Shubman didn't know how he was surviving because his heart definitely stopped working after that call.

He had just come back from Ishan's house, sad and exhausted. It felt like he hadn't eaten properly in forever. With Ishan missing, Raj's real memory suddenly coming back into his life, it was all too much to bear. His mind tortured him with painful thoughts: What would he do if Raj came back? How did he allow himself to fall for Ishan in the first place? What if he lost Ishan too?What if Ishan is never found.

Just then, his phone rang.It was Ashish sir!

"Hello, Sir," Shubman answered, his voice trembling with anxiety.

"Shubman,It's me" Ishan's voice crackled over the line.

"Ishaaaaan!" Shubman's voice was like a prayer, a desperate chant to the almighty for his most precious possession. "Where are you? Are you okay? Are you alright?"

"No, I am not at all alright and I am with Ashish sir,safe." Ishan's voice sounded weak but unmistakably familiar.

"Stay there, I am coming to get you," Shubman said, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and relief.

"No, I am coming with Ashish sir to you. What if they target you on the way?" Ishan's concern seeped through his exhaustion.

"What if they target you again? I can't lose you!" Shubman's voice cracked, the thought of losing Ishan unbearable.

"As if I can lose you!" Ishan tried to sound reassuring, but his voice wavered.

Then Ashish Nehra took the phone. "Don't worry, Shubman. We'll be cautious. I am sharing my live location with you right now in case anything happen."

"Thank you, Sir. Please, be careful. I can't... I can't lose him," Shubman said, his voice barely a whisper as he fought back tears.

Shubman quickly called Aditi and told her to come over. Shahneel was with her, so they all hurried back. Shubman started pacing back and forth, his tension mounting with every passing minute. He just prayed Ishan was safe.

The doorbell rang. Shubman almost ran towards the door. It was Aditi and Shahneel.

"Why did you call us back in such an emergency? I had to run back without completing our work," Shahneel asked, her brow furrowed with concern.

"Ishan called me."

"What? Where is he? Is Raj bhaia coming too?" Aditi asked, eyes wide with hope.

"No, Ishan is with Ashish sir. I don't know the details. They are coming here," Shubman explained, trying to keep his voice steady.

They waited for almost an hour, the tension thick in the air. Finally, Ashish Nehra and Ishan arrived.

Aditi opened the door and immediately hugged Ishan tightly. Shubman stood back, his heart aching to hold Ishan but remembering their last encounter-the anger and pain in Ishan's eyes. He stayed rooted to the spot.

Ishan looked at him, eyes softening. "Sorry for the last time. How is your head?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.

That was the breaking point for Shubman. He rushed forward and hugged Ishan tightly. "I would happily take a head injury from you every day rather than lose you," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion.

They all sat in the drawing room, and Ashish began to explain.

"I bought a coconut garden and a house some days before. Today, my two boys and I were playing cricket there. It's at the last part of the city, so it's really calm and non-crowded. My younger son hit a six, and it went to the house where Ishan was kidnapped and kept. He went to fetch the ball, and I was waiting.

After some time, he came running and told me there was a man tied there, but that man seemed known to him, like from my playing team.So I rushed there and saw Ishan."

"How did you two come out without anyone seeing?" Shubman asked, still holding Ishan's hand tightly.

"Well, there wasn't much of a security. I think they weren't professional kidnappers. There were two people having lunch while I went inside. It looked like they were too sure nobody would come to rescue him. I took the back lane and rescued him," Ashish explained.

Ishan spoke this time, his voice trembling. "I completely lost hope. I don't know how I survived. They threatened me that today was my last day."

"Why didn't you send me the live location that day,Ishan?" Aditi asked.

"Because the housekeeper, Kaka, gave me Raj's number, so I thought it wouldn't be anyone fake. It's my brother, he said he would only meet me if I didn't share about this with anybody. I didn't want to lose the last hope of meeting him!" Ishan's voice cracked with the weight of his emotions.

Shubman's heart ached seeing Ishan in such pain. He pulled Ishan closer, whispering, "We're here for you. You're safe now."

