Vicky POV
A few days passed.
The Varien Tribe had become quiet.
Too quiet.
Scouts had already been sent in every direction to search for traces of the Raka Bandits.
Warriors sharpened their weapons in silence.
Blacksmiths worked through the night.
Every elder knew revenge was coming.
Everyone understood that blood would be paid with blood.
But inside the healer’s chamber…
None of that mattered.
Because Ananya had finally woken up.
At first, her eyes opened slowly.
Confusion filled them as she stared at the unfamiliar ceiling.
Her breathing was weak.
Her face remained pale.
For several moments, she seemed unable to understand where she was.
Then her gaze shifted.
She saw me.
“Uncle Vicky…”
Her voice was hoarse.
“Where are we?”
I sat beside her bed.
My hands slowly tightened.
The question was simple.
The answer was not.
“We’re in the Varien Tribe.”
Her brows furrowed slightly.
“Varien…”
Then her eyes widened.
She tried to sit up.
“Rajiv.”
Her voice became sharper.
“Where is Rajiv?”
“He’s safe,” I said quickly. “He’s resting.”
The tension in her body eased slightly.
Only slightly.
Then she looked around the room again.
Her gaze searched the corners.
The door.
The healer.
Me.
“Where is Mother?”
Silence.
My hand trembled.
Ananya noticed.
Her expression slowly changed.
“Uncle Vicky…”
Her voice became quieter.
“Where is Father?”
I closed my eyes.
There were truths no one was ever ready to hear.
No matter how gently they were spoken…
They still destroyed something.
But hiding them would only make the wound deeper.
So I told her.
I told her about the poison.
About the wine.
About Vera.
About Devika.
About Varinder.
About his final order.
About how he sent Rajiv and her away so they could live.
I did not tell her every terrible detail.
Not yet.
But I told her enough.
Enough for the truth to reach her.
Enough for the world she remembered to break.
At first, Ananya did not move.
She simply stared at me.
As though her mind refused to accept my words.
Then her lips trembled.
“No…”
The word barely escaped her mouth.
I lowered my head.
“I’m sorry.”
“No.”
Her voice sharpened.
“No, you’re lying.”
I said nothing.
Because I wished I was.
Ananya’s hands gripped the blanket.
Her breathing became uneven.
Then suddenly, all strength left her body.
She curled forward as tears burst from her eyes.
“No…”
“Mother…”
“Father…”
Her cries filled the room.
For hours, she cried.
Sometimes she screamed.
Sometimes she whispered their names.
Sometimes she simply sat there, shaking silently beneath the blanket.
I remained beside her the entire time.
Not because I could comfort her.
I couldn’t.
No words could comfort a daughter who had just lost both her parents.
So I stayed.
Because leaving her alone felt cruel.
Eventually, her cries softened.
Not because the pain had lessened.
Only because her body had no strength left.
Her eyes were swollen.
Her face was pale.
Her hands still clutched the blanket as though she feared the world would vanish if she let go.
I slowly stood.
For several moments, I simply watched the young girl before me.
My heart felt heavier than it had during any battle.
Then I reached into my storage pouch.
My fingers touched the letter Varinder had entrusted to me.
The letter for Ananya.
My hand stopped.
Inside that pouch, only two letters remained.
One for the daughter who had just lost everything.
One for the son too young to understand.
I closed my eyes.
“…Varinder.”
My voice was barely a whisper.
“I hope this helps.”
Then I opened my eyes and looked at her.
“Ananya.”
She slowly raised her head.
Her eyes were red.
Empty.
Broken.
I carefully held out the letter.
“Your father left this for you.”
The moment she saw the handwriting on the outside, her body froze.
Her trembling hands reached forward.
She took the letter as if it might disappear.
For a long time, she only stared at it.
Her fingers traced the words again and again.
Then, with shaking hands…
She opened her father’s final letter.
My dearest Ananya,
If you are reading this...
Then it means your stubborn father has finally lost his argument with fate.
To be honest...
I always hoped you would never have to read this letter.
I wanted to hand it to you myself one day and laugh about how your old father had worried over nothing.
Looks like fate had other plans.
The first thing I want to say is...
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry for breaking the promise I made to you.
Do you remember?
When you were little, you used to hide behind your mother whenever there was thunder.
One day you asked me,
"Father... will you always protect me?"
I promised you I would.
I promised I would always stand beside you.
I promised that no matter how old you became...
You would always have a place to come home to.
This is the first promise I've ever broken.
I'm sorry.
Right now...
You're probably crying.
Maybe you're angry.
Maybe you're angry at the people who did this.
Maybe you're angry at fate.
Maybe...
You're even angry at me.
If you are...
That's alright.
Cry.
Scream.
Hate me if you need to.
Your father can take it.
Just don't keep those feelings locked inside your heart.
