Arjun sought the village's oldest sage, who revealed a hidden truth. The so-called "curse" was no divine will but the greed of men. Long ago, a powerful landlord had diverted the river for his fields, causing destruction downstream. To cover his crime, he spread the tale of the river bride. The myth had lived for generations, chaining innocent girls to fear.
When Meera heard this, her spirit blazed. "So the goddess never wanted me — it was men's lies all along."