Ishan nodded, tears streaming down his face. "I thought I would never see you all again. I was so scared."

"You don't have to be scared anymore," Shubman said softly. "I won't......I mean we won't let anything happen to you."

Ashish cleared his throat, breaking the moment. "We need to contact the police and report everything. The sooner we get them involved, the better."

Aditi nodded. "I'll make the call."

********

The dining table was set, the aroma of homemade dishes wafting through the air. Ishan's uncle had invited Shubman, Shahneel, and Aditi over for evening snacks,more like they had somewhat invited themselves over call. Beside the table, the children were playing, their laughter filling the room with a fleeting sense of normalcy.

"So, you guys are saying that you wanted to apologize over a cup of tea for blaming me for Ishan's disappearance?" Ishan's uncle asked, a hint of hurt in his voice.

"Yes, actually, and for hiding your children," Shubman said apologetically.

The housekeeper came to serve them the food. Ishan's grandfather, looking weary spoke up, "I wish Ishan and Raj were here too. A perfect happy family. I don't know how much longer I have to wait to see my two apples of my eyes." He wiped a tear from his eye.

"Well, your wish is my command, Grandpa," Ishan said, walking in from outside.

The room fell silent as everyone turned to see Ishan. He looked weary but determined. The children ran to him, excitedly pulling at his hands.

"Ishan"-Ishan's aunt hugged him.

"Take the kids upstairs for a moment," Ishan instructed his aunt gently.

Ishan hugged his uncle tightly, a silent understanding passing between them.

His grandfather looked shocked. "Raj is coming too, Grandpa. Looks like your prayers got answered," Ishan bluffed while sitting down at the table.

Just then, the housekeeper's dish dropped to the floor, clattering loudly.

"What happened, Kaka? Are you too surprised to see me? Or to hear about Raj?" Ishan asked sternly.

"You're bluffing," the grandfather said, his voice trembling.

"Why would he bluff, Dad? I talked to Raj too. He's on his way," Ishan's uncle said, his voice full of hope.

"Grandpa, you don't look happy," Ishan said, his eyes narrowing.

"Enough of this nonsense.Why won't I be happy.I am feeling sick. I'm going to my room," the grandfather said, attempting to stand up.

"No, Dad, stay for a bit. You missed them, right? Right, Dad?" Ishan's uncle squeezed the grandfather's hand tightly, preventing him from getting up.

Ishan leaned forward, his voice low and filled with emotion. "Grandpa, why did you do it? Why did you kidnap me?"

The room fell silent again. The air grew heavy with tension.

"What are you talking about, Ishan?" his grandfather stammered, trying to maintain his composure.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about. Don't pretend now.I have told uncle everything over phone.All these years, you've been hiding behind a mask of love and care. But it was all a lie, wasn't it?" Ishan's voice trembled with anger and pain.

"Ishan, you're not making any sense," the grandfather said, his voice growing more desperate.

"Why did you do it, Dad? Why did you kidnap Ishan?" Ishan's uncle asked, his voice a mix of confusion and accusation.

"I swear, I just wanted to... I never meant any harm. But Raj isn't coming,right? You all are lying!" the grandfather stammered, his facade of calm shattering.

"Why are you so sure Raj isn't coming,Unless you know something we don't"Ishan's uncle demanded, his voice rising with each word.

The grandfather's eyes darted around, his lips pressed into a thin line. "I... I don't know what you're talking about. Raj isn't coming because he's not... he's not here."

Before anyone could respond, Aditi's dog, which had been lying quietly in the corner, suddenly bolted to the garden and began barking furiously at a specific spot.

"What's got into him now?" Shahneel asked, puzzled.

Ishan's uncle furrowed his brow. "Why does that dog always bark at that same place whenever he is in our house?"

Aditi's eyes widened as a realization hit her. "Wait, I remember now. This stray dog was police trained. He was injured and abandoned, and we adopted him."

"A trained dog wouldn't bark at a particular place without a reason," Ishan's uncle said, suspicion creeping into his voice.

