The rain had stopped by the time Ved Oberoi reached the quiet street near Kashvi's house.
London looked normal.
Cars passing.
People walking.
No one noticing the storm that had just begun behind the scenes.
Across the city, Kashvi Mehra sat in her study staring at the same photograph that had already reached every news channel.
Her standing at the gate.
Ved alive across the street.
Her phone had stopped ringing only because she had turned it off.
For the first time in years, control had slipped.
But only slightly.
A knock came at the study door.
Her assistant stepped in carefully.
"Ma'am… someone is here to see you."
Kashvi didn't look up.
"No meetings today."
"He said you'd want to see him."
That made her pause.
"Who?"
Before the assistant could answer—
A familiar voice came from the doorway.
"Hello, Kashvi."
Her eyes lifted slowly.
Ved Oberoi stood there.
Alive.
Real.
Inside her house.
The assistant froze awkwardly.
"Leave us," Kashvi said calmly.
The door closed behind him.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
Five years of silence sat between them.
Ved looked around the room slowly.
"You haven't changed the house."
Kashvi's voice remained steady.
"Why are you here?"
Ved met her eyes.
"You already know."
"The photo?" she asked.
"That's part of it."
She stood up slowly from her chair.
"You should have stayed hidden."
Ved tilted his head slightly.
"You really think hiding was my plan?"
Her gaze sharpened.
"What do you want, Ved?"
His answer came without hesitation.
"The truth."
Kashvi almost smiled.
"That's ironic."
Ved ignored the tone.
"Krish didn't shoot me."
"I know," Kashvi replied calmly.
That answer made him pause.
For the first time, surprise flickered across his face.
"You know?"
"Yes."
Ved studied her carefully.
"Then why let him take the fall?"
The question hung in the air.
Kashvi walked to the window, looking out at the quiet garden.
"Because someone had to."
Ved's eyes hardened.
"That's not justice."
"No," she said softly.
"It's survival."
Silence settled between them.
Ved stepped closer.
"There were two shooters that night."
Kashvi didn't turn.
"Yes."
"You knew that too?"
Another pause.
Then she finally faced him again.
Her expression was calm.
Controlled.
"Ved… you're not the only one who learned things after that night."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Meaning?"
She walked back to her desk and opened a drawer.
From inside, she pulled out a file and placed it on the table.
Ved looked at it but didn't touch it.
"What is this?"
Her voice was quiet.
"The reason you're still alive."
For the first time since walking into the room—
Ved felt the ground shift slightly beneath him.
Because whatever Kashvi had just placed on that table…
Was something even he hadn't expected.