Inside the Kothari mansion, the atmosphere was tense. Veena's frail hands trembled as she clutched Vihaan's arm.
"Swear on me, Vihaan," Veena pleaded, her voice cracking. "Swear that you will never bring that girl into this house as your wife."
Vihaan dropped to his knees before her, his eyes moist but resolute. "Mother," he whispered, holding her hands gently. "If you ask me for my life, I will give it without hesitation. But this promise… this I cannot give."
Veena's eyes widened in shock. "Vihaan…"
Vihaan cupped her hands tighter. "Do you remember when I was ten? I always wore my bracelet to keep my Sarvansh powers under control. One day, I fell ill. You wanted the doctor to give me an injection, but I begged you not to. I said my powers would heal me if I removed the bracelet. But you refused. You made the doctor give me the injection despite my tears. Because you knew what was right. You knew using my powers would pull me into darkness."
Veena's lips quivered as tears welled in her eyes.
"Just like then, Mom," Vihaan continued, his voice breaking yet firm, "today, I must go against your wishes—not to hurt you, but to save you. By marrying Gauri, I am not only saving you… I am saving our entire family. For you, I can do anything—even marry a girl like her, even bear your anger—because your life, your safety, comes first."
Veena shook her head, her sobs growing heavier. "But why, Vihaan? Why her? She isn't Jalpanchi. Adrija is! Then why are you forcing this on yourself?"
Pratham Vanshi, standing nearby, pressed her lips together. I can't reveal my suspicion about Gauri being the true Jalpanchi—not yet. Thinking quickly, she said aloud, "Gauri grew up with Adrija. That means remnants of Jalpanchi's divine aura must be embedded in her too. It will be effective… it has already saved Veena once."
Vihaan nodded in agreement, but Veena's face hardened.
"I don't care," Veena said, her voice sharp with anguish. "You can marry her, Vihaan, but I will never—never—accept her as my daughter-in-law. To me, she will remain what she is… a cheap, immoral bar dancer."
The words struck the room like a whip, silencing everyone. Vihaan bowed his head, torn between his mother's rejection and his vow to protect her at any cost.
At the chawl, Gauri sat slumped on the floor while Charvi held her close, gently wiping her tears. Just then, the door creaked open and Gayatri walked in, her eyes narrowing as she took in the sight.
"Tell me," Gayatri said sharply, "did Vihaan come here? Did he… marry you?"
Gauri looked up, startled. "How do you know that?"
Gayatri sank onto the rickety chair with a weary sigh. "Because I left from there just as he was coming to make you his wife."
Gauri's face hardened. "But he was supposed to marry Adrija… then why this?"
Gayatri's lips twisted bitterly. "Because Adrija ran away."
Both Gauri and Charvi froze, the shock striking them like a bolt.
"What…?" Charvi whispered, clutching her sister tighter.
Gayatri sneered, her voice dripping with resentment. "Yes. That useless girl destroyed everything. She ruined my only chance of escaping this wretched poverty. Adrija turned out no better than you two—just as worthless. Just like Gauri, just like Charvi."
Gauri's eyes burned as she shot up, her voice trembling with fury. "Your daughter ran away, and instead of being worried for her safety, you sit here crying for your wealth?"
Gayatri flinched but said nothing.
Gauri's voice grew louder, her words slicing through the room. "Oh, what a mother you are! First, you tried to sell Charvi into that brothel. Then, you forced me to dance so she could win her freedom. And now—your first daughter is missing, but you don't care! You only care about your riches."
Tears spilled down Gauri's face, but her anger didn't falter. "mom, you are the most selfish mother I have ever seen."
Charvi buried her face into Gauri's shoulder, trembling, while Gayatri's expression stiffened—caught between shame and venom.
Gayatri shot to her feet, her face twisted with anger. "Yes, I am selfish!" she spat. "And why shouldn't I be? I raised two outsiders as my own daughters. Don't forget—you both are orphans. My late husband brought you from that orphanage, and I raised you under my roof. That means you are indebted to me, and I have every right to make you do what I want!"
Charvi gasped, clutching Gauri's hand tightly as her world shattered. Gauri's eyes filled with hurt, but her anger burned brighter.
Gayatri stepped closer, her voice sharp. "So, if Vihaan wants to marry you, Gauri—you will definitely marry him. You don't have a choice."
Gauri's lips curved into a bitter smile as she stood tall, squaring her shoulders. "Let's see how you force me, Mom. After all, you've always been good at forcing people to do your bidding."
She stepped closer, her voice trembling but firm. "But listen to me carefully—I will never marry a man who doesn't respect me. A man who humiliated me. A man whose own mother despises me. I have my self-respect, and I won't let anyone taint it."
Gayatri's nostrils flared, her fury mounting. "To heck with your self-respect!" she snapped. "You will marry Vihaan, at all costs!"
Charvi, shaken and teary, looked from one woman to the other as the room filled with tension so thick it was suffocating—two forces, mother and daughter, locked in a battle of will.