The house was enveloped in an eerie silence. The night was still, and the only sounds were the faint echoes of the festivities that had recently ended.

Maya and Aarav, still lost in their newfound understanding and warmth, were oblivious to the dark deeds that had just transpired in another part of the house. They sat on their bed, wrapped in each other's presence, the world outside forgotten for the moment.

Meanwhile, in the bedroom, Karan lay motionless, his lifeless eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. Sumitra, with a triumphant smile on her face, stood beside him, the cushion still clutched in her hands. She felt a surge of power and victory. This was her moment; she had finally removed the one obstacle that stood in her way.

Sumitra quickly gathered her thoughts. She knew she had to act fast. Taking a deep breath, she composed herself and walked to the bathroom to wash her hands and face, ensuring no trace of her crime was left. She then returned to the bedroom, positioning Karan's body to make it look as if he had died peacefully in his sleep.

She sighed deeply "Karanji kitne heavy ho aap! waise subah tak ka intezar kyun karna? mere bete ka mayus bhara chehra toh mujhe abhi dekhna hai" she thought with a smile on her face.

Sumitra then made her way to the living room, where she picked up the phone and called the family doctor. In a voice tinged with false panic and sorrow, she informed him of Karan's sudden demise. "Doctor Karanji.. wo aankh nahi khol rahe hai! wo shayad chale gaye" she cried.

"bhabhiji main abhi aata hun" he promised to come immediately.

As she waited, Sumitra rehearsed her story. She had to appear devastated but composed, a grieving widow who had just lost her husband unexpectedly. She knew she could play the part well; she had always been a master of manipulation.

When the doctor arrived, Sumitra led him to the bedroom, tears streaming down her face. The doctor examined Karan and confirmed what she already knew – he was gone.

"kya? aap ek baar phirse dekhiye" she requested.

Doctor sadly replies "inki saansein nahi chal rahi hai main kuch nahi kar sakta"

Sumitra wailed, her cries echoing through the house, waking Maya and Aarav from their tender moment.

Aarav looked towards Maya "yeh maa itna roh kyun rahi hai iss waqt?" he wondered.

Maya said "chalke dekhte hai Aarav.."

Aarav rushed to his father's room, Maya close behind him. The sight of his father lying still, lifeless, hit him like a ton of bricks. He fell to his knees beside the bed, tears streaming down his face. Maya, shocked and grief-stricken, tried to comfort him, but her own tears flowed freely.

"Papa..." he whispered, trying to wake his father, but it was too late.

He turned to the doctor with desperate eyes. "Kya hua? Papa uth kyun nahi rahe hai?"

"Heart attack aaya tha, Aarav. Kisi baat ka inhe bahut dhakka laga tha... afsoos mere aane se pehle hi," the doctor replied, his voice heavy with sympathy.

Aarav couldn't believe that his father was gone. He had wanted to share with him all the pain he had borne in his heart for years, but now that chance was gone. He felt responsible for his father's death, thinking his revelation about Sumitra's abuse had been too much for Karan to handle.

Sumitra, watching the scene unfold, felt a pang of guilt but quickly suppressed it. She had to maintain her facade. She wrapped her arms around Aarav, trying to console him. "Beta, yeh sab kuch itna achanak ho gaya. Hum sabko milkar himmat se kaam lena hoga. Aaj yeh hamari baat nahi sunte toh yeh nahi hota," she said, her voice laced with feigned sorrow.

Aarav, too grief-stricken to notice the insincerity in her tone, nodded, clinging to Maya for support. The family doctor, after offering his condolences, left to make the necessary arrangements.

Aarav remained seated, holding his father's hand and staring at his face. He recalled all the moments he had spent with his father, each memory now a bittersweet reminder of what he had lost.

The news of Karan's death spread quickly, and soon, relatives and friends began arriving to pay their respects. The house that had been filled with the sounds of celebration was now engulfed in mourning. Sumitra played her role perfectly, a picture of a grieving widow, while Aarav and Maya struggled to come to terms with their loss.

Maya grew suspicious at the sudden demise of Karan, as he had been perfectly fine at the wedding. She noticed Sumitra speaking to the family lawyer who had come home with some papers to hand over to Karan.

She overheard Sumitra saying, "Yeh divorce paper wapas le jao aur kisiko iss baare mein batana mat."

The lawyer grew suspicious. "Kahi aapne toh sir ko..." he started.

She snatched the papers from his hands and warned him, "Apna muh band rakho, iska inaam tumhe mil jayega."

