College Grounds - MK Live Concert, Nightfall
The crowd was electric. Cheers rose like waves crashing against the stage, where blinding lights danced around Mihir Kashyap-MK himself-dressed in black leather, his guitar slung across his shoulder like a crown.
He raised a hand.
The audience roared louder.
He smirked and leaned into the mic.
"As you all know..."
His voice echoed over the speakers, confident and razor-sharp,
"...I always perform solo."
Gasps, whistles, and chants of MK! MK! followed.
"But tonight, there's a twist."
A hush fell over the crowd, anticipation holding its breath.
Backstage, Maira, standing by the curtain, froze mid-step.
Pushkar, on the tech team, narrowed his eyes. "What's he up to now?"
Urvi, arms crossed, said under her breath, "This better not be about her..."
On stage, Mihir's eyes gleamed devilishly under the strobes.
"Tonight, I'll be joined by a die-hard fan... someone who knows me better than most. Someone very, very close."
In the middle of the crowd, Savi squealed and grabbed Teju's arm, bouncing on her heels. "Oh my god! It could be anyone! What if it's me?!"
Teju laughed nervously, but her gaze remained fixed on the stage. Something in Mihir's tone didn't feel playful-it felt pointed.
And then came the announcement.
"My personal assistant."
The crowd reacted instantly-half in confusion, half in curiosity.
"Miss Maira Sharma."
From backstage, Maira's breath hitched. Her fingers curled instinctively around her clipboard. She blinked. Had she heard that right?
"Go on," Mihir called toward the wings with a grin, his voice dripping with venomous charm. "Come show the world how talented my PA really is."
The spotlight shifted. Blinded momentarily, Maira stepped back.
Pushkar frowned. "He didn't tell anyone about this. Not even in rehearsal."
Urvi smirked. "He's setting her up. What a show."
Mihir, calm as a predator, descended a few steps from the platform and held out his hand toward the shadows. "C'mon, Sharma. Don't keep your fans waiting."
Maira stood still, heart pounding. She was no performer. She hadn't rehearsed. She hadn't prepared. This was his plan all along-to embarrass her. If she faltered, forgot the lyrics, or froze in front of the crowd... he'd humiliate her. Replace her. Maybe with Urvi. And call it justice.
But she knew that look in his eyes. This was revenge. Carefully orchestrated.
The crowd began to chant.
"Maira! Maira! Maira!"
Not because they knew her, but because Mihir had painted her as special-and now they expected something magical.
Teju, watching from the audience, leaned slightly forward, eyes locked on the girl Mihir pulled toward the stage.
And something stirred in her chest.
A pull. A strange... connection.
Maira-someone she had never seen before-suddenly felt familiar. Like déjà vu laced with purpose.
A flicker crossed her mind. A whisper without voice.
"Protect her."
She didn't know why.
But she couldn't look away.
College Concert Stage - Nightfall
The night sky above the open college ground was thick with stars and expectant silence. A sea of students stood breathless beneath the glowing lights as Mihir Kashyap took center stage, the strap of his guitar snug across his chest.
He stepped up to the mic, eyes cool, fingers poised.
His voice broke through the air, low and velvet-rich-
"Rehna tu pal pal dil ke paas
Judi rahe tujhse har ik saans..."
The crowd swayed instantly, enchanted. Cameras clicked. A dozen girls squealed. But Mihir's gaze wasn't on them-it was fixed on the shadow beside the drum kit.
Maira.
She stepped forward slowly, clutching the mic as if anchoring herself to reality. Her pulse thundered. Stage fright screamed in her veins. But somewhere deep beneath the fear... something else stirred. A steel core. A fire she didn't know she had.
Her lips parted. The melody lifted.
"Khud pe pehle na itna yakeen
Mujhko ho paaya..."
A quiet gasp swept the audience.
She could sing.
"Mushkil si ghadiyan aasaan huin
Ab jo tu aaya..."
Her voice was soft, then bold. Vulnerable, then defiant. She didn't just sing-she told a story. Her eyes met Mihir's as she crossed her heart unconsciously, and he saw it-
She wasn't faltering. She was rising.
"Ik baat kahun tujhse
Tu paas hai jo mere..."
Mihir's fingers clenched the guitar harder. He didn't miss a beat, but inside, he simmered. She was never supposed to own the moment.
"Seene se tere sarr ko lagaa ke
Sunti main rahun naam apna..."
"O lekhdi tera naa jindari zaaniye..."
He sang deeper, louder-an edge of aggression in his chords.
"Bas rehna tere naal ve zuriye
Rehna tu pal pal dil ke paas..."
Backstage, Pushkar leaned forward, stunned. Urvi's face was taut with disbelief.
On the grass, Teju and Savi stared at the stage.
Teju's breath caught. She didn't know why... but Maira's voice struck something ancient in her. A strange, invisible chord between them vibrated with each lyric.
Meanwhile on stage, Mihir's tempo picked up.
"Seene se tere sar ko laga ke
Sunta main rahun naam apna
Naam apna..."
His eyes narrowed at Maira-daring her to keep up.
She answered with grace and strength.
