chapter 7. come back... be here

"I don't wanna miss you like this"

The sun was just starting to set in Delhi, casting a golden glow over the city's bustling streets. Inside one of the most luxurious hotels, Sitara Oberoi adjusted her sunglasses and oversized hoodie before heading down to the lounge. Even though she was a rising music star, she wasn't in the mood for fan interactions today. Her mind was laser-focused on her concert scheduled for tomorrow.

The lounge was cozy yet elegant, with warm lights reflecting off polished wooden surfaces. Sitara walked over to the coffee counter, her guitar pick dangling from a chain around her neck. She poured herself a steaming cup of coffee, savoring the aroma. Just as she turned to leave, the unexpected happened.

She bumped into someone. Hard.

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" Sitara stammered, looking up to apologize. But the words caught in her throat.

The man she had collided with wasn't just anyone. It was Virat Kohli.

Her idol. The Virat Kohli.

Sitara froze, her coffee nearly slipping from her trembling hands. Virat, dressed in a casual black hoodie and joggers, steadied her with a quick reflex.

"Hey, are you okay? I wasn't looking where I was going," Virat said, his voice warm and friendly.

"I-I..." Sitara's voice faltered. She blinked rapidly, trying to process the surreal moment. "You're...you're..."

Virat smiled politely, accustomed to fans getting flustered around him. "Yes, it's me," he said, with a slight chuckle.

"I'm your biggest fan!" Sitara blurted out, the words tumbling out before she could stop them. She winced inwardly at how cliché she sounded. "I've been watching you play since I was a kid! You're such an inspiration to me!"

Virat's smile widened. "Thank you, that means a lot. What's your name?"

"Sitara," she said, barely above a whisper.

Virat's expression changed instantly. His eyes widened, and his smile faltered. "Sitara?" he repeated, his tone suddenly more serious.

"Yes..." Sitara replied, confused by his reaction. "Is something wrong?"

Virat studied her face for a moment, his brow furrowing. "Where are you from?"

"I'm from Delhi," she said, tilting her head slightly. "Why?"

"Do you..." Virat hesitated, searching her face as if looking for something familiar. "Do you have any siblings? A brother, maybe?"

Sitara blinked, caught off guard by the odd question. "No, not that I know of. I grew up with an adoptive family. Why are you asking?"

Virat's heart raced. He looked at her more closely, noticing the faint scar on her bottom lip. A childhood memory flashed before his eyes—his little sister accidentally swallowing a staple and crying inconsolably.

"Sitara," he said softly, his voice almost breaking. "Do you know anything about your biological family?"

"No, not really," Sitara replied, her confusion deepening. "I was adopted when I was really young. I never asked much about it."

Virat took a deep breath, his mind reeling. Could it really be her? After years of searching and hoping, was his long-lost sister standing right in front of him?

"I think..." he began, his voice trembling slightly. "I think you might be my sister."

Sitara's eyes widened. "What? That's not possible. How could I be your sister?"

"You said you were adopted," Virat said, trying to stay calm despite the emotions surging through him. "My family lost my younger sister when she was just two years old. Her name was Sitara. She had a scar on her bottom lip, just like you do."

Sitara instinctively touched the faint scar on her lip. Her mind raced with a thousand thoughts, but she couldn't make sense of any of them.

"That's..." she started, her voice shaky. "That's crazy. It's just a coincidence, right?"

Virat looked her in the eyes, his gaze steady and filled with emotion. "Maybe. But there's only one way to find out."

Sitara stared at him, her heart pounding. The idea seemed too surreal, too impossible. But something deep inside her—a feeling she couldn't quite explain—told her he might be right.

"I don't know what to say," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You don't have to say anything," Virat replied gently. "If you're open to it, we can look into this together. There's a chance we could find the answers we've both been looking for."

Sitara hesitated, torn between disbelief and the strange sense of belonging that was slowly creeping into her heart. Finally, she nodded.

"Okay," she said, her voice steady now. "Let's find out."

Virat smiled, a mixture of relief and hope lighting up his face. "Thank you, Sitara."

As they exchanged numbers and made plans to talk further, Sitara couldn't help but think about how her life might never be the same again. The idea of being connected to someone like Virat Kohli—someone she'd idolized her entire life—was overwhelming.

And yet, deep down, it felt like coming home.

