Kashyap Mansion – Courtyard, Late Night
The night was cooling, quiet settling over the sprawling Kashyap estate. Moonlight glinted off marble pillars as Mihir sat on the steps, legs stretched, fingers restlessly spinning the basketball he'd long stopped dribbling. His jaw clenched tighter than his grip.
From the corner, Sahir walked back in, wiping his hands on a towel. Sapna and Moti Baa had gone inside minutes ago, leaving only the hum of the fountain and the distant crickets between the brothers.
"You know," Mihir muttered, without looking up, "I had some gatecrashers at my concert tonight."
Sahir raised an eyebrow. "Gatecrashers?"
Mihir tossed the ball in the air once and caught it. "Daayans."
That made Sahir pause. "You're sure?"
Mihir stood and turned to face him fully. "Two of them. Hovering over the crowd like it was their stage. Fireballs, windstorms, the whole black-magic buffet."
Sahir's expression darkened. "You think they came for you?"
Mihir shrugged. "You. Me. Or someone else in the crowd. Who cares?" His tone sharpened. "What matters is, they ruined my concert. And they nearly killed a kid."
Sahir nodded slowly, eyes narrowing. "If daayans are targeting you in your concerts now, this might be bigger than we thought."
Mihir scoffed. "Oh, please. Don't go full professor on me. They probably just got bored flying around graveyards."
But Sahir stepped closer, tone calm. "Still... Mom can't know about this."
Mihir let out a humorless laugh. "Why? You're scared she'll worry?"
"She will worry. She already senses something's shifting."
Mihir's expression soured. "She'll worry about you."
Sahir tensed, but said nothing.
"She always does," Mihir continued, voice low. "The golden boy. The polished Kashyap. She lights a diya for your lectures and lights incense to get through my headlines."
"That's not fair—" Sahir began.
Mihir cut him off. "Isn't it?"
They stood for a beat—tension thick in the cool night air. Then Sahir let out a slow breath.
"Look, I didn't come out here to fight," he said. "But Mihir, if daayans are coming for us, we need to keep our heads clear."
Mihir gave a bitter chuckle. "Says the professor who couldn't shoot a basket if his life depended on it."
"Oh?" Sahir smirked. "Care to test that theory?"
Mihir tossed him the ball. "Loser owes the winner breakfast."
"And has to admit I'm the better twin," Sahir added, lining up the shot.
"In your dreams."
As they bantered, the tension lifted—just a little.
Sharma Residence – Early Morning
The morning sun touched the walls of the Sharma home gently, but the air inside was far from peaceful. Maira stood near the shoe rack by the door, sliding her heels on as she prepared to leave for work. Her thoughts were already racing—visions of the daayan attack, Mihir's heroic rescue, and Sahir and Teju shielding lives still flickering vividly in her mind.
Behind her, the firm sound of Kailashi's cane echoed down the hall.
"Nani?" Maira turned as her grandmother approached.
Kailashi didn't sit. Her posture was tense, her eyes sharper than usual.
"You're leaving early," she said, eyes narrowing slightly.
"There's a lot to handle at work after the concert chaos," Maira answered.
Kailashi walked closer and lowered her voice. "Maira... tonight is a no-moon night."
That stopped Maira in her tracks.
She turned. "You think the daayans will return?"
"I know they will," Kailashi replied firmly. "Last night's attack wasn't their endgame. It was a test. A warning. Tonight, they'll come back for something bigger."
Maira's breath caught. "You think they'll try to put Mihir or Sahir under a spell?"
"Exactly. The no-moon amplifies their magic. If they succeed in binding either of the Kashyap brothers, they could tip the balance."
Maira's grip on her bag tightened. "I'll watch Mihir. I won't let them near him."
Kailashi nodded, pleased. "Good. He's reckless. But you're his protector—whether he likes it or not."
Maira glanced back at her. "And Sahir?"
Kailashi's expression softened. "Sahir has Teju."
A faint smile played on Maira's lips. "You really believe she can protect him—even if she doesn't know she's Bishwa?"
"She already is," Kailashi said gently. "She acts on instinct. And instinct doesn't lie. Even unawakened, Bishwa's presence shields what it loves."
Maira nodded slowly. "They are close. Closer than they even realize."
"And they need to be," Kailashi murmured. "Tonight is not just dangerous—it's fate waiting to test them."
Maira took a slow breath, her face composed. "Then I'll be ready."
As she opened the door, Kailashi added, "Keep your eyes open. Especially when the night feels too still. That's when darkness moves best."
Maira paused at that—then walked out, her mind set, her purpose clear.
Tonight, the daayans would come.
And none of them—Mihir, Sahir, or Teju—would face it alone.
