At the Private Suite
Maira gently laid Mihir on the bed, her concern for his well-being evident on her face. She quickly pulled out her phone and dialed her grandmother's number, seeking guidance on how to heal Mihir.
"Grandma, Urvi attacked Mihir with Pataal Keetki," she said, her voice urgent. "What can I do to save him?"
Her grandmother's voice was calm and reassuring on the other end of the line. "The Pataal Keetki's venom is burning Mihir from the inside out. He needs to cool down," she explained. "Find a way to keep him cool until morning. That's the only way to counter the venom's effects."
As Maira listened to her grandmother's words, Mihir murmured weakly, "Hot... I'm so hot..."
Maira's face twisted with worry, and she quickly ended the call. She looked at Mihir with determination, ready to do whatever it took to save him.
Maira's hands moved gently as she removed Mihir's shirt, revealing his increasingly green-tinged skin. She dipped a towel in a bowl of cool water and began to clean his head and body, hoping to bring down his fever.
As she wrung out the towel and applied it to his skin, Mihir's eyes fluttered weakly. Maira's touch was tender, her movements careful as she tried to cool him down.
Despite her efforts, Mihir's condition seemed to deteriorate further. His skin took on a darker green hue, and his breathing grew more labored. Maira's worry deepened as she continued to tend to him, her hands moving swiftly and surely as she tried to find a way to save him.
*At the Hostel*
Sahir pulled up to the hostel, and Teju smiled her thanks as she reached for the door handle. "Thanks again, Sahir," she said, her eyes sparkling with gratitude.
As she stepped out of the car, her heel caught on the pavement, and she lost her footing. Sahir reacted instinctively, catching her by the elbow and steadying her.
For a moment, they stood there, Teju's hand on his chest, his hand on her elbow. The tension between them was palpable, and they locked eyes, sharing a romantic moment that seemed to freeze time.
Teju's cheeks flushed, and Sahir's gaze held hers, his eyes crinkling at the corners. The world around them melted away, leaving only the two of them, suspended in this fleeting moment of connection.
Teju regained her balance, and Sahir slowly released his hold on her elbow. "Thanks again," she said, smiling up at him.
Sahir smiled back, watching as Teju stood properly and then turned to walk into the hostel. He waited until she disappeared into the building, his eyes following her until she was out of sight.
With a gentle smile still on his face, Sahir got back into his car and drove away, the evening lights of the city casting a warm glow on his face.
*At the Hostel Room*
Teju pushed open the door to her hostel room, and Savi's face lit up with relief as she saw her friend. But before Teju could even step fully inside, Savi rushed over and enveloped her in a warm hug.
"Hey, I was so worried about you!" Savi exclaimed, her voice muffled against Teju's shoulder. "You're so late, I was starting to imagine all sorts of things."
Teju laughed and hugged Savi back, feeling a sense of comfort and familiarity. "I'm fine, Savi," she said, smiling. "Don't worry, I'm safe and sound."
*At the Suite*
Maira's brow furrowed with concern as she gazed at Mihir's increasingly distressed form. "His condition is deteriorating," she muttered to herself, feeling a sense of panic rising within her. "How do I stop this high temperature?"
She dipped the towel in the bowl of water again, wringing it out and applying it to Mihir's forehead, neck, and chest. But despite her efforts, Mihir's skin remained hot to the touch, and his labored breathing grew more ragged.
Maira's hands moved swiftly as she searched for a solution, her mind racing with possibilities. She needed to find a way to bring down Mihir's temperature, and fast, or risk losing him to the Pataal Keetki's deadly venom.
Maira's eyes landed on the washroom door, and a sudden idea sparked in her mind. She held Mihir's hand, assisting him as he weakly leaned on her, and guided him to the bathroom.
With her support, Mihir stumbled along beside her, his legs trembling beneath him. Maira helped him into the bathroom, her eyes fixed on his pale, green-tinged face.
Once inside, she turned on the faucet to fill the tub with cold water, hoping the cool liquid would help bring down Mihir's raging fever. Maira's concern for Mihir's well-being was evident in every gentle gesture, as she tried to find a way to save him from the Pataal Keetki's deadly venom.
*At the Bathroom*
As the cold water enveloped Mihir's body, it seemed to react to the intense heat emanating from him. The water began to boil and steam, as if Mihir's fever was so potent that it could turn water to steam.
