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Sharma Residence – Afternoon

The cozy warmth of the living room was slowly getting replaced by a heavy silence. Samaira sat curled beside Rohit, her head resting against his chest, and her hands clutching his t-shirt tightly.

Her body trembled slightly.

Rohit’s smile faded as he noticed her wince again, her breathing turning uneven.

Rohit (concerned, softly):"Samuu? Kya hua? Aur dard ho raha hai?"

She didn’t respond with words—just gave a tiny nod, her face scrunching up in pain as another wave of cramps hit.

Ritika rushed in, panic flaring in her eyes.

Ritika:"Itni jaldi medicine effect nahi kar raha?"

Rohit:"Nahi… she’s really uncomfortable."

Without wasting a second, Rohit adjusted the pillow behind her back and gently lifted her into his lap. Samaira, still half-lucid in pain, buried her face into his chest, gripping his shirt tighter.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Ritika opened the door.

It was Virat Kohli, dressed casually in a hoodie and joggers, holding a small paper bag.

Virat:"Yo! I heard Sharma is on a leave and princess Samaira isn’t feeling well."

Ritika stepped aside, giving him space.

As Virat walked in, he paused.

His heart tugged a little at the sight—Samaira in Rohit’s arms, cheeks pale, curled up, vulnerable.

Rohit looked up and gave a faint smile.

Rohit:"Aaya tu… Samuu thodi theek nahi hai. First time hai na… tough lag raha hai."

Virat nodded and slowly walked closer.

Virat (gently):"Samaira… princess, dekho kaun aaya hai."

She turned a little, still clinging to Rohit like a baby koala, but her eyes blinked toward Virat.

Her voice was small.

Samaira:"Vi…rat… sir…"

Virat knelt beside the sofa, brushing a hand softly over her head.

Virat (softly teasing):"Bas sir? Itna formal kyun ho gaya humara bond? Ek hug chalega kya?"

Samaira didn’t answer, but slowly stretched her free hand out.

Virat gently held it and placed the paper bag on her lap.

Virat:"Tere liye khud leke aaya hoon. Heating pad, orange juice… aur ek tiny teddy bear, kyunki mujhe laga tujhe chahiye hoga."

Samaira managed a tiny tired smile. She still didn’t leave Rohit’s chest, but her grip on Virat’s fingers tightened, as if silently thanking him.

Rohit looked at Virat and mouthed a heartfelt, “thank you.”

Virat (whispering to Rohit with a wink):"Tu toh already papa of the year ban gaya re."

Rohit softly chuckled, caressing Samaira’s head.

Rohit (to Samaira):" papa hamesha tumhaare saath hai, okay?"

She simply whispered, half-asleep:

Samaira:"Papa, mujhe chhodke mat jaana… dard bohot ho raha hai…"

Rohit’s eyes welled up instantly.

And Virat?

He was just watching them—his best friend with his daughter, and for the first time in a long while, he felt a lump in his throat.

The house was quieter now.

Rohit had finally gotten Samaira to sleep after much effort. She was tucked under a soft blanket in the guest room, her face still slightly pale, lips parted as she breathed softly.

Outside in the living room, Virat sat cross-legged on the floor, playing with a cricket ball in one hand and sipping warm chai in the other.

Rohit came and flopped beside him with a sigh.

Rohit:"Yaar... today she was in so much pain. I didn’t know what to do. She just kept saying, ‘Papa, don’t leave me’… and I—"

Virat placed a hand on his shoulder.

Virat:"You handled it better than anyone else could. Don’t overthink, Panda."

Ritika smiled faintly from the kitchen, where she was making haldi milk for Samaira.

Just then, they heard soft footsteps.

It was Samaira, rubbing her eyes, blanket still wrapped around her shoulders. Her hair was messy, her expression tired—but she looked at Virat with gentle surprise.

Samaira:"Virat…sir? You’re still here?"

Virat (smiling, patting the sofa):"Haan, princess. Tumhare bina jaane ka mann nahi kiya."

She walked slowly and sat beside him. Her head rested against his shoulder like it was instinct.

There was a pause. Then:

Samaira (softly):"Sab bolte hain aap papa ke dushman ho…"

Virat burst into a laugh.

Virat:"Haww! Yeh kisne bola?!"

Samaira (grinning a little):"Internet… memes… ek video mein dekha tha aap dono fight kar rahe ho."

Virat rolled his eyes dramatically.

Virat:"Main aur tumhaare papa toh biryani aur raita jaise hain—kabhi kabhi alag, but together... solid combo."

Samaira giggled.

Virat (teasing):"And waise bhi, main sirf India ka king nahi… ab Sharma house ka bhi official chachu hoon."

Samaira blinked.

Samaira:"Chachu?"

