Kashvi was checking the final list on her phone—cab timings, luggage count, Kriday's documents—when the doorbell rang.
She frowned.
"We're not expecting anyone," she murmured.
Krish looked through the peephole and stiffened.
"It's… Ved's Dada ji."
Kashvi closed her eyes for a brief second.
"Let him in," she said calmly. "Running won't help anymore."
Dada ji entered the room slowly, his sharp eyes immediately going to Kriday, who was sitting on the bed, playing with his toy car.
The resemblance struck him again.
Unmistakable.
"Kashvi beta," he began gently, "you're leaving."
"Yes," she replied firmly. "Tomorrow."
He nodded, then placed a file on the table.
"I won't take much of your time."
She didn't open it.
"I already know what's inside."
Silence fell.
"You've suffered enough," Dada ji said after a moment.
"But this child… he belongs to my family too."
Kashvi's jaw tightened.
"He belongs to me," she said quietly. "To the mother who carried him, protected him, and raised him when your family tried to destroy him."
Dada ji's face fell.
"I won't defend Ved's past," he admitted.
"What he did was unforgivable."
"Then why are you here?" she asked sharply.
"Because mistakes don't erase blood," he said.
"And blood doesn't disappear just because it's inconvenient."
Krish stepped forward.
"Sir, Kashvi and Kriday are safe with me."
Dada ji looked at him with respect.
"I know. You've done what a man should do."
Then he turned back to Kashvi.
"I'm not asking you to stay forever," he said.
"Just don't disappear again. Let Ved know… when the time is right."
Her eyes filled.
"And if telling him breaks us?" she asked.
"If it brings back the nightmares?"
Dada ji's voice softened.
"Then I'll stand between Ved and you. I give you my word."
Kriday suddenly looked up.
"Mumma, who is this dada?"
Kashvi pulled him close.
"He's… someone who cares about you," she said carefully.
Dada ji smiled sadly.
"Kashvi beta," he said one last time,
"truth always comes out. The only question is—will it come with trust… or with war?"
She met his gaze.
"You may be powerful," she said firmly,
"but I'm not weak anymore."
He nodded, impressed.
"I see that."
He turned to leave, then paused at the door.
"I won't stop you from leaving," he said.
"But destiny doesn't need permission."
The door closed behind him.
Kashvi exhaled shakily.
Krish placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Are you okay?"
She nodded, though tears shimmered in her eyes.
"Yes," she whispered.
"But something tells me… this isn't over."
Krish looked toward the closed door.
He knew it too.
Far away, Dada ji sat in his car, gripping the DNA report tightly.
"Prepare Ved," he said into the phone.
"He's going to meet his son—whether he's ready or not."