Ayaan received a message from Sameer that Advik would be flying to Brazil for a week and he immediately called Reyansh and Mithun and the three agreed, it was time to strike.
Without wasting a second, Ayaan forwarded every document they had gathered on Advik’s scams to the newly appointed ED Director, instructing him to execute the raid within 24 hours and to maintain absolute secrecy.
Sameer called two trusted officers who would be part of the raiding team and Ayaan spoke to them directly.
“I’ll inform the Director that you two will be inside the raid crew targeting Advik’s old bungalow. Search every corner. I want anything that proves his involvement in underground operations like murder, kidnapping, political manipulation. He has a phone… maybe more. That evidence belongs to me. Find it.” Ayaan said in a sharp and controlled tone.
Both officers responded positively and Ayaan cut the call. Later he entered the bedroom and saw Zara was getting ready for the day. He informed her that the raid would happen within a day. Zara’s heart slammed in panic, but she forced herself to smile and assured him she was fine. She dressed quickly and joined him at the office.
By afternoon, the entire country was shaken. Breaking News flashed everywhere:
BREAKING NEWS: Enforcement Directorate raids properties linked to PM’s son Advik Raghavkar. Officials confirm searches are in progress at several locations.
The raid became an instant national storm. The ruling party lashed out at the ED, accusing them of targeting the Prime Minister by attacking his son. The opposition retaliated, calling it divine justice.
And the public exploded with theories and stated, “ED works under the ruling party. Why would they raid the PM’s son unless there’s a huge internal rift?”
Zara couldn’t focus on a single word on her screen. Her mind kept circling back to the diary.
” What if the officers found it at Advik’s bungalow? What if Ayaan got his hands on it? How do I stop this? ” she thought and Panic tightened her chest. She started pacing in the room fidgeting with her finger.
” Maybe I should talk to Vaishu aunty. She might help me… I could say the diary is mine, but that won’t work. God, I need to tell her anything and beg her to help me retrieve it.” she thought and walked into the conference room where Ayaan was in the middle of a discussion with Sameer. The moment he saw her, Ayaan stood up and gently held her hand, guiding her to the seat beside him.
He was about to dismiss Sameer when Zara stopped him.
“I wanted to meet Mama and Papa. Do you mind if I leave now? I’ll meet them and return home for dinner. I haven’t seen them since Saanvi’s birthday… it’s already been ten days.” she said desperately and Ayaan smiled softly and squeezed her hand.
“Alright, I’ll drive you. Let’s go together.” he said but Zara stopped him again.
“You should stay, Ayaan. Today is a big day. The news is non-stop about the raid. Let me go on my own.” she said holding his hand.
Ayaan hesitated before nodding, though it was clear he didn’t like her going alone. “Come back in the evening… or just call me. I’ll drive over and pick you up,” he said, pressing a gentle kiss to her left eye.
Sameer pretended to be engrossed in the files, giving them privacy.
Zara walked out quickly and called the driver to bring the car around. She arrived at the manor and was greeted warmly by the staff. The home manager informed her that Vaishu and Reyansh were in the playroom with Saanvi, so she headed straight there.
Saanvi squealed the moment she saw her and ran into Zara’s arms. Vaishu and Reyansh smiled at the sight.
“What a surprise. We didn’t know you were coming. And how did that glue-stick husband of yours let you come alone?” Vaishu teased her.
Zara chuckled softly. “He’s busy, Mama. There’s constant information coming in about the raid and he didn’t even sit properly today. I missed you all, so I came on my own. But your son made me promise to return home for dinner, or else he’d come pick me up.” she replied.
They walked toward the living room, but Vaishu noticed the way Zara kept swallowing nervously. She exchanged a glance with Reyansh, who nodded and called the nanny who took Saanvi away to read her a story. Vaishu gently took Zara’s hand and led her to the study and Reyansh closed the door behind them.
“What’s wrong, Zara? You don’t look fine. You can tell me anything.” Vaishu said and Zara’s eyes glistened.
