The flash from the camera still lingered in Kashvi's eyes.
By the time she reached the gate, the black car had already disappeared into the morning traffic.
The street was quiet again.
Too quiet.
Behind her, the security guard looked confused.
"Ma'am, should I alert the police?"
Kashvi turned slowly.
"No."
The answer came calm. Immediate.
Because she already knew something worse was coming.
It started two hours later.
Kashvi was in her study reviewing security footage when her phone began vibrating nonstop.
One notification.
Then another.
Then ten more.
Her assistant's name flashed across the screen.
She answered.
"Kashvi, you need to see the news right now."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"What happened?"
There was a short pause on the line.
Then her assistant said quietly—
"A photo just went viral."
Something cold moved through Kashvi's chest.
"Send it."
The message arrived seconds later.
She opened it.
And the world stopped.
The image was crystal clear.
Her.
Standing at the gate of her London house that morning.
And across the street—
Ved.
Alive.
Facing her.
The headline above the photo read:
"BUSINESS TYCOON KASHVI MEHRA'S DEAD HUSBAND SPOTTED ALIVE IN LONDON."
Another notification appeared.
Breaking News — Ved obroi Case Reopens?
Her phone started ringing again.
Media.
Lawyers.
Board members.
Everyone at once.
Kashvi placed the phone down slowly.
Her face remained perfectly calm.
But inside—
The war had officially begun.
Across the city, in a quiet café near the Thames, Ved watched the same news broadcast on a television mounted above the counter.
The reporter spoke rapidly.
"Five years after the mysterious death of businessman Ved Mehra, a shocking image has surfaced suggesting he may still be alive—"
Ved switched the TV off.
The café returned to silence.
Someone pulled out the chair opposite him.
Krish.
He looked exhausted.
Angry.
Confused.
Krish placed a newspaper on the table.
The same photo covered the front page.
"So," Krish said quietly.
Ved didn't react.
Krish leaned forward.
"You want to explain how the dead man I went to prison for… is suddenly alive?"
Ved met his eyes calmly.
"I was hoping we'd talk."
Krish laughed bitterly.
"Oh we're talking."
He tapped the newspaper.
"Because thanks to this… the whole world is about to ask the same question."
Outside the café window, London traffic moved normally.
But inside—
A story buried five years ago had just returned to life.
And this time—
Everyone was watching.