Chandni and Laila both fell to their knees, voices urgent and woven with the same plea.
"Free me," Chandni begged, hands clasped. "I didn't do this—"
"Please," Laila echoed, steady and bright-eyed. "You must believe me. Let me prove I'm with you."
The family clustered at the foot of the stairs, a ring of anxious faces. Shyom and Yug pushed forward, urging Charvi to speak.
Charvi came running down, breathless, clutching Urvashi's stone. "I know who the attacker is!" she cried.
Without hesitating she lifted her arm and pointed straight at Laila. The room froze; all eyes swung to the princess in the doorway. Shock flashed across Vihaan's face, then Gauri's.
Then, in the space of a single heartbeat, Charvi's hand slid—not with doubt, but as if pulled by some hidden current—and her finger landed on Chandni.
"Chandni," Charvi said, the name falling like a verdict.
Gasps shattered the hush. Whispers rose; faces turned from twin to twin, searching for an answer.
On the railing above, Veer watched with a cold, private satisfaction. He remembered the soft pressure at Charvi's temple as she passed him—his subtle command woven into her step, the memory now pushed into motion. A smirk played at his mouth.
What all I have to do to kill you, Vihaan, he thought, tasting the vow like iron.
Vihaan acted without delay. He stepped forward and released Laila from her bindings.
"You did good to trust me," Laila said once she rose to her feet, voice warm. "Now your family will be safe."
Chandni's eyes flared. "You will regret trusting Laila, Vihaan. Trust me."
Gauri's gaze lingered on the pit where Chandni lay trapped, her body cocooned in shimmering bindings of moonlight and dust. For a fleeting moment, Chandni's eyes—glassy yet alive—found hers.
"Protect the child," Chandni whispered faintly, her voice trembling through the air like a dying echo.
Gauri's brows furrowed. "What?" she murmured under her breath, confusion flickering in her eyes. But before she could step closer, Laila's cold, commanding tone cut through the silence.
"It's not safe to keep her here," Laila said sharply. Her staff glowed crimson as it reappeared in her hand, summoned by her power. Without hesitation, she raised it high and struck the ground. The floor trembled violently; the pit deepened, swallowing Chandni inch by inch as dust and smoke swirled around her.
Chandni's fading voice rose, echoing in the chaos. "The red moon… will rise again…"
And then she was gone—buried beneath the weight of earth and silence.
Laila stood tall, her expression fierce with triumph. "Now I will become the Red Moon Princess," she whispered under her breath, her eyes glinting with scarlet light. "You and your time are over."
Vihaan stepped forward, anger and worry crossing his face. "Then tell me one thing, Laila—if Chandni's gone, why haven't Raani and Aunt Urvashi turned back to normal yet?"
Laila turned to face the family, her expression unreadable. "Only one thing can save them now," she said softly. Everyone leaned forward, desperate.
"What is it?" Sharda asked.
"The Red Moon piece," Laila replied. "It can break the curse. But…" she smiled faintly, "you shattered the moon, Vihaan. How will you get that rock now?"
The room fell silent, until Laila's eyes glimmered again. "Oh wait. There is a way. The moon still exists above you—and its pieces can still be claimed."
Yug raised his hand incredulously. "What are you saying? You expect us to go and pluck a piece of the moon? What are we, Neil Armstrong?"
Laila smirked. "Not you, Yug. Only one can do it." Her gaze turned to Gauri. "The Jalpanchi—the water maiden. The moon will listen to her call."
Vihaan immediately protested. "Then I'm going with her."
Laila shook her head firmly. "No. If Chandni returns, someone must stay to protect the family. I've only caged her, not destroyed her. Her magic will rise again."
Gauri turned to Vihaan, her voice calm but determined. "She's right, Vihaan. You need to be here. We can trust Laila on this. The family needs you more than ever."
He looked at her for a long moment—eyes full of fear and love tangled together. "Then promise me," he said quietly, taking her hands, "promise me you'll come back. Because if anything happens to you…" His voice broke. "I'll die, Gauri."
Gauri instantly covered his mouth with her palm. "Don't ever say that, VK," she whispered. "You have to live—so that when I come back, you'll be here to remind me."
He smiled faintly through his tears, pulling her into a tight embrace. The family watched silently—hope and fear balancing on the edge of their hearts.
When they pulled apart, Gauri turned to Laila. "Tell me… how do I reach the Love Tower?"
Laila lifted her staff again, and a small crescent-shaped moon appeared in her palm, glowing gently. "Follow this," she said. "It will guide you. The moon knows its own."
Gauri nodded, accepting the luminous crescent. But something still tugged at her. "Laila… did Chandni have any children?"
Laila blinked, momentarily thrown. "No," she said quickly.
"Then why…" Gauri hesitated. "Why did she tell me to protect the child?"
Laila's eyes hardened. "Ignore her words. Chandni would say anything to distract you."
Gauri didn't reply, but a chill moved down her spine.
Sharda, Dadi, and Veena came forward, placing their hands on her head in blessing. "May Mahadev protect you, child," Dadi whispered.
Charvi rushed to hug her tightly, eyes brimming with tears. "Be careful, Gauri Didi."
Yug forced a smile. "And bring us back some moon dust while you're at it."
Vihaan stood still, silently watching as Gauri turned and walked toward the mansion's grand doors. The crescent floated before her, glowing brighter with every step.
Without looking back, she followed its light into the night—toward the unknown, toward the moon.