“Mama, papa… I need your help. Ayaan’s men will be searching for evidence against Advik and anything that belonged to Baskar. If Advik has Baskar’s things, there might be a dairy with him. Mama, I need that diary. Ayaan must not see it. Please… please help me.” Zara said and her voice trembled.
Vaishu’s concern deepened, “Why, Zara? Does the diary belong to you?”
Zara hesitated, but she had no other choice and nodded her head. “Yes, Mama. It’s my diary… my personal one. I don’t want anyone, especially Ayaan, to read it. He’ll feel bad about everything I went through.”
Reyansh touched her head gently. “Don’t worry, Zara. If there’s any diary found, I’ll make sure it reaches you.” he assured and relief washed through Zara and Vaishu hugged her tightly.
Reyansh turned on the TV and the headlines flashed, “Advik Raghavkar cancels trip, returning to India immediately.”
Reports claimed that Suryadev remained unusually calm and the opposition immediately questioned his silence. Meanwhile, Ayaan received updates from one of the officers, each report more damning than the last.
Advik had allegedly taken ₹500 crores allotted for the national highway flyover constructions. Another report revealed massive fraud in the rural development funds, along with several other siphoned allocations. The final file stated that Advik possessed 50 Kg of gold, 500Kg kg of silver, ₹2,000 crores in unaccounted money and held documents to extensive land ownership across the country.
Ayaan smirked. He knew exactly what to do with this and there would be no mercy. He instructed the ED Director to make everything public.
Meanwhile, during the raid at the old bungalow, two officers broke open a locked briefcase. Inside, they found an old mobile phone and a diary secured carefully. Without raising suspicion, they slid the items beneath their shirts.
Meanwhile Advik landed at the airport only to be mobbed by media, reporters shouting endless questions about the sudden raid carried out in his absence. Following his father’s instructions, he stayed silent and pushed through.
He arrived at his residence to find his family confined to a single room under staff supervision. The lead ED officer at the property handed him the official raid order but refused to answer any of Advik’s questions.
Advik fumed and demanded to visit his old bungalow but the officers blocked him.
“You are not permitted to leave the premises during the ongoing investigation, even if it is your own property.” one of them said and Advik clenched his jaw in helpless rage.
Everyone involved in Advik’s scams panicked. They desperately contacted one another, tried reaching out to Suryadev, even attempted to get through to Advik’s PA but every door was shut, every call was unanswered.
Even Suryadev was shaken. He could not understand how the ED had suddenly taken such a drastic step, one that threatened to dismantle his reputation and destroy the legacy he had fought years to build. Furious and anxious, he summoned the ED Director to his office but the Director’s assistant replied that the director was unreachable, currently on-site at one of the raid locations.
Three tense days passed. The ED finally prepared to brief the media. Several men, acting on political orders, positioned themselves to intercept the Director before he could speak publicly. But they were outmaneuvered.
The Director never appeared at the headquarters. Instead, he addressed the nation through a video conference, revealing every detail uncovered from Advik’s properties, the misappropriated funds, illegal transactions, unaccounted cash, benami lands, everything.
Meanwhile, the officers who had secured the old mobile phone and diary discreetly handed the items to a representative sent by Hari Narayan. Reyansh had already spoken to Hari, instructing him to send the diary to Reyansh and the mobile phone to Ayaan and Hari fulfilled the request without question.
Advik was arrested after the raids for further investigation and riots erupted across multiple states. Everywhere, people demanded that Prime Minister Suryadev step down, accusing him of shielding his son and failing the nation. The entire country and the world watched the unfolding tension.
Amid the political storm, Vaishu prepared to make a public appearance, a move that immediately caught national attention.
When Ayaan, Vaishu, and Reyansh arrived in Delhi, the media erupted with speculation, rumours flood every news channel and social platform.
Behind the scenes, a crucial meeting was held. Ishaan and Hari Narayan, along with Vaishu, Ayaan, and Reyansh, joined a video conference with key members of the opposition. The atmosphere was tense, the stakes higher than ever as they planned their next steps.
The room fell silent when Ishaan leaned forward and addressed everyone. The senior leaders straightened, sensing the shift.
