Vihaan froze, stunned, his sharp eyes narrowing at her. "What did you just do?" His voice was low, controlled, but laced with disbelief. "Why did you rip my shirt, Gauri?"
Gauri stepped back, clutching the torn fabric in her hand, her heart racing. "I–I…" she stammered, then straightened, her tone defensive. "Why are you even wearing a t-shirt under your shirt? Who does that? Unless…" Her gaze hardened as she pointed at him. "You're hiding something, aren't you?"
Vihaan's jaw tightened, his silence betraying nothing.
Just then, a mischievous voice cut through the charged air.
"Well, well… what's happening here?"
Both turned to see Yug leaning lazily against the doorway, a teasing grin on his face. "Bhabhi ripping Bhaiya's clothes in the middle of the night? Should I call the tailor or just bring popcorn?"
Gauri flushed crimson, instantly stepping back. "It's not like that!" she blurted. "I wasn't—"
"Of course, of course." Yug smirked, pretending to zip his lips. "I'll just tell Raani that our stern ACP has finally found his fashion stylist in Bhabhi."
Vihaan's glare could have cut steel. "Yug."
But Yug only chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine, I'll leave you two lovebirds. But Bhaiya, next time, just give Bhabhi your shirt without protest. She clearly has… strong opinions about your wardrobe."
As he sauntered off laughing, Gauri crossed her arms, her anger mixing with embarrassment. Vihaan ran a hand through his hair, utterly boggled by her behavior, while Gauri's suspicion only deepened.
---
Vihaan suddenly clutched his chest, his breath hitching. A guttural scream tore from his throat as he collapsed to his knees.
"Vihaan!" Gauri's voice cracked as she and Yug rushed to his side. She held his shoulders, her eyes wide with terror. "What's happening to you?"
Before her eyes, black veins began crawling across Vihaan's neck and arms, spreading like wildfire under his skin. His nails dug into the floor as his body shook violently.
"Get… a glass of water!" he rasped, his voice strangled.
"But—" Gauri's hands trembled, reluctant to leave him.
"Just go!" he barked, his eyes flashing with unnatural light.
Her heart pounding, she scrambled up and ran toward the kitchen.
When she returned moments later, breathless with the glass of water in hand, the room was empty. Only Yug stood there, fidgeting.
Her eyes darted around wildly. "Where's Vihaan?"
Yug hesitated before answering, too quickly. "Brother drove himself to the hospital. It—it must have been an allergic reaction."
"What?" Gauri's brow furrowed. "That's impossible. I was downstairs—he didn't pass by me!"
She moved toward him, demanding answers, but Yug stepped in front, trying to mask his unease. "He… he took the back exit. Don't worry, Bhabhi, he'll be fine."
But her suspicion deepened. "And you didn't even go with him?!"
Yug rubbed his neck awkwardly. "I… he told me to stay back."
Unconvinced, Gauri called out desperately, "Vihaan! Where are you?!"
Above her, unseen, Vihaan clung to the ceiling, his body contorted unnaturally. His eyes glowed an eerie crimson, his nails stretched into razor-sharp claws as he crawled silently across the beams.
Every time Gauri turned her head, Vihaan leapt to another pillar, his movements swift and animalistic, the sound of his claws scraping faintly against the wood.
Her footsteps echoed as she rushed toward the staircase, still calling his name, her voice breaking.
Yug's eyes flicked upward for a brief moment, his throat tightening at the sight of his brother leaping from shadow to shadow, avoiding her gaze. He clenched his fists—he knew this was no allergy.
This was the darkness inside Vihaan, breaking free.
From the basement came the unmistakable crash of furniture toppling over. Gauri froze mid-step, her heart racing. Another thud followed, louder this time, shaking the floorboards.
Her trembling hand reached for the basement door. She grasped the handle and tugged.
"Vihaan!" she called, her voice breaking.
But as soon as she tried to push it open, resistance met her. Someone was holding it shut from the other side.
"Don't—don't come in!" Vihaan's voice thundered, raw with agony.
"Vihaan, please!" Gauri pressed against the wood, her palm flat, her tears spilling freely. "Open the door, I'm begging you—let me in!"
On the other side, Vihaan's body writhed as the black veins crawled up his chest and face. He pressed his back against the door, holding it shut with all his strength, his breath ragged.
"No, Gauri! You can't see me like this…" His voice cracked, thick with pain.
"But why?!" Her sobs echoed down the hallway. "You're suffering—I can hear it! Please, let me stay with you!"
He slammed his fist against the wood, his claws splintering it. "No! I don't want you to see me in this state. I can't—" His words dissolved into a guttural cry as his body convulsed.
Gauri leaned her forehead against the door, crying harder. "You don't have to hide from me… please don't push me away!"
From the other side, his voice lowered, trembling. "Promise me… promise you will not see me like this, Gauri."
Her heart clenched, her body trembling. "Vihaan…"
"Promise me!" he shouted, the desperation in his tone piercing straight through her.
Both sank down on opposite sides of the door, their tears staining the wood between them—together yet separated by the darkness Vihaan feared she would discover.