At that moment, there was a knock at the door. Ashish Nehra entered with a group of police officers. "I've brought the police. They were waiting outside," Ashish announced.

"Ahh,the timing couldn't be better Ashish sir"-Shubman said.

Ishan's uncle quickly explained the dog's behavior to the lead officer. "He keeps barking at the same spot. It's a police-trained dog. There might be something there."

The officer nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "We need to dig that spot immediately."

"No one touches my house without any proof!" the grandfather yelled, his face red with fury.

The housekeeper tried to slip away with an excuse. "I'll go get some tools to help with the digging."

Ishan stepped in front of him, blocking his path. "You're not going anywhere."

The police began digging at the spot the dog had indicated. The tension was palpable, the air thick with anticipation. Everyone watched as the soil was turned over, inch by inch.

After a few minutes, a police officer's shovel hit something solid. He carefully brushed away the dirt to reveal a piece of fabric. He continued digging, and slowly, a boy's body emerged from the earth.

A collective gasp filled the air. Shubman's heart pounded in his chest. "No... it can't be."

The digging continued, and another body was unearthed, followed by another, and then a fourth.

Shubman's eyes filled with tears as he recognized the last body. "Raj... he was wearing that dress the last time I saw him.The last time he was snatched away from me,before someone hit me on my head" His voice broke, and he fell to his knees, overcome with grief.

Ishan stared at the body in shock, his mind refusing to accept what his eyes were seeing. His legs felt weak, and he stumbled forward, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "No... Raj... this can't be happening," he whispered, tears streaming down his face. "Raj!"

The grief quickly turned to rage. Ishan's vision blurred with tears, and he grabbed a shovel from the ground. He stormed towards the housekeeper, his body shaking with fury. "You did it, didn't you? You told me Raj was hard to manipulate!"

The housekeeper cowered, stepping back in fear. "No, I didn't-"

"Don't hurt my son!" the grandfather shouted, his voice cracking.

Everyone froze, the weight of his words sinking in.

"Son?" Ishan's uncle repeated, shocked. "The housekeeper is your son?"

The grandfather's face twisted with a sinister smile. "Yes, he's my son. And I did everything for him.You guys were never my real family."

"You destroyed our family for your greed. You took everything from us!" Ishan shouted, his voice trembling with anger and pain.

"I did what I had to do! It was all supposed to be mine and my son's!" the grandfather screamed.

"Dad tell me it's all lie,tell me you are my dad,my hero I have known growing up"-Ishan's uncle said.

"Yes,they are true. I killed Raj and I tried to kill you, Ishan. I did it all for my son, who deserve better.When your grandfather died,I married your grandmother for her property.I pretended to love her.I never loved her.She was a rich widow with two boy,she was easy to manipulate.My real love was someone else,I sent my love in India and we had a son. That son is the housekeeper you see here!" Grandpa's voice was filled with rage and bitterness when he told this to Ishan.

Ishan's uncle looked devastated, while Aditi and Shahneel were too stunned to speak.

"That's why you always favored Kaka," Ishan said, his voice trembling with a mix of anger and sadness.

"I did it for my son!" Grandpa screamed at Ishan's Uncle "He deserved everything! Not you guys! I killed my wife and fabricated it to look like an accident,I thought all her property will be mine. what did I find out? That woman named all her property to you two brothers. So I had to wait until you were adults. Then when I sent Ishan and Raj's parents in India,killed them here and made it look like a car crash,buried their body here but again what did I find out? In their absence, they named you to handle their property until Raj and Ishan took over!"

"So why did you keep me alive then?" Ishan's uncle asked, his voice filled with a mixture of confusion and rage.

"You just got lucky every time! You know, I tried to remove everyone one by one. It wasn't an easy game; it took me years of planning to do it." Grandpa's laugh was sinister, sending chills down everyone's spine.

"And you, Shubman, you were just another puppet of mine. I sent that locket and photo to that island, which was also famous for black magic. But you ruined it when the locket accidentally went with you. So I took information about you! Don't you really think it's way too coincidental that you met the very person whose locket was with you? Because I tracked you and sent Raj there, making an excuse. I pushed Raj to the level where he would leave for India. You see, killing is always easier here!My son do it for me."

