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Chapter 1 - The Call That Changed Everything

The Kohli house was never quiet.

There was always something happening somewhere.

A television running in the background. Staff moving around downstairs. Aarav shouting from one end of the house because he couldn't find something that was probably right in front of him. Virat arguing with him over cricket schedules. Anushka complaining that both father and son shared the exact same level of dramatics.

It was loud in the comforting way homes are supposed to be.

Lived in.

Warm.

Safe.

And maybe that was why the silence that fell over the house that evening felt so horribly wrong.

Virat was sitting in the living room after a long training session, one arm stretched over the back of the couch while he lazily scrolled through something on his iPad. The sports channel was running in the background, replaying highlights from Aarav's recent under-19 match for what was probably the hundredth time that week.

"Another sensational innings from Aarav Kohli," the anchor said excitedly. "People are already calling him the next king of Indian cricket-"

Virat snorted quietly and muted the television.

Upstairs, right on cue, came Aarav's voice.

"MUMMAAAAAA!"

Anushka didn't even look up from the dining table where she was checking something on her laptop.

"What?"

"Where's my white hoodie?"

Virat smirked instantly.

Anushka shut her laptop slowly like she was controlling anger through sheer patience.

"Aarav," she said calmly, "how would I know where your hoodie is?"

"Because you keep moving my stuff!"

"You mean folding your clothes because your room looks like a natural disaster?"

Virat chuckled under his breath.

A second later Aarav appeared at the top of the staircase wearing grey sweatpants and a black sleeveless t-shirt, hair messy from practice.

"I'm telling you someone in this house hides my clothes."

Virat looked up lazily.

"Yes. International conspiracies are happening against your hoodie."

Aarav rolled his eyes.

"Very funny."

Anushka finally smiled a little.

It was normal.

Everything felt normal.

That was the scary part.

Because nobody knew that in less than ten minutes, their entire lives would change.

Anushka's phone started ringing on the table beside her.

She glanced at the screen casually at first.

Then paused.

Virat noticed immediately.

"Aditi?" he asked.

Anushka nodded faintly before answering the call.

"Hello?"

Virat looked back at his iPad.

Aarav disappeared upstairs again.

And for a few seconds everything remained painfully ordinary.

Then Anushka stopped breathing.

Virat looked up instantly.

Her entire face had gone pale.

Not shocked pale.

Terrified pale.

"A-Anu?"

She didn't answer him.

She was listening to whoever was speaking on the phone, but her expression kept changing slowly into something worse.

Something broken.

"No..." she whispered suddenly.

Virat stood immediately.

"What happened?"

Her hand started trembling violently.

"No, that's not possible..."

The phone slipped from her fingers and crashed against the marble floor.

Virat reached her just as her knees gave out.

"Anuuuuuu!"

She looked at him.

And Virat felt his chest tighten painfully because he had never seen that expression on her face before.

It was complete devastation.

Like something inside her had died.

"Aditi..." she whispered.

Virat's stomach dropped instantly.

"What happened to Aditi?"

For a second she couldn't even speak.

Then finally-

"She's gone."

The words hit the room so hard it felt like the entire house stopped breathing.

Upstairs, Aarav came running down immediately.

"What happened?"

Nobody answered him.

Anushka suddenly made this horrible sound-half sob, half gasp-and collapsed against Virat's chest.

"No no no no..." she cried brokenly. "No..."

Virat held her tightly on instinct.

"It's okay," he whispered automatically, even though the words sounded empty the moment they left his mouth.

Because nothing was okay.

Aarav stood frozen near the staircase.

"What do you mean gone?" he asked quietly.

Virat looked at him, jaw tight.

"We don't know yet."

Anushka clutched Virat's t-shirt harder like she was trying not to fall apart physically.

"She called me yesterday..." she cried. "She called me and I said we'd talk tomorrow..."

Virat shut his eyes briefly.

Guilt.

Immediate, ugly guilt.

"She sounded upset and I thought maybe it was another fight and I..." her voice cracked violently. "I should've gone to her."

Virat pulled her closer instantly.

"This is not your fault."