Ananya...
There is something I need you to understand.
You have always believed strength meant never crying.
You learned that by watching me.
But I was wrong.
Real strength isn't pretending nothing hurts.
Real strength is standing back up...
After your heart has been broken.
So cry today.
Cry tomorrow.
Cry as long as you need.
Then...
When you're ready...
Stand up again.
Not because the pain has disappeared.
But because there are still people waiting for your smile.
Your mother loved you more than anyone.
Do you know what she always did after you fell asleep?
She would quietly sit beside your bed.
Brush the hair away from your face.
And smile.
Every single night.
Sometimes I'd ask her,
"Why are you smiling?"
She would simply answer,
"Because she's our daughter."
That smile...
Was one of the happiest things I've ever seen.
Your mother was proud of you.
Prouder than you ever realized.
And me?
I was proud too.
Do you remember the first time you defeated one of the boys during training?
You came running toward me.
Covered in dirt.
Your clothes were torn.
You looked absolutely terrible.
You threw your arms around me and shouted,
"Father! I won!"
Do you know what I did afterward?
I spent three days proudly telling everyone that my daughter was stronger than their sons.
Your mother scolded me for being childish.
She was probably right.
But I didn't care.
I was proud.
I've always been proud of you.
Now...
I have one request.
Take care of Rajiv.
He is still too young to understand what has happened.
One day...
He may blame himself.
One day...
He may believe my death was his fault.
Don't let him carry that burden.
Tell him the truth.
Tell him...
His father loved him more than life itself.
Tell him...
That protecting him was never a sacrifice.
If I had to make the same choice a thousand times...
I would still choose him.
Every single time.
But while you're protecting your little brother...
Don't forget yourself.
Promise me that.
I know you.
You'll try to smile for him.
You'll try to become strong for everyone else.
You'll pretend you're alright.
Just like your mother used to.
Don't.
When you're tired...
Rest.
When you're sad...
Cry.
When you're afraid...
Lean on someone.
You don't have to carry everything alone.
Even the strongest trees need roots.
One day...
People will ask you who you are.
Some will say,
"She's Varinder's daughter."
Others will say,
"She's Devika's daughter."
Smile...
Then prove them wrong.
Don't spend your life living beneath my name.
Build a name greater than mine.
Become someone the world cannot ignore.
Then...
One day...
People will look at me and say—
"That was Ananya's father."
Nothing would make me prouder.
There is one more thing.
Hatred is easy.
Anyone can hate.
After what happened...
No one would blame you if hatred consumed your heart.
Don't let it.
Hatred burns brightly.
But it also burns the one carrying it.
Choose something stronger.
Choose to protect.
Choose to love.
Choose to keep moving forward.
That is what truly makes someone strong.
Your mother and I wanted many things.
We wanted to watch you grow into a beautiful young woman.
We wanted to argue with you when you made reckless decisions.
I wanted to embarrass you in front of the young man you someday fell in love with.
Your mother promised she would pretend not to laugh.
She was lying.
She absolutely would have laughed.
I wanted to watch you and Rajiv build lives even happier than ours.
I wanted...
More time.
But fate refused to give it to us.
So instead...
I'll leave you with one final wish.
Live.
Not merely survive.
Live.
Laugh again.
Smile again.
Find people worth protecting.
Find someone who treasures your smile.
Build a family.
Grow old.
When that day comes...
Don't feel guilty for being happy.
Your happiness...
Will be the greatest gift you can give your mother and me.
Goodbye...
My little girl.
No matter where life takes you...
No matter how many years pass...
No matter how far apart we become...
Remember this.
Your mother and I loved you from the day you were born.
We loved you while we lived.
And we'll continue loving you...
Even beyond death.
With all my love,
Your Father,
Varinder
The room fell silent.
The letter slowly slipped from Ananya's trembling hands.
Tears had soaked nearly every page.
For several long moments...
She simply stared at the handwriting.
As if expecting another page to appear.
Another sentence.
Another chance to hear his voice.
Then...
She carefully picked the letter back up.
Pressed it against her heart.
Her shoulders trembled.
"Father..."
The whisper was barely audible.
"I'll do it..."
More tears rolled down her cheeks.
"I'll protect Rajiv."
"I'll become someone..."
"...you'll always be proud of."
She curled up on the bed.
Holding the letter tightly against her chest.
Not wanting to let go.
Because within those pages...
Her father had embraced her one final time.
He had given her one final lesson.
One final blessing.
One final goodbye.
I quietly turned toward the window.
Outside...
The warriors of the Varien Tribe prepared for war.
Armor clashed.
Horses were saddled.
Weapons were sharpened.
The storm of revenge was approaching.
But inside this room...
None of that mattered.
A daughter was saying farewell to her father.
And for that moment...
Even vengeance could wait.