In his room, Vihaan pressed both palms against the cold surface of the mirror, his forehead resting on it. His voice cracked, thick with desperation. "Gauri… please answer me. Please… just once, let me know you're here." He yelled louder, his voice echoing through the chamber. "Gauri, please!"
Meanwhile, in the shadow realm, Gauri trembled under the broken table, her eyes wide as heavy footsteps echoed closer. She clamped a hand over her mouth, tears streaming down as she saw the beast's clawed feet stop just inches away from her. A low growl shook the walls, then suddenly… silence.
The beast vanished into the darkness.
Gauri gasped, her chest heaving. Relief washed over her, but only for a moment—because across the ruined, cracked mirror, she could see Vihaan turning away, his shoulders slumped, his body trembling with defeat.
"No," Gauri whispered, panic rising in her throat.
As Vihaan began to step back, ready to leave the mirror's side, Gauri bolted out from her hiding place. She slammed both palms against the shadowed glass, banging it with all her strength. "I'm here, Vihaan!" she screamed, her voice raw with desperation. "I'm here!"
Vihaan froze. The faint, rapid thud-thud against the mirror jolted him. He spun back, rushing to the glass, pressing his hands where the banging came from. His heart pounded, his breath uneven.
"Gauri…?" he whispered, his eyes searching desperately.
But no matter how he strained, he couldn't hear her voice—only feel the vibrations against the mirror.
On the other side, Gauri cried, pressing her forehead to the glass, still pounding it with her fists. "Please, Vihaan… don't leave me."
And though her words didn't reach him, her desperation did—because for the first time, Vihaan felt her presence.
---
The door creaked open and Yug stepped in, his eyes immediately falling on Vihaan, who stood frozen with both hands on the mirror. "Bhaiya… what are you doing?"
Vihaan turned sharply, his voice breaking with urgency. "Yug… she's here. Gauri… she's in the mirror. I can feel her."
Yug frowned, stepping closer. "In the mirror? How can you be sure it's Gauri bhabhi?"
Vihaan's eyes glistened, his jaw tight. "Because my heart says so."
Yug looked at the glass, then back at Vihaan. "Alright. Then let's confirm it."
He approached the mirror, speaking aloud. "Bhabhi… if you think my Bhaiya is calm, gentle, and always does the right thing… bang on the mirror."
Gauri, on the other side, stood silently. She folded her hands tightly against her chest, refusing to move. Tears pooled in her eyes as she shook her head.
Yug's lips curved faintly, as though he expected that. He continued. "But if you think my Bhaiya is rude, arrogant, stern, and never supports you when you need him…" He leaned closer to the mirror. "Then bhabhi, please bang on it."
The next second—BANG! BANG! BANG!
The mirror shook under Gauri's fists.
Yug gasped, his eyes widening. "It's really her… it's really my sister-in-law."
Vihaan's heart lurched, his chest tightening. He pushed Yug aside in a rush. "Move." His voice cracked as he pressed himself closer to the mirror, his eyes searching desperately for her.
"Gauri…" he whispered, trembling, "…I'm here."
Vihaan's voice trembled as he pressed closer to the mirror. "Gauri… if you're in any kind of danger, or if something is after you… bang thrice. I need to know."
From the shadow realm, Gauri's hands shook, but she summoned her courage and pounded on the mirror—BANG! BANG! BANG!
Yug's eyes widened in disbelief, and even Vihaan staggered back slightly, shock and fear mingling in his gaze. "She's… she's really in trouble," he muttered under his breath.
Vihaan gritted his teeth, determination burning in his eyes. "Gauri… listen carefully. The shadow realm… it's a complete opposite of our mansion. Everything familiar here is twisted there. But there's one safe place—the temple. No dark force can touch you inside the temple. You need to find it. Go, now. Please."
Yug nodded beside him, his expression tight. "Brother… she'll do it. She's strong."
Vihaan's hand lingered on the mirror, his lips moving silently as he prayed for her safety, while Gauri, trembling but resolute, took a deep breath and started moving through the ruined halls of the shadow mansion, her eyes scanning for the faint glow of the temple.
Vihaan and Yug rushed downstairs, their faces etched with worry. "Everyone… listen carefully," Vihaan said, his voice tight with urgency. "Gauri is in danger… she's trapped in the shadow realm."
Dadi clutched her saree, her eyes wide with concern, while Sharda's stern face remained tense. Urvashi and Shyom exchanged worried glances, and Raani and Yug could barely keep still.
Pratham Vanshi stepped forward, her staff tapping the floor. "Vihaan, the danger your wife faces is no ordinary threat," she said, her voice calm but serious. "The shadow beast has been awakened. It cannot see… but its hearing is extremely sharp. Any noise she makes could alert it to her presence."
Vihaan clenched his fists. "So it can hear everything she does… every step she takes?"
Pratham Vanshi nodded. "Yes. That is why she must be careful and move quietly. But she is clever. If she reaches the temple, she will find safety."
Yug looked at Vihaan with resolve. "Brother… she's brave. She'll manage. But we need to be ready to help her as soon as we can."
Vihaan's eyes darkened with determination. "I won't let anything happen to her… not now, not ever."