Hansraj College – Morning
The college grounds buzzed with lingering energy from the previous night's concert. Students moved about in clusters—some chatting about MK's performance, others helping clean up debris left by the chaos. The air carried an odd calm, like the pause before another storm.
Teju stood near the lawn beside Savi, who was animatedly pointing out a coffee stain on someone's shirt and laughing. But Teju, though present, was distant. Her eyes kept straying toward the main gate.
"Why do you keep looking that way?" Savi teased.
Teju blinked. "I'm not."
Savi smirked. "You're totally waiting for someone."
Before Teju could retort, a black car rolled into the staff parking zone and came to a stop. Her breath paused slightly—just slightly.
The car door opened. Sahir Kashyap stepped out, crisp in his grey-blue blazer, sleeves rolled slightly to the forearms. His expression, as always, unreadable—cool, calm, but alert. His footsteps echoed faintly as he moved toward the main building.
High above, on the college balcony, another presence observed closely.
Professor Ruby.
Dressed in her usual flowing indigo saree with a fine border, she leaned against the stone railing like any ordinary faculty member surveying the grounds before her lecture. Her ID hung from her neck, her demeanor composed.
But beneath her pleasant smile brewed something wicked.
Her crimson-lined eyes dropped down to the courtyard—specifically to the intricate, nearly invisible witch circle etched faintly near the stone walkway Sahir was approaching.
Crafted last night under moonless shadow, its power lay dormant—waiting to be triggered by Sahir's single step into its boundary.
Ruby's smile widened as she whispered under her breath, "Come on, Professor Kashyap... Just one foot inside. Let me deliver you to Mohana myself."
The trap was perfect. Silent. Elegant. No one—not even a Reevavanshi—would detect it without magical sight.
Sahir advanced steadily—right into the center of the witch circle.
Then—
"Sir!"
Teju had already started walking toward him, her steps quick but unsure. She hadn't seen the circle. She hadn't sensed the trap.
She only wanted to thank him.
Sahir turned as she reached him. "Teju?"
"I just... wanted to thank you," she said softly, her eyes flicking to his. "For last night. You didn't have to help me the way you did."
As she spoke, a soft glow flickered faintly beneath the sleeve of her top—right over her palm.
The star-shaped birthmark shimmered.
A silent pulse of light burst outward in a wave only seen in the magical realm.
The **witch circle cracked—shattered soundlessly—**its power crumbling like ash under divine fire.
Sahir felt a sudden gust of wind swirl around him but sensed nothing out of place.
Up above, Ruby stiffened.
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
She saw it. The faint golden flicker. The destruction of the spell. The Bishwa.
"No..." she murmured, fury swirling behind her serene expression. "Not again."
Teju, unaware, gave Sahir a small smile. "Anyway... I'll let you get to class."
But as she turned to leave, Sahir held her gaze for a second longer than usual—his instincts flaring. Something had just shifted.
Far above them, Ruby's calm mask slipped for the briefest second.
Teju Kakkar had just unknowingly broken a high-level daayan spell meant for Sahir Kashyap.
And now, Ruby knew exactly how capable she was.
DDS Music Industry – Afternoon
The office buzzed with the familiar rhythm of deadlines and creativity. Assistants hurried across sleek hallways, producers shuffled between recording studios, and at the far end of the executive floor stood Mihir Kashyap's private cabin, door slightly ajar.
Maira walked briskly down the hallway, clutching a folder filled with finalized sponsor details and rehearsal timelines. She glanced at the label: MK Tour - Phase Two. With her other hand, she reached to knock on Mihir's door.
But before she could, it swung inwards an inch.
And what she saw made her stop in her tracks.
Urvi.
Perched against the edge of Mihir's desk, leaning in.
And Mihir—uncharacteristically still—pressing a kiss to her lips.
It wasn't romantic. It wasn't lingering.
It was simply there.
But for Maira, that was enough to make her grip on the folder tighten slightly.
Before she could turn away, Mihir noticed her presence.
His voice cut across the room, curt. "Maira. Ever heard of knocking?"
"I—" she faltered, eyes lowering. "I was going to. The door... was open."
His gaze hardened. "What do you want?"
Urvi smiled lazily, smoothing her hair as if nothing had happened.
Maira held up the file stiffly. "Just the updated event schedules. I'll... leave them here."
She placed it on the edge of the table without making eye contact. "Sorry for interrupting."
Then turned and walked out.
The door clicked softly behind her.
Mihir looked down at the folder but didn't move.
Urvi tilted her head. "She's got good timing."
Still, Mihir said nothing. His eyes remained fixed on the closed door.
His thoughts?
Impossible to read.