Silent Divide

The Decision

The house was quiet, far removed from the world outside. Hidden away, nestled between the sounds of the bustling city, was the Sharma family home—an oasis of peace, a retreat where Rohit Sharma and his wife, Ritika, could escape from the prying eyes of the media. The years since Rohit's sudden departure from India had been quieter, more reflective. And while life had settled into a routine, there was an unmistakable air of lingering sadness, a certain unspoken distance.

Ritika sat on the couch, her hands folded in her lap, looking out the window. The soft hum of the fan above was the only sound filling the room. Beside her, Rohit sat, his brows furrowed, lost in thought.

"Rohit," Ritika said softly, breaking the silence. "Do you ever think about her? About Sammy?"

Rohit glanced up, his eyes darkening at the mention of his daughter. "Every day," he replied, his voice a mixture of love and pain. "But we both know she can't go back to all of that. Not now."

Ritika sighed. She knew how much her husband missed their daughter, the same way she did. They both carried a weight—the weight of lost time and unspoken words. The disappearance of Rohit's closest friends, and the fallout that had torn their once-unbreakable bond with Mahi and Virat, had left a rift that was too deep to mend.

Just as she was about to speak again, a knock at the door broke the silence. Rohit looked up in surprise, but before he could get up, the door creaked open, and in walked a girl—their daughter.

"Mom, Dada," she said, her voice filled with excitement. "I've been selected for the Indian Women's Cricket Team."

Ritika's face lit up in joy. She jumped up and hugged her daughter tightly. "Oh my God, Sammy! This is amazing! I'm so proud of you!"

But Rohit wasn't quite as enthusiastic. He stood slowly, his gaze narrowing as he studied his daughter. She was older now—grown up, a stranger in many ways—but her eyes, those eyes, were still the same. Still full of the same fiery passion, the same unspoken need to prove herself.

He crossed his arms, his gaze intense. "India?" he said, his voice more serious than she had expected. "You want to play for the Indian team?"

Sammy's smile faltered, but she didn't back down. She knew the conversation would come to this. "Dad, I can't just sit here forever. This is what I've dreamed of. I need to do this."

Ritika stepped in, sensing the tension. "Rohit, you can't stop her from living her life. You know how much this means to her. We both know she needs this."

Rohit ran a hand through his hair, looking away. "I don't want her involved in... all of that. I don't want her to go into that world where we... where everything fell apart.... I don't want to lose her too."

Sammy stepped forward, her voice unwavering. "I understand, Dad. But this isn't about the past. This is about my future. I can't move on with my life until I know."

Rohit flinched at the mention of the names that haunted his heart. He hadn't told Sammy everything—not about his departure from ICT, not about the unspeakable rift that had torn apart the three of them. But Ritika knew. She'd seen it all. She understood why Sammy needed answers.

She turned to her husband, her voice gentle but firm. "Let her go, Rohit. Let her have this chance. She deserves it."

For a moment, the room fell silent. The weight of the decision hung in the air, and Rohit's gaze softened as he looked at his daughter. Finally, with a sigh, he spoke, his voice resigned. "Alright. But promise me you'll be careful. Promise me you'll come back."

Sammy smiled, her heart lightening with relief. "I promise, Dada."

And with that, her journey to the Indian Women's Cricket Team began.

*****

Sammy stood nervously in front of the grand hotel where the Indian Women's Cricket Team had gathered. The towering building loomed ahead, filled with anticipation, excitement—and anxiety.

Her hands trembled as she adjusted her kit bag on her shoulder. It was overwhelming—this was her dream come true, but also a step into the unknown. She had never played alongside women who were legends in their own right, and the weight of the legacy she carried was heavy on her shoulders.

As she walked through the lobby, she was met by the team's coach, Harmanpreet Kaur, who gave her a warm smile. "Welcome, Rihika," she said, her voice filled with encouragement. "It's good to have you here. Let me introduce you to the team."

Sammy nodded, trying to calm her nerves. The coach led her to the meeting room where the team was gathered, and as the door opened, Sammy's eyes immediately found a familiar face.

Ziva Dhoni, the captain of the Indian Women's Cricket Team, stood at the front, her presence commanding and graceful. She was older now, more refined, but the same spark that Sammy remembered from their childhood was still there.

Ziva turned as Harmanpreet introduced Sammy, and for a split second, their eyes met. A strange, inexplicable feeling passed between them—something Sammy couldn't explain but immediately recognized.

It was Ziva Dii. Her Ziva Dii, the one who used to take care of her, who had once held her hand when they played cricket in their backyard. The same Ziva Dii who was now a woman of power and grace.

But Ziva didn't know her. She didn't recognize her.

"I'm Rihika Sharma," Sammy said, her voice trembling just slightly.

Ziva's smile was warm but distant. "Welcome to the team, Rihika. It's great to have you with us."

Inside, Sammy's heart ached. Ziva didn't remember her. The years had changed everything.

As the introductions continued, Ziva couldn't shake the feeling that there was something familiar about this girl. The way she carried herself, the way her eyes shone with the same fire that once burned in her own heart—something felt right.

But Ziva pushed the thought aside. It couldn't be. No way.

Sammy, however, felt the weight of the years press upon her. She wanted to call out to Ziva, to tell her who she was, but the fear of losing the little connection she had with the woman before her kept her silent. She wanted to reach out to the family she had lost—but they were all strangers now.

And so, she stayed quiet. For now, her mission was clear: find the truth, uncover the secret behind her father's fallout with Virat and Mahi, and maybe—just maybe—reconnect with the family she had lost.

*****
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