Hearing the news of his wife’s death, the husband’s family threw a party to celebrate, thinking they would get the 45 lakh rupees dowry, but it turned out to be a perfect arrangement.

Ananya had just woken up from surgery, her whole body still aching, but her mind was clearer than ever. The accident that happened two days ago was still fresh in her memory — the truck that had come out of a narrow alley and hit her car straight on. Everyone thought it was an accident, but Ananya didn’t. The uneasy feeling in her heart told her that there was a conspiracy behind this incident.

She recalled the eyes of her mother-in-law and sister-in-law that morning. When she announced that she would be going to Patna to visit her biological mother and brought the documents to withdraw money from the 45 lakh rupees dowry, their eyes lit up with confusion. This money was originally given to her by her parents when she got married, and was clearly marked as her personal property.

Ananya pretended to be fast asleep in her hospital bed, but her ears were still listening to every sound. Outside the room, her husband, Rakesh, was talking on the phone, his voice low but unable to hide his excitement:

“Yes… the doctor said the possibility of not making it is very high… Everyone, prepare a feast, as a farewell… Oh, I will bring the dowry papers back.”

Ananya’s heart ached. The person she trusted the most hoped she would not wake up.

That night, Ananya lay thinking. Tears wet her pillow, but her reason was clear. She knew what she needed to do.

The next morning, Ananya quietly asked her familiar nurse to contact her lawyer. She told him everything, including copies of the dowry papers and personal assets. After listening, the lawyer just nodded:

“Don’t worry. We will let them reveal themselves.”

Ananya pretended to be weak, telling Rakesh that the doctor had discharged her early but that she needed to rest at her husband’s house for a few days to “be near someone to take care of her”. Rakesh was overjoyed and immediately called his family.

The day Ananya returned, the Sharma villa in the suburbs was unusually bustling. On the table were a series of luxurious dishes, and the feast was spread all over the living room. Her mother-in-law, Kamla Devi, smiled brightly, but her eyes seemed to pierce through her, to see if she was still conscious enough to sign the authorization paper she had prepared.

“My daughter is back, that’s great… But you’re weak, why don’t you let me help you with the transfer procedure?” – she said as she pushed the stack of papers towards Ananya.

Anya pretended to hold the pen with trembling hands, but instead of signing, she quietly put the phone on the table, turned on the recording mode, and played it on the speakerphone. Rakesh’s voice from the day before rang out clearly:

“Everyone prepare to prepare the feast… I’ll bring the dowry papers back…”

The room suddenly fell silent. Rakesh’s face turned pale, Kamla Devi stiffened.

Ananya looked straight:
“I am not dead. And this is evidence for the court to handle the act of conspiracy to appropriate property, even intentional injury. My lawyer is listening live, and the police are coming soon.”

At that moment, the door opened. Two police officers and the lawyer entered. One officer read the summons to Rakesh and Kamla Devi for investigation.

The celebration party turned into chaos. The jubilant relatives also quickly moved aside, avoiding involvement.

Ananya walked out of the house, feeling relieved. She knew she had just escaped an elaborate trap – and this time, it was them who fell into it.

On the way back to Patna, Ananya looked out the window, the sun was shining brightly. She no longer felt the pain of her wounds, but only the warmth of finding herself again. The 45 lakh remained intact, but more importantly, she had severed ties with a family whose ties only existed when there was profit.