Naina was utterly overwhelmed, certain she wasn't dreaming. Her little brother, Arun, was truly standing there. Maya was equally shocked to see her brother.
Tears streamed down Naina's face. "Arun, is that really you?"
Supported by Trisha and Maya, Naina rushed to him and hugged him tightly. "How are you alive? And if you were alive, why didn't you come back?"
Arun explained, "When the accident happened, Manik Bhai saved me." He had sustained severe injuries and had been in a coma. "Manik Bhai arranged the best doctors for me and ensured I received treatment."
Everyone settled in the hall, with Naina and Maya sitting beside Arun. Arun observed Maya: she was happily married to Arjun, who accepted her despite the trauma she endured. But when Arun looked at Naina, her emotionless stillness hurt him.
Arun gently took Naina's hand. "Di, I know you married Manik Bhai. Please, can you forgive him? I know he didn't testify in court for our family's bankruptcy, but please, Naina Di, forgive Manik Bhai."
Naina slowly withdrew her hand and sat in silence, ignoring his plea. Manik watched them, his heart aching, clinging to the hope that Naina would finally forgive him. Trisha heard everything, her anger mounting.
After a few moments of silence, Arun asked again, "Di, can you forgive Manik Bhai?"
Naina tried to deflect. "Arun, let's leave all this behind." She continued, "Now that you're fine, you will stay with me. I will go somewhere and start a new life, so don't worry."
Everyone was shocked, except Trisha, who knew Naina's plan.
"Di, what happened?" Maya and Arun cried out. "Why are you leaving? Why won't you forgive Manik? He's done so much for us!" Maya and Arun, unaware of Manik's revenge, couldn't understand her refusal. Naina listened to her siblings, her heart aching that they were asking her to forgive the man who destroyed her.
Trisha could no longer contain her fury. "Enough!" she screamed, standing up.
She pointed an accusatory finger at Manik and turned to Maya and Arun. "The Sharma Empire's bankruptcy, the forceful marriage, making her a slave, drugging her, letting her sleep with someone, driving her to attempt suicide—all because of him!"
She faced Arun and Maya, her voice cracking. "Because of you two, Naina sacrificed her dream! She sacrificed everything! And your Manik Bhai destroyed my best friend!"
Manik stood consumed by guilt. Arjun, Maya, and Arun were stunned into disbelief. Naina remained completely silent, while KK and Vikram stood by, equally speechless.