Pratham Vanshi's expression was grim. "Don't underestimate Kamini's dark powers. She's slowly awakening, which means her strength will soon be in full display."
Her words hung in the air, casting a shadow of foreboding over the family. The ominous sign in the sky pulsed brighter, a chilling reminder of the darkness stirring.
"We must act quickly," Pratham Vanshi urged, her tone sharp and urgent. "Plant trishuls on every doorway and window. Light an Akhand Jyoti in each room. These will form a sacred barrier against Kamini's powers."
The Kothari family moved at once, obeying her instructions. Men hammered tiny iron trishuls into doorframes and windows, while women hurried to light clay lamps filled with ghee, their flames glowing steady and warm. The air filled with the rhythmic pounding of hammers and the sacred light of the diyas, a fragile shield of faith forming within the mansion.
Upstairs, Yug tried to hammer a trishul into the window frame of his room. The nail slipped from his fingers and clinked to the ground. Muttering under his breath, he bent to pick it up. But when he straightened, his breath caught.
Dark energy seeped in through the cracks of the window, curling across the floor like black smoke. Before Yug could react, the tendrils lunged forward, wrapping around his body and plunging into his chest.
His scream died in his throat, his body rigid as he floated upward, eyes rolling back until only the whites showed. The trishul still trembled in his clenched hand.
Downstairs, Pratham Vanshi quickly drew a sacred circle on the floor with red kumkum and rice, instructing the Kotharis to stand inside it. They obeyed, huddled together, faces pale with fear.
But Vihaan suddenly looked around, alarm flashing in his eyes. "Yug isn't here," he said urgently.
Pratham Vanshi's head snapped toward the staircase, her expression grim. "Find him. Now!"
They rushed upstairs, only to stop in horror. Yug was suspended in mid-air, convulsing violently, his body jerking as dark energy wrapped around him like chains.
Urvashi's scream tore through the silence. "Yug! My son!"
Shyom grabbed his head in panic. "What's happening to him?"
Pratham Vanshi strode into the room, her voice grave. "The darkness has claimed him. Kamini's energy has entered his body."
She slammed the trishul into the window frame, sealing the entry point. Vihaan and Shyom pulled Yug down from the air and laid him on the bed. His body writhed, his hands clawing at the sheets, his eyes still rolled back.
Urvashi clutched his hand, her tears falling onto his arm. "Pratham Vanshi, save my son. Please, I beg you!"
But Pratham Vanshi shook her head slowly, regret heavy in her voice. "I cannot save him. The one destined to break this curse is not me."
Her eyes turned to Vihaan. "This could have been prevented if the jalpanchi were here. Adrija was meant to be that shield, but she has vanished, and none of us can find her."
Then her gaze shifted sharply to Vihaan's brother. "Now, only one path remains. Vihaan, your marriage to Gauri must happen. It is the divine connection that can shield Yug. Without it, he will not survive."
The room fell into stunned silence.
Dadi stepped forward, her voice trembling but firm. "And what if Gauri refuses? After all the insults, the way she was humiliated—what respect is left for her to say yes?"
Urvashi's face was dark with anger and grief. She pointed at Vihaan, her voice harsh. "This is your fault, Vihaan! You insulted her, pushed her away. Now, when her help is our only chance, why should she return to save us?"
Vihaan's chest heaved as her words struck deep. His mistakes replayed in his mind—his cruelty toward Gauri, his disbelief, his pride. Shame twisted inside him, but alongside it, a fierce determination rose.
His fists clenched. His eyes burned with resolve as he looked at his family. "I will save Yug. No matter what it takes. I'll bring Gauri back, and I'll make her my wife. I'll convince her to stand with me—even if it costs me everything."
Urvashi's face softened slightly, desperation breaking through her anger. She wiped her tears, whispering, "Save him, Vihaan. Save my son."
Vihaan bowed his head once, his jaw set. "I swear on this family—I will."