But Anushka was already shaking her head.

"Yes it is," she whispered desperately. "I knew something was wrong... I knew..."

Aarav looked confused and disturbed at the same time.

He knew about Karan Chopra.

Everyone did.

Not fully.

Not openly.

But enough.

Enough to know Aditi's marriage had never been happy.

Virat had disliked the man from the very beginning.

There was always something deeply unsettling about him. Too controlled. Too polished. Too careful in public.

And Aditi...

Aditi had become quieter every year after marriage.

Like someone slowly dimming their own light.

"Dad..." Aarav said carefully. "What happened exactly?"

Virat picked up the fallen phone from the floor.

The hospital was still on the line.

His chest tightened.

"Hello?"

The woman on the other side sounded exhausted.

"Sir... I'm calling from Delhi City Hospital."

Virat's grip tightened around the phone.

"What happened?"

A pause.

Then carefully-

"There was a domestic incident."

Virat's expression darkened immediately.

Beside him, Anushka started crying harder.

"We believe Mrs. Chopra suffered severe internal injuries before arriving here."

Virat felt anger rise so fast it almost made him dizzy.

Internal injuries.

God.

"Sir..." the nurse continued softly, "there's also a child involved."

Everything inside the room changed instantly.

Anaira.

Virat looked toward Anushka immediately.

She froze too.

"Where is Anaira?" she whispered.

Virat asked the same thing immediately into the phone.

"She's safe physically," the nurse said quickly.

Physically.

The wording alone made Virat's stomach twist.

"But she witnessed everything."

The silence afterward felt suffocating.

Aarav slowly sat down on the couch nearby, suddenly looking much younger than sixteen.

Virat rubbed a hand over his face tiredly.

"How is she?"

Another pause.

"When the police arrived... they found her hiding under the dining table beside her mother."

Anushka broke completely.

Like physically broke.

She folded into herself crying so hard Virat immediately held her upright.

"She kept asking if her mother was waking up," the nurse whispered softly.

Virat looked away sharply.

God.

She was eight years old.

Just eight.

Anushka suddenly grabbed Virat's arm desperately.

"We need to go."

"We are going," he said immediately.

No hesitation.

Nothing else mattered anymore.

Aarav stood up instantly too.

"I'm coming."

Virat nodded once.

"Pack a bag."

The next thirty minutes passed in a blur.

Staff whispered nervously downstairs after hearing bits and pieces of conversation.

Security arranged cars.

Flights were called.

Phones kept ringing endlessly.

News spread fast when it involved families like theirs.

Too fast.

Anushka sat silently on the edge of the bed while Virat packed clothes for her because her hands wouldn't stop shaking enough to do it herself.

Every few minutes tears would start falling again.

Not dramatic crying anymore.

Just silent tears slipping down her face continuously.

Virat hated seeing her like this.

He walked toward her slowly.

"She needed me," Anushka whispered without looking up.

Virat crouched in front of her carefully.

"You were there for her your entire life."

"But not when it mattered."

Her voice broke on the last word.

Virat didn't know what to say to that.

Because grief was cruel like that.

It convinced people they could've stopped impossible things.

"She was scared of him," Anushka whispered suddenly. "And I knew it."

Virat's jaw tightened instantly.

"She kept making excuses for bruises and I..." she covered her mouth as another sob escaped. "God, Virat..."

He pulled her into his arms immediately.

For a long moment she just cried against him while he held her silently.

No advice.

No fixing.

Just there.

Across the room, Aarav stood unusually quiet while stuffing clothes into a duffel bag.

He had never seen his mother this broken before.

Ever.

It scared him more than he wanted to admit.

The flight to Delhi was silent.

Painfully silent.

Anushka sat curled near the window wearing one of Virat's hoodies because she had left in such a hurry she forgot her own jacket.

Virat kept one hand wrapped around hers the entire time.

Aarav sat across from them staring blankly at nothing.

Nobody slept.

Nobody even tried.

When they landed, media had already gathered outside the airport.

Of course they had.

Flashing cameras.

Reporters yelling questions.

Security rushing around them.

"VIRAT SIR!"

