Next Morning – At the Chawl
Gauri, exhausted but restless, moved about her tiny kitchen. Her hands shook as she lit the stove.
"Charvi, get forty vada pavs from the stall," she said suddenly, her voice breaking. "I'll make the tea."
Charvi blinked. "Forty? Didi, for who—"
"Just go!" Gauri snapped, then softened. "Please… just go."
Still confused, Charvi obeyed. Outside, she nearly collided with Vihaan, who had just arrived.
"Charvi? Forty vada pavs?" he asked, baffled.
"She… she asked me to," Charvi muttered and hurried away.
Vihaan frowned deeply before stepping into the chawl room.
Inside, Gauri paced like a caged bird, muttering through her tears.
"I used to laugh at ghosts, spirits, vampires… all nonsense. But yesterday? Yesterday I became the nonsense myself! I saw what no one should see. That witch, those… monsters climbing the walls with their twisted feet…" Her voice cracked, her breath coming in gasps. "How do I go back to normal after this? How?"
She thought she was speaking to Charvi and didn't even look back.
"Gauri…" Vihaan's voice was low, pained.
Startled, she turned and froze. "You…"
Her knees buckled from weakness, hunger gnawing at her, but before she collapsed, Vihaan caught her. Their eyes met—hers brimming with fear and anger, his heavy with guilt.
---
At the Mansion
In the grand hall, Shyom answered a tense call. "The groom's family is already on their way," he said grimly. "They're expecting to meet Gauri during Raani's roka."
Veena slammed her hand on the table. "Vihaan must bring her back! Whether I like that girl or not, this family's reputation is on the line."
Urvashi's voice shook. "If she doesn't return, Raani's alliance will shatter. Everything we've built… gone."
---
Back at the Chawl
"Please, Gauri," Vihaan pleaded, his voice raw. "Come back for Raani's roka. If you don't, it will be ruined—her life, her happiness, everything."
But Gauri's face hardened, her tears replaced with steel. "No, Vihaan. I won't go back just to be a pawn in some witch's game. You want Raani's marriage to work? Find a family who doesn't care about appearances. Because I will not let myself be used."
Vihaan's throat tightened—her words dragged him back to the day he had forced her into marriage, chaining her freedom. He clenched his fists but said nothing. Without another word, he walked out, his silence louder than any argument.
From the doorway, Charvi stood frozen, having returned with the vada pavs, her heart torn seeing her sister's defiance and Vihaan's silent despair.
---
At the Mansion – Basement
A shriek ripped through the house, chilling every corner. Nishi screamed so violently that the lights flickered and glass cracked, raining shards on the stone floor.
The family rushed down. Yug, with mockery in his tone, set a holy water bottle on the pillar near her.
"Try that again, and your ugly tiny voice will smash this. Let's see how your daayan skin feels when this touches it."
Nishi's lips curled into a twisted smile, her eyes gleaming. Scream or silence… it doesn't matter. They've heard me. My sisters are coming from the witch island.
---
Living Room – Later
The groom's family arrived in a flourish of cars. Babita, Raani's would-be mother-in-law, swept in first, her eyes sharp as blades.
Her gaze landed on Raani. "This is your bride-to-be? In such attire?" she scoffed, shaking her head. "No sanskaar, no grace."
Turning to Urvashi, she added with poison in her tone, "And tell me, why were we not invited to Vihaan's wedding? Do you consider us so small?"
Urvashi tried to explain, but Babita cut her off with a raised hand. "Save your excuses. Where is the new daughter-in-law? We came to see her too."
The room froze. Veena's heart skipped. Urvashi's face went pale. Shyom looked toward the door, praying Vihaan would appear with Gauri.
But Gauri was nowhere in sight.
Babita smirked. "Don't tell me… the new bride refuses to show her face?"
Her words struck like a blade, leaving the family trapped in silence, their honor hanging by a thread.
The atmosphere grew heavier as Babita's sharp eyes darted around.
"Where is your new daughter-in-law? Hiding?" she asked with mockery dripping from every syllable.
Urvashi, fighting to steady her breath, forced a polite smile.
"She's in her room… getting ready. You know how brides are," she lied smoothly. "In the meantime, why don't we proceed with the roka? Gauri will join us soon."
Babita smirked knowingly but said nothing more. "Fine. Let's not waste time."
The family exhaled in quiet relief as the roka ceremony began.
Raani, dressed in a soft peach lehenga, sat beside her fiancé Bharat, her hands trembling slightly. The priest chanted mantras while trays of sweets and gifts were exchanged. The air smelled of incense and rose petals, but beneath the rituals, tension simmered like a storm waiting to break.
Babita watched closely, her hawk-like gaze missing nothing. Every so often, her lips curved into a faint smirk—as though she knew more than she was letting on.
---
Upstairs – Mansion Corridor
The heavy wooden doors creaked open as Vihaan finally returned. His shoulders slumped, his jaw tight with frustration. He spotted Yug lingering near the staircase and subtly gestured for him to follow.
They walked down a deserted corridor, away from prying eyes.
Yug's tone was urgent, hushed. "Bhai… where is sister-in-law Gauri?"
Vihaan's voice was low, almost breaking. "I couldn't bring her back. She refused. She… she doesn't want to step foot in this house again."
Yug's expression darkened. "Damn. What do we do now? Babita aunty is already sniffing around like a vulture. If she finds out Gauri's not here—"
Vihaan cut him off, gripping Yug's shoulder. "We have to stall. Keep them distracted. If Gauri doesn't come, the alliance might collapse."
Yug's jaw tightened, his usual humor gone. "Then we better think of something fast. Because Babita aunty won't let this slide for long."
The two brothers exchanged a grim look, both realizing the storm that awaited them if the truth came out.