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“Oh, don’t fool your Daadu, little boy,” I laugh.

“Daa…du,” he repeats, this time more confident, and my heart soars. For a moment, everything feels perfect.

I missed hearing Vishnu call me ‘Dad’ when he was Veer’s age. I missed those moments entirely—the innocence in his voice, the pure joy of being called a father—because back then, I’d failed him. I failed to acknowledge him as my son before the world. Even later, when Vishnu was with me, he still chose not to call me ‘Dad,’ and I had no one to blame but myself. I wasn’t there for him when he needed me the most, when he needed his father the most.

But now, hearing my grandson proudly call me Daadu, addressing me with so much love, his little eyes filled with adoration, it feels like life has given me a second chance. That one word doesn’t erase the mistakes I’ve made, but it’s enough to ease some of the guilt that has haunted me for years. As Veer’s tiny arms wrap around my neck, the ache in my heart softens a little, and it feels like a piece of the wound is finally starting to heal.

I glance at Vishnu, who stands rooted in place, his expression shifting from shock to something softer. The tension in his face melts away, if only for a fleeting moment.

“You heard that, Vishnu?” I say, my voice full of joy. “He called me Daadu! After weeks of trying, he finally said it!”

Vishnu nods slowly, his hardened expression giving way to a faint smile. Although the storm is far from over, for the first time in a long while, I see a hint of peace in my son’s eyes, even if it is just for a moment.

VISHNU

I glance toward Dad, who’s now sitting on the colourful play mat with Veer and Avika. His face lights up, brighter than I’ve seen in years, as if someone just handed him the world.

“Veer!” Dad exclaims, scooping my son into his arms again.

The usually composed Chief Minister of this state becomes a kid himself, his laughter bubbling over as Veer pats his face with his tiny hands. It’s surreal, watching Dad. The man who once kept his emotions locked away, now wears his heart on his sleeve for my son. He adores Veer with every fibre of his being.

As I look at them, the cloud of threat that’s been hanging over us resurfaces. I can’t let myself sink into this peaceful moment as chaos looms far too close for comfort.

My phone vibrates again, and I step into the hallway to take the call. Ayaan’s voice filters through the line, informing me that the backup team will be arriving shortly. Ever since the morning’s call with Zayed, I haven’t rested for a second. Back-to-back calls with Ayaan to arrange the additional protection for Dad has consumed my entire day, not to mention the constant updates from my team as they work tirelessly to track Zayed’s location.

Despite tapping my phone to trace the call, my team has hit a dead end. Zayed is using advanced software, rerouting his signal through multiple locations across India—over a dozen at once. Pinpointing his exact location is proving to be a daunting task. Still, my team is scrambling to narrow it down.

My team is working round the clock, pushing every resource to its limit, but I can’t afford to wait for the results to trickle in. I can’t sit back while the threat looms closer. I clench my fists, frustration boiling over. The moment I end Ayaan’s call, my gaze drifts back to the living room. Dad’s laughter fills the air as Veer tries to climb onto his lap again.

I take a deep breath, wondering what Zayed’s next move would be? He knows the Walias are prepared for any threat, so how can he even entertain the thought of stepping into Walia Mansion to harm my family? The sheer audacity of his plan isn’t just infuriating—it’s incomprehensible. But that only means one thing: whatever he’s planning, it’s something big!

I can’t rest until I know my family is truly safe. Time isn’t on our side, and Zayed knows it.

SIMRAN

Three Days Later

I fasten the clasp of my bracelet and glance at the clock. I need to leave for the boutique soon. I have yet to tell Vishnu about my work—a meeting today that will last around four to five hours. It’s something I cannot skip or reschedule. Normally, he wouldn’t have minded. But things are different now. The tension in Walia Mansion has been thick like a storm cloud ever since Zane made that call, issuing his cold, merciless threat.

He is coming for the Walias.

My fingers tremble slightly as I brush my hair aside. No matter how much I try to shake off the fear, it clings to me like a shadow, lurking at the back of my mind. These six days Zane has given us… anything could happen at any moment. I trust Vishnu to protect us, to shield his family like he always does, but the unease inside me refuses to fade. It’s a feeling I can’t name, a storm brewing just beneath the surface, indicating something worse is waiting to happen.

The last three days have been hard on all of us.

The security around Walia Mansion has been doubled. Guards are stationed at every entrance, some even blending in with the household staff. The main gates remain locked at all times, opening only after thorough verification. The police have been alerted, the state on high alert, knowing the Chief Minister and his family have been directly threatened. Every visitor to the mansion, even those from Dad’s NEP party, is thoroughly checked before stepping inside. Even their vehicles undergo strict inspection before being allowed through.

Aksh and Dad have shifted all their meetings here, turning the house into a makeshift war room. Devika, who was supposed to leave with Avika for her cousin’s wedding has also cancelled her plans. She said she wouldn’t risk being away when her family was under threat.

And Vishnu…

He is working like a man on a mission—restless, vigilant, careful, ensuring nothing is left unchecked. The past two nights, I have woken up to find the bed empty beside me. He hasn’t been sleeping, hasn’t been resting. Each time, I have either found him with Abhay and his core team, working tirelessly to track Zane’s whereabouts, or standing alone on the balcony, lost in deep thought. He acts calm for the family, for Veer, for me, but I can see right through him.

He is not calm. Not even close.

And I know why.

Because despite all the security measures, despite all the precautions we’ve taken, Zane is still out there. And Vishnu won’t rest until it’s over—until he’s certain that no one will ever dare to threaten the Walias ever again.