Virat opened his arms dramatically.

Virat:"Obviously! Tu mujhe sir bulate hue achhi nahi lagti. Thoda upgrade kar—Vii Chachu chalega?"

She smiled shyly. Then whispered,

Samaira:"Vii…chachu."

Virat melted.

Virat (smiling):"Now that’s my girl. Chal, ek kaam karein? Jab bhi tu down feel karegi, ya uncomfortable hoga, ya bas kissi se baat karne ka mann karega... mujhe call kar lena. Main sirf pitch pe nahi, tere liye life ke har match mein ready hoon."

She nodded, eyes misty.

And in that moment, a new bond was born—not by blood, not by formality, but by warmth, jokes, comfort... and cricket.

Samaira Opens Her Heart

Samaira lay beside Virat on the living room couch, wrapped in a soft blanket, her head resting on a cushion. The house was dim, quiet. Ritika was upstairs checking on Ahaan, and Rohit was still on a call. The cramps had dulled, but her heart still carried a familiar ache.

Virat noticed her silence—one of those silences that spoke louder than any words.

Virat (softly, without pressure):"Samaira… kuch kehna chahti ho?"

She looked up slowly, her fingers nervously playing with the hem of the blanket. Then, her voice—fragile and low—broke the quiet.

Samaira (barely above a whisper):"Mujhe kabhi kisi ne poochha nahi ki main kya feel karti hoon…"

Virat tilted his head slightly, encouraging her to go on.

Samaira:"Mere foster parents ache the... matlab, unhone mujhe adopt kiya... basic cheezein di. School bheja, kapde, books… par pyaar… woh sirf unke maa-baap, mere foster grandparents ke asli grandkids ke liye tha."

She paused, swallowing hard. Her voice trembled.

Samaira:"Unhone mujhe kabhi apna nahi maana. Woh kehte the—‘yeh toh parayi hai’... ‘iske liye kyun karna’. Main chup chaap sun leti thi… bas... aadat thi."

Virat gently placed a hand on hers. She didn’t pull away.

Samaira (softly):"Lekin jab TV par papa ka match aata tha na… main sab kuch bhool jaati thi. Unki batting dekh kar lagta tha... jaise koi mere liye bhi khel raha ho."

Her eyes sparkled despite the tears. A shy, proud smile tugged at her lips.

Samaira:"Main sabse badi fan thi… hoon… Rohit Sharma ki. Har century… har shot… maine yaad kiya hai. Jab unka interview aata tha… main sochti thi—kaash mai mil paau unse."

Virat’s chest tightened. His eyes, soft and full of emotion, didn’t leave her.

Samaira (with a shaky chuckle):"Ek baar foster dadi ne TV band kar diya tha—kehti, 'isko kya dekh rahi ho?' Main chhupke mobile mein highlight dekhti thi. Har baar unhe dekh kar lagta tha, woh kisi ke papa zaroor honge, par meri duniya toh wahi the."

She looked away, suddenly shy.

Samaira:"Ab woh mere papa hain… mujhe abhi bhi yakeen nahi hota kabhi kabhi."

Virat (emotion rising in his voice):"Samaira... tu toh kab se unki thi, bas duniya ko der se pata chala."

Samaira wiped her tears with the back of her hand. Then softly said:

Samaira:"Aur aap… TV mein hamesha itne scary lagte the... lekin ab pata chala… ki Vii chachu toh… sabse soft hain."

Virat chuckled, his eyes moist. Without a word, he gently pulled her into a side hug, pressing a soft kiss to her hair.

Virat (affectionately):"Papa aur chachu—ab dono tere paas hain. Aur kabhi jaane nahi denge tujhe."

She didn’t say anything, just nestled into his side a little more. Safe. Home.

Sharma Residence — Midnight Whispers

Rohit stood silently at the doorway, half-hidden by the frame, as he listened to Samaira’s words to Virat. Every sentence pierced through him like a quiet ache—each confession of past pain, every dream she'd ever spun around the man she now called “Papa.”

He didn’t step in.

He let Virat comfort her, and when Samaira finally curled up sleepily beside Virat, eyes heavy and content, Virat gently looked up, and Rohit nodded in gratitude.

Virat (softly):"She’s something else, bhai."

Rohit gave him a tired smile and a brotherly pat on the back as Virat left for home.

---

Later that Night — 1:47 AM

Samaira stirred gently in her sleep. Ritika and Rohit had shifted her to their room without waking her, and now she was curled up between them — peacefully sleeping, one hand loosely clutching Rohit’s shirt.

Ritika opened her eyes at the soft rustling sound. She found Rohit still wide awake, propped up slightly on his elbow, just watching Samaira with unreadable eyes.

Ritika (groggily):"Ro… so jao na… subah jaldi uthna hai."

