"Uncle… Aunt… is Grandfather still alive?"
By now, Om's repeated shocks had left the entire family stunned.
For more than twenty years, there had been absolutely no trace of Dhoomketu Ahuja. No news. No sightings. Nothing.
And now suddenly, Om was standing before them saying that same man was alive.
Sharda, Manoj, and Vijay could only stare at him in disbelief.
Finally, Vijay spoke in confusion,
"What are you even saying, Om?"
He knew one thing very well—
Om never spoke carelessly.
If he said something, there was always a reason behind it.
But still…
How could a man who had disappeared for over two decades suddenly be alive?
They had searched for him endlessly in the past.
And yet, they had found nothing.
Not even a shadow.
Seeing everyone's confusion, Om calmly spoke,
"Uncle… when I jumped into the lake during college…"
The room fell silent.
"…when I wanted to end my life…"
Vijay and Manoj looked down painfully.
"It was him."
Om slowly lifted the photograph again.
"This same man saved me."
His voice had become softer now, almost emotional.
"He looked strange… dressed like a wandering sage. But there was something different about him. Something… impossible to explain. His face carried this strange glow."
Om's eyes drifted into old memories.
"He pulled me out of that lake… and then he changed my life."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"He guided me. He gave me direction. He gave me a reason to live again."
Then Om looked firmly toward everyone.
"I know this sounds impossible. But I'm telling you with complete certainty…"
He tightened his grip on the photograph.
"This is the man who saved my life."
The room went silent again.
After a long pause, Om spoke once more,
"Uncle… I don't know why he left the house all those years ago. But one thing I do know…"
His eyes grew serious.
"He never truly abandoned you."
Everyone quietly listened.
"Because when I was at the worst point of my life… he stood beside me. He supported me. He gave me a second life."
Then Om smiled faintly.
"And the only reason I'm standing before all of you like this today… is because of him."
His voice lowered.
"As far as I understand… Grandfather stayed away from us while secretly watching over us all this time."
Then after a pause, he added softly,
"There must've been a reason why he kept himself distant."
After hearing him, Vijay and Manoj exchanged silent glances.
Then slowly, Vijay sat down on the sofa and stared at his father's photograph with tired eyes.
"I don't know, Om…"
His voice carried sadness and helplessness together.
"We never truly understood him. We never knew what he did… why he did things… how he lived…"
A bitter smile crossed his face.
"He never told us anything."
Then he looked toward Om.
"But if you're saying he's alive… then I believe you."
For a brief moment, relief appeared in his eyes.
"At least knowing he's alive feels good."
But that relief quickly faded.
"Still… I don't know why he stayed away from us. And honestly, if what you're saying is true…"
He looked back at the photograph again.
"Then maybe we shouldn't try to find him."
Everyone looked at Vijay.
"If he truly wanted to come back to us… he would've returned long ago."
His voice broke slightly.
"Maybe he doesn't want to meet us."
Then he shook his head slowly.
"So we shouldn't keep hoping anymore."
The entire house fell into complete silence after those words.
But the very next second—
Om spoke with firm determination.
"No, Uncle."
Everyone looked toward him instantly.
"I'm going to find him."
The moment those words echoed through the hall, everyone was shocked again.
Sharda immediately panicked.
"Om, what are you saying, son?"
Vijay also quickly stood up and walked toward him anxiously.
"No, Om… nobody knows where he is, how he's living, or what he's doing! And if he truly doesn't want to meet us, then there's no point searching for him."
Then his voice softened with fear.
"And I don't want to lose you while you go searching for him."
Hearing that, Om finally spoke seriously,
"Uncle… please don't stop me."
There was something heavy in his voice now.
"You don't understand. Every single day… I keep seeing dreams."
Everyone quietly listened.
"A voice keeps calling me…"
His eyes drifted somewhere far away.
"Go find your grandfather."
The words sent chills through the room.
"Every day… the same dream… the same voice… it keeps haunting me."
Then Om looked toward them with unwavering eyes.
"And now that I know he's alive… how can I ignore him?"