Sumitra quickly headed to the bedroom and hid the divorce papers inside her wardrobe. She stepped out and quietly sat beside Karan's body, shedding fake tears. The priest looked at Aarav and said, "Beta, hume ab arti ko leke jaana hoga."

Aarav shook his head vehemently, clutching his father's hand. "Nahi... papa nahi jayenge. Pehle maa chali gayi, papa ko nahi jaane dunga main," he cried, holding Karan's body tightly.

Maya couldn't bear to see him in such a broken state. She placed her hand on his shoulder, her voice gentle yet firm. "Aarav... papa ko leke jaana hoga. Please sambhalo khudko."

Aarav looked at her, his eyes filled with tears and despair. "Nahi, Maya! Yahi toh mere jeene ki wajah they. Inke bina main kya karunga? Kiske liye jeeyunga?" he cried, looking at her.

Maya said softly, "Main hun tumhare saath, hamesha rahungi. Papa ko tumhari maa ke paas jaane do, hmm."

Aarav shook his head in denial, but Maya pulled him into a hug. He cried loudly, mourning the loss of his father. She gave him the courage to complete the last rites. With the help of relatives, he prepared the wooden bier and placed his father on top of it. He grabbed it from one side and walked towards the cemetery ground.

As they reached the cemetery, Aarav placed his father on the pyre and completed the rituals. The priest handed him the wooden stick lit with fire. Aarav had tears in his eyes as he lit the pyre with a heavy heart and watched it burn, the flames reflecting the depth of his grief and loss.

After Karan's passing, Aarav found himself with the sole responsibility of running the family business. He was determined to fulfill his father's dreams and take the business to new heights. One evening, he sat in his father's study room, surrounded by memories and mementos. As he looked through his father's belongings, he found a diary. Curious, he opened it and began to read.

The diary entries revealed his father's deep love for his late wife, Neelam, and the struggles he faced after her death. Karan had written about how difficult it was to bring a new mother for Aarav so that he wouldn't miss Nanduni's presence.

"Nandini, hamara beta bada ho gaya hai... main chahta hun wo iss business ko itna aage le jaaye ki yeh ghar uske awards se bhar jaaye. Main garv se kah sakun haan yeh mera beta hai jisne apni mehnat se apna naam kamaya hai. Main itne saalon se koshish kar raha hun lekin ab tak apna naam share market mein nahi laa paya. Dekhna, mera beta yeh karke dikhayega. Janti ho, jaldi uski shaadi hone waali hai. Main umeed karta hun, Maya uska waise hi saath degi jis tarah tumne mera diya tha."

Aarav felt a surge of emotions as he read his father's words. He could feel the weight of his father's expectations and dreams. He placed the diary close to his heart, tears welling up in his eyes. The love and faith his father had in him were overwhelming. He lay down on the floor, clutching the diary, feeling the presence of his father and mother around him.

Maya walked into the study room and saw Aarav lying on the floor, holding the diary close. She rushed to his side, concerned. "Aarav, kya hua? Tum theek ho?" she asked softly, kneeling beside him.

Aarav looked up at her, his eyes filled with tears. "Maya, papa ne apni diary mein likha hai... unhone hamesha chaha tha ke main iss business ko aage le jaaun, apna naam kamaun. Unhone likha hai ke wo chaahte hain yeh ghar mere awards se bhar jaaye," he said, his voice breaking.

Maya gently wiped his tears and held his hand. "Aarav, tum yeh sab zaroor karoge. Tum apne papa ka sapna poora karoge. Main tumhare saath hun, hamesha," she reassured him.

Aarav nodded, feeling a renewed sense of determination. "Maya, mujhe pata hai ke yeh raasta asaan nahi hoga. Lekin main apne papa ka sapna zaroor poora karunga. Unka naam share market mein zaroor laaunga," he said, his voice firm with resolve.

Maya smiled warmly at him, her eyes reflecting her unwavering support. "Aarav, tum apne papa ke sapne ko jeetne ka junoon ho. Aur tumhe kabhi akela nahi chhodungi. Hum milke yeh sab karenge," she said, giving him the strength he needed.

With Maya by his side, Aarav felt ready to take on the challenges ahead. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but with his father's dreams guiding him and Maya's support, he was determined to succeed. Holding the diary close, Aarav whispered a silent promise to his father, vowing to make him proud.

It was hard, but Aarav gathered his courage and headed to the office for the first time after his father's passing. As he entered the building, a wave of nostalgia and determination washed over him. The employees, who had always respected Karan, were now looking at Aarav with a mixture of sympathy and hope.

