“Enough, Kiaan.”

Miransh’s voice was quiet, but it carried enough authority to silence the entire helicopter.

“No.”

Everyone looked at Palki.

She turned toward Miransh, determination shining through her tear-filled eyes.

Then she looked at Kiaan.

“Tell me, Kiaan.”

Her voice trembled.

“Please… for God’s sake. Tell me the truth.”

Kiaan hesitated.

His gaze shifted toward Miransh.

Miransh gave a slight shake of his head.

A warning.

A refusal.

A plea.

Kiaan saw it all.

Yet he took a deep breath.

Some truths hurt.

But some truths hurt even more when they remain hidden.

“Miransh and I were searching for Jharna Aunty’s murderer.”

The words instantly stole the air from the cabin.

Palki froze.

Kiaan continued.

“We received a strong lead that the murderer would come to the auction to purchase the diamonds.”

Silence followed.

Miransh closed his eyes.

Disappointment flickered across his face.

Not because Kiaan was wrong.

Because the secret he had protected for years was finally slipping out of his hands.

Slowly, understanding dawned on Palki.

Now she understood why Miransh had refused to accompany her.

Why he had seemed distracted.

Why he had disappeared at crucial moments.

Her voice softened.

“Then… did you find him?”

Kiaan looked down.

Then shook his head.

“No.”

A bitter smile touched his lips.

“He’s smart.”

“Very smart.”

“He stole the real diamonds before the auction and replaced them with fake ones.”

Kiaan leaned back against his seat.

“He never needed to come there himself.”

Palki turned toward Miransh.

A mixture of hurt and frustration filled her eyes.

“Why didn’t you tell me any of this before?”

Miransh looked at her.

His expression remained unchanged.

“As if telling you would’ve helped you catch him.”

The sarcasm in his voice was impossible to miss.

Palki immediately fired back.

“Maybe not.”

Her voice rose.

“But I could have helped.”

Miransh’s eyes hardened.

“I don’t want anyone’s life in danger.”

His tone was firm.

“This is my fight.”

The moment the words left his mouth, something broke inside Palki.

“Your fight?”

Her voice cracked.

She stared at him in disbelief.

“She was my best friend too, Ansh.”

The anger in her eyes slowly transformed into pain.

“After mumma left…”

Her voice grew quieter.

“…she was the one who loved me like a mother.”

A tear slipped down her cheek.

“When I cried waiting for my mother to come back, she was the one who comforted me.”

Another tear followed.

“When I felt abandoned, she was there.”

Her breathing became uneven.

“So how can you even think that I have nothing to do with this?”

The entire helicopter fell silent.

Palki’s eyes never left Miransh’s.

“This isn’t just your fight.”

Her voice trembled.

“It’s a fight to get justice for her.”

She pressed a hand against her chest.

“And if it’s about justice for her…”

Her eyes burned with determination.

“Then I’m involved too.”

The words echoed through the cabin.

A moment later, another voice spoke.

“And me too.”

Everyone turned.

Nayab immediately looked nervous under their attention.

She swallowed.

“I didn’t know Jharna Ma’am personally.”

She hesitated.

“But…”

Her voice strengthened.

“I want justice for her too.”

She looked at Miransh.

“And I want to help.”

For several seconds, nobody spoke.

Then Miransh slowly closed his eyes.

His fingers moved to his temples.

As though a headache had suddenly arrived.

When he finally opened his eyes, he looked directly at Kiaan.

“I really feel like throwing you out of this chopper.”

Kiaan didn’t even blink.

His expression remained perfectly calm.

“You can do whatever you want to me later.”

A small smile appeared on his face.

“But I’ve already done my job.”

He gestured toward Palki and Nayab.

“Look.”

“Our team just got two new members.”

Nayab smiled.

Palki folded her arms.

Kiaan continued.

“The team is bigger now.”

His eyes gleamed with confidence.

“And now we’re definitely catching that murderer.”

For the first time, a faint spark of hope entered the conversation.

But it didn’t last long.

Because a question suddenly crossed Palki’s mind.

A question that made her stomach twist.

