Lost but Not Forgotten

PART 25

Outside the dressing room, the excitement of the celebration echoed through the stadium, mingling with the cheers of fans. Sammy stood still for a moment, her heart racing as she replayed the shocking news she had just overheard. Virat had seen her dad, Rohit, back in India. Panic gripped her—why hadn't they informed her? Their sudden return could only mean trouble was brewing, and the implications were heavy on her heart.

She pulled out her phone, her fingers trembling slightly as she dialed Ajinkya's number. "Ajinkya Chachu! You won't believe it! Virat chachu saw my dada! He's back in India, and they didn't tell us anything!" Sammy exclaimed, her voice barely above a whisper, filled with urgency and fear.

"Are you serious?" Ajinkya's tone shifted from disbelief to concern. "This isn't good at all. If they're back without any warning, there's definitely something wrong."

"I know! What should we do?" she replied, trying to keep her composure amidst the rising tide of panic.

"Get Moksh and come to my place. We need to figure this out together. It's important," Ajinkya urged, his voice steady and authoritative.

"Got it!" she said, determination flooding her. She hung up, her mind racing with the implications of this revelation. With a deep breath, she steeled herself and dashed toward the main area where the celebration was taking place, searching for Moksh.

Amidst the cheering crowd, Moksh was still riding the high of their victory, surrounded by teammates who were laughing and reveling in their success. Sammy weaved through the throng of jubilant players and their families, her heart pounding as she looked for Moksh.

Just as she caught sight of him, her path crossed with Vamika's, who had just stepped out from the celebrations. Vami was beaming, her expression bright and filled with the excitement of the moment. But as she noticed Sammy's frantic demeanor, confusion clouded her joy.

"Samaira! Wait!" Vami called, her brows furrowing in concern as she tried to comprehend what was happening.

But Sammy didn't stop. "Sorry,Vamika, can't talk!" she shouted back, urgency propelling her forward, leaving Vami standing there, puzzled and suspicious.

When Sammy finally reached Moksh, he was in the midst of recounting the match to his friends, their faces lit up with excitement. "And then I hit that six! Did you see it?" Moksh was animated, his voice rising above the celebration.

"Moksh! We need to go—now!" Sammy interrupted, her eyes wide, the urgency in her voice cutting through his excitement.

Moksh turned to her, his joy immediately fading. "What's wrong, Samaira di?" he asked, concern etched on his face.

"Just trust me! Dada... he's here. We need to leave!" she insisted, grabbing his arm and pulling him toward the exit.

Moksh's heart raced at the mention of his father. "Wait, Dad? He is here? Like, right now?" he stammered, the realization sending a jolt of confusion and excitement through him.

"Yes! But it's not a good thing! We have to get to Ajinkya chachu's place immediately!" Sammy insisted, tugging him closer.

Moksh hesitated for just a moment, but seeing the seriousness in her eyes, he nodded resolutely. "Okay, let's go!"

He quickly said goodbye to his friends, who looked at him quizzically, and together, he and Sammy hurried out of the stadium.

Meanwhile, Vami stood still for a moment, her mind racing. Sammy's sudden departure, the panic in her voice—it didn't sit right. There had to be more to the story. She decided to follow them, a mix of concern and curiosity guiding her steps.

"Something's definitely going on," she muttered to herself, her heart pounding as she moved quickly to catch up with them. The excitement of the match and the victory faded into the background as her instincts told her that this was more significant.

As she navigated through the throngs of celebrating fans, Vami felt a nagging worry settle in her stomach. She didn't want to believe anything was wrong, but something about the urgency in Sammy's voice had sent alarm bells ringing in her head.

Sammy and Moksh finally reached Ajinkya's place, where the atmosphere was tense. Sammy quickly explained everything to Ajinkya, who listened intently, his brow furrowed in thought.

"This is serious," he said, pacing the room. "If Rohit is back without informing anyone, it could mean they're in danger. We have to act quickly."

Moksh, still trying to process the whirlwind of emotions, glanced between Sammy and Ajinkya. "What do you think is going on? Why wouldn't he tell us?I am so confused!" he asked, confusion flooding his mind.

"I don't know, but we need to find out. We need to stay alert," Ajinkya replied, his voice steady but laced with urgency. "If Rohit is in town, it's not just a casual visit."

Sammy's heart sank at the thought of her father in danger, and she glanced at Moksh, who looked equally worried. "What if... what if he's back because of something bad? Like what happened before?" she asked softly, fear creeping into her voice.

Moksh nodded, his expression serious. "Then we need to be ready to protect him—protect both of them."

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

Meanwhile, far from their worries, Rohit and Ritika were driving through the quiet streets of the city, leaving behind the vibrant celebration. The mood in the car was tense, and Ritika glanced at Rohit, her brow furrowed with concern.

"Shouldn't we meet Moksh and Sammy? They'll be worried if they find out we're back," she said, her voice hesitant.

Rohit sighed, gripping the steering wheel tighter. "We will, but not today. We need to lay low for a while. The less they know, the better."

Ritika studied him, her heart aching for him. "Rohit, I just don't understand. What's going on? Why are we back here? You're not telling me everything."

Rohit's jaw tightened, memories flooding back from twenty years ago, a time filled with pain and loss. He hesitated for a moment before pulling out his phone and showing her a message he had received earlier—a chilling reminder from the past.

"It was the same voice I heard that day... the day everything changed. They know about Moksh and Sammy, and they threatened me. If I don't call them back, they'll suffer worse than I did," he said, his voice heavy with emotion.

Ritika gasped, the realization hitting her like a cold wave. "We need to tell them... they need to be safe!"

But Rohit shook his head, fear gripping him. "Not yet. The day keeps replaying in my mind. I can't let them know everything. We need to protect them first."

As the car drove away from the stadium, two figures watched from a distance, their faces concealed by shadows. They exchanged knowing glances, their intentions hidden behind the façade of ordinary life.

The tension thickened in the air, leaving unanswered questions that would soon unravel. With each passing moment, the stakes grew higher, and the intricate web of their past threatened to ensnare them all over again.

Back at Ajinkya's place, Sammy, Moksh, and Ajinkya were deep in discussion, formulating a plan to protect their loved ones. They knew that with Rohit's unexpected return, the shadows of the past loomed large, and their lives would never be the same.

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