"IS IT TRUE ABOUT ANUSHKA MA'AM'S SISTER?"

"WHAT ABOUT THE CHILD?"

Virat immediately moved protectively around Anushka.

His face turned cold instantly.

Untouchable.

The Virat Kohli the country feared.

He ignored every question and guided Anushka straight toward the car while Aarav followed silently beside them.

Inside the car, Anushka finally whispered-

"What if she asks for her mother?"

Nobody answered.

Because nobody had an answer for that.

The hospital smelled too clean.

Too cold.

Virat hated hospitals.

Anushka practically rushed through the corridors while Virat followed close behind.

A nurse finally stopped outside a private room.

For a second nobody moved.

Then Anushka slowly opened the door.

Virat looked inside.

And froze.

A tiny little girl sat curled up on the hospital bed wearing oversized clothes and clutching a stuffed rabbit tightly against her chest.

Her hair was messy.

There were faint bruises near her arm.

And her eyes...

God.

Her eyes looked terrified.

Not crying terrified.

Used to fear terrified.

The kind no child should ever have.

Anaira looked up slowly when the door opened.

For one tiny second hope filled her face.

"Mumma?"

The word nearly shattered the room.

Anushka broke instantly.

"Oh baby..."

She rushed toward her immediately.

The second Anaira realized it wasn't her mother-

her face crumpled completely.

And suddenly she started crying.

Not loudly.

Not dramatically.

Just small broken sobs like she'd been trying to stay quiet for too long.

Anushka sat on the bed and pulled her into her arms immediately.

"I'm here," she whispered while crying herself. "I'm here now..."

Anaira clung to her desperately.

Like she was scared Anushka might disappear too.

Virat stood near the door unable to look away.

She was so little.

Too little.

Eight-year-olds were supposed to cry over broken toys and homework.

Not sit in hospitals after watching their mother die.

Aarav stood beside Virat silently.

Anaira noticed him after a moment and immediately looked down nervously.

Virat noticed that too.

Everything about her screamed caution.

Like she was scared to take up space.

The nurse walked in quietly.

"She hasn't eaten properly," she explained softly. "And she barely speaks."

Anushka gently pushed Anaira's hair back.

"Sweetheart, did you eat something?"

Anaira nodded quickly.

Too quickly.

Virat recognized the lie instantly.

The nurse gave him a look that confirmed it.

"She says she's not hungry."

Anaira's grip tightened around the stuffed rabbit.

Virat noticed bruises near her wrist again.

Something ugly rose inside him immediately.

Rage.

Pure rage.

A doctor entered moments later.

"Mr. Kohli."

Virat nodded once.

The doctor looked toward Anaira sympathetically before speaking carefully.

"She's physically stable. Just minor injuries and bruising."

Bruising.

Such a small word for something so horrible.

"But psychologically..." the doctor sighed softly. "She's severely traumatized."

Anushka kissed Anaira's forehead repeatedly while silently crying.

"She startles easily around loud sounds," the doctor continued. "Especially male voices."

Aarav looked away immediately.

Virat's chest felt painfully heavy.

The doctor hesitated before adding quietly-

"When police arrived, she kept apologizing."

Anushka's face broke again.

"She thought everything was her fault."

Virat shut his eyes briefly.

God.

Anaira slowly buried her face into Anushka's shoulder like she didn't want people talking about her anymore.

And suddenly Virat realized something that made his chest ache unexpectedly.

She wasn't behaving like a child.

She was behaving like someone who had spent years trying to survive.

Anushka gently wiped Anaira's tears.

"You'll come home with us, okay?"

Anaira froze instantly.

Home.

That word scared her.

Virat noticed immediately.

"but..." Anaira whispered hesitantly, voice tiny and shaky, "but I will cause trouble for you right?"

The room went completely silent.

Aarav looked down immediately.

Even Virat felt his throat tighten painfully.

Because no eight-year-old should ask something like that.

Ever.

Anushka started crying again immediately and held her face carefully.

"No baby," she whispered brokenly. "Never. Never ever."

Anaira nodded weakly.

But the fear in her eyes remained.

