The house was shrouded in an uneasy silence, broken only by the occasional ringing of Dhiviya and Guna's phones.
No one answered.
Vasanthan sat in his usual chair, staring blankly at the floor. The weight of the past twenty-four hours had settled heavily on him. Once the pillar of the family, he now looked like a man whose foundation had been shaken to its core.
Across from him, Archana sat stiffly, her fingers curled slightly, pressing into her lap. Her gaze flickered between her husband and their children, searching for answers that none of them seemed to have.
Guna exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of his head. "What do we do now?" His voice lacked its usual sharpness, filled instead with quiet frustration.
"We move forward," Vasanthan said, but the words sounded hollow even to himself.
Guna scoffed. "Move forward to what? The whole country is talking about us. We can't even step outside without being stared at like some reality show drama."
Archana's voice, normally steady, wavered slightly. "People are looking at us with either pity or curiosity. No one actually cares what happens next."
Vasanthan closed his eyes. "We'll figure something out."
A weak statement.
Guna clenched his fists. "And what about you, Appa? Can you really 'move forward' after everything that's happened?"
The question lingered.
Vasanthan didn't answer. Because he didn't know how to.
Dhiviya swallowed, trying to hold herself together. She had spent years looking up to her father as someone unshakable. But now, seeing him this lost, this powerless… it hurt.
Her fingers curled into her palms, her chest tightening.
I wish you were here, Athavan…
She closed her eyes.
I need you.
And then—
The front door creaked open.
Her breath caught.
As if answering her silent plea, Athavan stepped inside.
His dark eyes swept across the room, instantly absorbing the exhaustion, the distress, the helplessness in their faces.
And before she could even think—before she could stop herself—Dhiviya moved.
She didn't hesitate.
She rushed forward, throwing herself into his arms. Her fingers gripped the fabric of his shirt like he was the only thing keeping her from falling apart.
Athavan's arms wrapped around her without question, his hold firm yet gentle.
His hand rose, tapping her back softly. Steady. Reassuring.
"It's okay," he murmured, his voice low, calm. "I'm here."
And in that moment, Dhiviya broke.
Tears she had refused to show in front of her family spilled onto his shoulder.
He didn't pull away. Didn't tell her to stop.
He simply held her.
Steady. Unshaken. Like a pillar standing firm in the middle of a storm.
And for the first time since last night's chaos, she let herself believe that everything would be okay.
—
After a while, Athavan guided her to sit in the living room. He gestured for everyone to gather.
"I know all of you feel lost," he started, his tone calm but firm. "I never intended to bring chaos into this family, but this had to be done. You were all trapped under Raja Sekaran's influence. If we didn't break free now, it would have been worse later."
Vasanthan's tired eyes lifted to meet his. There was something unspoken in that look—something Athavan had been waiting for.
"Mama," Athavan continued, "you should realize by now… there's more to this."
Vasanthan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Maapillai… what are you saying?"
Athavan didn't blink. "Think carefully. Do you really believe Raja Sekaran did all of this alone?"
Vasanthan's breath hitched.
His fingers twitched against the armrest.
His mind raced—connecting pieces he had long ignored.
And then, realization hit.
"…Are you saying…" He trailed off, but Athavan gave a small nod.
Silence.
Then—
A deep breath. A shift in energy.
Vasanthan's entire demeanor changed.
The man who had sat defeated just moments ago was gone.
In his place was someone sharper. Someone darker.
"But why?" he whispered, his voice hoarse. "I already cut ties with them. I didn't want their power, their wealth. I walked away." His hands clenched into fists. "Why are they still after me?"
His rage trembled beneath his skin.
Archana, who had remained quiet, placed a hand on his. "Dear… what is going on?"
He didn't answer.
Because how could he?
He had spent years protecting his family from this truth.
From his real past.
From the monsters waiting across the ocean.
A dark chuckle broke the silence.
Athavan's.
"He'll tell you when he's ready, Atte," he said smoothly. "But for now, let me say this—Raja Sekaran was no ordinary businessman."
The family stiffened.
"He was a kingpin in Walaysia's underworld," Athavan continued, "with connections that ran deeper than any of you realized."
Dhiviya's fingers curled into her lap. "So… this isn't over, is it?"
Athavan exhaled. "Not even close."
He leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees.
"That's why Officer Joseph and I made his arrest public."
Vasanthan's brows furrowed. "Public? What do you mean?"
"We brought so much attention to this case that his underground allies can't move without exposing themselves," Athavan explained. "They can't just pull some strings and get him out of prison."
A pause.
"But that doesn't mean they won't try something else."
Archana's grip on Vasanthan's hand tightened. "Then… what do we do?"
Athavan's answer was immediate.
"You all move to a new house—today."
Silence.
Guna blinked. "What?"
"I've already arranged everything," Athavan said. "A new house. Security. A safe location where their reach won't touch you."
Archana hesitated. "Maapillai… is that really necessary?"
Before Athavan could answer, Vasanthan did.
"If what I think is correct… then this is the only way."
His voice was firm.
Serious.
Not the voice of a broken man.
Not anymore.
Archana, Guna, and Dhiviya stared at him, seeing something they had never seen before.
Something deeper.
Something darker.
Athavan watched it happen. The shift.
Good.
Now they understood.
Vasanthan turned to Athavan, his eyes burning with something new. Something unshakable.
"Maapillai… I trust you."
He reached out—gripping Athavan's hands.
"Keep my family safe."
Athavan's lips curled into a smirk.
"This is my family too, Mama."
His voice dropped slightly.
"No one touches you. Not without my permission."
A shiver ran down Guna's spine.
Athavan wasn't asking for approval.
He was stating a fact.
The room sat in stunned silence.
Until—
"Pack only what's important," Athavan instructed. "The rest stays behind. We leave by evening."
No one argued.
Because now, they understood.
This wasn't just about Raja Sekaran.
This was war.
And war had only just begun.