Chapter: The Last Promise

Nine months passed.

Life had changed for everyone.

Abhina had settled into married life with Hrittik while continuing her studies. True to his promise, Hrittik never interfered with her education. Every morning he would drop her at college before leaving for work, and every evening he would ask about her classes as though her dreams were his own.

Abhina had once again topped her university examinations, making Abhinav and Mareena immensely proud.

But Roy Mansion had become unusually quiet.

The silence had one reason.

Vedant.

Ever since leaving home, nobody had heard from him except Mareena, who secretly knew he was staying in an ashram and continuing his second-year BBA from a modest college under a different name. She had kept his whereabouts hidden because she wanted him to complete his studies peacefully without feeling trapped by guilt.

However, she never imagined someone else would pay such a heavy price.

---

Zainab's Changing Heart

The girl who had once entered Roy Mansion with greed in her heart had slowly transformed.

She had refused to terminate the pregnancy.

As the months progressed, reality struck harder than she had expected.

She was only twenty-one.

Already underweight before pregnancy, she had become weaker with every passing week.

Stress consumed her.

She often skipped meals.

She cried alone at night, clutching her growing stomach.

Sometimes she whispered,

"Your papa will come... won't he?"

Mareena noticed everything.

No matter what Zainab had done in the past, she couldn't ignore a young girl carrying a child.

Every morning she personally prepared nutritious food.

"Finish this."

"I don't feel hungry..."

"You aren't eating for yourself anymore."

Sometimes Mareena would feed her with her own hands.

Slowly...

The hatred between aunt and niece softened.

One evening Zainab quietly said,

"...Aunty."

Mareena looked up.

"Thank you."

Those two words carried months of regret.

---

Abhinav's Depression

Abhinav, meanwhile, couldn't forgive himself.

He had finally regained both his wife and daughter.

Yet his son was missing.

Every day he stared at Vedant's childhood photograph.

"I failed both my children..."

Mareena would silently place tea beside him.

Neither of them knew how to heal the emptiness.

---

The News

One rainy afternoon the television blared breaking news.

"A twenty-two-year-old unidentified male has met with a severe road accident..."

The reporter showed a blurred image.

The hairstyle...

The build...

It resembled Vedant.

Zainab happened to be watching.

Her face turned pale.

"No..."

Her hands trembled.

"No... Vedant..."

Before anyone could react, her vision blurred.

She collapsed onto the floor.

"Mareena aunty..."

She clutched her stomach in agony.

"My baby..."

Blood slowly stained her clothes.

Everyone froze.

"Hospital!" Abhinav shouted.

"Hurry!"

---

Emergency

The doctors rushed Zainab into the emergency ward.

Minutes later, a senior obstetrician came outside.

"Who is the guardian?"

"We are," Mareena replied anxiously.

The doctor's expression was grave.

"She has gone into premature labour."

"What?"

"She is severely malnourished. Her body weight is very low, and both mother and baby are in critical condition. We will try our best, but I must prepare you—the mother's life is at serious risk."

Mareena felt her legs weaken.

"No... please save her..."

---

Inside the Operation Theatre

As preparations began, Zainab weakly held Mareena's hand.

"Aunty..."

"I'm here."

Tears rolled down Zainab's cheeks.

"I entered your house for money..."

Mareena remained silent.

"I wanted property..."

"I wanted wealth..."

"I purposely became pregnant because I thought once I carried Vedant's child... nobody could remove me from the Roy family."

She smiled bitterly.

"I was selfish."

Another painful contraction made her cry.

"But..."

"My plans changed."

She placed a trembling hand over her stomach.

"I started loving this little one."

"And..."

"I started loving Vedant too."

Her voice broke.

"I wanted us to become a family."

"I waited every day."

"I thought... maybe today he'll return."

She looked at Mareena.

"If he comes..."

"...don't scold him."

"He was scared."

"He isn't a bad person."

Mareena could no longer hold back her tears.

She tightly held Zainab's hand.

"I should have told you where he was."

"I knew."

"I knew he was safe."

"I wanted him to finish his studies."

"I thought I was protecting him."

"I'm sorry..."

"I'm so sorry..."

Zainab smiled weakly.

"I don't blame you..."

The doctors interrupted.

"We need to begin the surgery now."

---

A Ray of Hope

Outside, Abhinav received another phone call regarding the accident.

After verification, the police confirmed,

"The injured boy is not Vedant."

Abhinav closed his eyes in relief.

"Thank God..."

He immediately ran toward the operating theatre doors.

"Mareena!"

"It wasn't Vedant!"

"It wasn't him!"

The news reached Zainab through Mareena before the anaesthesia fully took effect.

A faint smile appeared.

"So..."

"...he's alive."

---

Birth

Hours passed.

The red emergency light continued glowing.

Everyone prayed.

Finally...

A baby's cry echoed through the corridor.

Everyone stood up.

The doctor emerged carrying a tiny infant.

"A baby girl."

The family sighed with relief.

"The child is premature and underweight because of the mother's condition."

"We have shifted her to neonatal intensive care."

"She is alive."

Mareena folded her hands in gratitude.

"But..."

The doctor's face turned solemn.

"The mother is asking for you."

---

The Final Goodbye

Zainab looked unbelievably pale.

Machines surrounded her.

Her breathing had become shallow.

Mareena sat beside her.

"The baby..."

"She's alive," Mareena whispered.

"You have a beautiful daughter."

A tear escaped Zainab's eye.

"My daughter..."

She smiled.

"I couldn't even hold her..."

She slowly turned towards Mareena.

"Aunty..."

"When Vedant comes..."

"Tell him..."

"I truly loved him."

"Tell him..."

"...to raise our daughter well."

"And..."

"...don't let her become like me."

"Teach her love..."

"...not greed."

Mareena sobbed uncontrollably.

"I promise."

"I promise."

Zainab looked toward the ceiling.

Her lips curved into a peaceful smile.

"Vedant..."

"I waited..."

Her heartbeat slowed.

The monitor gave one long continuous tone.

The doctors rushed forward.

After several desperate attempts, they finally stepped back.

One of them quietly covered her with a white sheet.

"I'm sorry."

"We couldn't save her."

Mareena broke down.

The girl who had entered Roy Mansion seeking wealth had left the world carrying only love and regret.

---

The Phone Call

With trembling hands, Mareena dialled Vedant's number.

He answered immediately.

"Mareena aunty?"

Her voice shook.

"Vedant..."

"You have a daughter."

Silence.

Then...

"...What?"

"A beautiful baby girl."

Vedant's eyes filled with tears.

"And..."

Mareena could barely continue.

"Zainab..."

"...didn't survive."

The phone slipped slightly from Vedant's hand.

"No..."

"Before she passed away, she asked me to tell you that she loved you."

"And she wanted you to return..."

"...and take care of your daughter."

Vedant collapsed to his knees.

For the first time in years...

He cried without restraint.

"I ran away..."

"I left her alone..."

"I'm responsible..."

Mareena gently replied,

"We cannot change the past."

"But your daughter still needs her father."

After a long silence, Vedant wiped his tears.

"I'll come home."

"I'll take responsibility."

"I won't abandon my daughter the way I abandoned Zainab."

He ended the call and looked toward the small temple in the ashram.

"Forgive me, Zainab."

"I couldn't become a good partner."

"But I promise..."

"I'll become a good father."