She looked toward Miransh.

“Who is he?”

The cabin grew quiet again.

“What kind of person kills someone like best friend?”

Her eyes searched his face.

“And what could he possibly have against her?”

Kiaan lowered his gaze.

Nayab became still.

Miransh looked at each of them one by one.

Then he sighed.

A long, weary sigh.

“The only thing I know for certain…”

His voice was calm.

“…is that he’s a mafia leader.”

Palki frowned.

The answer felt incomplete.

Then Miransh looked directly into her eyes.

And said the one thing that changed everything.

“Your mother knew him.”

The world stopped.

Palki’s eyes widened.

Shock crashed into her like a tidal wave.

Nayab’s breath caught.

Kiaan lowered his gaze completely.

Nobody dared to speak.

For several seconds, Palki simply stared at Miransh.

Unable to process what she had heard.

Then she shook her head.

“No…”

Her voice barely came out.

“No.”

She stood abruptly.

“That’s not possible.”

Tears gathered in her eyes.

“Wh-What are you saying?”

Her breathing became uneven.

“My mother knew that criminal?”

She looked at him as if hoping he would take the words back.

As if hoping this was all some horrible misunderstanding.

Then the fear she had been avoiding finally surfaced.

“You mean…”

A tear rolled down her cheek.

“…you think my mother was involved in best friend’s murder?”

The words shattered as they left her lips.

Miransh remained calm.

Painfully calm.

He watched her silently for a moment.

Then he spoke.

“You wanted the truth, didn’t you?”

Palki’s tears continued falling.

Miransh’s gaze never wavered.

“You haven’t even heard one complete truth yet.”

His voice softened.

“But your eyes are already full of tears.”

The words hit her harder than any accusation.

“If this is enough to break you…”

He looked away.

“Then how were you planning to stand beside me?”

Silence filled the helicopter.

Palki lowered her gaze.

His words hurt.

Because they were true.

The truth was only beginning.

And she was already struggling to breathe beneath its weight.

She fell silent.

Her mind drifted far away.

Back to the memories she had spent years protecting.

She remembered her mother.

The woman who had raised her alone.

The woman who fed her with her own hands, braided her hair, tucked her into bed every night, and filled her childhood with warmth despite carrying burdens Palki had never understood.

She remembered sleeping beside her.

Their pillow fights.

Their laughter.

The way her mother would kiss her forehead whenever she was upset.

And then…

The day she left.

The day she had brought Palki to Jharna’s house.

The day everything changed.

Then her thoughts shifted to Jharna.

Her second mother.

The woman who had stepped into the empty space without ever trying to replace it.

The woman who had comforted her, protected her, and loved her as if she were her own daughter.

Both women were precious to her.

Both were missing from her life.

And now…

One was being connected to the other’s death.

The thought alone was unbearable.

A tear escaped her eye.

Quickly, she wiped it away.

Then she looked at Miransh.

Determination slowly replaced the pain in her expression.

“Fine.”

Her voice trembled slightly.

“I won’t cry anymore.”

She straightened her shoulders.

“I want to know the whole truth.”

She was ready to hear it.

But deep inside…

Her heart still refused to believe it.

Miransh understood.

He could see the fear she was trying so desperately to hide.

The fear of losing the image of her mother she had carried for years.

The fear of discovering that everything she believed might be wrong.

“Tell me the truth, Ansh.”

This time there was anger in her voice.

Demand.

Desperation.

Miransh nodded slowly.

“Don’t misunderstand me, Eyelid.”

His voice remained calm.

“I am not blaming your mother for my mother’s death.”

Palki listened carefully.

“I’m only saying that she knew the murderer because…”

He stopped.

The pause stretched.

The tension inside the helicopter thickened.

Palki frowned.

“Because what?”

Miransh took a deep breath.

Then finally said,

“Because your mother was a secret agent.”

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Palki froze.

For a second, she forgot how to breathe.

Even Nayab stared at him in disbelief.

Neither of them could process what they had just heard.

Miransh continued.

“When your mother left you with Momma, she wasn’t leaving for an ordinary reason.”

