Kashyap Mansion – Grand Hall (Midnight)
The magical cage around Teju shimmered faintly in the dim moonlight, its runes pulsing with dark energy. She sat inside, defeated and motionless—until the soft sound of hurried footsteps made her look up.
Maira emerged from the shadows, clutching something tightly in her fist. Her eyes darted around nervously before locking onto Teju.
"Maira?" Teju whispered, standing quickly and rushing to the glowing bars. "What are you doing here? Sahir made this cage himself—if he or Mihir sees you—"
Maira knelt down in front of the barrier, determination blazing in her eyes. "I have to get you out, Teju. I have his hair—Mihir's. It's the only thing that can breach the barrier around this house."
Teju's breath caught. "You… you went to him for that?"
Maira gave a small, grim smile. "I did what I had to." She reached into the folds of her dress, pulling out the strand of black hair glistening faintly with dark energy. "With this, I can breach the barrier and get help. Once I'm out, I'll find a way to free you—and save Mihir and Sahir."
Teju's eyes filled with tears, her hand pressed to the magical wall between them. "Be careful, Maira… please."
Maira nodded, her own hand mirroring Teju's on the other side of the barrier. "Stay strong. For all of us."
With that, she stood and moved silently toward the mansion's grand entrance. The magical barrier enclosing the entire property shimmered ominously in the darkness.
Maira took a deep breath, clutching Mihir's hair strand tightly. She whispered a prayer under her breath, then stepped forward and pressed the hair against the barrier.
The effect was instant. The barrier hissed violently, dark runes flaring before breaking apart in a blinding flash of light. The air rippled—and a small, narrow opening appeared.
Maira slipped through, heart hammering, and vanished into the night.
Back in the hall, Teju sank to her knees, whispering: "Go, Maira… save us all."
Unbeknownst to her, in the shadows of the upper balcony, Mihir's crimson red eyes flickered—just for an instant—back to their human brown, as if some part of him felt Maira's escape.
Kashyap Mansion – Balcony (Night)
The air outside the mansion was unnaturally still, the sky heavy with ominous clouds. From the grand balcony above, Mihir leaned casually against the railing, his crimson eyes locked on Maira's retreating figure as she disappeared into the dense darkness beyond the property.
A slow, sinister smile curved across his lips.
"Did you really think," he murmured to himself, voice dripping with amusement, "that I wouldn't notice your little trick, wife? That I wouldn't feel the moment you plucked a part of me?"
He chuckled lowly, shaking his head in mock admiration.
"Clever… but not clever enough."
Lifting his hand lazily, Mihir whispered an incantation under his breath. The air around him stirred violently as shadows coalesced into the form of a large crow, its feathers black as night, its eyes glowing a deep, blood-red.
The creature screeched softly, tilting its head toward him in silent obedience.
"Follow her," Mihir commanded, his voice soft yet laced with malice. "Watch every step she takes… and when the time is right…report back to me."
The crow cawed once and launched into the night, its wings cutting through the darkness with an unnatural speed.
Mihir's smirk widened as he turned back toward the hall.
"Run as far as you like, Maira," he whispered to the empty air. "In the end… you'll come right back into my hands."
Inside, the mansion's lights flickered briefly, as though responding to his dark satisfaction.
Sharma Residence – Midnight (City)
The city never truly slept, but this quiet neighborhood was calm beneath the glow of streetlights. The Sharma residence, a sleek, modern two-story home with glass-paneled windows and minimalist design, stood warmly lit against the night.
Maira hurried up the smooth stone pathway, her heart thundering, and rang the doorbell urgently. Within seconds, the door slid open to reveal Kailashi Sharma, dressed in a simple cotton nightgown, her sharp yet kind eyes immediately filling with relief.
"Maira!" Kailashi exclaimed, stepping forward and pulling her granddaughter into a tight embrace.
Maira clung to her, finally letting her tears flow.
"Nani…" she whispered, voice breaking. "It's Mihir… he's gone, completely gone. He's Daavansh now… and Sahir too. They've trapped everyone.mother-… she's dying, Teju's helpless…"
Kailashi's arms tightened protectively around her. "Shh, child. You're safe here. We'll fight this."
She guided Maira inside. The house's interior was modern—open-concept living space, soft recessed lighting, sleek furniture—but a quiet corner of the home had been transformed into a ritual chamber with ancient symbols painted on the floor and brass bowls filled with herbs and crystals.
Kailashi glanced at Maira's trembling hand. "Did you bring it?"
Maira opened her palm to reveal Mihir's black hair strand, faintly humming with dark energy.
Kailashi's eyes narrowed with grim determination. "This is it. With this, we can forge the Agni-Astra. It's the only weapon that can pierce the Daavansh and free Mihir from that cursed darkness."
Maira wiped her face, a new fire igniting within her. "Then let's make it, Nani. Before it's too late."
Kailashi gave a firm nod, ushering her toward the ritual space.
Outside, unseen on a nearby skyscraper rooftop, Mihir's black, red-eyed crow perched silently, its glowing eyes fixed on the residence. With a low, guttural screech, it launched into the air, vanishing into the city night—carrying everything it had witnessed back to its master.
Kashyap Mansion – Morning
The grand mansion, once filled with warmth and tradition, had been transformed into a chilling nightmare overnight. Black drapes hung from the walls, dark runes glowed faintly across the marble floor, and the wedding pavilion in the center of the hall was draped in obsidian silk, radiating a sinister energy.
The Kashyap family slowly descended the stairs, their faces pale as they took in the horrifying scene.
Uma clutched Moti Baa's arm tightly, her voice trembling. "This… this isn't a wedding, Moti Baa… it's like a funeral. I feel so hopeless."
Moti Baa's eyes welled up, but she remained silent, her heart breaking at the sight of what her home had become.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed through the hall. The family turned to see Ruby and Sahir descending the staircase.
Ruby was dressed in a black bridal lehenga, shimmering with enchanted silver patterns, her eyes glowing faintly red. Beside her, Sahir wore a regal black sherwani, his once-gentle eyes now cold and void, filled with dark blue energy.
The family recoiled at the sight of him, their beloved Sahir now unrecognizable.
From inside the magical cage, Teju stood tall despite her disheveled appearance and tear-streaked face. She looked directly at Sahir and Ruby, her voice steady and defiant:
"Listen to me, Sahir… Ruby… this so-called marriage of yours will never happen."
The family looked at her in shock—how could she speak so boldly in front of these monstrous versions of their loved ones?
Sahir's glowing eyes narrowed as he stepped closer to the cage. "And what makes you think you can stop it, Bishwa?" he asked, his voice dangerously calm.
Teju's lips curled into a small, confident smile despite the fear clawing at her heart. "Because I said so. And mark my words—you may have caged me, but you can't cage what's coming for you."
She did not reveal Maira's absence or their plan, only letting her unyielding courage show.
Ruby smirked wickedly. "Big words from a trapped little bird."
Teju's gaze didn't falter. "Mock me all you want, Ruby. But I promise you this—you'll never be his bride."
The family, for the first time in hours, felt a flicker of hope at Teju's fearless declaration.