It had been six hours.
Morning had come, but peace had not.
Inside the locked room, Lily—Neva—sat by the window. Her small body was still, her eyes empty as silent tears rolled down her cheeks. The door was locked from the inside. No one could reach her.
Outside, panic had already begun.
"Lily baby… come on, open the door, love," Rafsan pleaded, knocking gently at first, then harder.
No response.
Down the driveway, cars sped in rapidly. Security tightened instantly.
Nikolai stepped out of the car, his expression sharp—but it shifted the moment he looked up.
He froze.
"Why is Lily standing on the window?" Olivia said, confusion in her voice.
Then it hit.
Nikolai's eyes widened in pure terror.
"LILITH GET DOWN!" he roared.
Everyone rushed out.
His heart pounded violently against his chest.
Upstairs, Lily stood at the edge.
No tears.
No movement.
Just emptiness.
The door was still locked.
Nikolai didn't wait.
He ran upstairs at full speed.
Behind him, the family screamed, cried, begged.
Sohan's voice broke completely as he shouted in desperation,
"Kripya aisa mat karo mere bachche wahan se neeche utar jao!"
(Please don't do this, my child, get down from there!)
The door wouldn't open.
Nikolai stepped back—
BANG!
He kicked it once.
The door shattered open.
Inside—
She moved.
She was about to jump.
"NO!" Nikolai screamed.
He lunged forward and caught her just in time, pulling her back with force, wrapping his arms tightly around her trembling body.
"I'm here… I'm here…" he whispered desperately, holding her close.
For a second—
Nothing.
Then she broke.
Loud sobs tore out of her chest as she clung to him.
"Lily wanna die!!" she cried uncontrollably.
"Shhhh… it's okay… look at me, baby," Nikolai said softly.
She slowly lifted her watery eyes.
He kissed them gently.
"Lily!" Sohan rushed into the room. "Are you crazy?! What were you thinking?!"
Her voice shook violently.
"L… l… no b… b… bad g… g… girl b… but w… w… why t… t… they h… hurt m… m… me!"
She broke down again.
Sohan immediately pulled her into a hug.
"Shhhhh… it's okay, sweetie… calm down…"
Her nose was red, her ears flushed from crying.
"Nikki back?" she asked weakly.
"Yes, love. He's back," Riyana said gently.
But her expression hardened again through tears.
"L… Lily still mad… and n… now s… s… shoes!"
She suddenly pulled away and grabbed a bag.
The room fell silent.
She opened it.
Sniffed.
Then—
THROW!
A shoe flew straight at Nikolai.
"Hey—Lilith!" he said, dodging.
"Why you go huh!" she shouted, throwing another.
The room froze.
Just minutes ago, she had almost died.
Now she was attacking him with shoes.
Hammad burst out laughing.
She turned sharply, glaring at him.
"O… oh y… you think it funny huh!"
Shoes started flying toward everyone.
"Hey—we are sorry, Lily!" Valerio said, shielding himself.
"Big m… meanie!" she cried.
Karim laughed lightly while Anika wiped tears from her eyes.
"We are sorry, Tiny Queen!" they all said together.
She ran out of shoes.
Silence.
Then slowly—
She turned to Rohan.
A mischievous grin spread across her face.
"Ronny… r… remember when you said you do anything Lily say?"
Rohan froze.
"Huh?"
"Y… you, Dammy, Vicky… lose. Now you do anything Lily say!" she clapped happily.
"Oh no," Vishal muttered.
"Hum gaye kaam se(We are doom)" Damian sighed.
Urlima laughed.
Across the room—
Nikolai just smiled at her.
By noon, rain poured heavily.
Thunder echoed across the sky.
Inside a locked room, Nikolai had changed Lilith into an oversized hoodie—large enough to wrap them both.
They sat together, tangled in each other's arms, holding on tightly.
Neither of them wanted to let go.
Down the hallway, Rima walked quietly.
She heard soft sobbing.
