Lost but Not Forgotten

PART 41

Days passed, and despite everything that had happened, the boys refused to lose hope. Each one of them tried, in their own way, to pacify Rohit, hoping to bring back the warmth in his eyes that had been missing since the betrayal. But no matter what they did, Rohit remained distant, his heart still guarded.

One morning, as Rohit sat at the dining table, quietly sipping his tea, he noticed a familiar scent filling the air. He looked up, and there was MS Dhoni, carefully placing a plate in front of him. "Made your favorite eggs, Ro," Mahi said, his voice calm but hopeful.

Rohit glanced at the plate, his expression unreadable. He took a bite, and Mahi, watching closely, asked softly, "How is it?"

Rohit nodded but didn't say a word, pushing the plate away after a few bites. Mahi sighed inwardly, his effort met with silence, but he didn't push further. It was like trying to break through a wall of ice.

Later that day, Virat wandered into the room, holding a packet of Rohit's favorite chips. "Hey, Hitman," he said, trying to sound casual. "Thought I'd bring you these. Remember how we used to devour them before every big match?"

He tossed the chips on the table, hoping to spark some nostalgic connection. Rohit glanced at them, his lips barely twitching in acknowledgment, but he didn't reach for the packet. "Thanks," Rohit muttered, but his tone was devoid of emotion.

Virat sighed and sat down across from him. "You're killing me here, Rohit. How long are you going to keep this up? We miss you, man."

Rohit gave him a blank stare, his eyes betraying nothing. "You should've thought of that before," he replied coldly, and Virat's hopeful grin faded.

In the hallway, Harry and Jassi were bickering as they always did when they were nervous. "I'm telling you, he always made fun of your over-the-top celebrations!" Harry teased, trying to provoke a reaction.

Jassi shot back, "Yeah, well, you were always his second favorite kiddo, Pandya!"

Their argument grew louder as they barged into Rohit's room, expecting him to step in and stop their childish fight like he used to. But instead, Rohit just watched them, emotionless, his mind clearly elsewhere. They eventually stopped, looking at him expectantly, waiting for his usual scolding or sarcastic comment, but nothing came.

Harry, frustrated, sat down and grumbled, "At least tell me I'm your favorite, Bhaiya. Jassi's unbearable."

Rohit didn't even flinch. "You're both equally annoying," he replied quietly, his words lacking the humor they once held. Jassi and Harry exchanged disappointed looks.

Rahul, who had been watching from the corner, finally cracked. Despite his normally stoic demeanor, he walked over and slouched dramatically next to Rohit, rolling his eyes. "You're so boring now, Rohit Bhai. I miss the days when you used to call me a 'drama queen' just for walking into a room."

Rohit gave him a side glance. "You still are," he muttered, though his tone lacked the fondness it used to have.

Shreyas, never one to stay out of the spotlight, strutted in with his usual bratty attitude, tossing a cricket ball between his hands. "You know, Rohit Bhai, I'm the future, and if you don't stop sulking, I'll take over as the ultimate Mumbai brat."

Rohit didn't even crack a smile. "Good luck with that."

Shreyas pouted dramatically. "Come on, you know you miss me being the annoying brat around here." He elbowed Rohit lightly, trying to provoke even the smallest reaction, but Rohit just shook his head, brushing Shreyas's hand away.

Each of them, in their own way, was trying to break through to him, trying to reach the heart of the man they once knew. But no matter what they did—Mahi's silent cooking, Virat's chips, Harry and Jassi's playful fights, Rahul's dry humor, or Shreyas's bratty attitude—Rohit remained unfazed, locked in a world of his own pain.

They could all see it in his eyes: he wasn't angry anymore, just... empty. And that scared them more than anything.

**********

Despite the men's countless efforts, the women of the group soon stepped in, determined to reach Rohit in their own way. One by one, they tried to approach him, hoping to do what their husbands couldn't—bring back the warmth they all missed in Rohit.

Sakshi, the first to try, found Rohit standing alone on the balcony, staring into the distance. She quietly joined him, offering him a cup of tea. "You know, Ro, you can be angry at them," she said softly, "but you don't have to shut us out. We're not part of that mess."

Rohit sighed, glancing at her. "I'm not mad at you, Sakshi bhabhi," he replied quietly. "It's them. Your husbands—Mahi bhai, Virat, Jassi—they're the ones who broke my trust. You don't need to feel responsible."

Sakshi shook her head, her usual playful tone gone. "We all care about you, Ro. You're family. Even if you're upset with them, you're still stuck with us."

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips, but it was brief. "I know," he murmured, "and I still care about all of you. Just... don't try too hard. It's not about you."

Sakshi sighed, her heart heavy as she watched him retreat further into himself. "Fine, fine," she said, trying to lighten the mood. "But just so you know, I'm giving you all the extra attention I've saved up over the years. Mahi might get jealous, but I think you need it more." She winked, but the lightness she hoped for didn't return to his face.

Anushka, always the playful one, joined them soon after. "Look at you, Hitman, getting spoiled by Sakshi," she teased, poking his arm. "You've really hit the jackpot today, huh?"

Rohit gave her a side glance, a faint hint of his old self surfacing. "I'm still the Hitman, after all," he said, his voice almost teasing back, but the warmth was missing, the usual banter duller than it once was.

Anushka wasn't one to back down easily. "You know, Virat's been trying to butter you up with chips, and here I thought food was my thing. Guess I'm losing my touch."

Rohit shook his head, a quiet chuckle escaping him, but it was hollow. "You're still the queen of teasing, Anu," he replied, but even Anushka could feel the emptiness in his words.

Devisha and Athiya joined in later, bringing with them a sense of sisterly support. "You've got a whole army of sisters now, Ro bhai," Devisha said with a smile, standing beside him. "We're not going to let you disappear into that shell of yours."

Athiya nodded, leaning on the railing. "And if you think you can get away without letting us help, you're sorely mistaken."

Rohit managed another small smile, but it faded quickly. "You all don't have to do this," he said quietly. "I'm only upset with your husbands, not you. You shouldn't have to make up for their mistakes."

Sanjana, who had been quietly observing, spoke up. "We know, but we still care about you, Rohit Bhai. We can't just stand by and do nothing."

They stayed with him, teasing him, talking to him, giving him the extra care they thought he needed. Sakshi, as promised, gave him all the attention she could, doting on him as though he were her own little brother. Anushka continued her teasing, trying to bring out the banter they once shared.

But no matter what they did or said, Rohit's responses, though polite and grateful, were devoid of the warmth and affection he used to radiate. The kindness in his words was there, but the connection—the deep, familial bond they all cherished—remained fractured.

He cared for them, yes, but the pain was too deep to be soothed by even the closest of friends

*****