“It is time my mother Vaishnavi Rey officially joins the party. She knows this party, its strengths, the people, and the pulse of the nation. And in a moment like this, when the country needs stability and integrity, her presence will only fortify.” Ishaan declared and his voice was steady and commanding. He let his gaze sweep across the room.
“Everything required for the party to rise will be taken care of… just as Advik was handled. Resources will flow and the narrative will change.” Ishaan said and a few members exchanged glances but none dared to interrupt him.
“And I want every single member here to ensure that she is welcomed with respect. No remarks, no whispered doubts, no comparisons. My mother deserves nothing less than dignity and cooperation. I won’t tolerate anything otherwise. My brother Ayaan and grandpa would work from shadows and if required Ayaan would step up to support ” he said and the leaders nodded one by one, some with conviction and others with the cautious respect which Ishaan’s authority demanded.
Vaishu exhaled softly beside him and folded her hands greeting everyone of them in the call.
“I am not here to wear a title. I am joining this party because the nation deserves better than the chaos and corruption ruling it today. The current government has failed its people. It has failed the very idea of democracy. And I intend to stand with all of you to bring it down, decisively, lawfully and for the sake of every citizen who still believes in justice.” Vaishu said and her eyes hardened.
“Our fight is not for power but for a country that has been betrayed. From this moment on, we work with one purpose and that is to restore dignity and rebuild the nation.” She said and everyone replied positively accepting her words.
“Tomorrow I’ll arrive at the party office and join officially. I will address the media myself,” Vaishu said and Ayaan felt a swell of pride for his mother.
As the call ended, Reyansh pulled Vaishu into a tight hug while Hari Narayan blessed her and handed Baskar’s mobile phone to Ayaan.
Ayaan stepped out of the room with Sameer following but Sameer stopped at a respectful distance. By now, he was used to the lovesick routine of Ayaan but said nothing.
Ayaan dialed Zara, who was at the manor working on her laptop. She pushed it aside and answered him.
“How are you, Mrs. Ayaan?” he asked in a teasing tone.
“I’m fine, Mr. Ayaan. You left less than twenty-four hours ago,” she replied, making him groan dramatically.
“I’m already missing you and can’t wait to see you. Everything is set for tomorrow,” he said and heard Saanvi and Ved’s voices in the background.
” Seems like your partners have arrived. Take care. Call me before you sleep,” he added before hanging up.
He handed Baskar’s mobile to Sameer with instructions to retrieve every piece of information from it.
Meanwhile, inside the room, Hari Narayan passed the diary wrapped in a paper to Vaishu for which the couple thanked him.
Vaishu and Reyansh returned to their room and she immediately reached for the diary, intending to remove the cover and send a picture to Zara for confirmation. But the moment her eyes fell on the diary, her hands froze. She had seen the diary countless times. It was the same velvet-covered diary she had gifted to the dead Zara.
Reyansh stiffened beside her, equally stunned.
“Ansh… this diary… this is not Zara’s diary, why did she lie? Why did she say this diary belonged to her?” Vaishu whispered, confusion lacing her voice. Her instincts urged her to open it and Reyansh silently nodded.
They sat together as Vaishu opened the dairy, her fingers trembled as she touched the old photograph inside. She flipped through a few pages filled with memories, confessions and truths neither of them had expected to revisit. Tears slipped onto the paper and a broken sob escaped her. Reyansh pulled her into his chest and stroke her arm gently.
“She ruined our son… she destroyed him for power. She backstabbed us all,” Vaishu said through her sobs.
“But our son found real love. Our daughter Zara won his heart. She even knew about this diary, yet chose to hide it just so Ayaan wouldn’t be hurt again. She protected him from a truth that could shatter him. That speaks louder than anything.” Reyansh whispered. He closed the diary carefully and placed it inside the drawer.
“Ayaan needs to know the truth. He deserves closure… and our Zara deserves his love without the shadow of the past.” Vaishu said, wiping her tears, resolve settling in her eyes.
Reyansh hummed in agreement and squeezed her hand.
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A/N:
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