Two voices.
Children.
She opened the door.
Inside, the twin girls cried as Asif struggled to calm them.
"Shut up and sleep!" he snapped.
Rima's eyes darkened instantly.
"Hey. That's not how you talk to your kids."
The twins sniffed, clinging to each other.
"Move," she said coldly.
"Asif, they're my kids—"
"If you don't move right now, I will tie your arms around your neck and your legs behind your back. Move."
Something in her voice—
Power.
Not just anger.
It made him step aside.
She sat on the bed, softening immediately.
"Hi babies… what's wrong?"
"Auntie… I scawed of wain…" Yasmin whispered, clutching her bunny.
"The rain is scary, right sweethearts?"
"Uh huh…" Yasmine nodded.
Thunder struck.
They gasped and jumped into her arms.
She held them tightly.
"Shhhh… it's okay… how about I tell you a story?"
"Okay prewy auntie…" Yasmin said.
They were four years old—full of life, laughter, innocence.
But not anymore.
"Pretty auntie…" Yasmine whispered softly, "Baba doesn't read me stories anymore… he doesn't play with me and my sissy… he doesn't answer me… he just yells… and they said mama went to the Almighty…"
Rima's expression turned cold.
She looked at Asif.
Fury.
"It's okay, loves… I'll talk to him. I promise."
She stood.
"Come on, let's go."
She bathed them, dressed them in pajamas, dried their hair.
Tickled them.
And finally—
They laughed again.
Asif stood quietly.
Watching.
His daughters were smiling.
Because of her.
Something shifted inside him.
Rima laid them down gently.
She began reading.
"And the bear got his honey… and lived happily ever after. The end."
They were asleep.
She kissed their foreheads and turned off the light.
Then—
She turned to Asif.
Without warning—
She grabbed his hair, covered his mouth, and dragged him outside.
She slammed him against the wall.
SLAP!
"Are you fucking mad?!" she hissed.
He stared at her.
Silent.
"Yelling at them because they're crying? Asking their father for a bedtime story?!"
He looked away.
"What kind of father are you? Would your wife be happy seeing this?!"
Silence.
Then—
"I'm tired…" he said quietly. "I have work in Russia… I don't know what to do… I can't leave them… no one wants to take care of them… the last one beat them…"
His voice cracked.
"I don't know what to do…"
Rima sighed.
Then spoke calmly.
"I have a mansion near Nikolai's. It's big enough for 200 people. You and the girls stay there. When you travel, drop them with me."
He looked at her, stunned.
"If you say anything, I'll slap you again. Goodnight."
She walked away.
Behind her—
He smiled.
Morning came again.
Nikolai sat quietly, rocking his tiny wife as she slept in his arms.
He had almost lost her.
Outside—
Aarav stood watching Nishi.
She handed money to her elderly father, Mr. Kabir Hossain.
"It's not enough… I'll work again tonight," she said.
"My child… you need rest," he replied weakly.
"She will rest," Aarav said as he stepped forward.
"Assalamu Alaikum."
"I want to take Nishi to New York to study," he continued calmly. "And I want to marry her."
Nishi froze.
"I hate seeing her struggle while your second wife takes everything from her. I've arranged medical school for her. She's the topper—she passed her final exams."
He stood firm.
"I ask your permission to marry your daughter."
Silence.
Then—
"Yes," Mr. Kabir said.
"Baba…" Nishi whispered.
"No, my child… you deserve better. Make me proud."
Tears filled her eyes as she hugged him.
"We'll get married this Thursday. Please be there," Aarav said.
"I will," he nodded.
As Aarav turned—
He saw his parents.
"Hi Nishi!" Riyana smiled.
"Don't worry. We'll take care of her. She'll study. She's in good hands."
"Thank you…" Mr. Kabir said softly.
Nishi looked at Aarav.
He smiled.
Then walked back inside.
Outside, the wind moved through the silent mansion.
And somewhere deep within it—
A storm was still building.