For the rest of the day, Aditi stayed with Neev, not letting him out of her sight for even a minute. The new nanny was dismissed as she could not trust anyone so easily controlled by her cousin. Finally, Darsh called Kanta Chachi, which relieved Aditi a little, but she remained anxious.

"You need to calm down." He pulled her close when she got a moment's breather from trailing Neev. It was a listless evening, they were in the Study waiting for Dawar who was at this moment, on his way to the Sharma Residence. "Kanta Chachi is here, and we have alerted the rest of the staff. Zorawar too has his men keeping an eye. Nothing will happen to Neev."

She nodded yet stayed quiet. Her face remained strained, eyes restlessly flicking to the door. "Let me check on Neev again. It’s been ages."

"You checked on him just minutes ago. And you need to relax. Dawar will be here any minute."

He hugged her close, running his fingers through her hair. Her body relaxed a bit but the strain in her face did not budge.

"How are we going to solve this? Whatever we do, they still have the upper hand. If word gets out about the bridge incident, everything will come crashing down. And if the police arrest us... "

She didn't finish her sentence, yet he heard it. It was the question he was trying to answer himself. If the police arrested both of them, if Dalpat Raisingh pursued the case and puts them behind bars, what will happen to Neev? He had about a hundred ways to punish the evil cousins. He could use the power of attorney to oust them, or he could get Mohit arrested in his accident case, or he could do both. But ultimately everything came to this. The truth of the bridge hung on them like a sword of Damocles.

He smiled, not letting his thoughts show on his face. "I said you leave it to me. I have a way to fix this all."

Luckily Dawar arrived and they got on with the evening’s agenda. They put their signatures on the papers and the marriage was sealed. He did not know whether to celebrate the moment or mourn the circumstances. What should have been the most joyful occasion of their life was tarnished by that ghastly threat.

His face hardened as he nodded to Dawar to proceed. Dawar pulled out another set of documents.

"There’s one more thing, Aditi. The last time, when you left Palampur, you left all your mother's property for your cousins. I think it’s time you reconsider your decision."

He watched as her lips quivered. She pulled up the papers and signed them without even reading them. In place of the beneficiary, she wrote his name.

"Put Neev's name, please," Darsh frowned. "Your mother's property should go to your child. I’ll have nothing to do with it."

"You’ll have everything to do with it. It will go to Neev through you. Who better to keep it safe for him but his father?"

She gave a strained smile, then left the room to check on Neev. He had no argument. He watched as her shapely back retreated behind the door, then turned to the lawyer.

“That’s quite an accomplishment,” Dawar said in a congratulatory tone. Darsh exhaled. Accomplishing something was one thing but safeguarding it was another. It would be all for nothing if couldn’t save what he worked for.

“So, what do you think? Is there a way to avoid arrest if Nehal decides to report us?” He steered the conversation back to the point. Dawar sighed.

“There’s only one way, and you know what it is. From where I see it, you and Aditi will be in custody at least for two days, that is - if Dalpat Raisingh doesn’t arrive in time to ensure you don’t get bail. And once he is here, you know how it will get. You’d be in for a long haul.”

The long haul was an understatement. The game will get dirty. Ugly. Dangerous. Darsh tapped his fingers on the mahogany desk, then got up, having made a decision.

The root of the problem was not Nehal or their secret. It was something else. He had to hack that root, only then this problem would be truly resolved.

“Let’s get anticipatory bail, then. And in the meanwhile, I’ll see what I can do.”

*****

What he did was leave his wife and son in Palampur to travel to Delhi the next morning. It was some urgent business, he said. He had to see his mother and Vicki as a visit to them was long overdue.

“But you can’t leave us!” Aditi was aghast. “You said you’ll solve this.”

“And I will.” He touched her cheek, then planted a peck on her brow. “Believe me, it will all be solved once I am back, but for now I must leave.”

He packed a small bag and left. Later that morning, Aditi sat at the breakfast table, feeding Neev his tiny playful bites but her mind remained occupied.

“I see your husband has deserted you,” Nehal sneered, disdain dripping her face like venom. “What happened? Not everything well in the paradise?”

Aditi ignored her and focused on Neev. The moment he was done, she would get out of this room, but alas, Mohit too joined his sister.

“I saw the lawyer here yesterday.” He said with a honeyed voice. “I know you and your husband are cooking something. All I have to say is that don’t dare to double-cross me. Your secret Is only safe as long as I and my family are safe.”

Aditi flared. “I can say the same. You are only safe here as long as my family is safe. And unfortunately for you, it does not include you anymore, so watch out.”

Mohit smiled. “I was never a part of your family, Di. You were just a namesake, you still are. Anyway, that is not important. The important thing is - I want my share of the property.”

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"What?"

"I said, I want my share of the property." Mohit snickered. "I wanted to say this long back but didn’t get a chance. You were away and your husband wasn’t exactly receptive to my requests. But now that you are here…"

She gritted her teeth. “We’ll talk when Darsh is back. Anyway, he has the power of attorney, I cannot do anything.”

