The airport lights blurred as Kashvi walked toward the departure gate.
Every step felt heavier than the last, as if the past itself was pulling her back.
Kriday had fallen asleep in her arms, his small fingers tightly clutching her dupatta.
He looked peaceful—unaware of the storm his existence had created.
Behind her, Ved's Dada ji stood still.
The DNA report felt heavier than any luggage he had ever carried.
He dialed Ved's number.
Ved – The Call That Changed Everything
Ved was in his study, staring at old project files, trying to distract himself.
But Kashvi's face refused to leave his mind.
Her calm smile at the mall.
The way she looked… healed.
And broken at the same time.
His phone vibrated.
Dada ji.
"Ved," the voice on the other end was unusually firm,
"how fast can you reach the airport?"
Ved frowned.
"Why? What happened?"
There was a pause.
Then—
"Kriday is alive."
Ved stood up so abruptly his chair fell back.
"What…?"
"He is your son."
Silence.
Not the calm kind.
The kind that shatters something inside you forever.
"You tried to destroy a child you believed was dead,"
Dada ji continued.
"But fate kept him alive… and now he's leaving the country."
Ved's breath became uneven.
"Kashvi…"
The name slipped out like a confession.
At the Departure Gate – Almost Too Late
Ved ran.
For the first time in years, he wasn't running after power, money, or control—
he was running after regret.
"Kashvi!"
She froze.
Slowly, she turned.
Their eyes met.
Years of pain.
Years of misunderstandings.
Years of unsaid apologies.
"You know now," Kashvi said softly.
It wasn't a question.
Ved nodded, his eyes fixed on Kriday.
"My son…"
His voice cracked.
Kashvi tightened her hold on Kriday.
"You lost the right to say that five years ago," she replied calmly.
"When you chose your pride over my child."
Ved swallowed hard.
"I know I failed," he said.
"I know I don't deserve forgiveness.
But at least let me be responsible for him."
Krish stepped forward.
"She didn't raise him alone because she wanted to," he said firmly.
"She did it because she had no choice."
Ved looked at Krish, finally understanding everything.
"You protected them," Ved said quietly.
Krish nodded.
"Because someone had to."
The Choice Kashvi Makes
The boarding announcement echoed.
"Final call for flight to London."
Kashvi closed her eyes for a second.
Then she looked at Ved.
"I'm not taking him away from you," she said.
"I'm taking him away from the man you used to be."
She adjusted Kriday in her arms.
"When you learn to be a father… not an owner—
maybe then we'll talk."
She turned.
And this time, Ved didn't stop her.
Because for the first time,
he understood—
Love isn't possession.
It's patience