Kamini's eyes gleamed with wicked satisfaction as the dark daggers whirled in the air. "Let's end this defiance once and for all," she whispered, her voice echoing through the mansion like a death knell.
With a flick of her wrist, the daggers shot forward — straight toward Vihaan.
"Vihaan!" everyone screamed.
Veena instinctively threw herself in front of her son, her trembling arms spread wide, tears streaming down her face. "No! I won't let you hurt him!" she cried.
But before the blades could strike, a surge of silver light burst across the room.
Gauri stepped in front of them, her ring glowing with a radiant pulse that rippled through the air. The daggers slowed midflight, their deadly momentum fading as if time itself had obeyed her will. With one swift motion of her hand, she brushed them aside — the blades clattering harmlessly to the marble floor.
Everyone froze. Even Kamini's expression faltered.
Gauri stood tall in front of Vihaan, her eyes burning with defiance, her voice steady. "You'll have to go through me first."
Kamini slowly rose from her serpent throne, studying the faintly glowing ring on Gauri's finger. Her lips curved into an amused smirk. "Well, well, daughter-in-law… it seems you possess a magical ring. So, do you truly believe you can stand against your mother-in-law?"
Gauri's gaze didn't waver. "Daughters-in-law fight their mothers-in-law every day, Kamini — for their husbands' sake." She took a bold step forward, her voice like a storm breaking the silence. "Looks like you and I have joined that category."
Kamini chuckled, her laughter echoing through the dark hall like a thousand serpents hissing in unison. "Oh, this just got interesting," she purred, eyes gleaming with renewed menace.
The crimson glow of the blood moon bathed the backyard of the Kothari mansion in an eerie light. The air was thick with dread, the grass trembling beneath the surge of dark energy radiating from Kamini's statue.
Kamini stood tall, her black saree rippling like liquid shadow, serpents slithering around her throne. Her golden eyes gleamed as she flicked her wrist. A streak of darkness snaked toward Gauri, coiling around her hands.
Gauri gasped, struggling as the shadows bound her wrists. Then, with a sharp, tearing pull, the dark magic yanked the ring from her finger.
"No!" Gauri cried out, watching in horror as the glowing ring flew through the air and vanished into the dark forest behind the mansion.
Kamini's smile curved with cruel delight. "Daughter-in-law… the last time I faced you, I told you this—when I return, neither you, your faith, nor your God will be able to stop me."
Her voice echoed through the courtyard, blending with the hissing of serpents that coiled at her feet. With a flick of her hand, a blast of dark power erupted—throwing Gauri across the grass.
Gauri hit the ground hard, a cry escaping her lips as pain shot through her side. Dirt smeared her palms; a thin trail of blood trickled from her forehead.
"Gauri!" Vihaan's voice roared through the chaos as he and the family rushed forward.
Kamini's gaze followed her son with predatory calm. "Now watch, Vihaan. Watch how your love perishes… by your mother's hand."
Dark energy gathered around Kamini's fingers, forming sleek, glinting daggers made of pure shadow. She smirked and sent them flying toward Gauri.
Veena screamed, running forward instinctively to shield Vihaan. "No!" she cried, spreading her arms to protect her son.
But before she could reach him, Vihaan moved first. He dashed forward, sliding across the ground, and threw himself over Gauri, shielding her with his back.
The daggers struck — hitting Vihaan's back with a sharp, echoing crack before dissipating into smoke.
"Vihaan!" Gauri screamed, clutching him tightly, her eyes wide with disbelief and tears.
The rest of the family froze where they stood—Veena's trembling hands covered her mouth, Dadi's lamp nearly slipping from her grasp, Yug and Charvi stunned into silence.
Kamini tilted her head, her serpent braid swaying lazily behind her. "How touching," she purred. "A son shielding his love… just as his father once tried to shield me when he was so inlove with me."
Her laughter rippled through the night like thunder, powerful and cruel, shaking the very air around them.
The blood moon burned brighter. The earth beneath Kamini's feet began to crack.
And the Kothari family could only watch in horror as the Queen of Darkness stood triumphant—her laughter echoing through the night.
To be continued...