Dhruv arrived at the Jaipur airport in the evening. The day started against their favor. Raghav was found dead in his sleep. The doctor was unusually tight lipped about the reason. A colleague who was given as emergency contact was called. He requested Chhaya to allow him to take Raghav to his family for the last rites. Chhaya gave no objection, staying calm as she overlooked the process.

A couple of hours later, the next shock hit Mahanidhi. Police arrived to arrest Ankush due to the accident case. The victims were charging the company for unsafe and hazardous environment without proper safety equipment. Dhruv didn't understand why the staff was pushing the charges after being quiet for over a week. They were provided treatment and Ayaan had personally ensured they didn't suffer physically or financially. There was a compensation as well allotted to the affected families to tide over their monthly expenses.

Ankush and Chhaya tried to use high level connections. But the Police Commissioner arrived at the Mahanidhi to oversee the arrest. He took Ankush aside and told him secretly, “Ankush, Raghav is no more. We were informed of his death just this morning. I heard Ayaan is not around and you are saying you can't reach your personal lawyer, Siddhant Arora. In this case, I can't help you at all. You will have to be behind bars. If we don't arrest you now, the victims have threatened to conduct a strike at the Police Headquarters. They are already waiting there to see our response. I must arrest you at any cost.”

Ankush stared at Chhaya with an accusing glance. The Sun and the Moon had the battles of glares and the Sun ultimately won as the police arrested and took away Ankush.

Dhruv didn't like the sight before him. “Mom, we must do something. I will call Ayaan. I am sure he would do something.”

“Relax, Dhruv. Aakriti would not have let the arrest happen in the first place. That's what your Dad is mopping about. He will now find his alone peaceful time in the prison. You were going to Jaipur, right? To see that property? Get going.”

Before Dhruv could comprehend her words, his Mom walked leisurely to her room on the second storey. He gathered his luggage and boarded his flight.

___

The property was a duplex in Mansarovar, Jaipur. With a generic elevation, the house did not stand out of the row of many other in the neighbourhood. He opened the front door with the key he found in his Aunt's room.

The interiors were well maintained unlike Aashayein. The fabric sofa, the cutlery on the dinner table, the well maintained kitchen and an empty except for ice cubes refrigerator looked used over years. Probably, this was Aakriti's adobe away from the silently chaotic Mahanidhi, thought Dhruv.

Ayaan was apprehensive about the man's knowledge of Agnihotris and his unpledged loyalties to the family. So he had asked Dhruv arrange something to deal with Siddhant while they wait for Deepshika to arrive.

Deepshika was another puzzle that unsettled Dhruv. Ayaan seemed confident of her arrival and support. But Dhruv was yet to find out Deepshika's gain out of their mission. His main worry was the heartbreak she was sure to cause Ayaan.

When Deepshika disappeared without a word, he saw Ayaan stiffening himself, trying to focus on his duties. Ayaan did that with not much success, occasionally drifting away during their discussions. Once Dhruv had pat his shoulder to get his attention only to hear Ayaan take her name, “Yeah, Shika, I'm listening.” Even Raghav caught the name and asked if he was fine.

At the end, Dhruv had decided her dangerous to his brother and his family.

---

Ayaan and Siddhant stopped by a train station when they received the news of Raghav's demise.

“This is not good. He was vital for us and we lost him. I'm losing all my hopes, one after another.”

Siddhant consoled him. “Ayaan, I can understand. Do you want to go back? We can deal wuth the property some other time.”

“No. I don't think I can do much about that now. I have already given a 48-hour deadline for Aashayein. I need to see this Jaipur house. The wheels are already in motion. If I stop now, I could lose even what little is left.”

He unscrewed the water bottle, downing the few drops left. Siddhant said there was a railway station nearby where they could buy more water.

At the station, Ayaan bought the water bottles while Siddhant waited for him in the car. He was on phone with Dhruv who had arrived jn Jaipur.

“Come soon! The train is leaving!” A lady shouted.

A teenager dashed by Ayaan as he ran towards the door where the lady was standing. He managed to board before the train picked up the speed. All Ayaan managed to hear was the lady saying, “I told you not to step down. The train will move fast. What will I do without you?”

Standing on the platform, holding the chilled bottle, Ayaan thought of the cursed day 25 years ago   that he always tried to forget. As he grew up, the details faded but the fear of being left behind in a strange place always held him. He had never thought of the situation from his mother's point of view. He was only five year old child. Why would his mother ask him to step down from the train without her by his side?

Suddenly, the hatred he held towards her didn't seem justified. Did his mother want him to go away from her?