Everyone was happy to see him. They gathered around, offering their condolences. Aarav acknowledged them with a nod, his eyes reflecting both grief and resolve.

One of the senior employees, Mr. Sharma, stepped forward. "Aarav Sir, hum sabko aapke papa ki kami mehsoos ho rahi hai. Woh hamesha hamare liye ek misaal rahe."

Aarav smiled, though the sadness lingered in his eyes. "Jaane se zindagi rukti nahi hai, Sharma ji. Humhe iss company ko upar tak leke jaana hai. Aap sab isme meri madad karenge na?" he asked, his voice steady but filled with emotion.

"Yes, Sir, hum hamesha aapke saath hain," Mr. Sharma responded firmly, a sentiment echoed by the rest of the team.

Aarav nodded, feeling a surge of support from his team. "Thank you. Hum sab milke papa ka sapna poora karenge," he said, his voice gaining strength with each word.

With that, Aarav moved towards his father's office, now his. The room felt different, yet familiar. He took a deep breath and sat at the desk, ready to take on the challenges that lay ahead. Opening the first file, he immersed himself in work, determined to make his father's dreams come true.

Throughout the day, he held meetings, discussed projects, and made decisions with a renewed sense of purpose. His employees noticed his dedication and were inspired by his commitment. Maya visited him during lunch, bringing a sense of warmth and support.

"Maya, sab kuch theek lag raha hai. Sab mere saath hain," Aarav said, a hint of relief in his voice.

Maya smiled, placing her hand on his. "Mujhe pata tha tumhe sabka saath milega, Aarav. Tumhare papa ke sapne ko tum zaroor poora karoge."

Aarav squeezed her hand, feeling grateful for her presence. "Tumhare bina yeh sab mushkil hota," he admitted.

"Main hamesha tumhare saath hun," Maya replied, her eyes filled with love and encouragement.

As the day came to an end, Aarav looked around the office, feeling a sense of accomplishment. It was the beginning of a new journey, one that he was ready to embark on with his team and his supportive wife by his side. He knew there would be challenges, but with determination and unity, he was confident they would reach the heights his father had always dreamed of.

Sumitra watched from a distance as Aarav and Maya shared a quiet moment in his office. Seeing them together, with Maya providing unwavering support to Aarav, irked her deeply. She clenched her fists, her eyes narrowing as jealousy and frustration bubbled inside her.

Later that evening, Sumitra cornered Maya in the kitchen, her expression a mix of feigned concern and underlying irritation. "Maya, ek baat kahun? Mujhe tumhari aur Aarav ki fikr ho rahi hai," she began, her voice laced with false sweetness.

Maya turned to face her, sensing the tension but maintaining her composure. "Ji, maa? Kya baat hai?" she asked politely.

Sumitra's eyes glinted with hidden malice. "Aarav pehle hi apne papa ke jaane se kitna toot chuka hai. Tumhare zyada kareeb hone se kahi wo apna dard bhoolne ki koshish toh nahi kar raha? Tumhe samajhna chahiye, uske liye yeh waqt kitna mushkil hai."

Maya remained calm, her voice steady. "Maa, mujhe pata hai Aarav kitne dard mein hai. Main uske saath hun taaki wo apne dard se lad sake. Hum dono milke yeh waqt paar karenge."

Sumitra's irritation grew, but she kept her tone controlled. "Lekin Maya, tumhare itne kareeb hone se kahin aisa na ho ke wo apne kaam pe dhyan na de paye. Company ko bhi toh sambhalna hai na?"

Maya smiled softly, understanding Sumitra's intentions. "Maa, Aarav apne papa ke sapne ko poora karna chahta hai. Uske liye yeh business hi sab kuch hai. Main uske saath hun, taaki wo apne kaam pe aur bhi achhe se dhyan de sake. Hum dono milke yeh zimmedari nibhayenge."

Sumitra's facade slipped for a moment, revealing a flash of anger. "Maya, tum samajh nahi rahi ho. Tumhare itne kareeb hone se..."

Maya cut her off, her voice firm but respectful. "Maa, Aarav ko meri zaroorat hai aur main hamesha uske saath rahungi. Yeh mera farz hai aur main isse kabhi peeche nahi hatungi."

Sumitra's eyes blazed with frustration, but she forced a tight smile. "Theek hai, Maya. Jaise tumhe theek lage," she said, turning away with clenched teeth.

As Sumitra walked away, Maya watched her, realizing the depth of her animosity. Determined to protect Aarav and support him through this challenging time, Maya vowed to remain strong, knowing that together, they could overcome any obstacle, even Sumitra's hidden machinations.