Mihir, semi-conscious, reached out and grabbed Maira's hand, holding it tightly as if seeking comfort. Maira didn't pull away; instead, she sat down beside the bathtub, her eyes fixed on Mihir's face.
She stared at him, her gaze filled with concern and worry, as she tried to process the situation. Mihir's grip on her hand was weak but desperate, and Maira's heart went out to him. She sat there, frozen in a mixture of fear and compassion, as the boiling water continued to churn around Mihir's body.
The boiling water seemed to have done its job, as Mihir's skin slowly returned to its normal color, no longer tinged with the ominous green hue. However, despite this improvement, Mihir remained unconscious, his body still limp in the bathtub.
Maira's grip on his hand remained firm, her eyes fixed on his face, searching for any sign of improvement or deterioration. She breathed a sigh of relief that the green color had faded, but her worry didn't dissipate, as Mihir still hadn't regained consciousness.
As she sat there, Maira's thoughts were consumed by Mihir's well-being, her mind racing with questions about his recovery and the aftermath of the Pataal Keetki's attack.
*At the Hostel Room*
Teju sat on the bed, recounting her harrowing experience with the Daayan to Savi. "It took your form, Savi. I was so scared," Teju said, her voice still laced with fear.
Savi's expression changed from skepticism to concern. "I don't know, Teju. Are you sure it was really the Daayan? Maybe you just hallucinated or something."
Teju's eyes were serious. "I'm telling you, Savi, it was real. And it looked exactly like you. I could feel its evil presence."
Savi's face fell, and she looked away, processing the information. After a moment, she tried to lighten the mood. "You know, it's like Professor Sahir is always there to rescue you."
Teju's eyes softened, and a romantic smile spread across her face. "I know, right? He always seems to appear at the right moment. It's like he's watching over me." Her voice was filled with a dreamy quality, and Savi noticed the look in her eyes.
Savi raised an eyebrow, teasingly saying, "Maybe he's your guardian angel." Teju's cheeks flushed, and she looked away, trying to hide her feelings.
Teju's mind wandered back to all the times Sahir had rescued her, and a soft smile spread across her face. She recalled the accidental collisions, the gentle touches, and the moments of unexpected closeness.
Her eyes sparkled as she thought about how Sahir had caught her when she tripped, held her elbow to steady her, and looked into her eyes with concern. The memories flooded her mind, and Teju's smile grew wider.
Savi noticed the faraway look in Teju's eyes and raised an eyebrow. "What's going on in that head of yours?" she asked, her voice laced with amusement.
Teju's cheeks flushed, and she looked away, trying to hide her feelings. But the smile lingered on her face, revealing her secret admiration for Sahir.
*At the Kashyap Mansion*
Sapna paced back and forth in the grand living room of the Kashyap mansion, her fingers flying across Mihir's phone number as she tried to reach him again and again. But every attempt ended with the same frustrating result: "Phone is unreachable."
Moti Baa and Uma sat on the couch, watching Sapna's worried expression with concern. "What's wrong, Sapna?" Moti Baa asked, her voice soft with empathy.
Sapna's voice trembled as she replied, "I just can't reach Mihir. I'm getting so worried. What if something's happened to him?" Uma got up and put a reassuring arm around Sapna's shoulders. "Don't worry, Sapna. Mihir is a strong boy. He'll be fine."
Sapna nodded, trying to calm herself down, but her eyes betrayed her fear. She walked over to the prayer room and lit a diya, her lips whispering a silent prayer. "Please, God, keep Mihir safe. Let him come home soon,I don't know why but I feel like something bad has happened to my son".
Sahir walked into the living room, noticing his mom, Sapna, pacing back and forth with a worried expression. "Mom, what's wrong?" he asked, concern etched on his face.
Sapna's eyes welled up with tears as she explained, "I was trying to call Mihir, but his phone is unreachable. I'm getting so scared, Sahir. What if something's happened to him?"
Sahir's expression turned calm and reassuring. "Don't worry, Mom. It's late now. Tomorrow morning, I'll go check on Mihir at Urvi's farmhouse if he doesn't return. We'll find out what's going on and make sure he's safe."
Sapna nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. Sahir's words of comfort and his promise to check on Mihir brought her some peace. She smiled weakly, grateful for Sahir's reassurance.