EPILOGUE
Night had swallowed the highway into silence.
A cold wind swept across the empty road, carrying only the frantic footsteps of a man running for his life. His breath tore out of him in sharp, uneven gasps. Sweat drenched his shirt, his legs shaking, his eyes wild with fear.
He knew he was being hunted.
And he knew exactly by whom.
Behind him, the darkness shifted
a presence... a shadow... a judgment long overdue.
The man stumbled, falling forward onto the gravel as headlights washed over him from a black SUV. He turned his head slowly... trembling... because he could feel it
they were here.
A single figure stepped out first.
Tall. Calm. Unshakable.
Aarav Malhotra.
The moonlight glinted off two rings on his fingers
one a gold crest ring...
the other the initial ring Ashiana had given him.
His aura was icy, royal, terrifying.
Behind him stepped Raghav, Kabir, and Aditya
shoulders aligned, expressions emotionless.
They didn't need to speak.
Their presence alone was the verdict.
The man crawled backward on the road, shaking his head.
"N-No... please... please—"
But Aarav didn't move in anger.
He moved with purpose.
With the justice he had promised long ago.
He raised the gun slowlysteady hands, steady heart.
The world went still.
A single shot echoed across the highway.
The man collapsed, silence swallowing everything once more.
Aarav lowered the gun.
No triumph.
No rage.
Just a quiet, cold finality.
Raghav placed a hand on Aarav's shoulder.
Kabir and Aditya stood beside him like the pillars they had always been.
And together, without a word, they turned, walking back toward the SUV
four brothers,
four shadows,
ruling the night...
protecting their empire,
their family,
and the woman who had given them a home again.
The road behind them stayed quietbecause justice had been served.
And the Malhotras never left their stories unfinished.
The mansion was glowing warm under the soft night lights.
And in stepped Aarav, in his black shirt still smelling of gunpowder, jaw sharp, eyes intense—but softening the moment he entered home.
Behind him, Raghav and Kabir followed, their clothes slightly dusted from the night's work.
Their steps were heavy, but their hearts light.
Little Raj, now eight, ran across the hall barefoot, laughing breathlessly as Meera chased him with a glass of milk.
"Raj! Doodh pee lo warna height nahi badegi!" Meera yelled half-annoyed, half-laughing.
Raj dodged left dramatically, "Noooo! I'm big now! Big boys DON'T drink milk!" he declared, hiding behind the sofa.
On the couch nearby, Prerna sat with her one-year-old baby girl in her arms tiny, pink, and angelic trying to put her to sleep. Kabir stood behind them, gently patting their baby's back, whispering, "Shhh princess... Daddy's here..."
Behind them stood Aditya, talking softly on phone, his voice calm and collected the mafia turned responsible husband. His wife Arushi, now glowing in a bright lavender salwar suit, came toward him holding a small lunch box.
"Aditya... tumne medicines li?" she asked sweetly.
Aditya kissed her forehead, "When you remind me... I always do."
She blushed. Their love story unexpected, soulful, and beautiful filled the mansion with even more light.
last year when aditya got injured and in hospital dr. arushi treated him and took care of him and since then the fell in love and married eight months ago
Everyone was there.
Except one.
Kabir looked around suddenly.
"Arav bhai... Ashiana kaha hain?"
Meera paused her Raj-chase too.
"Haan... Ashiana dikhi nahi aaj..."
Prerna laughed softly, "Maybe she's busy with some surprise again..."
Aditya shook his head knowingly, "Arshi aur surprises... isse zyada excited koi nahi hota."
Just then
Ashiana stepped down the staircase slowly... one hand gently resting on the railing, the other protectively over her six-month baby bump.
Her steps were careful, graceful, glowing with that soft radiance only pregnancy brings.
The entire mansion turned warm the moment she appeared Raghav paused mid-file, Kabir automatically smiled, Prerna and Meera exchanged a "look at her" expression, even little Raj ran to the stairs happily.
Aarav moved at her towards stair case wrapped his hand around her shoulder
The moment he saw her his entire expression softened... like the world stopped existing.
Ashiana's lips curved into a tired but warm smile.