"Pyaar hi ohdein teh pyaar hi khaana
Vich koi aave teh pyaar hi aana..."
Mihir clenched his jaw. The audience swayed like a wave, oblivious to the silent war laced beneath the harmonies.
"Utthaan tainu takda jaavaan
Tu hi meri naukri ho gayi..."
He strummed harder-glaring.
Maira closed her eyes, hitting her next lines with poise.
"Dooriyan ek pal
Bhi na gawaara ho
Chal ghoomein duniya
Phir sang aawaara ho..."
And then-together.
"Seene se tere sarr ko laga ke
Sunta main rahun naam apna..."
Their voices twined-fire and frost, lightning and storm.
Opposites. Bound.
"Naam apna
Naam apna..."
A final chord rang out. The lights dimmed.
The crowd erupted in thunderous applause.
Mihir stood still, chest rising. He masked his fury with a lazy bow.
Maira lowered the mic slowly, eyes scanning the crowd... until they landed, just for a second, on Teju-who was staring at her as if fate had just revealed something far greater than a concert.
And maybe... it had.
College Grounds - Concert Lawn, Moments After the Song
The stage lights dimmed to a cool golden hue, but the echo of the song still hung thick in the air. A beat later, the crowd exploded.
Applause thundered like a wave. Cheering erupted from every corner of the open campus lawn. Some students even shouted for an encore.
"One more! One more!"
"MK! MK! And his PA!"
Maira stood frozen at the front of the stage, breathing heavily, her voice still humming in her chest. For a second, she glanced sideways at Mihir.
He wasn't clapping.
He wasn't smiling.
But he wasn't leaving either.
His jaw was tight, hiding the disappointment behind his practiced smirk.
---
Down among the audience, Savi's eyes were sparkling, her hands sore from clapping.
"Okay, okay-so MK's a living legend," she laughed, "but his PA just stole the spotlight and half my breath."
She turned to Teju, expecting a light nod or a dry joke. But Teju... looked radiant.
There was something soft in her eyes, something unfamiliar. Wonder. Peace. Maybe... a feeling she hadn't felt in years.
Savi nudged her. "Wait. Don't tell me. The mighty Teju Kakkar is now a converted MK fan?"
Teju blinked, as if returning from a trance. She gave a faint smile.
"Not MK," she said softly. "But his PA... Maira."
Savi's jaw dropped. "Excuse me?! Did I just hear that right?"
Teju gave a tiny laugh, eyes still drawn to the stage. "She sang from the soul. Like it wasn't a song, but something she's lived."
Savi teased, bumping her shoulder. "Should I be jealous? You've never said that about my voice in the shower!"
Teju rolled her eyes, but Savi could see it-the way Teju's fingers touched her own heart, just briefly. As if something had stirred inside... and refused to settle.
And high above them, under the stage glow, Maira caught Teju's gaze-just for a flicker of a second.
Something passed between them.
A whisper.
A pull.
A thread of fate.
Unseen to both of them, a presence stirred in the wind-watching, waiting. Because when Bishwa meets her path... destinies rewrite themselves.
Outside the Concert Grounds - Behind the Stage Wall
The evening air had turned cold.
Far from the stage's glowing lights and the roaring crowd cheering for MK and his mysterious PA, two shadows stood beneath a dying tree, where the scent of wilted flowers and burnt incense lingered like a curse.
Ruby's sharp nails tapped against her thigh in anticipation, her eyes fixed on the college building with an eerie glint. Her daayan braid coiled and uncoiled restlessly behind her like a living whip. Beside her, Sunehri adjusted her veil, cloaking herself in shadows.
"You're late," Ruby hissed without looking.
Sunehri bowed her head slightly. "I had to be cautious. Sahir has grown more alert. He followed me once, he may do it again."
Ruby scoffed. "And yet you failed to kill her."
Sunehri tensed. "Teju's stronger than expected. Something inside her-"
"She is Bishwa," Ruby cut in sharply, turning to face her. "That girl you failed to eliminate is the last of the bloodline capable of breaking our bond with Mohana. And Mohana doesn't take failure lightly."
Sunehri's lips tightened. "I didn't expect her to stop my daggers mid-air."
"She won't be untrained for long," Ruby said darkly. "Which is why we end it tonight. Here. Amidst the distraction of this mortal celebration."
Sunehri glanced toward the crowd. "So much noise. It'll cover our magic."
Ruby smirked. "Exactly. While Bishwa enjoys the human thrill of music and lights, we strike from the shadows. A little chaos, a little fear... she'll be too scattered to protect herself."
"And if Sahir interferes?"
Ruby's eyes narrowed. "He's still balancing on the edge between light and darkness. He won't sense us until it's too late. And if he does... we deal with him too."
Sunehri hesitated. "You gave me this task once before. Why help now?"
Ruby smiled-a cold, dangerous smile. "Because Mohana has started stirring. She's sensing the Bishwa's presence from her chains. And when she awakens fully, she'll remember who failed her... and who didn't. I don't plan to be among the forgotten."
She raised her hand, whispering a chant that sent black wind swirling in a tight spiral.
"Tonight, Teju Kakkar dies," Ruby declared, "and with her, the last hope of the Reeva bloodline."