The night air in the Raichand estate was unusually heavy, as though it carried the echo of Mukul's cries from earlier. The cousins sat together in the courtyard under the pale glow of the moon. No one spoke at first—each of them was still haunted by the image of Mukul breaking for the first time.
Rhea Malhotra's voice broke the silence."He's been carrying this… all alone. Eighteen years. Do you realize what that means? Not a single night without the weight of those numbers."
Diya Knight, her eyes red from holding back her own tears, nodded. "And he never told us. Never asked for help. Always smiling, always pretending he's fine. He didn't even let himself cry until tonight."
Rishika Raichand clenched her fists. "That timer in his room… it isn't just a machine. It's a prison. Every second, a reminder. He doesn't need to say it—we know what it means to him."
Liya Moreau's voice trembled, but there was steel beneath it. "Then we make him a promise. If he can't allow himself to ask for help, we'll give it anyway. We'll find his brothers and sisters. We'll bring them back. For him. For Aunt Avni."
Aralyn's Resolve
Aralyn had been quiet until now, her gaze fixed on the stars. She remembered Mukul's words—how he had never seen their faces, how his mother had searched without rest for eighteen years.
She turned to the four cousins, her expression calm but resolute."I don't have Raichand blood. I'm not tied to your family by name. But I've seen what Mukul hides behind his strength. I've seen what it costs him to carry that timer in his heart. From this night forward, I'm with you. His pain… is mine too."
The cousins looked at her, surprised by the fire in her words. Then one by one, they nodded.
The Unspoken Pact
They formed a circle, hands clasped together tightly. The night wind whispered through the courtyard as if sealing their promise.
Diya spoke first. "For Mukul's tears."Rhea added, "For the years he lost."Liya whispered, "For the siblings he's never seen."Rishika said firmly, "For Aunt Avni, who never stopped searching."And finally, Aralyn: "For the boy who has carried the world on his shoulders—we'll help him find the pieces of his heart."
Their voices blended into the night. It wasn't just a vow. It was the birth of a mission—one Mukul himself did not yet know existed.
The Turning Point
From that night forward, the cousins and Aralyn carried a secret between them. Quietly, without telling Mukul, they began to weave plans—studying old records, tracing networks, and watching for hidden clues.
Mukul would continue to train, to lead, to carry his burdens as he always had. But for the first time in eighteen years, he was no longer alone in his search—whether he knew it or not.
The vow was sealed, unbreakable as blood.
And the stars above bore silent witness to the night when destiny began to shift.