"Aarav... you came..." she said softly, relief and affection blending in her voice.
But the next second, pregnancy hormones took complete control.
She narrowed her eyes, lifted her palm toward him like an angry queen, and said
"Aarav... did you bring Gupta ji ke stall ke golgappe?"
Aarav froze.
The whole family looked at him Meera covered her mouth, Kabir tried not to laugh, Raghav whispered "bhaii bas ab bhagwan bachaye," Aditya smirked knowingly.
Ashiana continued, full dramatic authority:
"And don't you dare say 'sweetheart, it's street style, it's not hygienic.'
UNDERSTOOD?"
She pointed her finger at him dangerously.
"If you didn't bring it, Aarav Malhotra then don't even DARE to come in the room tonight."
Aarav blinked. Once. Twice. Fully surrendering.
"Gol— golgappe?" he repeated, panicked, checking bags in his hand.
Ashiana raised an eyebrow.
Aarav swallowed.
''ohhh.. sorry sweet heart i forgot''
Her expression instantly got more angrier saying.
"whaattt ... araaavvvvv... you.. you forgot."
She giggled sweetly and waddled the last few steps down the stairs.
The whole family burst into laughter seeing the deadly mafia king absolutely terrified of his pregnant wife.
Aarav walked up, placed a steadying hand on her back, kissed her forehead gently, and whispered
"shhh... Mrs. Malhotra."
he guided her to garden
IN THE GARDERN GOLDEN FAIRY LIGHTS TWINKLING
Aarav had done the impossible.
He brought the entire Gupta ji golgappa stall inside the garden.
The whole counter.
The pans.
The containers.
The man himself.
Gupta ji stood proudly,
"Betiyaaa, aaj toh main khaas masala banaya hai! Malhotra sahab bola—memsaab ko khush karna zaroori hai."
Ashiana's face lit up brighter than every diya around them.
Everyone gathered
Raj, jumping excitedly eating golgappa with small bite.
Meera, too eating golgappas .
Prerna, rocking her 1-year-old baby girl.
Kabir, already holding two golgappas like a thief feding prerna ans eating too.
Aditya and Arushi, hand in hand, laughing softly.
Raghav, scolding Raj but eating double.
Aarav made her sit on a soft garden bench and kneeled with a plate in hand like she was a queen.
"Madam, your majesty," he said with a teasing bow, "aapke golgappe hazir hain."
She smacked his shoulder lightly,
"Drama king!"
But her eyes had tears.
Happy ones.
He fed her the first golgappa.
She closed her eyes,
pure bliss.
"Ufff... this... THIS is heaven," she said dramatically.
Aarav brushed a thumb over her cheek,
"If heaven is just golgappas... then what am I?"
She smirked,
"Gol-gappa number two."
Everyone burst out laughing.
Even Aarav.
The dining hall was glowing with morning sunshine, laughter floating in the air as the large family gathered for breakfast.
Plates clinked, conversations overlapped, and the Malhotra mansion felt more alive than ever.
At the center of the table sat Ashiana, now nine months pregnant round, glowing, adorable in her peach maternity saree yet grumpy in the cutest way possible.
One hand rested on her massive bump, the other gripping the edge of the chair as she shifted uncomfortably.
And right beside her, Aarav Malhotra, the once-feared mafia king, was holding a spoon like it was a weapon... and feeding her like she was a fragile princess.
"Aaraaaavv... don't give me that paratha again," she said with puffed cheeks. "Baby wants aloo-paratha. ALLOO. Clear??"
Aarav tried not to smile but failed miserably. "Shhh, Mrs. Malhotra... last time you ate aloo-paratha, you cried for two hours because it was 'too round.'"
Ashiana glared at him dramatically. "And whose fault was that?? You showed me your six-pack that morning. My hormones got confused!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Prerna giggled, "Ashi, you look so cute when you're angry."
Raj, now eight, chimed in with full excitement, "ashi di, baby will come today?? I kept toys ready!"
Meera ruffled his hair. "Nahi Raj, baby will come when Bhagwaan ji sends it."
Aditya added teasingly, "Or when Aarav stops feeding her like she's still three years old."
