Silent Divide

A New Beginning

The weight of the unknown seemed to press down on Sammy, or rather, Rihika Sharma, as she stepped into the bustling team hotel. She had just been introduced to the team and their captain, Ziva Dhoni, but an unsettling feeling lingered. Everything was a whirlwind—the past, the present, and the pressure of keeping her true identity hidden. She had to be strong; she had to stay focused on her mission.

As Ziva gave her a friendly but professional smile, she spoke up. "You'll be sharing your room with another debutant. Vamika Kohli—. You two are about the same age, so it should be fine." Ziva paused, seemingly unaware of the twist of fate that lay ahead. "Vamika's a bit of a character. I'm sure you'll get along."

Rihika's heart skipped a beat. Vamika Kohli. Her childhood best friend. The one person who had been there for her through thick and thin. Until everything fell apart. She was the daughter of Virat and Anushka, and once upon a time, they had been inseparable. But those days were long gone, lost to time and misunderstandings. Rihika hadn't even told anyone who she really was. She couldn't risk it—especially not with Vamika or Ziva.

"Alright," she said, her voice steadier than she felt, "I'll manage."

Ziva smiled and gave a small nod. "You'll do great, Rihika. Just relax and enjoy the journey."

*****

After a few moments, the room key was handed to Rihika. She walked hesitantly towards Room 109, where she would meet her new roommate, Vamika. As the door swung open, she was greeted with a soft, airy room decorated with simple yet elegant touches. The bed was neatly made, and there was a faint scent of lavender in the air—likely Vamika's doing.

Vamika herself was sitting on the edge of the bed, scrolling through her phone. She looked up as Rihika entered, her face lighting up with a warm smile. "Hey! You must be Rihika. I'm Vamika. Looks like we're roomies!"

Rihika hesitated, studying her childhood friend, who had changed so much. Her eyes, still a striking shade of brown, held a depth of maturity that spoke volumes about how much time had passed since they last saw each other. Yet, despite the years, the recognition was still there—like two puzzle pieces that had been separated but were now slowly being put back together.

"Yeah, seems like it," Rihika replied with a small smile. She had to keep things casual, professional. No emotions, no revealing glances.

Vamika gave a casual shrug. "Well, if you need anything—anything at all—just let me know. The team can be a bit much sometimes, but we all manage. Oh, and, stay away from Room 102," she added with a grin. "The people staying there are... well, a bit crazy. Trust me on that one."

Rihika raised an eyebrow. "Crazy? How so?"

Vamika winked. "You'll see soon enough. Just trust me."

Rihika nodded, a little confused, but trying not to overthink it. She needed to keep her distance from everyone, especially Vamika. They couldn't go back to how things used to be, not now—not with everything at stake.

She was grateful when Vamika excused herself, saying she was going to freshen up. It gave Rihika a moment to breathe, to think clearly. She was in India now, surrounded by people who had once been family. The past was something she had to keep locked away for the time being. But the closer she got to these people, the harder it would be to keep her distance.

*****

After a while, Rihika sat on the bed, staring out the window, her thoughts scattered. The hotel was calm, quiet—a stark contrast to the storm brewing in her chest. She had to stay focused, she reminded herself. She wasn't here to reconnect with old friends or reminisce about the past. Her sole purpose was to uncover the truth—why had her father, Rohit Sharma, fallen out with Virat Chachu and Mahi Bade papa? Why had they all walked away from each other, leaving behind a shattered legacy?

Her thoughts were interrupted by the soft chime of the doorbell.

Rihika opened the door cautiously, only to be greeted by a calm, composed young woman. She was tall, with a gentle presence that immediately put Rihika at ease.

"I'm Aarya Rahane," she introduced herself, offering a soft smile. "I'm Ajinkya Rahane's daughter. I've been asked to invite you to lunch. Ziva thought it would be good for us to chat."

Rihika felt a brief flash of relief. Aarya had the same quiet, grounded demeanor as her father. She felt more at home around her than with the rest of the team so far. She smiled back, trying to mask the nerves bubbling inside her.

"That sounds nice. Thanks for coming to get me," Rihika replied, feeling an odd sense of comfort in Aarya's presence. There was something about her calm energy that made Rihika want to open up. But she couldn't. Not yet.

Aarya's eyes sparkled as she gestured for Rihika to follow her. "Don't worry, we'll get to know each other. You'll love it here, I'm sure."

As they walked down the hallway, Aarya attempted to keep the conversation going, asking Rihika about her journey to the team and her cricketing background. Rihika answered briefly, keeping her responses polite but careful. She didn't want to give away too much. She couldn't afford to make any mistakes.

"So, where are you from?" Aarya asked, her voice light, trying to keep the conversation flowing.

Rihika hesitated for a moment. "Mumbai. Originally," she said, her words deliberate. "But I've been around."

Aarya nodded thoughtfully, then grinned. "Well, you'll fit right in with the team. We're all from different places, but it's like one big family here."

Rihika smiled back, though she felt a pang in her chest. Family. That was a word that used to mean something different, something whole.

As they reached the dining area, Aarya gave her a friendly nudge. "You're going to do great here, trust me."

Rihika gave a small smile. "I hope so."

Inside, though, her heart raced. The closer she got to these people, the more the past threatened to resurface. How could she ever explain who she was? How could she tell them that she was Sammy, the little girl they had all once known and loved, before everything went wrong?

For now, she could only hope that the truth would stay buried—until she was ready to uncover it.

*****

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