Always & Forever (Billionaire Love- Virat Kohli)

|24| Ties That Bind!

Anushka and Virat, despite the overwhelming odds, tried their best to carry on with their lives. The glittering world of Bollywood might have seemed glamorous from the outside, but behind the cameras, their lives were far from a fairy tale. The paparazzi followed them incessantly, reporting every move they made, and social media was a battlefield of opinions, both in favor and against their relationship. They had grown accustomed to the flash of cameras and the constant scrutiny, but what really hurt was the silence from their families, particularly Anushka’s parents.

Virat, always the more optimistic one, tried to lighten the mood whenever Anushka felt overwhelmed. “Maybe one day, they’ll make a movie about us,” he joked one evening while they sat on the balcony of their shared apartment. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the city, but neither of them felt its warmth. Anushka, her head resting on Virat’s shoulder, gave a half-hearted smile. “I just wish it didn’t feel like a tragedy.”

Her heart ached whenever she thought of her mother, Shatakshi. Anushka knew how much her mother loved her, how much she wanted to support her, but she was trapped. Arav, her father, had always been stubborn, especially when it came to matters of pride. He saw Anushka’s relationship with Virat not as a love story, but as a betrayal. In his eyes, Virat’s family had disrespected his own, and no matter how much time passed, Arav was unwilling to forgive or forget.

Shatakshi, caught in the middle, had tried to reason with Arav countless times, but to no avail. He was too proud, too hurt to see things clearly. The argument that had started between him and Prem, Virat’s father, over something as trivial as a film release date, had spiraled into something much bigger. The media had blown the story out of proportion, turning it into a full-blown feud between two powerful families in the film industry. Rumors flew, and soon the narrative had taken on a life of its own, with Arav and Prem cast as bitter rivals. In truth, it was more about wounded pride than any real animosity. But once the fire had been lit, it was nearly impossible to put out.

Anushka often wondered if things would have been different if the media hadn’t gotten involved. Perhaps her father and Virat’s father could have resolved their differences in private. But now, with every tabloid and news channel reporting on their so-called “family feud,” it seemed almost impossible to bridge the gap. Too much had been said, too many accusations thrown around. It wasn’t just about them anymore—it was about their public image, their reputations.

Still, Anushka found solace in her brother, Anshul. Unlike their father, Anshul didn’t care about pride or family honor. He only cared about his sister’s happiness, and from the moment he had met Virat, he had known that Anushka had found someone special. Anshul had been a constant source of support, always there when Anushka needed a shoulder to cry on or someone to talk to. He wasn’t afraid to stand up to their father, even though it often led to heated arguments. Anushka was grateful for her brother’s unwavering loyalty, but she hated that their family had been torn apart like this.

Meanwhile, Virat had his own battles to fight. His father, Prem, while not as openly hostile as Arav, had also expressed concerns about the relationship. Prem was a man of tradition, and though he didn’t dislike Anushka, he worried about the impact their relationship would have on his family’s standing in the industry. Like Arav, he had been stung by the media coverage of their feud, and he feared that the controversy surrounding their families would overshadow everything else.

Virat, however, refused to let his father’s fears dictate his life. He loved Anushka, and he was determined to be with her, no matter what. He had faced challenges before, both on and off the cricket field, and he knew that this was just another obstacle to overcome. But even with his unshakeable determination, there were moments when he felt the weight of it all pressing down on him. The pressure from their families, the constant media attention—it was enough to make anyone feel like they were living in a never-ending soap opera.

At least they had their close friends. Giya, Anushka’s best friend, had been by her side through thick and thin. She was the kind of friend who always knew what to say, whether it was to cheer Anushka up or give her the tough love she needed. Giya had never been one to shy away from conflict, and she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind, even when it came to Anushka’s family drama. She supported Anushka’s relationship with Virat wholeheartedly, and she often played the role of mediator when tensions ran high.

For Virat, his teammates were his support system. Though cricket was his passion, his team had become like a second family to him. They understood the pressures of fame and the challenges that came with being in the public eye. Whenever things got tough, they were there to offer advice, encouragement, or just a distraction. On the field, Virat could forget about everything else, if only for a few hours. It was his escape, his sanctuary.

But no matter how much support they had from friends and siblings, the weight of their families’ disapproval was always there, lingering in the background. Anushka and Virat knew that if they wanted to truly move forward, they would have to find a way to heal the rift between their families. Yet, the path to reconciliation seemed almost impossible to navigate. Both sides were stubborn, and neither seemed willing to take the first step.

At the same time, in another part of the city, the weight of the situation hung heavily on the shoulders of Saroj, Virat’s mother. Saroj, usually the quiet and composed one, had been observing the unfolding drama with deep concern. She wasn’t involved in the intricacies of the film industry, but she saw how the feud between Prem and Arav had escalated into something much larger than just a professional disagreement. It had seeped into the very fabric of their families. Saroj had watched her son struggle with the growing distance from his father, but she hadn’t known how to intervene until now.

On a particularly lonely afternoon, Saroj decided to reach out to Shatakshi. The two women had once been friends, often attending industry functions together, but the rift between their husbands had driven a wedge between them as well. Saroj picked up her phone, unsure of how the conversation would go, but determined to try.

Shatakshi, on the other end, was surprised to hear from Saroj but relieved at the same time. Her days had been filled with the weight of Arav’s pride and the emotional distance from her daughter, and she desperately needed someone to talk to. The two women exchanged pleasantries, but it didn’t take long for the conversation to shift to their children.

“Saroj,” Shatakshi began, her voice heavy with emotion, “I don’t know what to do anymore. Arav refuses to budge, and I feel like I’m losing my daughter.”

Saroj’s heart ached hearing the pain in her old friend’s voice. “I know how you feel. Prem isn’t as vocal, but I can see how much this has affected him too. He thinks he’s protecting Virat, but in reality, he’s pushing him away.”

They both sighed, the weight of their shared burdens hanging in the air. Shatakshi spoke again, this time more resolute. “We can’t let them continue like this. Our children deserve happiness, and if we don’t do something, they’ll be caught in the middle forever.”

“I’ve been thinking the same,” Saroj agreed. “Maybe it’s time we take matters into our own hands. We need to bring everyone together—Virat, Anushka, Prem, and Arav—and force them to see what this feud is doing to all of us.”

“But how?” Shatakshi asked, her voice tinged with doubt. “Arav won’t even mention Virat’s name without getting angry.”

“Maybe we don’t start with them,” Saroj suggested. “We start with Anushka and Virat. If they can show their fathers how strong their love is, how much they’re willing to fight for it, maybe it will soften their hearts.”

Shatakshi considered this for a moment before nodding, even though Saroj couldn’t see her. “You’re right. We need to give them a chance to speak, to be heard. For the sake of their future.”

The two women ended the call, their spirits slightly lifted by the shared understanding that they couldn’t sit by any longer. They would have to act, and act soon. The path to reconciliation would be difficult, but for the sake of their children, they were willing to try.

As Anushka and Virat sat together on that balcony, watching the sun disappear below the horizon, neither of them knew that their mothers had just taken the first step toward healing the rift that had torn their families apart. And in that moment, despite everything, Anushka believed that maybe—just maybe—the story would have a happy ending after all.