Aarav shot him a fake warning glare, but everyone knew he was too soft these days to be scary.
Kabir joined in, smirking. "Bhai, the whole underworld fears you... but look at you now... feeding parathas."
Raghav raised his cup. "Cheers to transformation."
And all the brothers clinked their tea cups like it was a celebration.
Ashiana pouted dramatically. "Aaravvv... tell them to stop laughing... I feel like fat potato."
Aarav immediately turned to her, cupping her face gently. His voice lowered, soft and overflowing with love.
"You're not a potato. You're my whole world. And the most beautiful one."
She blushed hard, hiding her face behind her palms. Everyone "awww'd" loudly.
Then suddenly Ashiana froze.
"Uh-oh..." she whispered.
Aarav straightened. "What? What happened, jaan?"
Her eyes widened.
"Aarav... I think... my water just broke..."
Aarav went pale.
Everyone else jumped to their feet at once.
Raj shouted, "BABY TIME!!!"
Meera ran to bring the hospital bag.
Kabir started panicking, "Call the doctor! CALL EVERY DOCTOR!"
Raghav yelled, "Someone grab the car keys!"
Aditya stood up, "MOVE! MOVE! MOVE! Clear the way!"
And in the middle of the chaos, Ashiana held Aarav's hand tightly, breathing heavily.
"Aarav... don't panic... don't panic..."
"I'm not panicking," Aarav said, completely panicking.
She smiled weakly. "Aarav... our baby is coming..."
He kissed her forehead, eyes shining with tears, voice trembling with joy.
"I'm right here, Ashi. I'm not leaving your side for even a second."
And with the whole family running around in chaos and excitement...
The Malhotra mansion filled with the warmth of a new beginning.
the perfect, beautiful, chaotic, loving family about to welcome its newest little star.
A soft golden glow filled the hospital room.
The curtains fluttered lightly with the morning breeze, and the faint scent of new life hung in the air.
Everyone stepped inside Aarav first, his steps slow, controlled... but his storm-grey eyes were trembling with emotion he couldn't hide.
Kabir, Raghav, Aditya, Prerna, Meera, little Raj everyone entered behind him, smiles stretched ear to ear.
And then...
There, in a small white cradle beside the beda tiny baby boy, wrapped in a blue blanket, sleeping with his little fists curled under his chin.
Aarav froze.
His breath hitched.
His entire world seemed to stop.
He took one step... then another... as if afraid the moment would disappear.
Ashiana lay on the bed, tired but glowing, her hair loose around her face, the most peaceful smile touching her lips. She looked up the moment he approached.
"Aarav..." she whispered softly.
He didn't answer he couldn't. His eyes were locked on the baby.
His son.
His and Ashiana's.
He slowly reached the cradle, his fingers trembling as he touched the baby's tiny hand. The baby's fist closed around Aarav's finger instinctively.
Aarav inhaled sharply almost breaking.
Aditya smiled, placing a hand on Aarav's shoulder.
"Congratulations, papa."
Kabir laughed emotionally, "He's already holding your finger like he owns the world."
Raghav smirked softly, "Just like his mother... claiming the Malhotra king by one finger."
Prerna and Meera wiped tears, Raj bounced happily, "mmummyyy.... ! Baby is sooo tinyyy!"
arushi smiles placed hand on Ashiana's shoulder smilling '' Aditya's little arshi got her own little one... congratulations.. mumma..'' she kissed her forhead
Ashiana watched all of them with tears of happiness filling her eyes.
Aarav finally turned towards her.
He moved to her side, sat on the bed gently, cupped her cheek with trembling fingers.
"Ashi..." he whispered, voice breaking, "You... you gave me the most beautiful gift of my life."
She smiled tiredly, "Our baby boy, Aarav... look at him... he looks like you."
Aarav shook his head softly, touching her forehead to his.
"No. He looks like us."
He kissed her hand... long, emotional, grateful... completely in awe.
Their little family gathered around the cradle laughing softly, crying softly welcoming the new Malhotra prince into the world.
A perfect moment.
A perfect family.
A new beginning.