The afternoon sun filtered lazily through the curtains of Vihaan's room, casting faint golden lines across the floor. He was jotting something in a file when a faint creak came from behind.
He froze.
Slowly turning, his heart skipped a beat — standing by the half-open door was a man who looked exactly like him. Same face. Same build. But the difference lay in the eyes — where Vihaan's held calm intensity, this man's eyes burned with an eerie crimson gleam.
"Can I come in?" the stranger asked, voice calm, almost teasing. Without waiting for an answer, he stepped inside and shut the door behind him.
Vihaan rose cautiously. "Who are you?"
The man smiled faintly. "I am you… and you are me."
Vihaan frowned, taking a step back. "That's impossible."
The stranger walked past him casually, as if he owned the place, and settled on the couch with a lazy grin. "Is it? Tell me, Vihaan — is there anything truly impossible? We're like two sides of a coin. You're the good side everyone loves to trust…" He leaned forward, eyes glinting darkly. "And I'm the evil one they fear. But now…"
He spread his hands with mock drama. "…the coin has split."
Vihaan's breath quickened. "What do you want from me?"
The man — Sarvansh — tilted his head, his smile curving into something sinister.
"I want to replace you."
Vihaan's jaw tightened, but he stood his ground. "You can't harm me," he said firmly, his voice steady despite the chill crawling up his spine.
"Oh really?" Sarvansh rose slowly, voice dropping to a silken hiss. "You've forgotten something important, haven't you? You're no longer Sarvansh — no longer the son of a witch and a serpent. You traded that power for a normal life. But me…" he smirked darkly, "…I'm what's left of it. I am your power."
Sarvansh flicked his wrist and a crimson dagger appeared out of thin air, glinting with serpentine runes. "Do you know what's funny?" he continued, circling Vihaan. "You kept pretending to be human — an ACP, a protector — while half of your blood runs with venom and witchcraft."
"Stay back," Vihaan warned, gripping the nearest book like a weapon.
Sarvansh smirked. "A book? Really?"
Without warning, he hurled the dagger. Vihaan ducked, using the thick book as a shield — the blade pierced through the cover and stopped inches from his face.
"Still quick," Sarvansh sneered, snapping his fingers and making the dagger vanish. "Let's see how long that lasts."
Meanwhile at the village
The air inside the mud-brick house felt heavy, thick with smoke from the sacred lamps and something far darker — fear.
Kesar stood before her adoptive parents, her eyes brimming with tears as she pleaded, "Please… don't hurt the bird."
The tiny phoenix, caged and trembling, let out a soft cry as Surekha's dagger hovered dangerously close to its wounded wing. The bird's pain mirrored the faint burn marks that had appeared on Kesar's own arm.
Surekha's gaze was cold, her tone sharp as glass. "When you already know your life is bound to this creature — that every scratch on it wounds you — why do you still go against us, huh?"
Kesar shook her head desperately. "No… I didn't do anything! I swear, Ma!"
Surya's voice thundered from behind her, deep and merciless. "Then where were you the whole night? Trying to run away again?"
"I wasn't!" Kesar cried. "On my way back from my friend's wedding, some goons surrounded us. They knocked me unconscious. I didn't even—"
Surekha cut her off with a bitter laugh. "Really? The Agnipaanchi — the girl blessed with fire itself — was overpowered by a few mortals? Do you take us for fools?"
Her words hit like a slap. Kesar's lips trembled. "Please believe me…" she whispered.
Surekha narrowed her eyes, lowering the dagger to the bird's cage. "Don't forget, the only reason you're alive under this roof is because your luck brings us fortune. Everything good that happens in this house happens because of you — that's why we keep you here."
Her voice grew venomous. "We can't let you escape. Ever."
"Now go to your room," Surya ordered coldly.
Kesar's shoulders fell. She took one last look at the bleeding bird — her bound soul — before turning away. As she climbed the creaking wooden stairs, her tears fell silently onto the dusty floor.
Behind her, the faint cry of the phoenix echoed — a sound of pain and promise.
And in Kesar's heart, something deep and fiery stirred — something she didn't yet understand, but would one day burn the world.
In the city kothari mansion
Sarvansh's smirk deepened as he toyed with the dagger, spinning it between his fingers like a snake's tongue flicking before a strike.
"If I wanted to kill you, Vihaan," he said lazily, "I could do it with a mere snap of my fingers." He snapped once — the sound echoed through the quiet hall like thunder. The chandelier above flickered as if the air itself feared him.
"But I don't want to kill you," Sarvansh continued, walking in a slow circle around his stunned counterpart. "No, no… that would be too easy. Too merciful." His grin widened, eyes glinting crimson. "Because someone else will do the job for me."
Vihaan's brows furrowed. "What nonsense are you talking about?"
Sarvansh leaned in close, his breath brushing Vihaan's ear as he whispered,
"Someone who's been protecting you… someone you love dearly."
Vihaan's heartbeat quickened. "Gauri?" he said in disbelief.
Sarvansh chuckled darkly, stepping back. "Ding ding ding. The lovely Gauri herself. She will kill you."
Vihaan shook his head. "That's absurd."
"Oopsie," Sarvansh mocked, pretending to pout. "Not absurd. Inevitable. Because I'll make sure it happens. Until then…" his expression turned devilishly playful, "…nappy nappy."
Before Vihaan could react, Sarvansh blurred forward with inhuman speed. His hand pressed against Vihaan's forehead, and his eyes glowed a deep, serpentine red.
Vihaan gasped — a wave of darkness clouding his vision as Sarvansh's magic surged through his mind, erasing every trace of their encounter. His body went limp and collapsed to the floor.
Sarvansh straightened his coat, brushing invisible dust off his sleeve. "Oh my, what a strange little world," he chuckled, glancing down at the unconscious Vihaan. "We used to wipe Gauri's memories back then…" He smirked. "Guess the tables have turned."
His laughter echoed across the hall as he vanished into thin air, leaving the mansion in eerie silence.