His voice became emotional for the first time.
"I have so many questions for him. I have to give him Father's letter."
He placed his hand on the photograph.
"He's my grandfather."
Then slowly, Om continued,
"And he's the elder of this family."
His eyes grew firm again.
"And our values don't teach us to leave our elders alone somewhere in the world."
After hearing him, Vijay fell silent.
But Sharda still looked worried.
"My son… what if something happens to you?"
Tears welled up in her eyes.
"What if you never find him?"
Her voice trembled badly now.
"I don't want to lose you, Om. I don't want anything to happen to you."
She folded her hands emotionally.
"Please listen to me… leave this stubborn idea. Our family has finally found peace after so many hardships. We're finally happy."
Then she looked at him like a mother afraid of losing her child.
"At least for your sisters… for me… don't go."
Hearing her emotional words, Om gently held her hands and smiled lovingly.
"Aunt…"
His voice softened deeply.
"Who understands the importance of family better than me?"
Then after a pause, he added,
"And honestly… right now, I need all of you the most."
But slowly, his expression changed again.
"Still… do you want me to live my whole life without knowing my purpose?"
Those words made everyone silent.
"I still don't understand why I was given a second life."
His eyes lowered.
"Everything I've done until now… it always felt like fate was forcing me toward it."
Then he looked back at Sharda.
"But every single day… I feel something inside me telling me this isn't my real path."
The room had become completely still.
"It feels like something else is waiting for me."
And then quietly—
"And somewhere… that answer is connected to Grandfather."
Tears formed in Sharda's eyes.
Om continued softly,
"And Aunt… don't you want your father-in-law's blessings?"
Then he smiled painfully.
"Don't you want your son to understand the true purpose of his life?"
His voice cracked slightly.
"Or do you want me to spend my future lost and incomplete… living without meaning?"
Nobody had words left anymore.
Then Om said quietly,
"I want my grandfather."
The emotion in his voice finally broke through.
"Maybe I never got to sit in his lap as a child…"
A faint smile appeared.
"But now, in my youth… I want him beside me."
His eyes turned moist.
"I want him to teach me and my siblings what life truly means."
Then he folded his hands gently.
"He's our elder…"
And finally—
"I want the protection of my elders over my head."
By now, everyone's hearts had melted completely.
The entire family sat there silently, emotional and saddened by the thought of Om leaving.
Seeing everyone so upset, Om suddenly smiled and held Sharda's shoulder playfully.
"But Aunt… it's not like I'm leaving forever."
The atmosphere softened slightly.
"My real home is in your embrace."
Then he grinned lightly.
"And I promise, I'll return after finding Grandfather… and we'll all live together happily."
He leaned closer dramatically.
"So now tell me… will my lovely aunt really send her Om away with a sad face?"
Then suddenly he added mischievously,
"Because if you allow me to leave while crying… then I'll marry some random girl wherever I go and settle there forever. I won't come back!"
The moment he said that, Sharda burst into laughter and lightly smacked his head.
"Shut up, idiot! Stop talking nonsense."
Then she smiled emotionally.
"Your wedding will happen only when I arrange it… and it'll happen properly with full celebration."
Finally, after a deep breath, she nodded.
"Fine. Go find your grandfather."
Then she quickly added,
"But not right now. Stay with us for a few more days first."
And then she narrowed her eyes playfully.
"And remember… I have conditions too."
Om immediately bowed dramatically.
"As you command, Queen Aunt! Your son accepts everything!"
Sharda smiled through her tears and said,
"First—you'll always take care of yourself."
She pointed at him seriously.
"And you'll call me at least once every day."
Then her voice softened again.
"And if you can't find Grandfather… don't lose hope and don't stay alone out there sadly. Just come back home."
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"I can't bear seeing you unhappy, my child."
The next second, Om hugged her tightly.
And while smiling in the warmth of a mother's embrace, he softly whispered,
"I won't be sad, Mom…"
Then after a pause—
"Never."
And lost in these memories, Om didn't even realize when his car finally arrived at the gates of Indraprastha Bungalows.