Four years had passed since Zainab's death.

The date had become one the Roy family never forgot.

Early that morning, everyone gathered at the small memorial built in the Roy Mansion garden.

Fresh white lilies were placed beside Zainab's photograph.

A lamp burned quietly.

Vedant folded his hands before her picture.

"I couldn't be the husband you deserved..."

"I couldn't be beside you when you needed me most."

"I'm sorry, Zainab."

His voice trembled.

"I promise I'll raise our daughter to know that her mother loved her until her very last breath."

A tear rolled down his cheek.

Beside him stood little Vaishnabi, now old enough to understand that her mother was no longer alive.

She looked up at the sky.

"Mumma..."

"Papa says you're a star."

"I got ready for school today."

"When I become a big girl, I'll make you proud."

She folded her tiny hands and smiled innocently at the sky.

Everyone watching wiped away their tears.

Mareena hugged the child tightly.

Standing a short distance away was Shoumili.

She observed everything silently before walking towards Vedant.

In a soft voice she said,

"Son..."

"I still don't understand."

"Why did you hand over your own daughter to someone else?"

"She's your blood."

"You should have kept her with yourself."

Vedant looked at her calmly.

"No."

Shoumili frowned.

"What do you mean?"

Vedant replied firmly,

"You taught me to believe blood is everything."

"But life taught me something else."

He looked towards Abhina, who was helping Vaishnabi adjust her school bag.

"A parent isn't the one who only gives birth."

"A parent is the one who stays."

He turned back towards Shoumili.

"Didi and Hrithik Bhaiya gave Vaishnabi the stability I couldn't."

"They never replaced me."

"They supported me."

"So don't try to make me regret that decision."

Shoumili realised her attempt to manipulate him had failed.

For the first time, Vedant was no longer the easily influenced young man she had once controlled.

Later that afternoon...

Vedant met his old college friend, Rohan, at a café.

Rohan's father had recently retired from the police force.

As they talked, Rohan casually mentioned,

"Dad was telling me about one of the strangest old cases."

Vedant became curious.

"What case?"

"There was a woman years ago who became obsessed with revenge."

"She allegedly manipulated her former husband, drove away his pregnant wife and ruined several lives."

Vedant frowned.

"What was her name?"

Rohan tried to remember.

"I think..."

"...Priya Raj."

Vedant's eyes widened.

"My... biological mother?"

Rohan nodded slowly.

"I didn't know she was related to you."

"My father only mentioned the case."

Vedant's heartbeat quickened.

"What happened?"

Rohan continued,

"She was eventually imprisoned."

"And according to official records, she died in jail."

"But Dad always said one thing about that case never made sense."

Vedant leaned forward.

"What?"

"The night before her death..."

"...a woman visited her in prison."

"The visitor left."

"The next morning Priya was found dead."

"The official investigation couldn't clearly establish what had happened during that final meeting."

"There wasn't enough evidence to reach a conclusion."

"Dad always felt there were unanswered questions."

Vedant sat silently.

Pieces of the past began fitting together.

He remembered Shoumili's strange nervousness whenever Priya's name was mentioned.

He remembered all the lies.

He remembered the manipulation.

"Who was that woman?"

Rohan shook his head.

"No one knows for certain."

"The visitor's identity remained a mystery."

Vedant immediately left the café.

He stood outside, staring at the road.

"If someone met Maa before she died..."

"...then perhaps..."

"...we never knew the whole truth."

Without wasting another second, he took out his phone.

His first call was to Abhinav.

"Papa."

Abhinav answered warmly.

"Yes, Abhipriyo?"

"I think..."

"...I've found something about Maa's death."

Silence followed.

"What?"

Vedant explained everything he had learned.

Abhinav was stunned.

"What are you saying?"

"The case was closed years ago."

"I know."

"But what if it shouldn't have been?"

His second call went to Aryan.

Aryan listened quietly.

When Vedant finished, Aryan sighed deeply.

"I always believed there were things Priya never told either of us."

"If there's really another truth..."

"...then we should find it."

That evening the three men met together.

Abhinav.

Aryan.

Vedant.

All three were astonished by the possibility that Priya's death might not have been as straightforward as everyone had believed.

"We need the old prison records," Aryan said.

"And the visitor logs," Abhinav added.

Vedant nodded.

"I owe it to my mother."

"Whatever the truth is..."

"...I want to know it."

Unbeknownst to them...

From the corridor outside the study...

Shoumili had overheard everything.

Her face turned pale.

She clutched the wall tightly.

"No..."

"They cannot reopen that case..."

She hurried back to her room, visibly shaken.

For the first time in years, genuine fear crossed her face.

Meanwhile, life continued in another corner of the mansion.

Today was also Vaishnabi's first day of school.

Dressed in a tiny blue uniform with two neatly tied ponytails, she proudly carried a school bag almost as big as herself.

Hrithik crouched down to adjust her tie.

"There."

"Perfect."

Abhinav smiled proudly.

"Our little girl is becoming a student."

Vaishnabi grinned.

"I'm going to get stars from my teacher!"

Abhina kissed her forehead.

"I know you will."

The little girl held all three of their hands together.

"Come!"

"I'll be late!"

The adults laughed.

As they walked towards the car, happiness filled their hearts.

None of them realised that while one new journey was beginning for little Vaishnabi...

...another journey had just begun—one that might finally uncover the hidden truth behind Priya's mysterious death.