Like she still wasn't fully convinced people could keep her.

Virat stepped out of the room when the doctor asked to speak privately.

The corridor outside was quieter than the rest of the hospital, but it still carried that same uncomfortable hospital feeling-dim lights, distant footsteps, muted conversations, machines beeping somewhere far away.

The doctor pulled off his glasses tiredly.

"She's stable physically," he repeated. "Mostly bruising. A few older marks too."

Virat's expression hardened instantly.

Older marks.

Meaning this hadn't happened once.

The doctor seemed to understand immediately what Virat was thinking.

"We've informed child services already because procedure requires it," he said carefully. "But given the family situation and the fact that Mrs. Sharma is immediate family, temporary guardianship won't be difficult."

Virat nodded once.

Practical information.

Necessary information.

But his mind was stuck on one thing only.

An eight-year-old had spent hours in that house after her mother died.

Alone.

The police officer standing nearby spoke quietly, "The neighbors called after hearing shouting. By the time officers arrived..."

He didn't finish the sentence.

He didn't need to.

Virat rubbed a hand over his face briefly.

"Where's Karan?"

"In custody."

Good.

For the first time that night, Virat felt something close to relief.

The officer hesitated before adding, "The child doesn't respond well when anyone mentions him."

Virat looked toward the hospital room automatically.

Through the small glass panel on the door, he could see Anushka sitting beside Anaira on the bed.

Anaira hadn't let go of Anushka's hand even once.

"She's in shock," the doctor continued. "You'll notice she's unusually quiet right now. That's common in children after severe trauma."

Virat stayed silent.

Quiet.

Yes.

Too quiet.

Kids her age usually fidgeted, complained, asked questions nonstop.

Anaira barely spoke unless someone directly spoke to her first.

And every single time someone entered the room, she looked nervous for a second before recognizing them.

Like she was preparing herself.

The doctor lowered his voice slightly.

"She keeps asking whether she can go home tomorrow."

Virat's chest tightened.

"She doesn't understand yet?" he asked.

The doctor sighed softly. "She understands her mother died. I don't think she fully understands what happens next."

That hit harder than Virat expected.

Because children didn't think long term during grief.

They thought small.

Who would sit beside them at night now.

Who would brush their hair.

Who would answer when they called for their mother half asleep.

Virat thanked the doctor quietly before walking back toward the room.

Inside, the atmosphere felt heavy.

Anushka sat beside Anaira carefully brushing tangled hair away from her face while talking softly to her about random things-school, cartoons, drawing-anything except what had happened.

Anaira answered in tiny nods mostly.

Aarav stood near the window awkwardly scrolling through his phone without actually reading anything.

The moment Virat entered, Anaira looked up immediately.

Then looked down again.

Instinctive.

Virat noticed it.

He walked toward the couch instead of directly toward the bed, not wanting to overwhelm her further.

Anushka looked exhausted already.

Her mascara had smudged hours ago, eyes swollen from crying continuously, hands trembling every few minutes even when she tried hiding it.

Virat handed her a bottle of water silently.

She took it without a word.

Then suddenly Anaira spoke very quietly.

"Can I call Nani?"

Everyone looked at her.

Anushka's expression cracked instantly again.

Their parents had passed away years ago.

Anaira didn't know.

Or maybe she forgot for a moment.

Children did that sometimes during shock.

Anushka swallowed hard before gently saying, "Nani isn't here anymore, baby."

Anaira looked confused for a second.

Then embarrassed.

"Oh."

She looked down quickly like she'd said something wrong.

Virat noticed the immediate shift in her body language again-the way her shoulders curled inward whenever attention landed on her.

A nurse entered carrying fresh clothes and some basic toiletries.

"Mrs. Sharma, these are for the child."

Anushka thanked her softly.

Anaira immediately whispered, "I can wear these tomorrow also."

The nurse smiled kindly. "That's okay sweetheart, these are for you."

Anaira still looked hesitant touching them.

Virat exchanged one brief glance with Anushka.

Both noticed the same thing.

The child behaved like someone used to not asking for things.

After the nurse left, Anushka carefully unfolded the small night suit from the bag.

