The air in the mansion felt thick, almost choking, as Kamini's laughter slithered into every corner. Her hand tightened on Vihaan's shoulder, nails gleaming like talons. His eyes, burning crimson, no longer reflected the man his family knew. Snake-like scales glimmered faintly along his skin, his breathing ragged — as though his soul itself was being tugged away.
"Look at him," Kamini purred, her voice heavy with triumph. "My son, my lion… no longer bound by your false chains of family. He is Sarvansh — mine."
"Vihaan!" Sharda cried, her face pale, her voice trembling. "Don't listen to her! You are not her son, you are ours. This family raised you with love."
Kamini scoffed, her golden eyes flashing. "Love? Pathetic weakness. He is born of power — and he will feed on power."
"Not true!" Sarda shouted, pushing forward, but with a mere flick of Kamini's fingers, Sarda was thrown back against the wall. Shyom caught her before she could fall, rage burning in his eyes.
Dadi, clutching her prayer beads, whispered fiercely, "Only Ganga Jal can cut through her venom… only that purity can save him."
"I'll get it!" Yug declared, his jaw set. He sprinted toward the small temple at the far end of the hall.
But Vihaan's head snapped toward him, his eyes glowing like a predator's. With a simple wave of his hand, an unseen force slammed into Yug, hurling him across the marble floor. He groaned, dragging himself up, determination burning brighter than his pain.
Kamini's lips curled into a serpentine smile. "Almost perfect… but something is missing." She clapped her hands sharply, and in the center of the hall a mirror appeared, its surface rippling like silver water.
The family gasped as Veena stumbled out, collapsing to the ground. Her hair was tangled, her saree torn, but her voice cracked with desperate love the moment she saw him.
"My son… Vihaan!"
For an instant, Vihaan's hand faltered — but Kamini's voice slithered into his ears, "Strike her."
Vihaan's arm rose against his will, and with a violent thrust, he hurled power at Veena. The force struck her hard, sending her reeling backward.
"Veena!" Dadi and Sharda screamed as Shyom rushed to catch her, holding her trembling frame.
Sharda's eyes blazed through tears. "Kamini! He is not yours. You may poison his body, but his heart — his soul — belongs here, with us!"
Kamini tilted her head, stroking Vihaan's hair as if he were a prized beast. "His soul?" Her laugh cut through the hall like broken glass. "It already belongs to me. When he sheds the first blood of his destiny, the Sarvansh will awaken — and none of you will survive."
The chandeliers flickered wildly, shadows danced on the walls, and the house seemed to shiver as though bracing for what was to come.
"Finish them," Kamini commanded, her voice curling like smoke, intoxicating and cruel.
Vihaan's steps echoed across the marble floor as he advanced on his own family, his eyes glowing red, scales crawling faintly along his jawline. Sharda clutched Dadi's hand, Yug braced himself, and Veena struggled to stand despite her wounds. Fear wrapped around them all like chains.
But then—
"Stop, Vihaan!"
The voice rang sharp and unwavering. Every head snapped toward the grand entrance. There stood Gauri, her saree still dusted from the garden soil, her forehead shining faintly with sweat, her hair loose and wild around her face. Beside her clung Charvi, eyes wide in terror, but Gauri's gaze was fixed only on Vihaan.
Her sandals clicked firmly against the floor as she strode forward, planting herself between Vihaan and the family. Her heart hammered, yet her voice broke free, soft and lyrical, trembling with both pain and hope:
"Family is not weakness, Vihaan…
It is the fire that warms us,
The roots that keep us steady,
The shield that stands when the world turns cruel.
Without them, we are hollow shadows,
But with them, we are whole."
Her words fell like drops of water against stone, daring to soften him.
Vihaan's steps faltered. His hand trembled, the daggers of energy he had conjured flickering uncertainly. For the briefest moment, the red haze in his eyes dimmed.
But Kamini's laughter tore through the hall. "How touching!" she hissed, stepping forward, her snake-braid swaying behind her. "You dare lecture me about family, little girl? I am his mother,Kamini. He is my Sarvansh. My blood runs in his veins, not yours."
Gauri raised her chin, refusing to look away. "Blood may bind, but love is what makes family. And love is something you will never understand."
Kamini's lips curved into a cruel smile. She spread her arms wide, mockingly regal. "Very well then. If you insist, I'll even bless you, Gauri." She stepped close enough for her golden eyes to burn into Gauri's. "Bless you as my daughter-in-law. The bride of Sarvansh. The wife of the monster who will kill you with his own hands."
The words slithered into the air like poison, sending shivers through the family.
But Gauri did not flinch. She only turned back to Vihaan, her voice soft but unyielding: "Vihaan… if you truly are her son, then prove it by striking me down. But if you are mine—if you are ours—then fight her, not me."
The hall fell silent, everyone holding their breath as Vihaan's trembling hand rose higher, torn between Kamini's command and Gauri's plea.