Avyaan finally forced Anurag out of the room and into the banquet hall.Anurag wore a royal-blue three-piece suit; gel-set hair made him look even more striking. Everyone's eyes followed him—yet he sat in a corner, scrolling on his phone as if the world didn't exist.
Jagjeet Raj Chauhan's gaze kept drifting to him. Apoorva had hidden the earlier attack, but he already knew; work, however, left him no moment to speak with Anurag.
A clown show entertained the children, while politicians and tycoons talked heavy business nearby. Mahendra ji and Saundarya welcomed guests with bright smiles—something that stabbed at Anurag.Every birthday of his own had been arranged by his sister and grandfather; his father never even remembered the date. On his eighteenth, only three people had wished him: Dada-ji, Apoorva, and Avyaan.
At midnight Anant cut the cake and first fed his grandfather, then his parents, then walked toward Anurag.Anurag felt like smashing the cake in his face—surely he was taunting him. But, unwilling to expose family rifts, he forced a brittle smile and ate the bite.
After cake the guests moved to dinner, praising the décor and menu. Anurag had zero interest and headed upstairs. On the second step a bullet whistled past him and lodged in the wall. Pandemonium erupted. Security men drew guns; Jagjeet Raj Chauhan lunged toward Anurag. Apoorva shoved Anant under a table and sprinted for her brother. Two more shots rang out—both hit Jagjeet Raj Chauhan, who had shielded Anurag.
People turned toward the shooter: a clown spraying bullets. Security converged, but a sudden explosion filled the hall with smoke. When it cleared, the clown had vanished.Jagjeet staggered; Anurag caught him. Apoorva shouted, "Get the car—fast!"Anurag and Mahendra lifted Jagjeet into the vehicle; Apoorva jumped in and they sped to the hospital. Pratap dismissed the guests, ordered a room-to-room search.
In the Hospital
Jagjeet Raj Chauhan went straight to surgery; outside, Anurag, Apoorva, and Mahendra waited. Anurag blamed himself for everything.
On a Desolate Road
Far away on a deserted road, one clown dragged another by the wrist. The second fought to break free—without success.At last the first clown let go, turned his back. The second yanked off the mask and shouted, "Who are you?"It was Nishtha—eyes blazing, breaths ragged with rage and exhaustion.
Receiving no answer, she tried to rip off the first clown's mask. He stopped her, then removed it himself—revealing Kashyap Yaduvanshi.
Nishtha gasped. "K…Kashyap—"
"Yes, Kashyap Yaduvanshi," he growled. "What's wrong—sorry I'm still alive?"
"Alive—and enjoying life while your wife rots in a brothel," Nishtha shot back. "Shouldn't I feel sorry?"
Kashyap seized her arm. "All your own doing. First you blackened your face with Nakul, then played saint in front of me. Because of you I lost the CM's chair; society branded me a murderer; my family is mocked in the streets. My parents avoid going out, my sisters are harassed—all thanks to you."He flung her arm away, collapsed onto a stone. "I knew you were in that brothel; I didn't rescue you because that's where you belong. My only crime was trusting the wrong woman."
Nishtha's tears brimmed—but she held them back. "Then why save me tonight?"
"Who said I saved you?" Kashyap sneered. "I saved Anurag."
"Your enemy's grandson?"
"Tell me first—why did you shoot at Anurag, not at Jagjeet Raj Chauhan?"
"Because his life is in that boy. If the boy dies, Jagjeet dies with him."
"And what has Anurag done—other than be born his grandson?" Kashyap asked.
"What was my mother's fault? What was Nakul's fault? What was my fault—refusing an arrogant man?" she screamed.
Kashyap looked to the sky. "None. And Anurag has none either. Children shouldn't pay for elders' sins. If you're brave, fight the enemy himself, not the innocent."
"I'll find peace only that way," Nishtha muttered.
"Peace?" Kashyap's voice softened. "That 'innocent woman' you shot this morning—do you know who she is? A simple lady now fighting for life in hospital. Her husband is roaming the city for O-positive blood; her child is hungry and praying she survives. But you… you crave your peace."
Nishtha's face crumpled; she hadn't known who the bullet hit. She crouched, sobbing.Kashyap continued, "If lions are what we claim to be, we tear down the hunter, not his cub. I chose the right path in politics—never ruined a home, never sold drugs, because every addict has a family. My father taught me that. My one mistake was choosing you. Had we never met, Nakul would be alive and I'd live a respectable life. I curse the moment our paths crossed."
The Next Morning
When Chandrika regained consciousness, the only name on her lips was—"Raghav…"
Aman ji rushed to her side, taking her hand in his, his voice trembling—"Chandru… my breath stopped seeing you like that… I can't even explain what I went through. Please, never put your life in danger again. I don't think I'll survive it…"
Tears welled up in his eyes.
Chandrika softly replied, "Don't say such things. If something happens to either of us… who will take care of the children?"
Aman ji gripped her hand tighter, "Nothing will happen to you… I won't let anything happen."Saying that, he rested his head on her hand.