His eyes softened.

“She was going on a secret mission.”

Palki’s heart pounded violently.

“And I think…”

Miransh paused.

“…that mission was related to the same mafia leader we’re searching for.”

The words sent another wave of shock through her.

“How do you know all this?”

Palki asked immediately.

Miransh looked at her.

“Momma told me.”

“What?”

The word escaped her mouth before she could stop it.

Miransh nodded.

“Do you remember that frog soft toy you had when we were children?”

Palki blinked.

The sudden change of topic confused her.

“Yes.”

“It disappeared once.” 

She narrowed her eyes.

“And then it mysteriously reappeared.”

Miransh cleared his throat.

“I hid it.”

For a moment, complete silence filled the helicopter.

Then Kiaan looked away to hide his smile.

Nayab bit her lip.

Palki stared at Miransh.

“You what?”

A dangerous look appeared on her face.

Miransh wisely ignored it.

Palki pointed a finger at him.

“I’ll deal with that crime later.”

Then she folded her arms.

“What does my poor frog have to do with our mother?”

Miransh sighed.

“To hide the toy, I went into Momma’s room.”

His expression became serious again.

“But then she suddenly entered.”

Palki listened carefully.

“If she had seen me holding your frog, she would’ve immediately known I was responsible.”

A faint hint of embarrassment crossed his face.

“So I hid inside her cupboard.”

“And then…”

His voice lowered.

“I overheard a conversation.”

The memories pulled him back.

Back to that day.

Flashback

Jharna stood near the window, repeatedly trying to call someone.

But the call wasn’t connecting.

Concern was visible on her face.

Just then, Ivaan entered the room.

One look at her expression was enough.

“Trying to call Palki’s mother?”

Jharna sighed.

Ivaan shook his head.

“And let me guess.”

His tone carried mild frustration.

“Like always, her phone isn’t reachable.”

He crossed his arms.

“What kind of mother disappears for months without even calling her child?”

His voice softened.

“Palki deserves better than that.”

Jharna immediately looked at him.

“Don’t say that.”

Ivaan frowned.

“Why?”

Jharna’s eyes filled with emotions.

“Because she isn’t careless.”

She lowered her gaze.

“In fact…”

A sad smile touched her lips.

“What she’s going through right now is probably something neither of us can even imagine.”

Ivaan looked confused.

“What do you mean?”

Jharna hesitated.

Then finally spoke.

“I met Swati Ji.”

Ivaan’s eyes widened instantly.

“What?”

“She’s here? In Mumbai?”

Jharna nodded.

“Yes.”

“She came to meet me.”

Ivaan remained speechless.

Then Jharna revealed the truth.

“She’s a secret agent.”

The room fell silent.

“And she’s currently working on a mission.”

Ivaan stared at her.

Unable to believe what he was hearing.

“Then why doesn’t she meet Palki?”

Jharna’s expression became heavy.

“Because her enemies could use Palki against her.”

She looked toward the photograph of Palki resting on the table.

“If she gets close to Palki right now…”

Her voice broke.

“…Palki’s life could be in danger.”

Ivaan slowly sat down.

Trying to process everything.

“But how has she managed all these years?”

Jharna shook her head.

“I don’t know.”

She smiled sadly.

“I only know that she trusted me.”

Her eyes softened.

“She left Palki in my care.”

A painful silence followed.

“Until she returns…”

Jharna whispered,

“Palki is my responsibility.”

Ivaan looked at her for a long moment.

Then gently placed his hand over hers.

“You’re not alone.”

His voice was reassuring.

“Your responsibility is my responsibility too.”

A smile appeared on Jharna’s face.

“We’ll take care of her together.”

Ivaan pulled her into a hug.

Gently brushing her hair.

Neither of them knew that a young boy hidden inside the cupboard had heard every single word.

Flashback Ends

The helicopter fell silent.

Tears rolled down Palki’s cheeks.

Her entire world had shifted.

“My mother…”

Her voice cracked.

“Does that mean she is…”

The sentence remained unfinished.

She couldn’t say the words.

