With trembling hands, Vani zipped her bag and took a deep breath. Fatigue was written on her face, but deeper than that was fear. She walked up to a senior nurse in the hospital and said in a low voice,
"If anyone asks about me... just say I wasn't feeling well and went home."
The nurse gave her a questioning look.
"Are you alright, Dr. Diya?"
But instead of answering, Vani lowered her head and turned away. There was a different restlessness in her walk today. She didn't seem like the usual calm and professional Vani.
---
Meanwhile, Payal had regained consciousness. Jay leaned toward her and said,
"I'll be back soon. Take care of Daksh."
Jay left the ward, but his mind was still there. Daksh's condition had shattered his heart — but meeting Vani had now become essential. Because now, it wasn't a doubt anymore — it was a certainty.
Vani was 'Dr. Diya'.
He walked quickly to the nurse station. Seeing a nurse ahead, he stopped. The nurse hesitantly smiled and asked,
"Yes, sir. How may I help you?"
"Where is Dr. Diya's cabin?" Jay asked in a cold, flat voice.
Startled by his seriousness, the nurse quickly gave him directions.
Jay stormed in that direction. His heart was pounding — What if Vani escapes again? What if she disappears from his life once more?
When he reached the cabin, he pushed the door open without knocking. But inside… there was silence.
Empty chairs. Files left untouched on the desk.
Vani was gone.
He rushed back out and asked another nurse,
"This is Dr. Diya's cabin, right?"
"Yes, sir," the nurse replied. "But she's not here right now."
"What do you mean she's not here?" Jay's voice turned stern.
The nurse quickly replied, "She wasn't feeling well... so she took a half-day and went home."
Jay listened to her and waved her off.
The nurse had been scared already — she didn't need more prompting to disappear.
Now Jay's face was a mixture of anger and frustration. His eyes blazed with fire, and his walk stormed like a thundercloud. No one dared cross his path. The corridors of the hospital fell silent — as if everyone could feel his presence.
As soon as he stepped outside, he pulled out his phone and dialed his assistant, Neel.
When Neel answered, a voice cold as ice spoke from the other end,
"Get me the full profile of Dr. Diya from Lifeline Hospital on my desk by this evening. And I want her current address within ten minutes. If you fail, be ready to find yourself in a desert starting tomorrow."
Neel sighed after ending the call,
"Oh God! Who provoked this monster again? My fate is just cursed!"
Without wasting time, Neel contacted the hospital M.D. and began digging into Vani a.k.a. 'Dr. Diya's' background.
The game had begun.
Jay's search… and Vani's truth… were now in motion.
---
The silence of the night spread all around, but inside Jay, a storm was raging.
Sitting in his car seat, Jay was lost in his thoughts. His eyes were fixed on the closed windows of Vani's house.
"No more of this hide-and-seek, Miss Butterfly," he whispered to himself.
"This time, you won't fly away. This time… the battle will be face-to-face, and victory… will be mine."
His smile had a cold cruelty in it.
---
Inside, Vani sat curled up, her face buried in her knees.
She was imprisoned by her own fear… Jay's shadow refused to leave her mind.
"You are not weak, Vani… No… You have to be strong… for yourself and for your child…"
She kept trying to convince herself, but the fear in her heart wouldn't go away.
"Did Jay find out about my baby?"
"No! I will keep him away from Jeev… at any cost!"
She prayed in a muffled voice,
"Please God, give me the strength… to protect my child…"
---
Just then the doorbell rang… once… twice… thrice…
Vani jolted up.
Her heartbeat raced.
Her heart warned her—"Don't open the door… It could be Jay outside."
But then a voice called out—
"Mumma!"
Vani opened the door and standing there was her little life — Jeev.
He ran and wrapped his tiny arms around her.
"Mumma, what happened? Were you crying?"
"No, sweetheart… Everything is fine now…"
Their small world smiled again.
---
In the hall, Jeev and Nisha began playing.
"Mausi, you're like a penguin!"
"What? Did you just call me a penguin?"
"From now on, I'll call you Panda!"
Nisha laughed and chased him.
Vani stood watching them from a distance, smiling.
"I won't let you ruin this happy world, Jay!"
---
In the darkness of night, while everyone slept…
Jay's car crept even closer to the house.
After midnight, Jay entered Vani's house silently.
Breaking locks was child's play for him.
He walked straight toward her room…
The soft nightlight glowed in the room.
On the bed, Vani slept holding her son Jeev close to her heart.
Jay paused for a moment…
Then gently placed his hand on Vani's head…
---
Vani stirred in her sleep…
It felt like a stranger had brushed her soul.
She winced… then slowly opened her eyes.
And in front of her… was Jay…
So close.
She was about to scream when Jay put his hand over her mouth—
"Shhh… Don't make a sound, Vani."
---
There was a storm of emotions in Jay's eyes…
While fear and shock filled Vani's.
For a moment, she was frozen.
"W-what are you doing here?"
Her breath caught in her throat.
Jay looked deep into her eyes—
"To say what was left unsaid.
And this time…
I won't leave without you."