Kailashi's voice thundered over the howling wind:
"The Rishdhanush was forged by the first Reevavanshi-hammered from a hundred lightning strikes. Not even the strongest man can lift it... unless it chooses the wielder."
Akhil wiped his fogged glasses. "Then who-?"
"A Reevavanshi with a pure soul."Kailashi gripped Maira's shoulders. "You must retrieve it from Bandhap's ancient temple."
Maira's eyes widened. "By the time I travel there and back-"
Kailashi produced a miniature wooden door from her shawl. Magic hummed in its carved grooves. "This will take you where you need to go."
Then kailashi turns facing the family
"Light akhand jyots at every entrance,"Kailashi ordered. As the family scattered:
- *Sapna* fumbled with matches at the main door
- *Uma* arranged marigolds around the diyas
- *Mihir* joined Maira at the puja alcove
His hands trembled as he lit the wick. Maira stilled his fingers. "They'll be safe."
"I'm not scared,"Mihir growled, but his voice cracked.
Maira pulled him into a sudden hug. **"It's okay to be afraid for your family ."**
A beat-then Mihir's arms locked around her, his face buried in her hair. **"Come back successful, Reevavanshi."**
Sahir's Room - The Confession
Teju found Sahir gripping the windowsill, his reflection warped by blood-red rain.
"This family is in danger because of us,"he whispered.
She turned him gently, her star-mark pulsing. "God won't let harm befall them."
When Sahir's knees buckled, Teju caught him. His tears soaked through her blouse as he clutched her. "What if I'm not strong enough?"
**"You are."** She kissed his temple. **"We all are."**
The lava pool erupted in a geyser of molten rock as Dola rose-her two heads completing their regeneration in perfect sync. Four arms stretched toward the cavern ceiling, cracking the stone with sheer power. She stepped onto solid ground, her rotting bridal silks now restored to deadly elegance.
"Long time no see, sister," both heads spoke simultaneously, their voices harmonizing like a cursed choir.
Mohana, now aged beyond centuries with snow-white hair, leaned heavily on her obsidian throne. "Indeed." A bloody cough wracked her body, but her smile remained vicious.
Dola's left head sniffed the air while the right licked charred lips. "You did me...a *fascinating* favor...pulling me from hell's belly."
"A witch," Mohana rasped, "never does favors." Her clawed finger pointed westward where the Kashyap mansion's lights glowed through the storm. "I want my daavansh sons. Bring them to me half-dead if they resist."
Dola's four hands flexed in unison. The right head giggled while the left purred: "Ohhh...I *like* the sound of that."
Her decayed silk train disintegrated as she strode toward the cave mouth
Kashyap Mansion - Maira's Departure**
Maira clutched the miniature door, its carvings now glowing like embers. With a deep breath, she tossed it into the air-
-where it *unfolded* like origami in reverse, expanding into a full-sized doorway wreathed in blue flame. Beyond the threshold swirled a tunnel of starlight leading into darkness.
Sapna grabbed Maira's wrist, her bangles clattering. "Beti, please...be careful." Her eyes darted to the blood-red darkness outside the windows. "The night is-"
"I know." Maira's gaze found Mihir across the room. No words passed between them-just a shared nod that held volumes.
As she stepped toward the portal
Maira crossed the threshold without looking back. The doorway collapsed behind her with a sound like shattering glass, leaving the family in silence.
**Outside the Mansion:**
Dola's twin laughter echoed through the trees as the last sliver of sun vanished below the horizon.
Kashyap Mansion - Dola's Arrival**
A sudden, unnatural wind howled through the house-**WHOOSH!**
Every *akhand jyot* snuffed out at once, plunging the room into near-darkness. The windows shattered inward, glass spraying like daggers.
**Sahir** reacted instantly, shielding **Teju** and covering her ears before the deafening crash could overwhelm her.
The front door burst open with a force that cracked the frame.
There, standing in the doorway, was **Dola**-her twin heads smirking in unison, her four arms draped in decaying bridal silks. Behind her, a horde of **fully-formed daayans** slithered in, their yellow eyes gleaming, their clawed fingers twitching with anticipation.
"Naughty nephews,"*Dola's left head crooned, while the right chuckled darkly. **"No welcome for your dear *maasi*?"**
With a wave of two hands, the shattered glass and splintered wood **reassembled themselves** into a jagged, obsidian throne. She seated herself gracefully, crossing all four legs as her daayans fanned out, standing behind her.
Kashyap Mansion - Dola's Wrath**
Mihir dragged a chair across the floor with a screech, sitting boldly before **Dola** and crossing his legs. **"I don't fear intimidation, *unwanted maasi*."
Dola's twin heads reacted in unison-the left smirking, the right snarling. **"You're the daredevil, I see."**
Sapna clutched her pallu, eyes wide with worry.
Mihir leaned back, unfazed. "I guess. But here's a suggestion-why don't you take yourself and your witch committee and leave through the door you came in?"**
Dola's four hands clenched. "You talk too much, *boy*."Dark energy swirled around her as **shadow daggers** materialized in the air.
**"Accept the first gift from your *maasi*!"** She flung the daggers at Mihir.
Mihir raised a hand-the daggers **froze midair**. "I hate gifts." With a flick of his wrist, he sent them flying back, impaling three daayans behind Dola. They collapsed with guttural shrieks.
Dola's twin heads roaredin rage. **"You killed my minions?! Then your FAMILY WILL PAY!"
A fresh wave of daggers formed, now aimed at Sapna, Moti Baa, and Teju.
Before they could strike-Sahir stepped forward, his silver-blue aura flaring. The daggers halted midair trembling between the sahir's power.
Maira's fingers closed around the Rishdhanush's grip-and immediately recoiled as a jolt of energy burned her palms. The bow didn't budge from its floating position.
"Come on," she gritted, wiping her hands on her trousers before trying again. She braced her foot against the pedestal, muscles straining. Nothing.
On the third attempt, the bowstring suddenly vibrated with a sound like thunder. A bolt of blue light erupted from the arrow tip, engulfing Maira's vision showing her the current situation at the kashyap mansion
**Sahir** flung the shadow dagger aside, his silver-blue aura flaring like a storm. **"Try to harm my family again, and I'll reduce you to ashes."**
**Dola's** left head smirked while the right licked its lips. **"So brave. Fine... I'll give you both *one chance* to come with me in one piece."**
**Mihir** scoffed, rolling his shoulders. **"Or-hear me out-you see yourself out before we *help* you leave."**
Dola's twin heads chuckled in unison. "Mohana was right... Her kids *are* stubborn."
Her lower right hand plunged into the folds of her robe-**two pulsating blood orbs** glistened in her grip.
Kailashi gasped, her face draining of color."No-!
Dola crushed the orbs.
A sickening *crack* echoed-**Sahir and Mihir collapsed mid-breath**, blood spraying from their mouths. **Moti Baa and sapna screamed in tears.
Sapna lunged at Dola, only to be swatted away like a fly.
Dola loomed over the brothers, all four hands dripping with dark energy. "Still defiant? Good. It'll make breaking you *even sweeter*."
Inside Maira's Vision (Temple)
The **Rishdhanush's arrow vibrated violently**-Maira's vision locked onto the family's raw agony, sahir and Mihir's choked gasps.
Maira's nails dug into her palms**, drawing blood. **"Sahir... Mihir... *NO*!