"But I want to know the real reason behind your coming here," Om said, his voice steady but sharp. "Tell me, Aunt… why are you really here? Because I know hiding isn't the real reason."
The moment Om asked that question, something inside Savita shook.
There was a strange intensity in his eyes… a cold, piercing glow that made her uneasy. It felt as if that silent light was exposing every hidden truth within her.
A chill ran through her body.
Her voice trembled as she began to speak,
"When I couldn't save myself or my family even after taking that loan… I thought the only option left was to hide from Bali. We kept running… wandering from place to place, hiding like fugitives."
Her breathing grew heavier.
"But one day… I saw an interview on television. It was about Om… and Vijay was with him."
She looked at Om.
"That's when I found out… the boy we had left as an orphan… had become rich."
The room fell silent.
"But when I saw you with Vijay, I thought… maybe his entire property had been handed over to you."
She shook her head slightly.
"But I doubted it. Vijay would never give away his wealth so easily… not to anyone."
"So I decided… I would come to this city and find out the truth about you."
Her voice grew slower, more calculated.
"But there was still a problem. Our relationship with Vijay's family was never good."
"And then… I got an idea."
A pause.
"Why not come to his house… with the entire family?"
Her words sent a ripple of unease through the room.
"Vijay had no connection with Bali, so I thought… at least for a few months, we could stay here safely."
"And I knew Sharda… I knew her nature. I was sure she would let us stay, at least for some time."
"In that time… I planned to find out everything about you."
Her voice dropped.
"And if you really turned out to be rich… then I thought…"
She stopped.
Her lips froze mid-sentence.
Fear crept into her eyes as she glanced at Om.
Before she could continue—
Sharda stepped forward.
Her face was burning with rage.
"What did you think, Sister?" she asked, her teeth clenched, her voice shaking with fury.
Savita flinched.
For a moment, it felt as if the ground beneath her had disappeared. Sharda, who was always calm and kind… now stood before her like a raging storm.
"Sharda… I… I…" Savita stammered, stepping back, unable to meet her eyes.
That hesitation only fueled Sharda's anger further.
"I asked you something!" she roared. "What did you think?"
Her voice echoed through the entire house.
Everyone stood frozen.
No one had ever seen Sharda like this before.
Savita's fear reached its peak.
"I… I thought…" she finally forced the words out, her voice breaking, "…if Om really is rich… then I would manipulate him… gain his trust… take him with me to Delhi…"
Her eyes shut tightly as if she couldn't bear her own truth.
"And somehow… transfer all his property in my name… so I could repay my debt… and live a comfortable life again…"
The moment those words were spoken—
The entire family stood in shock.
Their eyes widened in disbelief.
No one could believe that a person could stoop so low… just for luxury… just for money… without even a trace of regret.
"And I also found out…" Om's voice suddenly cut through the silence again, "…that while I was in the hospital, you tried to run away from here."
Savita slowly opened her eyes.
"Yes…" she admitted quietly. "I was terrified of Bali. I knew he would come after me."
Her voice trembled, but there was still a hint of selfish logic in it.
"And after what you did to him… I was sure he would kill me."
She looked at Om.
"So I thought… why should I die because of your mistake?"
"And that's why… I decided to run away with my son."
Each word she spoke only deepened the disgust in the room.
Everyone stood there, stunned… trying to understand how someone could be so selfish… so heartless… that nothing mattered beyond their own survival.
Then Om spoke again.
His voice was calm… but carried a dangerous edge.
"Alright, Aunt… one last question."
He stepped closer.
"As far as I know… no don gives away crores of rupees for nothing."
His eyes locked onto hers, burning with intensity.
"So tell me…"
A pause.
"What did you give him in return?"
"What did you mortgage to Bali?"
The question hit Savita like a slap.
Her eyes widened.
She had never expected this.
Not from Om.
Not like this.
For the first time… she didn't have an answer.
Her gaze dropped to the ground.
Her silence said everything.
Everyone in the room understood—
Whatever she had done… was something even she was ashamed of.
The same woman who showed no regret for destroying lives…
…now stood there, unable to even speak.
And that only meant one thing—
She had crossed a line far worse than anyone imagined.
Sharda's anger finally exploded.
She rushed forward, grabbing Savita by her shoulders, shaking her violently.
"Why aren't you answering?!" she shouted. "What did you mortgage, Sister? What is it that you're so ashamed to say?"
Her voice broke into a scream—
"Did you sell your body?!"
Savita remained silent.
Not a word.
Not even a denial.
The silence became unbearable.
And then—
A voice echoed from behind.
Calm… but devastating.
"She mortgaged her children."
The words froze time itself.
The entire house fell into a deathly silence.