Vihaan's voice dropped as he confided in Yug, his eyes shadowed with the weight of secrets.
"The truth about my past and the forces that seek me out would be too much for Gauri to handle. If she finds out, she might decide to leave, and I couldn't bear that… because she's necessary for our family's safety."
Yug's playful demeanor vanished, replaced by rare seriousness. "She will definitely come to know it one day, bhaiya. What then?"
Vihaan's jaw tightened. "We have to prevent that day from coming."
Deep inside, Vihaan's mind was consumed with the thought—keeping Gauri close wasn't just about marriage anymore. She had become crucial to his family's safety and well-being.
---
In Dadi's Room
The air was heavy with incense smoke and worry. Veena, Urvashi, Dadi, and the others sat together, their faces pale with unease.
Shyom entered swiftly, bowing his head before speaking. "I've checked on the Trident nailed to the doors and windows. They're burnt."
Gasps filled the room as the elders exchanged troubled glances.
Dadi's voice was grave, her tone carrying the weight of certainty. "Our doubts were true. The witch has finally broken the divine shield and entered this house."
Urvashi clutched her sari tighter, her eyes wide. "She must have become more powerful than before to break the shield."
Veena's hand trembled as she rested it on the bed's edge. "I fear for Vihaan. What if she targets him again?"
Dadi's gaze softened, but her voice remained steady. "Don't worry. Vihaan has married Gauri. She managed to save him today… and she might do so in the future as well."
Veena's lips pursed, her expression turning skeptical, almost bitter. "I don't have any faith in that girl. Who knows if she can even save Vihaan? We shouldn't take any risks."
The room fell into uneasy silence, shadows of doubt and hope clashing in the elders' hearts.
Meanwhile, on the Witch Island
The air was thick with mist, the ground scorched with remnants of ancient rituals. Nishigandha walked barefoot across the blackened stones, her steps trembling with dread as she approached the towering statue of Kamini.
The stone idol loomed ominously, its eyes glowing faintly with a crimson hue. Nishigandha fell to her knees, bowing low until her forehead touched the cold ground.
Suddenly, the silence was shattered by Kamini's disembodied voice, deep and sharp as thunder.
"You have failed me, Nishigandha! Despite all my power flowing through you, you could not end Vihaan. The boy still breathes!"
Nishi's lips quivered as she defended herself. "M-Maai… it was Gauri! She came in the way. Every time I tried to strike, she shielded him. I don't understand how, but… she is not ordinary. Could she—could she be the real Jalpanchi?"
The stone eyes of the statue gleamed brighter, and Kamini's voice echoed with dreadful certainty.
"Yes. Gauri is the Jalpanchi. Vihaan has married her, and that bond makes her power even stronger."
Nishigandha's eyes widened, fury and fear mixing in her expression. "No… it cannot be. That lowly bar dancer—"
"Silence!" Kamini's roar reverberated through the island, making the waters surrounding it ripple violently. "Never underestimate her. If she is the true Jalpanchi, then she is the only one who can destroy our plans. She must be removed from Vihaan's life—forever!"
Nishi clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as a sinister smile curved her lips. "As you command, Maai. I will tear Gauri away from him. Even if I have to shred her soul apart, I will not fail again."
The statue's eyes dimmed, but Kamini's final words lingered in the air like a curse.
"Do not disappoint me again, Nishigandha… or you will share the same fate as those who dared defy me."
A gust of dark wind swept across the island, whipping Nishi's hair around her face as her determination hardened. "Gauri, Jalpanchi or not, your end is near."
Back at the Kothari Mansion
Vihaan quietly pushed open the door to his room. The soft golden glow of the bedside lamp illuminated Gauri, fast asleep, her head resting uncomfortably on the edge of the bed. Strands of her hair fell across her face, her brows faintly knitted as if she had dozed off mid-thought.
Vihaan exhaled in relief, muttering under his breath, "Thank goodness she fell asleep… otherwise she would have continued asking about those bugs."
He moved closer, his steps careful not to wake her. Gently, he slid his arm beneath her neck and adjusted her position, carefully placing her head on the pillow. For a moment, his eyes lingered on her face—peaceful, yet unknowingly burdened by dangers she didn't even understand.
Pulling away, Vihaan grabbed another pillow from the bed. Without hesitation, he walked over to the couch. Setting it down, he stretched his tall frame onto it, staring at the ceiling.
A whisper escaped his lips, almost like a confession to himself.
"Better she sleeps without questions… the truth will only destroy her."
His eyes closed, but his mind refused to rest, weighed down by secrets, curses, and the looming storm he knew was coming