The jet landed in London just before dawn.
The city was still half asleep. A thin fog hung over the runway as Kashvi stepped out of the aircraft.
She hadn't slept the entire flight.
Her mind had been replaying one thing over and over—
Kriday meeting that man.
A black car was already waiting.
"Home," she told the driver.
The streets passed in silence as the sky slowly turned grey. London looked calm, ordinary… like nothing had changed.
But Kashvi knew better.
Someone had already crossed into her world.
And she was about to find out who.
The gates of her house opened.
Security was tighter than usual.
Two guards at the entrance. Cameras active.
She stepped inside quickly.
"Where is Kriday?" she asked.
"In the garden, ma'am," one of the staff replied.
Kashvi walked straight toward the back lawn.
Morning sunlight had just started spreading across the grass.
Kriday sat on a bench with a chessboard in front of him, completely focused on arranging the pieces.
He looked up when he heard footsteps.
"Mumma!"
He ran toward her instantly.
For a moment Kashvi allowed herself to just hold him.
Ten years old.
Safe.
Right here.
"You came early," Kriday said happily.
"I said I would."
He grinned.
"Good. Because I wanted to show you something."
Her instincts sharpened slightly.
"What?"
Kriday pointed toward the chessboard.
"He taught me this opening yesterday."
Kashvi's expression stilled.
"He?" she asked calmly.
Kriday nodded.
"The man I told you about."
Her gaze hardened almost invisibly.
"He came inside the house?"
"No," Kriday said casually. "We played here in the garden."
Her pulse sharpened.
"You played chess… with a stranger?"
"He wasn't scary," Kriday shrugged. "He was actually nice."
Kashvi crouched slightly so their eyes met.
"What did he look like?"
Kriday thought for a moment.
"Tall. Black coat. And… quiet."
"Did he tell you his name?"
Kriday shook his head.
"No."
Then he added something casually—
"But he knew yours."
Kashvi's expression didn't change.
"What exactly did he say?"
Kriday moved a chess piece on the board.
"He said… 'Your mother is very good at strategy.'"
Silence settled around them.
Kriday continued, unaware.
"And he said something else too."
Kashvi waited.
Kriday looked up.
"He said… 'One day you'll understand the game she's playing.'"
For a moment the world seemed very still.
Then Kashvi slowly stood up.
"Kriday," she said calmly, "if you see that man again, you tell me immediately."
"Why?" he asked.
"Because," she replied softly, "he shouldn't be talking to you."
Kriday nodded, though he didn't fully understand.
Then he suddenly smiled.
"Oh! And he left something."
Kashvi's attention snapped back.
"What?"
Kriday reached into his hoodie pocket and pulled out a small folded paper.
"I forgot to give this to you yesterday."
He handed it to her.
Kashvi unfolded it slowly.
Only three words were written.
Welcome home, Kashvi.
And below it—
A symbol she recognized instantly.
The same symbol that had been on the pen drive in Singapore.
The same mark that had appeared in the wedding footage files.
Her grip tightened slightly.
Because now it was undeniable.
The man who met Kriday.
The one sending messages.
The one watching the house.
He wasn't hiding anymore.
He had followed her all the way back to London.
And he wanted her to know it.