At that moment, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning around, he saw Kabir standing there.Aman quickly wiped his tears and said—"Don't worry, son… your mom is absolutely fine now. She's okay."
Kabir hugged him and said,"I know, Dad… nothing can happen to us when you're around. You're our superhero."
Aman hugged him tightly. Chandrika smiled seeing the love between father and son.
Soon after, Yamuna ji, Raj ji, and Siya arrived.
Siya ran to her mother and clung to her. "Mom…"
Chandrika hugged her lovingly, gently caressing her head."Don't worry, beta… I'm alright."
Yamuna ji came closer and said, "Now come on, wash your face. I've made soup for you."
Chandrika pouted at the mention of soup, but Aman got strict—"No use making faces… you have to drink it."
Yamuna ji washed her up and fed her the soup.
Meanwhile...
Jagjeet Raj Chauhan had survived the attack, but the left side of his body was now completely paralyzed.The police were still unable to trace the clown who had rendered him bedridden.
In Auli
Raghav sat staring at his phone, having eaten nothing.He was waiting for a call since Aman ji had told him not to call first.When the phone finally rang, he grabbed it immediately.
Kabir's cheerful voice came through—"Bhai! Mom is okay!"
Relief washed over Raghav. He hadn't slept all night, praying to God.
Raghav asked, "Kabir… let me talk to mom."
Kabir's voice turned a little sad—"Sorry bhai… she just had her soup and fell asleep. The doctor said she needs rest."
Raghav smiled faintly, "That's okay. Let her rest… just take care of her properly."
Kabir replied warmly, "Yes bhai… I'll look after her well."
Aditya, seeing peace return to Raghav's face, asked,"Is aunty alright now?"
Raghav smiled, "Yes… Mom's okay now. I just wish I could be there…"
Aditya placed a hand on his shoulder,"You may not be physically there, but you're always with her—in her heart."
Raghav hugged Aditya tightly.
Back at Home...
Jagjeet Raj Chauhan had been shifted home.Anurag, having spent the entire night at the hospital, collapsed into sleep upon returning—he wasn't ready to face anyone's questions.
That Evening...
Chandrika's condition worsened. She was struggling to breathe.After several tests, the doctors informed that an infection had spread in her body and it would now be very difficult to save her.
Aman ji broke down at the doctor's feet—"Please, doctor… save my Chandru… without her, my children will be orphaned…"
Chandrika was gasping for breath, but still murmuring one name—"Raghav… Raghav…"
Seeing her state, the doctor said—"Please call Raghav. Maybe seeing him will help her recover…"
Aman ji called Raghav, asking him to come immediately.Raghav thought perhaps his mother missed him.He quickly booked a ticket and rushed to the airport.
The Next Morning...
When Raghav reached the hospital, his mother had already passed away—she had died in the middle of the night, waiting for him.
Aman ji sat sobbing in a corner; Kabir rested his head on his lap.Yamuna ji and Siya wept beside the bed.
Raghav's heart froze; a dreadful silence filled him.He threw his bag aside and ran to his mother.
"Mom… wake up… I'm here. Your Raghav is here…"
Kabir clung to him crying—"Bhai… mom's gone… she's gone. She left us all…"
Raghav's world shattered.
His mother had waited six long years—and died waiting.She must have grown tired of hoping every day…
Aman ji walked over, folded his hands—"Forgive me, son… I'm guilty… Your mom died calling your name… and because of me, you couldn't see her one last time…"
Raghav stood frozen—his mind filled with the memory of his grandfather, lying lifeless on a hospital bed… just like this.
Raj ji handled the formalities and brought Chandrika ji's body home in an ambulance.
Yamuna ji, along with the neighborhood women, prepared her like a bride for her final rites.Everyone wept… except Raghav.
He remembered the day he was leaving for hostel—how much his mom had begged him to stay. But he didn't listen. He hadn't respected her feelings.She must have waited for him every single day…
And today… the wait ended like this.
From childhood, all she wanted was to love him, hold him close—and today, he yearned for her affection.If only he had stayed…
How had he become this stone-hearted?
As Raghav looked at his mother wrapped in white cloth, guilt flooded him.When the pyre was lit, everyone wept and returned home.
But Raghav… his feet didn't want to walk back toward the house.
Because now it wasn't home anymore—just a structure of bricks.The soul of the house was gone.
One Month Later...
Raghav sat quietly in his room. Aditya sat opposite him.Both stared at Chandrika ji's photograph in silence.
In this one month, Raghav hadn't spoken to anyone—not even Kabir.He barely ate; Raj ji forced him to eat and nothing more.So Aman ji called Aditya—hoping he could take Raghav away and help him heal.
But how could one forget a mother?Especially a mother who waited her whole life—only to die waiting.
Kabir, too, had grown quiet—shutting himself in his room.Fearing it would ruin his education, Aman ji decided to move to Australia.
Raj ji agreed. He, too, convinced Kabir.
Aditya took Raghav back to Auli, and Kabir left for Australia with his father.