Meanwhile, the celebrations wind down. The guests slowly take their leave, laughter and music fading into the night. Gayatri folds her hands warmly, bidding the Kotharis goodbye.
Charvi, however, tugs gently at her mother's hand. "Ma, I want to meet Gauri before we leave."
Gayatri strokes her cheek, her tone patient but firm. "It's already late, beta. Gauri must be tired after all the festivities. Call her tomorrow, hmm?"
Charvi pouts but nods reluctantly. "Okay… tomorrow then." She casts one last glance at the mansion before leaving with her mother.
As the silence of the courtyard settles in, Yug gathers his courage. His voice trembles, but his words strike like lightning:
"Everyone… I need to tell you something. Mom… has been possessed. By the witch."
The Kotharis freeze. Raani gasps, clutching her dupatta to her lips. "Oh God! How did the witch… how did she possess Ma?"
Veena's face hardens, her eyes widening with fear. "We have to find Urvashi before she does anything wrong!"
Dadi and Shyom exchange a grim look, their voices overlapping in urgency. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go—now!"
Together, they rush into the mansion, the festive atmosphere replaced by a tense, shadowed silence.
Meanwhile, in the grand hall of the mansion, Urvashi stood unnaturally still, her eyes void of life. Suddenly, she let out a shrill cry that echoed off the marble walls:
"Gauri! Come down! Come and hear this family's secret!"
Her voice carried an eerie force, making the very air tremble.
Inside the washroom, steam curled around Vihaan and Gauri as the water dripped down from the showerhead. Gauri, still intoxicated from the bhang, stiffened at the sound.
"Vihaan," she whispered, clutching his arm, "I heard my name… someone is calling me."
Vihaan tilted his head, listening, but shook it off. "I didn't hear anything," he said, half-teasing as he tried to lighten her nerves. "Maybe you're imagining it… or maybe the bhaang is still dancing in your head."
But Gauri's eyes darted toward the door. "No, no… I swear I heard it. Someone called me." She pushed herself up, wobbling slightly, and started toward the exit.
In a swift motion, Vihaan reached out and pulled her back against him. Their balance faltered, and both stumbled under the running shower. The cold spray soaked them, clinging their clothes to their bodies.
"Stay," Vihaan whispered, his voice low and husky. His hand cupped her face, water trailing between his fingers. Before she could protest, he closed the distance, his lips pressing against hers in a sudden, breath-stealing kiss.
Outside, Urvashi's haunting voice rang out again, growing sharper, more demanding:
"Gauri! Come now… before it's too late!"
Suddenly, the family rushed into the hall, forming a tight circle around Urvashi, who stood trembling, her voice still echoing:
"I must tell Gauri the truth! She has to know!"
Her eyes glowed with the remnants of Nishigandha's spell, her body jerking unnaturally as though invisible strings pulled at her.
Veena, clutching a brass lota of ganga jal, stepped forward, her tone sharp and commanding. "Now! Everyone, together!"
In unison, the Kotharis hurled the sacred water at Urvashi. The droplets struck her like fire, sizzling against her skin. She let out a blood-curdling scream, stumbling back as the enchantment fought to hold her.
"Gauri! The truth—!" Her voice cracked mid-sentence, her arms flailing as if trying to reach for someone unseen.
With one final splash, the spell shattered. Urvashi collapsed to the marble floor, her eyes rolling back before fluttering shut.
Dadi rushed forward, kneeling beside her. "She's breathing… thank God."
Shyom wiped his forehead in relief. "The witch's enchantment is broken."
But Veena's eyes were still dark with worry. "For how long? Nishigandha won't stop so easily. This was only the beginning."
The family exchanged tense looks, knowing the battle was far from over.
Meanwhile, in Vihaan's room…
The sound of rain-like droplets from the shower still lingered in their ears as Gauri and Vihaan stumbled toward the bed, their laughter soft and unsteady from the bhang. Their gazes remained locked, heat and tenderness tangled together.
Vihaan leaned closer, his lips finding hers again, more urgent this time. Gauri responded, her hands brushing against his shoulders as though testing whether this closeness was real or a dream.
In the haze of color and intoxication, Vihaan tugged his shirt off, his breath uneven. He gently pulled the blanket over them both, shielding their fragile, vulnerable moment from the world outside.
The flickering light of the Holi lamps outside the window spilled into the room, casting shifting shadows as their silhouettes melted into each other.
The noise of the festival, the witchly dangers lurking, the secrets still untold—all faded. For now, there was only them, bound in a moment of reckless intimacy neither had planned, yet neither wanted to let go of.