"Do you want to change?"

Anaira nodded slowly.

Then hesitated.

"Can..." she looked at Virat and Aarav nervously. "Can they go outside?"

Virat immediately stood.

"Yeah."

There was no offense in it.

Only understanding.

Aarav quietly followed him out without arguing for once.

They stood in the corridor silently for a while.

Then Aarav finally spoke.

"She's scared of everything."

Virat leaned back against the wall tiredly.

"She's been living in that environment for years."

Aarav looked down briefly.

"She used to talk more before."

Virat glanced at him.

Aarav shrugged slightly. "At family functions when we were younger."

Virat remembered vaguely too.

A tiny chatterbox hiding behind Aditi one minute and talking nonstop the next.

This child inside the room felt different.

Smaller somehow.

Not physically.

Emotionally.

The bathroom door inside clicked open after a few minutes.

Anushka called softly, "You can come in."

Virat walked back inside first.

Anaira had changed into pale pink pajamas that were slightly loose on her. Her hair was tied into a messy ponytail now, and she sat quietly near the edge of the bed holding her stuffed rabbit again.

The bruising near her arm looked more visible now.

Aarav noticed too.

His jaw tightened.

Nobody mentioned it.

Anushka sat beside her again.

"Are you sleepy?"

Anaira shook her head immediately even though she looked exhausted.

Children fighting sleep after trauma was common.

Virat knew that much.

They were scared of waking up alone.

A few seconds later Anaira whispered softly, "Can the lights stay on?"

Anushka's eyes filled instantly again.

"Of course."

No child asks that unless darkness has scared them before.

Virat looked away briefly.

His phone started vibrating continuously in his pocket.

News channels.

Management.

Media.

People already knew.

He silenced it immediately.

Tonight he genuinely did not care about cricket, interviews, headlines, or public statements.

Inside this room, those things felt meaningless.

Anaira suddenly looked toward Anushka carefully.

"Where will I go now?"

The question was simple.

Childish.

Honest.

And it completely broke whatever composure Anushka had left.

"You'll come with us," she said immediately.

Anaira blinked.

"To Mumbai?"

Anushka nodded.

"For how many days?"

Virat saw Anushka's face fall instantly.

Because Anaira still thought this was temporary.

Like eventually her mother would come back and things would return normal.

Anushka gently held her hand. "For as long as you want."

Anaira looked confused by that answer.

Children needed direct certainty.

Not emotional answers.

Virat finally spoke quietly from across the room.

"You'll stay with us now."

Anaira looked toward him immediately.

There was something about Virat that naturally intimidated children sometimes. The height. The deep voice. The intensity people associated with him even outside cricket.

She stared at him silently for two seconds before asking softly-

"Okay?"

Not confident.

Asking permission almost.

Virat's chest tightened unexpectedly.

He nodded once. "Yeah. Okay."

Anaira slowly nodded too after that.

Like if he said it calmly, maybe it was safe to believe.

A little later Anushka convinced her to lie down properly.

Anaira curled up on one side of the hospital bed clutching the rabbit tightly against her chest.

Within minutes her eyes started drooping from exhaustion.

But every time she almost fell asleep, she jerked awake again suddenly.

Anushka noticed immediately.

"It's okay," she whispered softly while rubbing her back slowly.

The fourth time it happened, Anaira finally whispered something so quietly they almost didn't hear it.

"I don't like sleeping alone."

Aarav looked away instantly.

Anushka carefully lay down beside her without hesitation.

Only then did Anaira relax slightly.

A few minutes later, while half asleep, her small fingers curled tightly into Anushka's sleeve.

Like she needed physical proof someone was still there.

Virat stood near the foot of the bed watching silently.

And for the first time since all of this began, the reality settled fully inside him.

This wasn't one difficult night.

This wasn't temporary help.

This little girl-with frightened eyes, shaking hands, and a stuffed rabbit clutched against her chest-was now part of their lives forever.

Here's the first chapter 😝 btana kesa lgaaa andddd should I continue or nottt(i will anyways 💀)

Byeee lovieieieiss💗