On the plane, Nikolai read the paper Austin slipped into his hand. Lilith was asleep beside him. He gently kissed her forehead.
Urlima cried as she covered her face. Juan held her hand tightly and gently wiped away her tears.
"But Umma… how is Austin alive? You held his body from the fire that day," Nathan said.
As Urlima tapped her lap, she suddenly felt something. She slipped her hand into her pocket and pulled out a dirty folded paper.
"A letter…" she whispered.
She slowly unfolded it and began to read.
Dear Umma,
I know you must be thinking how I am alive, but I will tell you everything. I am not the one writing because I don't know how to read and write. A guard is helping me. It's the same guard that I used a small phone with to contact Nikolai, telling him to keep Mahira safe.
I never died. I was sold at six, Umma. I looked for you. I wanted to run back into my mother's arms. For fifteen years… I am now twenty-one. I pray every day for you.
I tried my best to escape this hell just to see my mother again, but I faced torture, abuse, mental and physical. I can't hold on much longer. She controls me. She bought me when I was sixteen.
I was in human trafficking and underground fights just to feed myself. Umma… I want to lay on my mother's lap. I just… want Mom.
I have been in pain, Umma. I tried to kill myself so many times, but I was sold to her for seven hundred million dollars. I am tired, Umma.
If you can save me… but if it's too late, just know that I love you so much.
I just want my mother.
Save me, Mom. Save me.
Urlima continued reading as tears rushed down her face more and more.
Everyone around her knew she was in pain.
The kind of pain that awakened a mother's anger.
The private jet finally landed.
Lilith held Nikolai's hand as guards surrounded them, escorting everyone into the waiting cars.
In another vehicle, Zafraan was on a video call with Clara.
"Be good," he said.
Clara nodded.
"I love you, Lara."
"I love you more, Zee," Clara replied.
He stared at her beautiful glowing face before ending the call.
Inside another car, Valerio saw a picture Naomi had sent to tease him. He grinned before texting her back.
Four hours later, they arrived at Murudeshwar, on the southern coast of India.
Lilith looked outside the window.
Towering temples stretched into the sky.
People prayed peacefully.
Flowers decorated every corner.
The streets carried the scent of incense and blossoms.
Their convoy entered a quiet neighborhood beside a river and an ancient temple.
Nikolai was on a call with Damian.
"I'll ask her," he said before ending the call.
Lilith suddenly noticed several beautiful women wearing fresh flowers in their hair.
"Nikki… I have a little money to buy those flowers for my hair?" she asked softly, pointing toward a nearby flower shop.
"Stop the car," Nikolai ordered.
The convoy immediately stopped.
Lilith grinned happily.
She greeted the local people warmly before purchasing fresh flowers.
She carefully arranged them in her hair, wanting to dress beautifully for Nikolai.
Meanwhile, Nikolai continued checking the wedding preparations on his laptop.
"Let's go!" Lily said happily.
She closed her eyes for a moment, breathing in the sweet fragrance of the flowers.
When she looked back at Nikolai, she saw love and desire reflected in his eyes.
She gently cupped his face.
They shared a long, deep kiss.
The convoy finally entered a peaceful ancestral compound.
Many family members had already gathered outside to welcome them.
Zafraan and Farhan walked toward their parents before bending down to touch their mother and father's feet.
"Bless you," they both said.
Lilith stepped out of the car carrying a small shoulder bag.
Nikolai stepped out beside her.
"Woahhhhhh… who is that?!" one of the ladies exclaimed.
"That's Mahira's husband," Sohan answered proudly.
"She really got married?" one aunt asked in surprise.
"Yes, she did. They even have a daughter together," Farhan replied.
"How was Mil's birthday yesterday?" Ariz asked.
"Come see. She looked so pretty yesterday," he said as he showed everyone the pictures.
"Awwww… Mila is beautiful. Look at her. Love," Riyana smiled.
"Just like her Mama," Sohan said proudly.
"Yeah. Your daughter cried her eyes out all night for four days straight before her birthday," Nikolai said while holding Lily's hand.
Together, Nikolai and Lilith bent respectfully to touch Sohan and Riyana's feet.
"Bless you, dear," they both said at the same time.
Sohan warmly embraced his daughter.
"How is school, my little deer?" he asked.
"Baba… exhausting. Bullies, classes, sports… and oh! I got into the basketball team!" she replied excitedly.
Nikolai smiled proudly.
"Did you crush them on the field?" Sohan asked with a grin.
"Baba, I am very, very short, but I made it to the goal!" Lilith (Mahira) laughed.
She gently wrapped her hands around Nikolai's arm.
Together they looked toward the magnificent ancestral home.
It was a majestic traditional Karnataka ancestral mansion nestled in the lush landscapes of South India, built entirely in timeless heritage architecture with hand-carved teakwood pillars, intricately carved rosewood doors, red oxide floors, sloping terracotta tiled roofs, open courtyards (thotti), ornate wooden balconies, granite foundations, and walls decorated with traditional Hoysala and Vijayanagara-inspired carvings. The estate was surrounded by coconut groves, areca nut plantations, ancient banyan trees, lotus ponds, stone pathways, fragrant jasmine gardens, and lush greenery.
The mansion contained one hundred spacious traditional rooms, including grand family chambers, guest suites, children's rooms, libraries, music halls, prayer rooms, traditional kitchens, dining halls, storage rooms, artisan workshops, meditation rooms, and ceremonial halls. Every room featured handcrafted wooden ceilings, brass oil lamps, carved furniture, silk curtains, traditional Mysore paintings, antique bronze décor, and large windows allowing cool breezes to flow throughout the home.
At the very heart of the estate stood a magnificent ancient-style Hindu temple constructed entirely from hand-carved granite with a towering Dravidian gopuram, intricately sculpted pillars, sacred mandapas, a grand garbhagriha, temple bells, a deepastambha lamp tower, a tulsi courtyard, a sacred peepal tree, a temple tank (kalyani), carved stone elephant statues, beautifully crafted shrines, a yagna hall, priest quarters, a meditation pavilion, flower gardens, and a vast courtyard where traditional festivals and ceremonies had been celebrated for generations.
The estate also included expansive wood-fired kitchens, multiple dining courtyards, grand reception halls, classical dance and music halls, Ayurvedic healing rooms, traditional wrestling grounds (garadi mane), granaries, cattle sheds, horse stables, elephant shelters, stone wells, rainwater harvesting ponds, fruit orchards, spice gardens, and towering laterite stone walls with magnificent carved wooden entrance gates.
Every corner reflected the timeless heritage, spirituality, craftsmanship, culture, and royal traditions of Karnataka, creating an extraordinary ancestral residence that had been preserved by generations of the family.
"Welcome, Mhaira and Nikolai. Come in," Vajrakali said warmly as everyone turned to look at them.