Vihaan's eyes burned with fury and heartbreak as he materialized a small crystal bottle in his palm — the real braid glowing faintly inside.
"You think I'd trust Kamini's shadows that easily?" he said coldly, his voice trembling with restrained pain. "That was a fake, Gauri. I had to be sure who she was controlling."
Gauri froze, realization dawning too late. Her eyes flickered between fear and guilt. "Vihaan… please—"
Before she could finish, she lunged, snatching the bottle from his grasp and dashing toward the doorway. Instinctively, Vihaan's powers flared: silver chains erupted from the air, wrapping her wrists mid-run.
The bottle rolled across the floor, glowing violently before dimming.
"Stop fighting me, Gauri!" Vihaan shouted, his voice echoing through the Kothari mansion. "I won't let Kamini destroy you even if I have to fight against my love!"
Gauri thrashed, her eyes briefly flashing a dark crimson. Somewhere deep in her mind, Kamini's laughter slithered like smoke, curling around her thoughts.
---
Far away, in a dark, twisting cave, Kamini's spectral form shimmered in shadow. Her voice hissed through Gauri's mind.
"You can chain her body, Vihaan… but her soul is mine. Soon, my rebirth will be complete — and it will be your blood that brings me back."
---
When Gauri awoke, she found herself in the basement, bound by Vihaan's enchanted chains. Surrounding her, the Kothari family gathered — Dadi, Veena, Urvashi, Sharda, Yug and Charvi — faces pale, eyes wide with concern.
"Gauri beta," Dadi pleaded, sprinkling sacred Gangajal near her feet. "You're stronger than this dark power. Break free, child!,"
"Don't let that witch control you Gauri"Sharda pleaded.
Tears shimmered in Gauri's eyes, but she only turned away. "Leave me," she whispered, her voice trembling with torment and love.
Vihaan gestured for everyone to step back. "Please… give us a moment."
Reluctantly, the family backed away, though Veena gripped Sharda's hand tightly, Sharda murmuring prayers. "Don't let anything happen to him," she whispered under her breath.
Vihaan knelt beside Gauri. "Look at me, Gauri. You don't mean what you're saying."
"I do," she spat, voice sharp. "I hate you. I hate your family! Kamini will be free… and you'll all pay for what you did to her!"
He saw the flicker of truth behind the lie — the subtle tremor in her hands, the quick glance toward the exit.
Under her breath, she whispered quickly, "Run… before it's too late. When Kamini awakens, she'll kill you first."
Vihaan shook his head, eyes wet. "I'm not running. I'll destroy her statue and free you instead,just like you have always stood against her for me, I'll stand against her for you,I won't let her use the woman i love."
---
Suddenly, the lights flickered violently. Chains rattled. A shadow coiled around the basement walls like living smoke.
"Kamini!" Dadi's voice thundered as she re-entered, swinging a pot of sacred Gangajal. Chanting powerful mantras, she scattered it into the shadows. The darkness hissed, retreating — for now.
Vihaan felt dread surge. "She's close… she's breaking through."
He rushed out to the main hall, the entire Kothari family following cautiously. "No one panics!" he commanded. "As long as I'm here, no harm will come to you."
Veena, still weak, grasped his hand. "Vihaan, please… don't face her alone."
A shrill cry split the air. Kamini's crows burst through the corridor windows, feathers swirling like black tornadoes. The chains around Gauri snapped open.
Gauri's eyes widened in fear as invisible hands lifted her. She stumbled to her feet and fled the basement just as Yug and Charvi arrived.
"Bhaiya!" Yug shouted. "Gauri bhabhi's gone!"
"Yug… Charvi…" Vihaan said, his voice tight with urgency. "Spread out. We find her — together."
There, alone in the dim candlelight, Gauri knelt before the goddess's idol, tears streaming down her face.
"Protect him, please protect vihaan from Kamini, Maa," she whispered. "If one must fall… let it be me, I'm ready to sacrifice my life to ensure vihaan and this family are safe."
Her prayer echoed through the hollow chamber. At that same moment, Vihaan released the enchanted braid. It rose into the air like a living serpent, glowing with crimson fire, before vanishing toward the distant horizon — toward Kamini's statue.
The air crackled with otherworldly energy. Somewhere in the shadows, a crow cawed — guiding Gauri's gaze toward an ancient painting of a goddess holding fire and water in her palms. A shiver ran through her — the goddess's eyes seemed alive.
Far away, under the rising blood moon, Kamini's laughter began to swell once more.
To be continued…