Seated beside his daughter, Venya, Veer's gaze wandered to the hospital bed where Nand lay, his chest rising and falling with the shallow rhythm of recovery. The room was steeped in an unnatural stillness, broken only by the soft hum of the monitors. Veer's eyes shifted to Balavan, who stood sentinel by his son's side, his posture unyielding, yet his hands tender as they adjusted Nand's blanket. There was a quiet devotion in the older man's actions, a weight of care that spoke volumes about the bond they shared.
For a fleeting moment, an unsettling familiarity clawed at Veer's thoughts. His eyes lingered on Balavan's face—his sharp jawline, the weathered strength in his expression, the faint silver streaking his temples. Something about him stirred Veer's memory, a sensation both distant and vivid, as if Balavan's presence had once been an indelible part of his life.
Veer's gaze fell on Nand once more, studying the man's features—the contours of his face, the softness of his brow, the way his hand rested limply against the bedrail. A strange warmth bloomed in Veer's chest, an inexplicable closeness, as though Nand were not a stranger but someone he had once known intimately. The thought disoriented him. It was absurd, impossible even, and yet it clung to him with a stubborn persistence.
The weight of the moment pressed on Veer, filling the air with an unspoken tension. He tore his eyes away, glancing at Venya, who sat quietly, unaware of her father's inner turmoil. But even as he tried to dismiss the feeling, it lingered—a spectral echo of a connection he could neither place nor comprehend. Veer's mind churned with questions, but no answers came. All he knew was that something about Balavan and Nand stirred the ghosts of a past he could not recall.
Veer's voice, steady yet tinged with emotion, broke the silence. "Many thanks, Nand. You've shown a tremendous deal of bravery today, and I deeply appreciate everything you've done for my daughter." His words carried the weight of genuine gratitude, a rare moment where his guarded demeanor softened, revealing the father beneath the man.
Venya observed the exchange intently, her emotions caught between calm and unease. Though her father's gratitude was clear, she wished he could look beyond the injuries that marred Nand's figure and see the strength, selflessness, and courage that had driven his actions. It wasn't just a matter of saving her life—it was the extraordinary depth of humanity in that act, a quality Venya felt deserved more than mere words. Yet, as Veer gave a small, solemn nod, she felt a flicker of hope that perhaps he did, in his own quiet way, understand.
Balavan, standing beside his son, could no longer contain his emotions. His voice, choked with tears, filled the room with a rawness that left no heart untouched. "He's always been a brave soul," Balavan said, his voice trembling but proud. "But today, he proved just how much he cares for others." His gaze lingered on Nand, his weathered features softening with a mixture of pride and love that only a father could carry.
The words hung in the air like a balm, soothing the tension that had settled between them. Veer, moved by Balavan's sincerity, nodded again, the gesture less formal this time, almost warm. For a brief moment, the room was cocooned in a rare and tranquil understanding, as if the shared acknowledgment of courage and sacrifice bridged the divide between strangers.
What followed was a lull in the conversation, a shared silence that felt less like an absence of words and more like the presence of unspoken camaraderie. It was a quiet, contented pause, where the unsaid was just as powerful as the spoken, and for that fleeting moment, they found solace in the stillness.
Rajeev interjected after a while, providing comfort over nand's state of health and his ongoing advancements. The mood in the room changed from one of anxiety to one of thankfulness and optimism.
With a wave of comfort, Venya saw her father and Nand's brief conversation. She realized then that in addition to saving her life, nand had gained her father's esteem and trust.
Suddenly, a sharp memory pierced through Veer's mind, like the flicker of a match in a darkened room. His thoughts turned to Nandini—Ram's enigmatic girlfriend, who was staying at Rajeev's house. Her face swam before him in vivid detail, and the resemblance was undeniable. If Nandini were to don men's clothing, Veer realized, she would be the mirror image of the man lying on the hospital bed. The symmetry of their features—the sharp cut of the jawline, the delicate slope of the nose, and even the way their expressions rested in moments of quiet—was startling.
The realization set his thoughts racing, threads of logic weaving themselves into a tapestry of possibilities. His gaze darted to Balavan, who was now smoothing a hand over Nand's forehead, murmuring words too soft to hear. Veer's breath caught as the pieces began to fall into place. Balavan wasn't just Nand's father—he was Nandini's father as well. That much Veer knew with certainty. And if the uncanny resemblance between Nand and Nandini was anything to go by, it could only mean one thing: they were twins.
Balavan was eventually queried by Veer: "I believe you had two children who are identical in appearance; are they twins?"
Veer had previously discovered Nandini and perceived numerous similarities between the two. In fact, their appearances are remarkably similar, leading Veer to speculate that they could be biological twins.
Balavan stared at nand with a perplexed expression, not understanding what Veer was trying to communicate. Although Nand was unsure of how to respond, he was mostly concerned about Venya's reaction. Nand understood what Veer really meant when he said those things, and he even yearned to disclose to him the truth. This was the beginning of their relationship; Venya began to like him, and he didn't want her to think the wrong thing about him.
Even though he had seen Venya in person to tell her the truth, he was now concerned about how she would respond if she found out who he really was. He didn't want to lose Venya at any costs.Yes, he treated Venya selfishly, but he also believed that everything in love and battle is fair. God alone knows what transpired in his life.
Prior to Balavan could respond, Venya confirmed, "Yes, dad, they are; Nand and Nandini are siblings."
Balavan didn't want to expose Nand's identify just yet since he believed that Veer was really inquiring about Nandini. Balavan only gave a nod of assent.
Rajeev was really concerned about the connection between nand and Venya, thus he was unable to speak the truth. He considered having a private conversation with nand and disclosing to Venya nand's actual identity.
Rajeev has always held the opinion that relationships should be built on trust rather than fraud and extortion He deliberated on allocating some time for Venya and Nand to engage in an open dialogue, with Rajeev having faith that Nand would be sincere in his approach towards Venya.
Venya felt a feeling of possibilities and optimism for the future as the evening light turned into night and created a serene glow over the hospital room. She felt their narrative was only getting started as she looked at nand, their eyes locking in a quiet agreement.
Unexpectedly, a police officer barged into the room without rapping on the door.
Upon observing the police officer, Veer realized the critical nature of the situation; his officer would only behave in such a manner when the situation was truly imperative.
Being Veer's daughter, Venya was cognizant of the urgency of the situation Veer was in. Upon observing the unannounced police officer enter their ward and the expression of concern on the officer's face, Venya concluded that an urgent matter required his father to depart.
Fearlessly, her sole apprehension is the impending departure from Dharmagiri.