Lost but Not Forgotten

PART 38

As the day of the match arrived, the stadium buzzed with excitement, but an underlying tension filled the air. Akaay and Moksh, though shaken from the events of the past few days, stepped onto the field with newfound confidence. Their fathers' legacies loomed large, but today was their day to shine.

In the stands, everyone played their roles, pretending as though nothing was wrong. Rohit and Ritika remained hidden from the world, concealed for safety. Meanwhile, Virat stood on the field, his eyes not only on the game but constantly scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger near Moksh. Mahi Bhai, from the commentary box, kept an alert gaze on the stadium, aware that his job wasn't just to call the match but to ensure everyone stayed safe.

The match began, and as the first ball was bowled, the tension began to lift. Moksh played with grace, confidence returning with each stroke of his bat. Akaay, too, held his own, driving the ball across the field with precision. For a moment, it felt like nothing could go wrong.

But Rohit, ever vigilant, noticed something off. His instincts screamed danger, and he quietly slipped out of the stands, making his way to the parking lot. There, hidden behind some vehicles, he saw two men. One held a gun, while the other, dressed sharply, stood confidently beside him. Rohit's heart sank as he recognized the well-dressed man—it was Arun, the man who had been tormenting his family.

Rohit crept closer, listening as the two discussed their plans to harm both Moksh and Akaay. His blood boiled at the thought of anyone threatening his children. Without hesitation, he pounced on them, catching the gunman by surprise and wrestling him to the ground. But the struggle took a toll on Rohit, and he began to weaken.

As the gunman managed to free himself, raising the weapon toward Rohit, time seemed to slow. Rohit braced himself, but before the trigger could be pulled, a cricket bat flew through the air and struck the gunman squarely in the arm, knocking the gun from his hand.

Rohit looked up to see Virat emerging from the shadows, his face set with determination. "Not on my watch," Virat muttered, before joining the fight. The two cricketers, now side by side, took on the gunman together, their teamwork as flawless off the field as it was on.

The shooter, overwhelmed by their combined efforts, fled the scene, leaving Arun standing alone, laughing like a maniac.

Rohit, breathing heavily, turned to Arun, his voice filled with fury. "Why did you do this? What have you gained from all this pain?"

Arun, still laughing, looked at Rohit with cold eyes. "You destroyed my son's career. Rupesh had everything until you came along and stole his place. I made sure you paid for it. The suspensions, the match-fixing accusations, the endless trolls—those were all my doing. I ruined your life, just like you ruined his."

Rohit stumbled backward, memories of the hardships he'd endured flooding his mind. His knees buckled as he fell to the ground, the weight of Arun's confession hitting him hard. For years, he had been tormented by unseen forces, and now, the mastermind stood before him.

Virat, confused yet determined, stepped forward and looked at Arun with a smirk. "You think you've won, Arun?" he asked, holding up his phone. On the screen was the voice recording of Arun's confession.

Arun's face twisted in horror. "What... What have you done?" he stammered, realizing the trap he'd fallen into.

Virat's smirk widened. "You're done, Arun. The police are on their way, and your confession is all they need."

Panic seized Arun as he frantically searched for the gun. His eyes wild, he found it and pointed it directly at Rohit. "If I'm going down," Arun snarled, "he's going with me."

Before anyone could react, Jassi appeared from nowhere, his hand coming down hard on Arun's wrist, knocking the gun out of his grip. Arun howled in pain as the weapon clattered to the ground. Within moments, the sound of police sirens echoed through the parking lot, and officers rushed in, cuffing Arun and dragging him away.

As he was led to the police car, Arun screamed, his voice filled with rage and madness. "I'll be back, Rohit! I'll take revenge! This isn't over!"

Rohit, still shaken but relieved, watched as the man who had caused so much misery was driven away. His legs gave out, and he sat on the ground, exhausted from the fight, both physically and emotionally.

Virat knelt beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "It's over, Rohit. He can't hurt you or your family anymore."

Rohit nodded, his chest heaving with the weight of the moment. "Thanks, Virat... for everything."

Virat smiled, his usual confidence returning. "We're family, Rohit. I told you, you don't have to do this alone."

As they sat there, the tension of the last few days began to fade. The match continued in the background, with the cheers of the crowd serving as a reminder that life, despite everything, goes on.

***********

As the police car drove away, Jassi's emotions finally overwhelmed him. The thought of almost losing his bhaiya forever shook him to his core. He rushed toward Rohit, tears streaming down his face, and threw his arms around him, clutching him tightly. "Bhaiya," he choked out, his voice thick with emotion.

For a moment, Rohit stood still, his heart conflicted. He wanted to comfort Jassi, to wrap his arms around his little brother and tell him everything was going to be alright. But the sting of betrayal lingered in his chest. He remembered how they had been against him when he needed them the most. The pain of their mistrust was still fresh. With a heavy heart, Rohit gently stepped back, avoiding Jassi's tearful eyes. Without uttering a word, he turned and walked away, heading inside to find Ritika, leaving Jassi standing there, stunned and heartbroken.

Jassi's hands fell limply to his sides as he watched Rohit walk away, disbelief etched on his face. "I thought he forgave us..." he whispered, turning to Virat, his voice trembling with confusion.

Virat, who had been watching the exchange, let out a heavy sigh. He was just as confused. "I thought so too," he murmured, frustration clear in his tone. He rubbed his forehead, unsure of what to say. "Maybe... it's more complicated than we thought."

Still reeling from Rohit's cold reaction, the two stood in silence for a few moments before Virat finally made his way back inside, Jassi following slowly behind. As they entered the viewing area, a wave of cheers erupted from the crowd. Moksh and Akaay had just put on a match-winning partnership, both boys grinning proudly under the floodlights.

But amidst the celebrations, Virat's mind was elsewhere. He glanced at Rohit, who stood next to Ritika, his face unreadable, as he watched Moksh and Akaay's victory from afar. The rift between them had not yet healed, and now, Virat knew that this wound would take longer than they had hoped.

Jassi, standing beside Virat, wiped his tears and forced a smile for the boys on the field. But deep down, the hurt remained. All he wanted was for his bhaiya to let him back in again.

******