They all gathered in the hall, their eyes fixed on Anika and the mysterious person standing beside her. Their expressions were a mix of confusion and anticipation.

“To be honest, guys, I was terrified at that moment,” Omkara began, breaking the uneasy silence.

“That’s understandable,” Sayani chimed in. “Someone who wasn’t in the story suddenly appearing like that…”

Just then, the doctor descended the stairs, informing them that Rajeev was stable. Sayani hurried upstairs to check on him.

“Omkara,” Anika said, addressing the unspoken question everyone had. “There’s a reason for all of this.”

“What reason?” Omkara pressed, pointing towards the stranger.

“Shivaay Singh Oberoi,” Rajeev interrupted, incredulously. “Is he alive?”

“Yes, he is,” Anika confirmed.

Shivaay stepped forward to thank Rajeev for his help, but Rajeev, overwhelmed, retreated to his room with Sayani following him.

“Guys, I’m a ghost,” Shivaay said, a hint of irony in his voice.

“Anika, we need to know everything about this,” Gauri insisted.

“Me too,” Omkara added.

“Shall I, Shivaay?” Anika looked at him for permission.

“Go ahead…”

Anika took a deep breath and began, “It all started on November 16, 2017. Shivaay began receiving threatening calls and messages. We realized Jennifer would do anything to get the property, even murder. On November 18, Jennifer called Shivaay, demanding the papers. When he refused, she threatened his life. That night, I convinced Shivaay to stay in the living room to watch Miss World with me. It was part of our plan.”

“Sorry I missed the intro,” Sayani apologized, returning to the group with Rajeev.

“Hello! Sorry about my earlier behavior,” Rajeev said, joining them.

“It’s okay, Rajeev. Where was I? Yes, our plan involved making it appear as if Shivaay had committed suicide. I had to live as a widow for two years to understand Jennifer’s strategy. That night, she entered the mansion disguised as a maid. Our guard had been informed to let her in, as all our servants were part of the plan. Jennifer served Shivaay tea laced with chloroform, making him unconscious. She then staged his hanging.”

“I was scared when she rushed out, thinking she had succeeded,” Anika continued. “Our servants quickly removed Shivaay, and we staged photos for the media.”

“What happened next?” Rajeev asked, enthralled.

“Jennifer believed Shivaay was dead. For two years, we expected her to make a move, but she remained quiet. Meanwhile, we buried Shivaay’s corpse—a loyal employee murdered by Jennifer—to stage his death,” Anika revealed.

“What next, Mrs. Oberoi?” Rajeev inquired eagerly. “Wait, before that, about the locker password…”

“I set it up for security, knowing Jennifer would try to access it. Unfortunately, she had you open it instead,” Shivaay explained.

“During the two years, Shivaay and I stayed on Agalega Island, and the media assumed I had moved to my father’s place in London,” Anika explained further. “Yes, my father was involved too.”

“Omkara, we didn’t want to endanger your and Gauri’s lives,” Shivaay added.

“That’s okay! What happened next?” Omkara urged.

“Jennifer started coming to the office, claiming she would soon be the boss. Anika managed her brilliantly, gathering information about her.”

“So, Anika knew about Jennifer all along and pretended otherwise,” Gauri realized.

“Yes, Gauri. Remember that night you saw Shivaay? He wasn’t there the whole night. He left and returned home secretly,” Anika said.

“You discovered many things we hadn’t anticipated, and that’s impressive,” Shivaay praised. “The aim was to catch Jennifer red-handed with all her confessions since she left no evidence of her crimes.”

“She was both cunning and foolish,” Rajeev remarked, making everyone laugh.

“I was terrified when she kidnapped Rajeev. That wasn’t part of our plan,” Anika admitted.

“But she might still use you, Mr. Oberoi,” Sayani warned.

“Agreed, but she will face justice for her crimes,” Shivaay asserted, his voice filled with determination. “She ruined families and tried to kill Omkara, framing Anika as mentally unstable.”

“What are you saying, Shivaay?” Omkara asked, shocked.

“The bitter truth is, Jennifer’s father killed our father, and I kept that hidden to protect you,” Shivaay confessed, hugging Omkara.

“She’s a murderer,” Omkara whispered.

“That’s okay, Mr. Oberoi. Hats off to you, sir,” Rajeev said. “Your ideas are extraordinary, especially that hidden wall.”

“Sorry, Rajeev, I hope you weren’t hurt too badly,” Shivaay apologized. “I had to ensure our plan worked.”

A few days later, Shivaay held a press conference to reveal the entire story, seeking justice for the Oberoi family. Jennifer was arrested and sentenced to death for her numerous crimes. Sayani and Rajeev got engaged, and Shivaay announced that Omkara would marry Gauri on November 18, 2022.

The legacy of the Oberois was safe, and their family, stronger than ever, stood ready to face any future challenges together.

[Author: The twist - It's pretty dramatic]

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