The next morning, Sitara couldn't sit still. She paced her hotel room, chewing her bottom lip nervously. A thousand thoughts swirled in her mind, none of them settling. Could Virat really be her brother? The idea felt impossible, but at the same time, there were too many coincidences to ignore.

Her phone buzzed, pulling her out of her thoughts. It was a message from Virat.

Virat: "I'll be waiting in the lounge. Let's head to the clinic together."

Sitara took a deep breath, grabbed her bag, and headed downstairs. Virat was already there, looking calm yet focused. When he saw her, he stood up and offered a reassuring smile.

"Morning, Sitara," he greeted. "Ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," she replied, trying to mirror his calmness but failing miserably.

The car ride to the clinic was quiet, save for the occasional awkward comment about Delhi traffic. Sitara fidgeted with the strap of her bag while Virat stared out the window, deep in thought.

Finally, they arrived. The clinic was modern and sterile, with the faint smell of disinfectant lingering in the air. A nurse greeted them, and within minutes, they were sitting in a private room.

"So, how does this work?" Sitara asked, her voice slightly shaky.

"It's simple," Virat explained. "They'll take a swab from our mouths, and we'll get the results in a few hours."

The nurse entered, carrying two test kits. She explained the process briefly before asking Sitara to go first. Sitara opened her mouth, and the nurse swabbed the inside of her cheek with a cotton-tipped stick. Then it was Virat's turn.

Once the samples were sealed and sent off for testing, Virat turned to Sitara. "Now, we wait."

The hours that followed felt like an eternity. They decided to pass the time in a nearby café. Virat ordered black coffee while Sitara went for her usual caramel latte.

"So," Virat began, stirring his coffee absentmindedly, "tell me about your life. What's it like being a famous singer?"

Sitara chuckled nervously. "It's not as glamorous as people think. Late nights, constant travel, and a lot of pressure. But...I love it. Music has always been my escape, you know?"

Virat nodded. "I get that. Cricket is the same for me. It's not just a game—it's a passion, a purpose."

For a moment, they both smiled, realizing how much they had in common despite the years and distance between them.

The clinic finally called in the late afternoon. They rushed back, hearts pounding. The nurse greeted them with a sealed envelope.

"This contains the results," she said, handing it to Virat.

Virat and Sitara exchanged a nervous glance before stepping into a private room. He carefully opened the envelope, pulling out the piece of paper inside.

Virat's hands trembled slightly as he read the results. His eyes scanned the document, and then he froze.

"What does it say?" Sitara asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Virat looked up at her, his eyes glistening. "It's a match, Sitara," he said, his voice cracking. "You're my sister. My little Sitara."

Sitara stared at him in shock, the words not fully sinking in. "I...what? You're serious?"

Virat nodded, his emotions threatening to spill over. "You're my sister. I've been looking for you for so many years, and now you're here."

Sitara's hand flew to her mouth as tears welled up in her eyes. "Oh my God...this is real. You're my brother?"

"Yes," Virat said, his voice steady but full of emotion. "And you have no idea how much I've missed you."

Sitara couldn't hold back anymore. She stepped forward and hugged him tightly. "I can't believe this," she said, her voice muffled against his shoulder. "I always felt like something was missing in my life. And now...I've found you."

Virat held her close, his own tears falling freely now. "I promised myself I'd never stop looking for you, no matter how long it took. And now that I've found you, I'm never letting you go again."

They pulled back, both of them laughing through their tears. Sitara wiped her eyes and shook her head. "This feels like a dream."

"It's not a dream," Virat said, his tone firm yet gentle. "We're family, Sitara. And I'm never letting anything come between us again."

For the first time in years, Sitara felt a sense of belonging she didn't even realize she had been missing. She smiled through her tears and said, "Thank you for finding me, bhai."

Virat's heart swelled at the word. He had waited so long to hear it. "Welcome home, Situ."

In that moment, the years of separation melted away. They were no longer two strangers crossing paths but siblings, finally reunited against all odds.

- hey guys!

- IM ALSO GONNA BE UPDATING SHUBMAN GILL FICS DW!!!!

- each 2 chapters for my sg2 fic = 2 chapters for a Shubman gill fic!!!! yayyy! (1 chapter for one book one chapter for another book. So American is next!)

- this also means: please support my sg2 fic!!!! 

- heres an update for everyones favorite book! and the moment the siblings reunited!

- this book will have atleast 10-15 chapters max

- love you!!!!