Night had fallen over London.
The Mehra house was quiet.
Kriday was asleep in his room, a chess piece still clutched in his small hand. The knight Ved had given him earlier lay beside his pillow.
Kashvi stood outside his door for a moment, watching him.
Her expression softened.
Then she quietly closed the door.
When she turned, Ved was standing at the end of the hallway.
Arms folded.
Watching her.
"You're good with him," he said.
Kashvi didn't respond immediately.
"I had ten years of practice," she replied calmly.
Ved walked a little closer.
"And ten years of hiding the truth."
Kashvi's eyes sharpened.
"I protected him."
"From me?"
"From this world."
Ved didn't argue.
Instead he handed her a small device.
Kashvi frowned slightly.
"What is this?"
"A tracker."
She looked up.
"I placed one on the car that followed Kriday yesterday."
Her expression changed instantly.
"And?"
Ved turned and walked toward the living room.
Kashvi followed.
He opened his laptop on the table.
A blinking red dot appeared on the map.
"It's moving," he said.
Kashvi leaned closer.
"Where?"
Ved zoomed in.
The location appeared clearly.
A warehouse near the Thames.
Kashvi's jaw tightened.
"They're meeting."
Ved nodded.
"Looks like it."
For a moment both of them stared at the screen.
Then Kashvi spoke.
"We go now."
Ved raised an eyebrow.
"You're giving orders again?"
She looked at him coldly.
"You can stay here if you're scared."
Ved smirked slightly.
"You did try to kill me once. Forgive me if I'm cautious."
Kashvi grabbed her jacket.
"We're wasting time."
Ved stood up.
But before they could move—
A small voice came from the staircase.
"Mumma?"
Both of them turned.
Kriday stood there sleepily.
Holding the chess knight.
His eyes moved between them.
"Where are you going?"
Kashvi immediately walked toward him.
"Just some work, sweetheart."
Kriday frowned.
"Together?"
Ved and Kashvi exchanged a quick glance.
Kriday suddenly smiled.
"That's good."
Kashvi froze slightly.
"Why?"
Kriday shrugged innocently.
"Because the knight and the queen fight better on the same side."
Ved couldn't help but laugh softly.
Kashvi looked at her son.
Then at the chess piece in his hand.
For a moment—
She had no answer.
And somewhere across the city—
Inside the dark warehouse—
Someone was already waiting for them