Page 269 of The Redemption
The rest of the world slowly fades away as he gathers me into his arms, both of us surrendering again to the peace we fought so hard to earn.
RAGHAV
Few hours later.
Siya is curled against me now, fast asleep, her head resting over my heart. I lower my gaze and watch her for a long moment, taking in the soft rise and fall of her breathing and the way her fingers remain loosely curled against my chest even in sleep.
My fingers move through her hair as my thoughts drift back over everything that brought me here. A small smile touches my lips. For all these years, I thought redemption meant walking away from violence and leaving the mafia behind. I thought it meant living a quiet life, far away from everything I had once been.
I was wrong. Redemption was never a destination I had to reach. It was never about escaping my past.It was this.Finding love after spending a lifetime feeling lost and finding peace where I least expected it. It was the family waiting for me when I finally stopped running and the people who chose to love me despite my past.
My gaze falls on Siya again, and I realise how everything has come full circle. Every wound I carried, every nightmare that chased me, every piece of my past… all of it led me here.
To her.
Redemption was never about changing who I was. It was about finding my way home.
Epilogue
SIYA
Five Years Later – RK Estate
Today marks the fiftieth anniversary of RK Estate, and for our family, that alone would have been reason enough to celebrate. But today is even more special because it’s also Raghav’s and Ayaan’s birthday.
Coincidentally, they were both born on the very day RK Estate came into existence, the legacy their mother inherited from her maternal family. A fact that never fails to amaze us.
The celebrations are scheduled for the evening, and the entire family has gathered at RK Estate once again. Everyone has come from Mumbai for the occasion, filling the estate with laughter and warmth that only family can bring.
A lot has changed over the past five years. Sometimes, I look around and feel as though we are living the most beautiful chapter of our lives.
RK Estate has flourished, reaching new heights with every passing year. New cottages have been added, and guests now have even more experiences and attractions to choose from during their stay. The estate has grown bigger, grander, and more successful with than we ever imagined. Raghav has also received multiple awards and recognitions for producing someof the finest wines in the country, and each honour still fills me with immense pride.
And me?I finally built the dream I had quietly carried in my heart for years. My own luxury footwear brand.
Princess Walk -Made for the Princess in you.
I chose the name‘Princess’because that is what Raghav still calls me. What better name for my brand thanthat? What began as a dream has grown into one of India’s most sought-after luxury footwear labels, and we’re now preparing for the next phase of expansion. I no longer design for anyone else. Every creation carries my name, my vision, and my identity, and I love every second of it.
I still work from RK Estate, balancing my business and family life. Somehow, life has found a way to give me everything I once dreamt of. Today, however, there is barely a moment to breathe. The preparations for the celebration have kept me busy since morning. After finishing yet another round of last-minute arrangements, I hurry upstairs to check on Raghav.
The moment I push open our bedroom door, the sight of my husband takes my breath away. Raghav is already dressed for the evening. A perfectly tailored black suit hugs his broad frame, making him look every bit as devastatingly handsome as he did the day I met him for the first time. If anything, the last five years have only made him more sexier.
But it’s not the suit that captures my heart. It’s what he’s doing. He’s kneeling beside the bed, carefully helping our four-year-old daughter, Riya, into her tiny sandals while she sits patiently on the edge of the mattress. A smile spreads across my face because this is something I have watched Raghav do ever since our twins were born.
Yes. We have twins too, just like Ayaan and Meher. A boy and a girl. Their twins, Arnav and Myra, turned five this year,and ours are four. And somehow, between the four of them, this house has never known a moment of peace.
Right now, Riya is sitting on the bed, talking nonstop while Raghav patiently listens to every single word.
She’s busy complaining about Myra. Apparently, they had another fight this morning, which isn’t surprising. Both Myra and Riya have inherited every ounce of sass from Meher and me. We adore each other, but our daughters spend half their time arguing and the other half refusing to stay apart. That’s exactly how they are. They drive everyone around them crazy, yet by the end of the day, they love each other more than anyone else.
Naturally, Riya is presenting her version of the fight, and Raghav listens with complete seriousness, nodding thoughtfully and even offering advice. He treats every complaint from her as though it is a matter of national importance. And to him, it probably is. Riya is unapologetically a daddy’s girl, and she has Raghav hopelessly wrapped around her tiny finger.
Once he finishes hearing her out, he helps her into her sandals, fastening each buckle carefully before smoothing down her dress and fixing her hair.
“There,” he tells her with satisfaction. “Now you’re ready.”
Riya beams, and then she notices me standing by the door.
