The journey back was a blur of heightened senses and hushed whispers. Abhimanyu, with a newfound single-mindedness, navigated them through the winding creeks and open water, his brothers acting as vigilant lookouts. The revelations in the hut had galvanized them, turning their fear into a simmering resolve. Adhiraj’s men were a tangible threat, but the weight of Avantika’s truth, and Aradhya’s innocent face, pushed them forward. They moved under the cloak of pre-dawn darkness, finally slipping into a less-guarded private dock on the outskirts of the city as the first hint of orange bled into the eastern sky. From there, a disguised car, arranged by Reyansh pulling strings with an old contact, brought them to the imposing wrought-iron gates of the Rathod mansion.

The guards, accustomed to the family's erratic hours, merely saluted. No one expected this entourage. The grand entrance hall, usually buzzing with early morning staff, was eerily quiet. Footsteps echoed on the marble as they made their way towards Adhiraj’s study, the nerve center of his dominion. The air was thick with anticipation, a heavy cloak of unspoken words.