"What is going on, Shawn?"
Amon Dela Cruz's voice cut through the corridor like a whip.
Subin turned.
Looked at Shawn.
Shawn said nothing.
His head dropped. He couldn't bring himself to look up — couldn't find the courage to meet his father's eyes.
The people around them quietly disappeared.
Amon stepped forward slowly, closing the distance between them.
"I asked you something."
Still nothing from Shawn.
Subin looked at the man. "Who are you?"
Amon didn't acknowledge him.
His eyes stayed fixed on his son.
"Who is Raha?"
Shawn stayed silent.
"Come with me—"
Amon grabbed his arm and pulled.
Shawn went — but he kept turning back, looking over his shoulder at Subin, everything he wanted to say trapped somewhere behind his eyes.
Subin stood completely still.
And watched them go.
Rohan sat in the police station.
Alone with the noise of it — voices, footsteps, the distant sound of doors opening and closing.
Then —
"Rohan."
Mr. Watson.
Rohan didn't look up.
A police officer stepped forward. "Sir, regarding your son—"
"Shut up." Mr. Watson's voice was quiet and absolute. "Do you have evidence?"
The entire station went still.
"Mr. Subin Ellis filed a—"
"Do. You. Have. Evidence?"
Silence.
"Release my son."
"I'm guilty."
Everyone turned.
Rohan was on his feet.
Mr. Watson went very still.
"Rohan. What are you saying?"
Rohan exhaled — long and slow — like he'd been holding it in for months.
"Meena Lee's suicide." His voice was steady. "I could have stopped it. I chose not to. That makes me responsible."
"Rohan—"
"And Rabina. Bella. Grace." He looked up. "They are equally responsible."
Mr. Watson said nothing.
A police officer stepped forward carefully. "Rohan — you're clearly not well. It's okay. You don't have to—"
"I'm telling the truth." His voice cracked. "I have proof."
Mr. Watson crossed the room in three steps, grabbed Rohan by the arm, and pulled him out of the station — firmly, silently, not stopping until they were outside.
"Have you lost your mind?" he said, his voice shaking now. "What were you saying in there?"
Rohan's eyes were full.
"Why didn't they arrest me? I'm guilty. I should be—"
Mr. Watson pulled him close.
Held on.
"Stop," he said quietly. "You have no fault in this. I know that."
Rohan broke.
"Baba—" His voice collapsed completely. "Raha lost her mother."
Mr. Watson held tighter.
"I heard," he said softly.
"I know what it feels like," Rohan said, crying now — really crying, the way he hadn't let himself since he was small. "To lose someone. I know exactly what it feels like."
Mr. Watson's eyes filled.
"Baba—" Rohan pressed his face against his father's shoulder. "I miss Mom. I miss her so much."
Mr. Watson closed his eyes.
Said nothing.
Just held his son.
Subin sat beside Raha's bed.
Eyes wet.
"Raha—"
He looked at her face and the memories came without asking —
The first time he saw her. The way she had looked at him — careful, quiet, watchful. Meena laughing between them. The three of them sitting together, wasting time the way only people who don't know time is running out ever do.
After a while —
Raha's eyes opened.
She found Subin beside her.
He reached for her hand. "Raha—"
She pulled it away.
Subin went still.
He didn't say anything. Didn't push. Just sat back and let the silence be what it was.
The doctor came in. "Miss Raha will be discharged tomorrow."
Subin looked at her. "Raha — did you hear that?"
No response.
She just lay there, staring at the ceiling.
And then — slowly, silently — tears slid down the sides of her face.
"Is this why I sent you away, Shawn?"
Amon Dela Cruz stood with his arms crossed, his voice tight with something that wasn't quite anger and wasn't quite fear.
"This is why you're here? Fighting in a hospital corridor?"
Shawn's hands were shaking. "Baba — Raha is in trouble."
"Raha." The name landed flatly. "Why are you overreacting like this?"
"She lost her mother." Shawn's voice broke. "She has no one now. Where is she supposed to go?"
He wiped his eyes roughly.
Mr. Dela Cruz looked at his son for a long moment. Said nothing.
The silence stretched.
And then Shawn looked up.
Met his father's eyes directly.
"I love her," he said. Quietly. Completely. "I love Raha. And I'm not leaving her alone like this."