Couldn’t even think them.

Before she could spiral further into fear—

Miransh pulled her into a hug.

Firm.

Protective.

Comforting.

“Don’t think negatively.”

His voice was quiet near her ear.

“There’s another possibility.”

Palki slowly looked up.

Miransh continued.

“Maybe she’s still on that mission.”

Hope flickered inside her eyes.

“Because that mafia leader is still free.”

She gently moved back.

“If he’s still out there…”

Miransh said,

“Then maybe your mother’s mission never ended.”

Palki stared at him.

Holding onto every word.

“Maybe…”

Miransh continued softly,

“…she’ll come back after completing it.”

A fragile hope began taking shape inside her heart.

Miransh wiped away the tears on her cheeks.

Then looked directly into her eyes.

“That’s why I always stopped you from going to Cape Town.”

Realization dawned on Palki.

“I knew your mother wasn’t there.”

His expression darkened.

“But her enemies might be.”

The seriousness in his voice sent a chill through her.

“Your mother entrusted you to Momma.”

He paused.

“And after Momma’s death…”

His gaze softened.

“…you became my responsibility.”

Palki’s breath caught.

“If something had happened to you…”

His voice lowered.

“…what answer would I have given your mother when she returned?”

Gently, he cupped her face.

The gesture was so natural that neither of them questioned it.

“You have to take care of yourself, Eyelid.”

His thumb brushed away another tear.

“If not for yourself…”

His eyes held hers.

“…then for your mother.”

Palki didn’t respond.

She couldn’t.

Because for the first time in years—

Someone was carrying her fears with her.

And her eyes never left his.

Now she had something she hadn’t had in years.

Hope.

The possibility that her mother was still alive.

The possibility that one day she would return.

Miransh looked at her silently.

His expression remained calm.

Steady.

Unreadable.

But inside, a storm raged.

A familiar guilt settled heavily in his chest.

This isn’t the complete truth.

His gaze lingered on Palki’s hopeful eyes.

And I can’t tell you the complete truth, Eyelid.

He remembered the classified files.

The missing reports.

The unanswered questions.

The evidence that painted a far darker picture than the one he had shared.

For years, he had searched for answers.

And every answer had only created more questions.

His jaw tightened.

I can’t steal your hope Eyelid.

Not today.

Not after watching you break apart and gather yourself back together.

Not after seeing you fight tears just to stand strong.

Not after hearing the longing in your voice whenever you spoke about your mother.

If there was even the slightest chance that your mother was alive…

I wanted that possibility to remain with you.

Even if I myself no longer believed in miracles.

A faint sadness crossed his eyes.

Gone before anyone could notice.

Because some truths healed.

And some truths destroyed.

Miransh wasn’t afraid of carrying painful truths himself.

But he wasn’t ready to place that burden on her shoulders.

Not yet.

Maybe someday.

When the answers were complete.

When the mystery was solved.

When he was absolutely certain.

But not today.

So he simply looked at her.

And for the first time in a very long while—

He chose silence over truth.

Outside, the helicopter continued its journey through the endless sky.

Inside, four people sat together.

Unaware that the truth they were chasing was far bigger…

And far more dangerous…

Than any of them could imagine.

***

Sitara’s Note

We often think that truth sets people free.

But some truths don

‘t bring freedom.

They bring questions.

They shake memories.

They make us doubt everything we once believed.

In this chapter, Palki discovers that the people she loved most carried secrets she never knew existed.

And perhaps that’s one of the hardest parts of growing up—

Realizing that our parents were not just parents.

They were people.

People with fears, responsibilities, sacrifices, and battles they never spoke about.

Sometimes love looks like holding someone’s hand and telling them the truth.

And sometimes love looks like hiding a painful truth because their heart isn’t ready to carry it yet.

Neither choice is easy.

Miransh and Palki are both standing at the same crossroads.

One is searching for answers.

The other is protecting answers.

And somewhere between those answers and secrets lies a fragile thing called hope.

The question is—

How much truth can a person bear before hope begins to break?

Until next chapter,

— Sitara Chandria