The moment Charvi's words left her lips, the air in the Kothari mansion grew heavy. Every face turned pale as fear rippled through the family.
Sharda gripped Vihaan's arm tightly. "But how will you find her, Vihaan? You don't even know where she is!"
Vihaan's gaze turned distant — his heart already somewhere beyond the mansion walls. "I don't need to know," he said quietly. "Our connection… our love… our hearts will lead me to her."
Veena's voice trembled, but her words carried the weight of faith. "Then go, beta. But promise me—" her eyes glistened, "promise me you'll bring my bahu back safe."
Vihaan nodded, eyes burning with determination. "I will. No force can keep her away from me."
With that, he stepped away from them, removing the protective bracelet from his wrist. The moment the charm left his skin, the air crackled — as if raw energy awakened around him. His pupils dilated and turned crimson red, glowing faintly in the dark.
Outside, under the blood-stained moonlight, Vihaan stood still with his eyes closed. The world seemed to fade — no sound, no wind — only silence and his heartbeat. Then, beneath that silence, came another pulse… softer… familiar.
Gauri's heartbeat.
A faint smile touched his lips. "Found you," he whispered.
Meanwhile, miles away, in the mystical Red Moon Fort, Gauri walked through the towering gates of the Love Tower. The atmosphere was strangely serene — no guards, no barriers, no whispers of warning. Only the crimson glow of the eclipse moon bathing everything in scarlet light.
She frowned. "That's odd… why isn't there any protection? No trials? No spells to break?"
She hesitated, scanning the open path before her. "I've never come to such an easy quest before," she murmured. Then, with a small shrug and a faint smile, she said, "Well… maybe that's a good thing."
Her eyes lifted toward the magnificent moon at the tower's peak — glowing in shades of red and silver, mesmerizing and divine. "So beautiful…" she whispered, stepping forward, completely unaware that with every step, her fate was tightening around her like a noose.
Back at the Kothari mansion, Charvi stood near the staircase, lost in thought. Her fingers fidgeted restlessly. Something doesn't feel right.
If Laila knew how dangerous it is to touch the eclipse moon… why did she send Didi there?
Her breath quickened. And why did I feel… strange when I pointed out the attacker?
As suspicion clouded her mind, she slipped quietly upstairs, clutching Urvashi's enchanted stone. The crystal shimmered faintly as if recognizing her intent.
Charvi closed her eyes, whispering, "Show me the truth… what I couldn't see before."
The stone pulsed once — and visions burst before her eyes. She saw Urvashi in the basement, terrified, the shadows closing in. A crescent-shaped footprint glowed faintly on the floor — and within it, etched in glowing silver letters, was a name.
LAILA.
Charvi's eyes flew open, her breath catching. The stone dimmed in her hand.
She staggered back, whispering in horror, "It's Laila… Laila is the attacker."
Downstairs, the air had grown eerily cold. The faint glow of the chandeliers flickered, casting long, trembling shadows across the marble floor.
Shyom paced restlessly while Yug stood by the window, scanning the horizon. Veena and Sharda sat together, their faces etched with worry.
"Why hasn't Vihaan returned yet?" Veena murmured, her voice breaking. "And what about Gauri?"
Before Shyom could respond, a strange mist began to creep in from beneath the doors — curling tendrils of silvery fog that slithered through every crack and corner.
"What's that?" Yug said, stepping forward. "Smoke?"
But the fog was too thick, too alive. It shimmered faintly, swallowing the floor, then the walls, and soon — everything.
"Stay close!" Shyom called out, his voice echoing faintly. "Everyone stay together!"
But within seconds, the mist surged like a living being, wrapping around them. Their silhouettes blurred… and then vanished.
The mansion fell silent.
A moment later, Charvi raced down the staircase, her heart pounding. "Maa! Yug! Dadi!" she cried, but the hall was empty — a void filled with smoke and silence.
She turned in circles, her voice trembling. "Where are you all?"
Then—
A hand tapped her shoulder.
She froze. Slowly, she turned.
Veer stood there, his face calm, his tone soft. "Charvi," he said, his voice dripping with concern, "don't panic. I just came downstairs and—what's happening here? Where is everyone?"
Charvi stared at him, her breathing quickening. Something flickered before her eyes — a flash of memory, sharp and painful.
In her mind, she saw it again — Veer's eyes glowing red, his hand hovering over her forehead as a circle of black mist enveloped her. His voice echoed in her head, whispering commands — "Point at Laila… forget what you saw…"
Her breath hitched. She stumbled a step back, whispering, "You… you hypnotized me."
Veer's expression shifted. The gentle mask fell away, replaced by a smirk — smooth and venomous.
"Well," he said lightly, "so you found out. I was hoping to keep the secret a bit longer."
Charvi's pulse raced. "You made me lie! You made me accuse Chandni when I saw the truth! You—"
"Enough," Veer cut in, his smile darkening. "You talk too much, Charvi. And now…" he raised his hand, the air around him distorting with dark energy, "you'll join the rest of your family."
Charvi stepped back, trembling — fear and fury colliding inside her. "You won't touch me."
"Oh?" Veer tilted his head mockingly. "And how will you stop me?"
He lunged forward — but before his fingers could reach her, something within Charvi ignited. A brilliant white light burst from her body, spreading through her veins like liquid silver.
She gasped — and suddenly her form fractured into thousands of radiant white-silver butterflies, wings shimmering like moonlight.
Veer shielded his eyes, cursing under his breath as the butterflies swirled around him, their wings cutting through the mist like blades of light.
In a dazzling rush, the swarm flew out of the mansion — breaking through the open balcony doors and scattering into the night sky.
Veer lowered his hand, watching them disappear, a dark smirk creeping back across his lips.
"Run as far as you want, Charvi," he murmured. "But you can't stop what's coming."