"You are a monster! How could you kill four person who trusted you love you!"-Ishan screamed.

"I tried to kill Raj many times, but Shubman being the stubborn lover never left his side,always saved him. so I had to kill Raj in front of him and hurt him too.The poor therapist of Shubman had to die without any reason, because if he hadn't died, how would I have given that medicine by impersonating him on video sessions?You guys were leading a happy life in abroad where my son has to act as housekeeper here in India"

"I deserved to be in that high company suite like you all... but look, I have to wait in this house, be here in India, just waiting for you guys to get killed," the housekeeper said bitterly.

"It was never yours or your father's property. It was my dead father's and mother's hard work," Ishan's uncle said, his voice shaking with fury.

"We all loved you, didn't we, Grandpa?" Ishan's voice cracked with emotion. "You could have told us. We would have happily shared our property, or even left it entirely. Why did you make us orphans, Grandpa? Raj and I, we always trusted you more than our lives. Just once, you could have told us, and Raj and I would have accepted everything. "

Ishan's words hung heavy in the air, each syllable a painful reminder of the betrayal they had endured. Tears streamed down Ishan's cheeks as he looked around at the faces of his family, his heart heavy with grief and anger.

Ishan's uncle, usually stoic and composed, broke down at his nephew's words. He buried his face in his hands, his shoulders shaking with silent sobs. The weight of Ishan's accusation, coupled with the overwhelming grief of losing his mother, brother and nephew, was too much to bear.

Ishan's uncle's wife, the pillar of strength in times of crisis, was visibly shaken. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks as she clung to her husband, offering him whatever solace she could amidst the sea of grief that engulfed them. Her heart ached for her husband and for the nephews she had come to love as her own sons. The reality of the betrayal and the immense loss was almost too much to comprehend.

And then there was Raj's body, lying lifeless on the ground. Shubman's heart constricted painfully in his chest as he took in the sight of his old lover's body. Memories flooded his mind-their laughter, their shared moments of joy, their whispered promises of forever. But now, all that remained was a shell of the man he had loved so deeply. The vibrant, loving Raj was gone, replaced by this lifeless form that could no longer return his love.

Shubman sank to his knees beside Raj's body, his hands trembling as he reached out to touch him one last time. The reality of Raj's death hit him like a sledgehammer, and he felt as though his world was crumbling around him. The pain was unbearable, a hollow ache that seemed to consume his very soul.

"I'm so sorry, Raj," Ishan whispered, his voice barely audible amidst the chorus of mourning around him. "I should have been there for you. I should have protected you." His words were a desperate plea to the universe, a cry of anguish and regret that echoed through the garden.

The police swiftly moved in to arrest the grandfather and the housekeeper. Handcuffs clicked shut around their wrists, and they were led away, their faces twisted with rage and defiance. The sight of their captors being taken into custody brought a bittersweet sense of justice. It was a small comfort amidst the overwhelming grief.

The rest of the family watched in silence as justice finally caught up with the perpetrators. The betrayal cut deep, and the realization that someone they had trusted so implicitly could cause so much pain was almost too much to bear. The air was thick with sorrow, and the once warm and loving home felt cold and empty.

"We will look after you, Ishan," his aunt said, her voice trembling with emotion. She kissed his forehead gently, tears streaming down her face. "I promise, with our own lives, we will protect you from anything. You are not alone. You never will be."

Ishan clung to his aunt, his body wracked with sobs. The warmth of her embrace, the promise of safety, was the only thing that kept him from breaking entirely. He felt the weight of his family's love and support surrounding him, a fragile lifeline in a sea of despair.

The house was filled with the sounds of grief-soft cries, whispered apologies, and the silent mourning of lives forever changed.

[A/N:This is the last chapter and longest chapter I have ever written.Yes many of you guessed right,it was the Grandpa.But I love reading all your brilliant theory tbh. ❤️

The epilogue will also be updated today.
Happy reading you all ❤️]