Lost but Not Forgotten

PART 36

The atmosphere in the farmhouse was thick with tension as the families huddled together, seeking comfort and reassurance after the chaos that had unfolded. The men had arrived, breathless and worried, but the sight of the wives and children safe filled their hearts with relief.

As soon as Ritika entered the room, her eyes landed on Moksh and Sammy. She rushed to them, enveloping them in a fierce hug. "You're okay! You're okay!" she repeated, tears brimming in her eyes. Despite being adults, Moksh and Sammy clung to her, their fear evident. Rohit followed closely behind, but as the others surrounded him with worry and concern, there was a flicker of something deeper in his gaze. It was as if he carried a heavy burden that no one else could comprehend.

Virat was quick to notice the change in Rohit's demeanor. "Rohit," he urged, his voice laced with concern, "what's going on? You look like you know something we don't. Tell us."

Rohit took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he was about to reveal. He knew this moment would change everything, and he needed to be clear about the threat they were facing. "It's about the call I received before all this started," he said, his tone serious.

Everyone fell silent, focusing intently on him. Rohit glanced around at the faces of those he had once considered family, their expressions a mixture of fear and anticipation. "I know who's behind this," he continued, the weight of his words pressing down on him.

"Who?" Mahi asked, leaning in closer, eager to grasp any clue that would help them understand the danger they were in.

"His name is Rupesh," Rohit began, recalling the past with a bitter taste in his mouth. "When I was first selected for the Indian cricket team, there was another player who was almost as good as I was. His name was Rupesh, the son of a powerful figure in the cricket board. He was supposed to be a star, but I ended up stealing his spot. From that moment on, he became obsessed with me."

"Obsessed?" Anushka echoed, her brow furrowed. "How so?"

Rohit's fists clenched at his sides as he remembered the jealousy that had festered in Rupesh's heart. "He was cruel. His envy turned into a dark ambition. He vowed to destroy me, to ruin my career and my life. It wasn't just about cricket anymore; it became personal. After I got selected, I heard rumors about him planning something terrible. He was in a dark place, convinced that if he couldn't have my success, no one could."

The room was filled with gasps of disbelief. "What happened?" Virat pressed, his heart racing.

"His father, knowing what he was planning, intervened at the last moment. Instead of letting Rupesh destroy his own life, he promised him he would destroy mine. He would make me pay for taking his son's place, for ruining his dreams. That's why they've come after us now," Rohit explained, his voice thick with emotion.

A heavy silence descended upon the room as everyone absorbed Rohit's revelation. The realization that someone had been plotting against him for so long, with such deep-rooted resentment, sent shivers down their spines.

"I thought it was all behind me," Rohit said, frustration creeping into his voice. "But now it's coming back, and they're not just after me. They're after all of us."

Ritika held Moksh and Sammy closer, a protective instinct kicking in. "We can't let them hurt our family," she said fiercely. "We need to do something."

"We need to figure out how to protect ourselves," Ajinkya added, glancing at everyone in the room. "But we also need to confront this threat head-on."

"No," Rohit interjected, his eyes narrowing. "This isn't just about us. Rupesh will do anything to get to me. I won't put anyone else at risk. I've already lost so much because of this."

"But Rohit, we're family! We'll face this together!" Virat exclaimed, desperation lacing his words. "We can't just hide and wait for them to come to us."

Rohit's gaze hardened as he looked at Virat, memories of their fractured friendship flooding back. "You say that now, but you weren't there when I needed you the most. You all turned your backs on me. Why should I trust you to help me now?"

The atmosphere grew heavy with unresolved tension as the weight of Rohit's words hung in the air. But as he locked eyes with Virat, he saw a flicker of understanding, a glimmer of the bond they had once shared.

"Because we're here now," Virat insisted, his voice softer, more earnest. "We want to help you, Rohit. You don't have to do this alone. Let us stand by your side, no matter what it takes."

Rohit hesitated, his heart battling against the walls he had built around himself. The memories of the past lingered, but the hope of a future together began to thaw the icy resolve within him. Perhaps this time would be different.

With a heavy sigh, Rohit finally relented. "Alright. We need a plan, and we need to be careful. Rupesh won't hesitate to strike when we least expect it. But if we're going to do this, we do it together."

As they began to strategize, the atmosphere shifted. They were no longer just individuals haunted by their past mistakes; they were a united front, ready to face whatever came their way. Rohit still felt the weight of betrayal, but perhaps, just perhaps, there was a chance for redemption. Together, they would confront the ghosts of their past and fight for the future of their family.

***********

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a shadow over the city, a dimly lit room flickered with the glow of a computer screen. Rupesh's father, Arun, sat at a sleek desk cluttered with papers and photographs, his expression dark and calculating. He was a man of influence, with connections that reached far and wide in the cricketing world, but his heart pulsed with bitterness and vengeance.

Arun glanced at the pictures pinned on a corkboard before him—snapshots of his son, a young Rupesh, smiling in his cricket gear, a stark contrast to the troubled young man he had become. Next to those were images of Rohit Sharma, captured during moments of triumph on the field, the very moments that had eclipsed his son's dreams.

"They think they can forget us, that they can erase the past," Arun muttered to himself, his voice laced with venom. "But I will remind them. I will make them pay for everything they've taken from us."

His eyes darted to a map of the city spread across the table, pinpointing various locations. He traced a finger across it, pausing at a mark near the farmhouse where Rohit and the others were hiding. "They think they're safe there," he sneered. "But safety is an illusion."

Arun picked up his phone, the screen lighting up with contacts—people he could manipulate, leverage to his advantage. He scrolled through, selecting a name. "It's time to bring in the specialists," he said, a cruel smile forming on his lips. "They'll be the perfect instrument for my revenge."

As he spoke, a shadowy figure emerged from the corner of the room, a tall man with a rugged appearance, clad in black. "You called for me?" the man asked, his voice low and gravelly.

"Yes," Arun replied, a glint of malice in his eyes. "I have a job for you. It's time to send a message to Rohit Sharma. He needs to know that he can't escape the consequences of his actions."

The man nodded, an eager expression on his face. "What do you want me to do?"

Arun leaned closer, whispering his sinister plan. The details were dark and twisted, a calculated move to instill fear and chaos. "We'll make sure he understands the weight of his past," Arun said, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "And then, we'll take everything from him, just as he took everything from my son."

As the two plotted in the shadows, a sense of foreboding hung in the air. Arun's thirst for vengeance was palpable, and the stakes were higher than ever. This was not just about cricket anymore; it was a personal vendetta, a mission to destroy everything Rohit held dear.

******
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Outside, the world continued on, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing in the darkness. But for Arun and Rupesh, the time for retribution was drawing near, and they were ready to unleash their wrath.