Maira sat cross-legged on the floor beside Sapna's bed, the phone still pressed to her ear. Her shoulders trembled as silent tears fell.
"Nani..." she whispered, her voice breaking. "I've tried everything. I fought him, I begged him, I prayed... and nothing is working. Tell me... how do I save them? How do I save him?"
On the other end, Kailashi's voice came, firm and unyielding. "Maira, the root of this destruction is not Sahir, not Mohana's curse, but Mihir himself-what lives inside him. If you want to save this family, you must first kill the darkness within Mihir."
Maira's breath caught. "Kill the darkness...? But how? We once used the Jeevan Ras to weaken Daavansh, but that only worked when he and Mihir got separated. Now they're... one. He's not just possessed anymore, Nani-he is Daavansh."
A long pause. Then Kailashi's tone dropped to a grave whisper. "You're right. But there is something else... something I've kept hidden until now. I recently discovered a way to kill Daavansh once and for all. If you succeed, Mihir will be freed completely. He will live... and though he will retain Daavansh's powers, the evil will be gone forever."
Hope flared in Maira's chest, fragile but burning. "What is it? Tell me, Nani!"
"I cannot speak of it over the phone," Kailashi replied. "The spell I discovered is forbidden magic-it cannot be passed through mere words, or Daavansh will sense it and destroy you before you begin. You must come to me."
Maira's eyes darted to the door, to the invisible barrier sealing the mansion like a prison. "I can't... Mihir's created a barrier. No one can leave. He said anyone who tries will die."
For a moment, there was silence on the other end. Then Kailashi said in a low, deliberate tone: "Then you must take a part of him, Maira. A piece of his being-a nail, a hair strand, a drop of his blood. Anything tied to him. Only with that can you cross the barrier safely. Without it... you will perish."
Maira's pulse quickened. "A... piece of him?" Her mind reeled at the thought of having to get close to that version of Mihir. "Nani... how am I supposed to get that when he barely looks at me without malice anymore?"
"You are his wife," Kailashi said softly. "He may think himself a monster now, but somewhere deep within, Mihir still exists. And it is you who must awaken him enough to take what you need. Be careful, beta. The closer you get, the more dangerous he will be."
The call ended, leaving Maira staring at the unconscious Sapna, her mind a storm of fear and determination.
She wiped her tears, standing slowly. "I'll do it," she whispered to herself. "For you, Maa... for this family... and for Mihir."
As she turned to leave the room, the candle on the nightstand flickered violently, as though warning her of the battle ahead.
Downstairs - The Grand Hall
The once warm Kashyap mansion now felt cold, oppressive. The magical barrier shimmered faintly over the windows like a veil of doom. Teju, still trapped within the shimmering magical cage, sat on the floor, gripping the bars of energy. Across from her, Sahir stood near the center of the hall, speaking with Ruby, who lingered close, her sly smile never leaving her lips.
When Ruby finally stepped away to whisper something to Mihir, Teju seized the moment.
"Sahir!" she called, her voice trembling but strong.
He turned, his dark blue eyes glowing faintly, his expression unreadable. "What is it, Bishwa?" His voice carried an unnatural calmness, but there was a cruel edge beneath it.
Teju's heart clenched at the word-Bishwa-spoken like a title, not a name. She swallowed hard, her eyes stinging with tears. "Is that all I am to you now? Just a title? Just... someone you've been ordered to discard?"
Sahir tilted his head, almost curious. "You wouldn't understand. This is bigger than love, Teju. This is destiny."
"Destiny?" Teju's voice cracked, a sob escaping her lips. "Do you remember what destiny meant to you once? That night... when you decorated our room with flowers and lights? When you told me I was your everything?"
His eyes flickered-just for a moment. Teju saw it and pressed on desperately.
"You confessed to me, Sahir... do you remember? You took my hand, you said you couldn't imagine a life without me. You held me close that night, you made me believe in love, in us. You kissed me like the world would end if you didn't."
Her tears fell freely now, her voice shaking with raw emotion. "We became one that night, Sahir. You made me yours... and I made you mine. Are you telling me all of that meant nothing?"
For the first time, Sahir's composure faltered. His glowing eyes dimmed slightly as memories flickered in his mind-the warmth of Teju's embrace, her laughter, the way she whispered I love you against his skin. His hand twitched at his side as though fighting an invisible chain.
"Stop," he muttered, his voice rougher now. "Don't do this."
Teju's heart leapt-there was still a piece of him there. She reached her hand through the bars of the magical cage, her palm trembling but open. "Come back to me, Sahir. Please. Don't let him-don't let them take you from me."
Sahir took a step toward her... then froze as Mihir's voice cut through the hall like a whip.
"Enough of this pathetic display!" Mihir's eyes burned crimson as he glared at Teju. "Do not forget, brother, love is weakness. And weakness has no place in our world."
Sahir's eyes blazed dark blue again, the softness gone in an instant. He turned his back on Teju.
Her hand fell limply against the glowing bars as silent tears streamed down her cheeks.
From across the hall, Ruby smirked, her voice dripping with venom. "Poor Bishwa... still clinging to a love that's already dead."
Teju's heart hardened through the pain. She wiped her tears and spoke out:"No, Ruby. No, Mihir. I'll get him back. Even if I have to burn this darkness out of you all."
A slow, deliberate clap echoed across the hall.
Mihir stepped forward, his crimson eyes fixed on her with cruel amusement. "Such passion... such fire in your words just now." He tilted his head mockingly. "But what good are promises when you're nothing more than a bird in a cage?"
Teju's fingers tightened around the shimmering bars, but she refused to look away. "I'll get out of here. I'll stop you. You'll see."
Mihir chuckled darkly. "Bold words from someone who couldn't even save her precious husband from me. You spoke of love as if it were your weapon... and yet, here you are, powerless, watching him walk willingly toward another woman."
Teju's lips trembled, but before she could respond, Ruby sauntered forward, her black gown flowing like ink. She crouched gracefully just outside the cage, her sharp, predatory smile inches from Teju's face.
"You know what's funny, Bishwa?" Ruby's voice was a poisonous purr. "You fought so hard to have Sahir... but in the end, he'll be mine. I'll marry him in front of you. I'll take his hand, his vows, his heart... and there's nothing you can do to stop it."
Teju's breath hitched as Ruby leaned closer, whispering with a vicious sweetness: "And when our wedding night comes, I'll make sure he forgets you ever existed."
Tears spilled down Teju's cheeks as she shook her head violently. "No... he loves me. No spell, no darkness can erase that!"
Mihir laughed coldly, the sound echoing like a death knell. "Keep telling yourself that. Maybe it'll comfort you... while you watch everything you love burn."
Ruby rose, smirking triumphantly, and walked toward Sahir, who stood like a statue, unfeeling. She looped her arm around his, deliberately glancing back at Teju with a victorious smile.