Lost but Not Forgotten

PART 27

As Ajinkya parked the car in front of the secluded warehouse, a wave of emotions washed over him. This was it—the moment they'd been waiting for. He stepped out, taking a deep breath before glancing at Sammy and Moksh. Their faces reflected a mix of excitement and anxiety.

"Stay close," Ajinkya said softly, leading them towards the entrance. With a nod, they followed him inside, where the dim light revealed Ashwin waiting for them. He motioned for them to come forward, and with a quick signal, he stepped aside, revealing Rohit and Ritika standing just behind him.

"Moksh! Sammy!" Rohit's voice was filled with warmth and relief.

In an instant, the children dashed forward, their hearts bursting with joy. Moksh flung himself into his father's arms, while Sammy wrapped her arms around both Rohit and Ritika, squeezing them tightly. "Dada! We missed you so much!" she exclaimed, her voice muffled against his shoulder.

Ritika smiled through tears, embracing them both. "We missed you too, my loves," she replied, pulling back to look at them.

As the initial joy settled, the atmosphere shifted, and concern crept in. Moksh pulled away, his brow furrowed. "But why didn't you tell us you were coming back?"

"Yeah! We've been worried!" Sammy added, her excitement giving way to confusion.

Rohit exchanged a glance with Ritika, both aware of the seriousness of their sudden return. "There's a lot we need to explain," Rohit said, kneeling to Moksh's level. "But first, we need you to understand that we did what we thought was best for you two."

Sammy looked at her father with wide eyes. "But is everything okay?"

Ritika sat beside Sammy, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Honey, it's a complicated story. We were trying to keep you safe, and sometimes that meant staying away."

Moksh interjected, "Safe from what? Is someone after us?" His voice trembled slightly, sensing the weight of their words.

Rohit hesitated for a moment, the past weighing heavily on him. "There are people from my past who... Let's just say they're not fond of our family. But we're back now, and we're going to protect you, no matter what."

"Yeah," Ritika chimed in, "and we're stronger together. That's why we need to figure this out as a family."

Just then, Ajinkya, who had been observing quietly, stepped forward. "Listen, we're all here for each other. Whatever is happening, we'll face it together. But we need to be careful."

As the kids processed the information, a sense of determination filled the room. Moksh looked at his parents, his eyes filled with trust. "We can do this together, right? Like a team?"

"Absolutely," Rohit said, standing tall. "Just like the team I used to play with, we'll stick together. Nothing can tear us apart."

Sammy nodded, her spirit lifting as she realized they were all in this together. "Okay then! Let's figure out what we need to do. We're not afraid!"

Ritika smiled, feeling a sense of hope. "That's my brave kids. We're a family, and together, we can face anything."

As the group stood together, the weight of the world on their shoulders, they were reminded of the power of love, resilience, and the unbreakable bond that tied them all together, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

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

The atmosphere was charged with emotion as the black Scorpio parked a short distance from the warehouse. Inside, Virat and Mahi, along with a few others, had been closely watching the reunion unfold. Their hearts swelled with nostalgia and warmth as they saw Rohit embrace his children after so long. Vamika and Ziva exchanged glances, tears welling up in their eyes as they felt the intensity of the moment.

But as Rohit's laughter echoed in the warehouse, Virat and Mahi felt a pang of regret mixed with joy. It had been twenty long years since they'd last seen their brother in arms, their friend, and in that moment, they were overwhelmed with emotions.

Virat turned to Mahi, his voice thick with emotion. "It's really him, isn't it? After all this time..."

Mahi nodded, his own eyes misty. "Yeah, it is. He looks just the same." They both took a deep breath, knowing that this was a moment they had longed for but also feared.

Gathering their courage, the duo slowly stepped out of the car, followed closely by the others. Vamika and Ziva, unable to hold back their tears, consoled Virat and Mahi as they stepped into the light, ready to confront their past.

Meanwhile, Bhuvi, who had been quietly observing the emotional reunion, looked back and forth between Rohit's joyful embrace and the stunned faces of his friends. "Can you believe this?" he whispered to Ashwin, who was equally shocked. "After everything, they're finally back."

But then, as Rohit caught sight of Virat and Mahi, his expression changed dramatically. The warmth in his eyes shifted to coldness, and a deep-seated anger began to bubble to the surface.

"Stay away!" Rohit shouted suddenly, his voice echoing in the quiet warehouse. The joy that had filled the space moments ago vanished, replaced by a heavy tension.

Virat stopped in his tracks, hurt flashing across his face. "Rohit, wait! We've missed you. We've been looking for you..."

Rohit's gaze hardened as he looked at Virat. "Missed me? After twenty years of silence, you come back just when I'm trying to keep my family safe? You didn't trust me then, and I'm not sure I can trust you now."

Mahi stepped forward, his heart pounding. "We thought you were gone for good, Rohit. We didn't know! We were trying to protect you!"

Rohit shook his head, stepping back. "Protect me? Or protect yourselves? You all turned your backs on me when I needed you the most. And now look where we are—my family is in danger because of your lack of faith."

Tension hung in the air as Jassi and Harry tried to reach out to Rohit. "Please, just listen to what we have to say," Jassi pleaded.

But Rohit turned away, his heart heavy with betrayal. He felt the pain of the past weighing him down, and the memories of that dreadful day flooded his mind. The echoes of doubt and distrust that had led to his isolation were still fresh.

Vamika, witnessing the emotional standoff, stepped forward cautiously. "Rohit Chachu, we're all family here. We just want to understand what's going on."

But Rohit was torn between the love he felt for his family and the anger that had festered within him for years. The sight of Virat and Mahi, the people who had once been his closest allies, now felt like a cruel reminder of his pain.

******
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