Ritika," he said, glancing at his wife, whose expression mirrored his own turmoil.

"We need to figure this out. I can't go back to the past, not when our kids are involved."

"Maybe we can reach out to someone," Ritika suggested, her voice trembling with the gravity of their situation. "Virat might be able to help. He's always been there for us."

"I don't want to put them in danger," Rohit replied, anxiety clawing at him. "What if they find out who Moksh and Sammy really are? I can't let that happen."

Back at the stadium,As Virat stepped back into the dressing room, the atmosphere was electric with celebration. Laughter and cheers echoed off the walls as teammates congratulated each other on a hard-fought victory. But amid the jubilation, there was a noticeable shift in Virat's demeanor—he was unusually quiet, his face a canvas of disbelief and confusion.

Jassi, Harry, Rahul, Shreyas, Ishan, and Shubman exchanged concerned glances, sensing that something was off. They knew Virat well enough to recognize when he was lost in thought, but this was different. He seemed shaken, as if he had witnessed something that had jolted him back to life.