The library was silent except for the soft tapping of keys and quiet murmurs of the five young investigators. Aralyn, Liya, Rishika, Diya, and Rhea had been combing through the Raichand–Malhotra networks all night, accessing old archives, financial records, travel logs, and encrypted communications. Every file was a potential lead, every document a clue to Mukul's lost siblings.
After hours of painstaking research, Aralyn paused and leaned closer to the screen.
"Diya… look at this," she whispered, her voice tight with anticipation.
The Breakthrough
Diya adjusted the terminal and peered at the data. The network logs had been confusing at first, but Aralyn's persistence had paid off.
"I think… I found something. A record of a younger daughter of Avni Raichand—Anaya Ahir," Diya said carefully.
Aralyn's heart skipped. She had known the names from the story, but seeing it in an official record made it real.
"Where is she now?" Aralyn asked, her voice barely audible.
Diya scanned the files and cross-referenced a series of digital footprints. "It seems she's currently living in a city under an assumed identity for safety. Her network logs are limited—probably intentionally—but yes… she's reachable. If you want, you can contact her directly."
Aralyn's Resolve
Aralyn felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. This was the first tangible lead they had found. A younger sibling of Mukul and a direct connection to Avni—the person she had come to see as her mother.
She looked at Diya, her eyes filled with determination. "If she's available, I need to talk to her. She could tell us more… maybe about the other siblings too. And I need to do it carefully. Mukul cannot know yet."
Diya nodded. "We'll coordinate. We'll make sure your approach is discreet. No one outside this room will suspect we're tracking her. It's time we take the first step toward reuniting this family."
The First Step Toward Reunion
The five friends leaned in over the terminal once again, mapping routes, verifying identities, and planning a careful, secret approach. Every detail mattered—the timing, the communications, the cover stories.
For the first time, hope began to stir in the quiet corners of the Raichand–Malhotra estate. One lead had opened the door, and the journey to finding Mukul's lost siblings had officially begun.
Aralyn's resolve hardened: "We will bring them all back. One step at a time… starting with Anaya."
The night stretched on, illuminated only by the screens and the determination of five young hearts determined to rewrite the story of a family torn apart by time.