They drove for hours. Stopped at a small dhaba on some highway. No name. Just lights and chai.
Aryan sat across from Aarya. She wouldn't look at him.
"I know you hate me. You should."
"Then why did you save me?"
"Because I'm tired. Tired of being his puppet. Tired of lying. Tired of watching innocent people die."
"He killed your father. And you worked for him?"
"I was ten when my father died. Vikram came to me. Said he would take care of me. Sent me to good schools. Paid for everything. I didn't know the truth until I was eighteen. By then, I was trapped. He had videos. Photos. Things that would destroy my mother. I had no choice."
Aarya finally looked at him. "And now?"
"Now I don't care. Let him release whatever he wants. I can't live like this anymore. Not after seeing you. Not after watching Captain die."
"He's dead?"
Aryan nodded. "Hospital. Vikram's men finished the job after we left."
Aarya closed her eyes. Another person dead because of her.
"There's something you need to know," Aryan said. "Your mother is alive."
Aarya's eyes snapped open. "What?"
"Vikram told me once. After the 'accident' on Mussoorie Road, your mother didn't die. She was in a coma. Vikram had her moved to a secret hospital. He's been keeping her alive as insurance. In case he ever needs leverage against Karan."
"Where? Where is she?"
"I don't know exactly. But I know who does. Vikram's personal secretary. A woman named Meera. She's been with him for twenty years. She knows everything."
"How do we find her?"
"She lives in Delhi. Greater Kailash. I know the address. But getting to her won't be easy. Vikram will expect us."
Aarya stood up. "Then we don't wait. We go now."
"Aarya, you haven't slept. You haven't eaten. You need—"
"I need my mother, Aryan. She's alive. That's all that matters."
He looked at her. Saw the fire in her eyes. Nodded.
"Okay. Let's go."
They got back in the car. Drove toward Delhi. Toward the truth. Toward a mother who had been dead for weeks but was somehow still alive.