After leaving the kazi office and sitting inside the car, Henry's phone suddenly chimed with a message alert. He took the phone from his pocket and saw it was from Rani. As he read the message, a strange, mocking smile curved his lips.
Rani had written:
"Henry, I divorced you long ago, and after seeing your disgraceful behavior today, I am certain there is no chance of us ever being together again. But listen— I will not destroy my luxurious career and life by taking responsibility for this girl (Sara). I'm sending Sara to you tomorrow. Do whatever you want with her."
Henry burst out laughing. That laughter held both contempt and liberation.
Laboni looked at him in surprise.
"What happened? Why are you laughing?"
Handing the phone to Laboni, Henry said,
"Look, Laboni—this is what fate looks like. The woman I once thought was a strong mother is nothing but a selfish egotist. She didn't hesitate for even a second to abandon her own child for her career."
Laughing again, he added,
"Pathetic! She has no idea what she's lost. By sending Sara to me, she's actually removed the heaviest burden of my life and made me whole. This is exactly what I wanted—Sara to be with us."
Laboni stood frozen after reading the message. She wondered how a mother could abandon her child so easily. Then Sara's innocent face flashed before her eyes.
She squeezed Henry's hand and said softly,
"Whatever happened, it's for the best. Sara will stay with us. I'll protect her as my own child."
Henry looked at her with gratitude and started the car.
"From today," he said,
"our family is complete. You on one side, Sara on the other, and our unborn little one in between. There's no place in our lives for people like Rani anymore."
The car sped along the highway under the fading afternoon light. For the first time in years, Henry felt truly free—not from prison walls or power, but reborn into a world shaped by love and responsibility.
Three Days After the Marriage
Three days had passed since the wedding. Laboni was trying to settle into Henry's vast house. Since Sara arrived, the house had filled with laughter. Yet in a quiet corner of Laboni's heart, a constant fear lingered—Rehan.
What would Rehan think if he learned that his sister had married the very man who once tortured them?
Finally, the moment arrived. Rehan had not fully recovered yet and was staying at Laboni's friend's place. Laboni decided she would tell him everything herself.
Rehan's Reaction
When Rehan heard that Laboni and Henry were now husband and wife, his gaze turned to stone. He couldn't believe it. His beloved sister—who had endured unimaginable suffering to protect him—had ultimately built a home with that monster.
He shouted,
"Apu! What have you done?! That man whipped me! He chained you! How could you put a garland around his neck? Why, Apu—why?!"
Holding Rehan's hands, Laboni cried and explained everything—Henry's transformation, Sara's helplessness, and above all, the future of the child growing inside her.
"Rehan," she said,
"I chose peace over revenge. Henry is no longer the man he was. He's burning in guilt. And what identity would my child have had otherwise?"
Rehan sat silently, rage and hatred boiling inside him like a volcano. Without a word, he stood up to leave the room.
Henry Enters
Just then, Henry appeared at the doorway, carrying a basket of fruits and expensive medicines for Rehan. Seeing him, Henry lowered his head.
The once-dominant prison superintendent who had lashed Rehan now stood humble.
In a calm voice, Henry said,
"Rehan, I know I'm a criminal in your eyes. There's no forgiveness for what I've done. If you want, you can whip me today—I won't say a word. But please don't misunderstand your sister. Everything she did was out of sacrifice."
Rehan grabbed Henry by the collar, rage spilling from his eyes. Yet Henry didn't resist. Instead, there was an unfamiliar compassion in his gaze.
Laboni stepped between them.
"Rehan, please give him one chance. He's Sara's father now… and the father of my child. Can't we start anew?"
Slowly, Rehan released Henry's collar. He realized the situation had changed. His sister was no longer just his sister—she was now the backbone of a family.
In a low voice, he said,
"I don't know if I'll ever be able to call you 'brother-in-law.' But if I see even one more tear in my sister's eyes, remember— I didn't die in prison. I'm still alive."
Henry gave a faint smile.
"I won't give you that chance, Rehan."
Three days later, Rehan reluctantly moved into the house with Laboni. Sara ran toward him excitedly.
"Uncle! Look at my new dress!"
At that innocent call, the ice around Rehan's heart began to melt.
When Rehan finally said, "It's good," both Laboni and Henry stared at him in disbelief. Laboni had believed Rehan would hate Henry forever, but there was a new depth in his voice.
Looking directly at Henry, Rehan said calmly yet firmly,
"It's good, Mr. Henry. By admitting your crimes and giving my sister dignity as part of your atonement, at least one innocent life—this unborn child—has been saved from growing up without an identity."
Pausing, he placed his hand on Laboni's head.
"I only wanted my sister's happiness. Today I understand—choosing forgiveness and peace is a far greater strength than revenge. The responsibility to preserve the respect you've given her is now yours."
Henry clasped Rehan's hands. Tears streamed down his face.
"Rehan," he said emotionally,
"I promise you—with my last drop of blood if I must, I will protect Laboni and this family. I can't erase my past, but I'll do everything to make our future worthy."
Though Sara didn't understand the gravity of the moment, she sensed the happiness. Clapping her hands, she asked,
"Uncle! We'll all live together now, right?"
Smiling, Rehan lifted her into his arms.
"Yes, sweetheart. We'll all stay together."
As the atmosphere lightened, Henry wanted to erase the last traces of fear from Laboni and Rehan's hearts. He dropped his stern demeanor and began acting like an ordinary, cheerful man.
Handing Laboni a glass of milk, he joked,
"You know, when I was the prison superintendent, people feared me like a tiger. And now look—one scolding from you turns me into a cat! Honestly, your discipline is harsher than the prison inmates'."
Rehan smiled faintly as he played with Sara.
Henry turned to him and added,
"Rehan, be careful. Your sister gives injections so well that even bodybuilders cry. I'm already terrified—once the baby is born and she makes me stay up all night changing diapers, I'll be reminded of my prison duty!"
Sara burst into laughter and pulled Henry's cheek.
"Baba! Can you change diapers?"
Pinching her nose, Henry replied,
"I'll have to learn, sweetheart! Otherwise your new mother will kick me out of the house—and I'll have to go back to prison!"
Laughing, Laboni said,
"That's enough talking. Now go and check on dinner."
Henry pouted dramatically.
"See! Orders have already started. Rehan, you're a witness—your brother-in-law is being terribly oppressed!"
Everyone laughed together.
Henry had done it on purpose—cracking jokes so Rehan could relax and Laboni could forget her pain, even briefly. The heavy silence that once haunted the house dissolved, replaced by a small but genuine light of happiness.