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Ravindra glanced at the clock—it was already 9 a.m., yet Vikrant hadn’t come out for breakfast. He immediately looked towards Sharda, who was still smiling faintly, her eyes lingering near Vikrant’s door. Ravindra, puzzled, gestured to call a maid over to inquire, but before he could say anything, Sharda addressed the maid working beside her.

“Vikrant sir came back very late last night. Earlier, time never made any difference to him, but now his wife probably stays up waiting for him, so I believe he wouldn’t want to disturb her sleep. When they both wake up, take this breakfast to their room.”

Ravindra quietly covered his face and smiled faintly behind the newspaper. He was clearly pleased by the change in Vikrant’s demeanor. Sharda too glanced at him and smiled gently, already understanding how deeply Ravindra appreciated Vikrant’s transformation. This peace, this newfound sense of family harmony, was something they had both silently longed for.

Suddenly, Ravindra’s phone rang. His expression shifted immediately, his smile vanishing into a serious look. He answered the call in a hushed tone.

“Is the job done?”

“Yes, sir,” the voice on the other end replied, “exactly as you ordered. We’ve kidnapped Chandel’s wife and daughter. They were planning to flee, and we caught them trying to sneak through the airport.”

“I have an important meeting today and will be flying to England tonight. Just one more week, and after that, I will personally decide how to deal with Chandel.”

“But sir, if Vikrant sir finds out within the week that you’ve kidnapped Chandel’s family, he may unleash his anger on us.”

Ravindra glanced towards Vikrant’s room with a cold smile and replied calmly.

“Vikrant is very busy at the moment, and I don’t want him distracted or troubled. Chandel is a thorn I must remove myself. But before that, I have some old scores to settle with him—and that’s why I needed his wife and daughter. Until I return from England, no one must release them. Remember this and make sure everyone involved is well informed. If I get even the slightest hint that my orders haven’t been followed… you have no idea what hell could befall you.”

He hung up the call, his gaze still locked onto Vikrant’s closed room door. Then his eyes shifted toward Sonia’s photograph on the wall. He stared at it for a long moment, lost in thought. Sharda noticed his gaze—Ravindra was once again quietly looking at Sonia’s picture, as he often did. She smiled softly and said,

“Ravindra, go eat your breakfast now. You also have a meeting to attend afterward.”

Without a word, Ravindra rose and went to the dining table. As soon as he saw the potato parathas on the table, he said cheerfully,

“Did you make these? Then I’m definitely going to have two more today.”

Sharda, pretending to scold, said, “Not at all. You’ll fall sick. You’re not used to eating so much, and today you’re asking for extras? What’s going on?”

“Today you shouldn’t stop me from anything,” Ravindra replied, still smiling. “I’m very happy today. So it’s certain I’m going to eat a lot.”

Sharda smiled back gently and began serving him without delay. Her eyes, almost involuntarily, drifted toward Sonia’s photograph, a picture she hadn’t truly looked at in years. Ravindra had never allowed anyone to touch or remove any of her photos. Even though it was always visible in their home, no one had dared to look at it directly. But today, Sharda was feeling an immense joy that drew her naturally toward that smiling photograph. Looking at it, she whispered softly,

“You must be happy too today.”

Ravindra heard her murmuring and glanced at her, slightly confused, trying to catch what she had said. But he couldn’t hear her words. Sharda simply smiled and said nothing more. Sharda served Ravindra his second paratha, and the two sat in companionable silence. Yet, both of them knew that something larger was at play, something that stretched beyond the warmth of family breakfasts.

Sharda glanced once more at Sonia’s photograph and whispered in her heart while turning towards Vikrant's room.

“I know you see all of this… Your son finding peace, a partner who loves him, and a family healing slowly. I only wish you were here to witness it.”

Ravindra, unknowingly reading her thoughts, looked at Sharda for a moment and then down at his plate. There was gratitude in his eyes not just for the food, but for the woman who had stood beside Vikrant through shadows and storms. He couldn’t say the words, but he didn’t have to. Sharda had already understood them long ago.

~~~~~

Jhankar is getting ready to leave for the office, but Vikrant keeps interrupting her. He keeps pulling her into his arms, sometimes kissing her and other times pretending to fall asleep while clinging to her on the bed. Laughing, Jhankar says to him,

"Vikrant, stop all this drama. You’re the one who gave me such an important position in the company, and now you won’t even let me leave for the office properly. What exactly do you want?"

Vikrant, still teasing her, replies playfully,

"The office was running smoothly even before. All I want is for you to alternate going to V International one day and come with me to Dhanraj Industries the next. That way, I can spend the entire day with you. After all, you need to be familiar with everything that goes on in Dhanraj Industries too."

He starts kissing her neck while continuing to distract her, and Jhankar tries hard to push him away with all her strength, struggling to free herself. But she knows it’s impossible because the more she tries to push him away, the closer he comes to her. She knows about him all too well. Adjusting her hair and catching her breath, she tells him firmly,

"Look, Vikrant, I wanted to work somewhere else. But when you shared your thoughts with me that you wanted to do something for me, I agreed. I’m genuinely trying my best in the position you’ve given me at V International. You’ve worked so hard to run that company successfully for so many years; it’s your achievement. For me, everything is still new. I don’t yet feel capable enough to take on any major responsibility beyond this. Let me handle just this one place for now. Allow me to understand it properly and give it my best."

As soon as she finishes speaking, Vikrant hugs her from behind, rests his head on her shoulder, and looks at her reflection in the mirror. He softly asks,