“We’ll talk now, Di. This is an internal Sharma household matter in which an outsider must have no say. And the power of attorney does not matter. I'll be happy to take over your mother's property if I can't have my share of the Sharma property.”

"Never." She went white. Mohit shrugged.

"Think carefully Di. You are alone here. Anything can happen. There are worse things in the world than being reported for a crime you did not commit, or being eaten alive by rabid dogs."

The moment Mohit uttered those words, her face cleared. Something clicked in place, a realization, a reckoning that was long overdue. Calmly, she took Neev to her room and locked the door from inside, then called Uncle Shekhawat.

*****

Things went rather fast after that. Mohit was arrested for attempting to murder Aditi and Darsh. Zorawar gave his testimony and others at the racecourse readily vouched for the horse incident.

‎The next in line was Nehal. The charge was life threats to a three-year-old Neev. The nanny testified to the incident adding the way she was discharged from Neev’s room. She could still remember the look on Nehal's face - it was mad rage, hatred, bordering insanity.

That became the theme of the charge - Insanity. The news of Nehal’s paternity was widespread by now and people had no trouble believing the worst of a Raisingh child. They were always deranged, always capable of doing the ghastliest things.

The next day went in peace as Aditi waited for Darsh. On the third day, police arrived at the Sharma residence with a summon.

‎“Your aunt has accused you of Vivian Raisingh’s accident. You must accompany us to the station.”

******

It was seven in the evening. Darsh climbed the stairs of Dr. Chaterjee's Nursing. The place was the same as he remembered from three years ago, but a few things had changed.

For example, the building was now painted in a sky-blue color than the plain white before. Another change was that Vivaan Raisingh was no longer a resident here. He had part-recovered and moved out of here a year ago.

Darsh sighed. It had come as a surprise. He had rather counted on Vivaan being here. It would have made things easier for him, but now it was too late.

"So, what happened? Did you get to meet Dalpat Raisingh?" Karuna asked as he entered Vicki's room. He was still the same, drawing slow and patient breaths, waiting to be pushed either this way or that.

"No Ma. I have tried everything, but the man is just ...adamant." Darsh shook his head. That was his plan. He had in his hands, Dalpat Raisingh's old folder. He wanted to use it again to threaten the man, to make him sign an affidavit that Vivaan's accident was his own fault and had nothing to do with Aditi. That way, Nehal's accusation would have proved pointless. But with the man outright refusing to take his bait, his plan had all but flopped.

"Anyway, I have to return to Palampur. There is an...issue. I'll sort it out, you don't have to worry,” He rushed to clarify when her face lost its color. “I'll keep you informed. You take care.”

He bid her farewell and left. Karuna watched him leave, then picked up her phone to dial a number. A minute later a heavy yet tired voice answered the phone.

"Dalpat Raisingh speaking."

"Mr. Raisingh, this is Karuna Sachdeva," Karuna said as sweat gathered on her forehead. It had been years since she used that name to identify herself. "We have met once before. You may not remember me; it was years ago. I'd like to see you for some urgent matter."

"And why should I meet you?" He sounded least interested. Karuna held her breath.

"Because I was the girl Harish Sachdeva introduced you to in Hotel Blue Lagoon thirty-four years ago. Today my son is thirty-three, and I think he could do with a favor from you."

*****

Thirty-four years ago, she had left her parent's house to elope with the love of her life. She was twenty and he was thirty. Her parents would never have consented to their marriage. Coming to Delhi with Harish Sachdeva was her ticket to freedom. It was the beginning of a new life, a new, happy, and thrilling life free from the domineering presence of her conservative parents.

The first day, they spent shopping. Harish was so caring and sweet. He took her to places all over Delhi. They saw the Red Fort, Chandni Chowk, and all that was beautiful in Delhi to see. In the evening he took her to a posh hotel. He wanted her to meet his boss.

That was the first time she met DD Sir. The man was in his early forties, very suave, sophisticated with a rather charming smile. She blushed as they passed remarks on her young age and how beautiful she looked. Soon a drink was passed to her, and she sipped it gratefully, unable to believe this would be her life for the rest of her days.

It was only later when she found herself alone with DD Sir in a room that she tried to make sense of it. Her head spun, and she realized her drink must have been spiked but by then it was too late.

Later she had invented the excuse of multiple men to keep Darsh from pursuing revenge, but she very well remembered who was with her in that room that night. It was him and only him. There were no others.

Sometime later, she passed out. The next morning when she was woken up by the hotel cleaner, DD Sir was gone, and so was Harish Sachdeva.

"I know you must have forgotten it, and believe me, I too have tried my best to forget," she said stoically as Dalpat Raisingh stood in front of her in the gardens of the Nursing Home. "But that day, when you came to collect Vivaan, I recognized your face. I knew then you were DD Sir."

His face had a mixed expression - shocked, suspicious, yet smug with delight. "And what do you want of me now? If you wish to blackmail me..."

"All I am asking of you is to leave Darsh alone. For long has he suffered for his past for no fault of his own. Now let him live his life."

***** *****