Gauri blinked rapidly, pulling herself out of the moment. Her voice came out low, almost flustered. "I… I should probably freshen up now."
Vihaan leaned back, masking the faint flicker in his eyes. "Okay," he said simply.
She rose from the bed, smoothing the folds of her dupatta as she turned toward the washroom. Just as she reached the door, his voice stopped her.
"Thanks, Gauri."
She froze mid-step, startled. Slowly, she turned her head, eyes wide. "Did you just… thank me?"
Vihaan arched a brow but didn't reply further.
A small smile tugged at her lips, and she recited softly, almost like a teasing poem,
"Now that the stern-looking ACP Vihaan Kothari has thanked me,
I hope my morning goes well."
Yug burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. "Stern-looking ACP—oh, this is gold!"
Raani leaned on his shoulder, giggling. "Bhabhi has guts. Who dares to tease our stone-faced brother like that?"
Vihaan's jaw tightened, his glare sharp enough to slice the air. He stood, taking two measured steps toward his cousins.
Yug raised his hands in surrender. "We were just appreciating the poetry—"
"Out." Vihaan's voice left no room for argument.
With one swift shove, he kicked both of them out of the room. Their laughter trailed down the corridor, echoing even as they disappeared.
Inside, Gauri lingered at the washroom door, her lips curved in a faint smile.
Dadi's Room – Kothari Mansion
The morning sun streamed faintly through the latticed windows, but the air inside was heavy with unease. Veena sat stiffly on the sofa, her hands tightly clasped in her lap, while Dadi, Urvashi, and Shyom exchanged troubled glances.
Dadi broke the silence, her voice low but edged with suspicion. "Veena… that shadow… could it be ka—"
"No!" Veena cut her off sharply, her eyes flashing. "Don't even utter that inauspicious name, Maaji. It can't be her. She was petrified twenty-five years ago. It's impossible."
A silence settled, thick with unspoken dread.
Urvashi finally spoke, her tone gentle but firm. "Whatever it was… one thing is clear. It's only because of Gauri that Vihaan is alive today. She lit the sacred lamp in the presence of that dark force. That alone… is extraordinary. What if—" she hesitated, then continued, "what if Gauri is the real JalPanchi and not Adrija?"
Veena shot her a sharp look. "Impossible! Adrija is the JalPanchi. Even Pratham Vanshi herself confirmed it. Gauri… Gauri can never be the JalPanchi."
Dadi shook her head slowly, her gaze piercing Veena's. "Whether Gauri is JalPanchi or not, the truth remains—she shielded Vihaan. She lit the lamp when you could not, Veena. That flame burned because of her faith, her courage."
Veena's lips trembled. She rose abruptly, her voice breaking. "I… I couldn't light it because my hands were trembling… because I was terrified for my son!"
The room fell into silence.
Shyom leaned forward, his voice calm but cutting. "Sister-in-law… regardless of what you think, you cannot deny the fact that Gauri saved Vihaan's life. She is not as bad as you've painted her to be."
Veena's jaw tightened, her pride refusing to bend. "My opinions about that girl will not change."
Without another word, she turned sharply and swept out of the room, leaving the others in heavy silence.
Dadi exhaled slowly, her brows furrowed. Urvashi and Shyom exchanged looks, the same thought lingering between them—perhaps destiny had chosen Gauri in ways none of them yet understood.
City Hospital – Charvi's Room
The sterile scent of antiseptic filled the corridors as Gauri walked swiftly through the hospital, her heart lightening at the thought of seeing her sister. She pushed open the door to Charvi's room and her face softened instantly.
"Ma," Gauri greeted warmly, bending down to touch Gayatri's feet before offering her a small box of sweets.
Gayatri smiled faintly, accepting it. "So… how was your first Janmashtami at the Kotharis?"
For a brief moment, last night's horror flashed before Gauri's eyes—the shadow's scream, Vihaan's blood dripping onto her forehead, his agonized cry as arrows pierced his back. Her chest tightened.
She forced a smile, lowering her gaze. "It… went well, Ma."
Gayatri's eyes searched hers, but before she could probe further, Gauri turned to Charvi, her voice soft and tender. "How are you, meri jaan?" She pressed a gentle kiss on her sister's forehead.
Charvi smiled weakly, her cheeks glowing with warmth. "I'm feeling better, didi."
Just then, the doctor stepped in with a clipboard, his expression brighter than usual. He flipped through the papers, then looked at them. "Good news. Charvi's condition has improved… miraculously, in fact. If her progress continues like this, she can be discharged in just a few days."
Gauri's eyes widened, tears of joy welling up. "Truly, Doctor?"
He nodded firmly. "Yes. She's healing faster than we expected."
A rush of relief washed over Gauri, her palms trembling slightly as she clasped Charvi's hand. "Thank you, Lord Krishna," she whispered under her breath, her smile breaking into pure excitement. "We'll take you home soon, Charvi. Very soon."
Charvi's eyes gleamed, and even Gayatri let out a soft sigh of gratitude, though Gauri's own heart carried a quiet ache—knowing the truth of what she had endured the night before, and the silent burden she was now carrying.