Rohit blinked out of his trance and whispered back, his voice hoarse.

Rohit:"Usne mujhe kabse apna maana tha, Rits… par main uske zindagi mein itni der se aaya."

Ritika:"Lekin aaya toh sahi, Ro… aur ab tu kabhi nahi jaa raha."

Rohit ran his fingers softly through Samaira’s hair, being careful not to wake her.

Rohit (quietly):"Uske har word se lag raha tha jaise kisi ne meri chest ke andar kuch zyada hi tightly pack kar diya ho. Tu sun rahi thi na uski baatein?"

Ritika nodded, wiping the corner of her eye.

Ritika:"Woh tujhe TV pe dekh kar sochti thi ‘kaash mai unse mil paau’... aur dekh, ab woh tujhe papa bulati hai."

Rohit leaned down and gently kissed Samaira’s forehead, then looked back at Ritika.

Rohit (softly, eyes shimmering):"Mujhe nahi pata tha ki main kisi ki zindagi ka sapna ho sakta hoon."

Ritika (smiling through her own emotions):"Tum dono ek dusre ke liye banaye gaye ho, Ro. Tujh mein jitna pyaar hai… Samaira uska sabse haseen hissa hai."

They fell silent again, just watching her breathe slowly in her sleep — her face calm, her body warm between them.

Rohit (half-whisper, with a playful but tearful smile):"Main galti se bhi usse hurt kar doon na… toh mujhe please thoda maar dena, okay?"

Ritika (grinning softly):"Deal. Par pehle main tujhe emotional hug doongi."

Rohit let out a breathy chuckle, then gently tucked the blanket around Samaira tighter.

Rohit:"Main isse kabhi akela mehsoos nahi hone doonga, Rits. Kabhi nahi."

Ritika (placing her head on his shoulder):"Tu ho toh sahi. Woh teri princess hai, Ro."

And in the silence of that midnight moment — with the room wrapped in warmth, a little girl's painful past slowly healing, and her new family standing guard by her dreams — love quietly bloomed, stronger than ever.

Sharma Residence — Next Morning, 8:03 AM

Sunlight filtered through the curtains, painting the room in golden strokes. Ritika was still curled up, her arm protectively around Samaira, while Rohit had shifted slightly and was now resting with his hand loosely holding Samaira’s.

Just then, the bedroom door creaked slightly open…

Ahaan (whispering dramatically):“Aree wah… Sharma family’s version of ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’ is happening live here!”

He tiptoed inside, only to nearly trip on his own slippers and curse under his breath, “Sh*t—”

Suddenly, Rohit stirred, eyes snapping open.

Rohit (groggily but sharply):"Ahaan! Subah subah tu gaaliyan de raha hai? Zubaan kheench loonga."

Ahaan (mock innocence):"Papa mujhe laga aap abhi bhi sapno mein mumma ko baby bol rahe honge."

Ritika (still half-asleep):"Ahaan… band kar de na yeh taang khinchna… subah subah drama."

Ahaan (walking to Samaira’s side):"Arre main toh bas emotional moment ki value badha raha hoon. Look at her na… so peaceful. Itna shant toh physics exam ke baad bhi nahi hoti."

Suddenly, Samaira stirred and squinted at Ahaan, still half-asleep.

Samaira (softly):"Aap… subah subah kyun chillaa rahe ho bhaiya?"

Ahaan (mock gasp):"Ae bhagwaan! Isko sach mein meri aadat pad gayi! Pehli baar ‘sir’ nahi bola!"

Rohit (smirking):"Miracles do happen. Kal double century, aaj ye. Kya din aa gaye hain."

Samaira (groaning, hiding her face in the blanket):"Ughhh stoppp, sab pareshan karte ho mujhe."

Ritika (stroking her hair):"Arre princess, pareshan nahi karte… pyaar karte hain."

Ahaan (grinning, sitting beside her):"Tu family ki sabse chhoti member hai ab.Aur rules ke mutabik, sabse zyada nok-jhok bhi tumhare liye reserved hai."

Samaira (still sleepy but smiling):"Aap sab pagal ho."

Rohit (chuckling):"Haan, lekin teri wajah se khush ho."

They all shared a warm glance — one of those rare, unscripted family moments that nestle deep inside the heart.

Ritika (stretching):"Chalo ab sab fresh ho jao. Aur Ahaan, school nahi jaana kya?"

Ahaan (shrugging):"Jaana toh hai, lekin aaj mood family ke breakfast ke saath hai."

Rohit:"Kya baat hai! Mera beta responsible bhi ho gaya aur thoda emotional bhi!"

Ahaan:"Papa! Main bas emotionally hungry hoon. Aloo paratha milega kya?"

Everyone laughed.