Vihaan suddenly stopped in the middle of the hall, his gaze scanning the family. His lips curled into a sly smirk that didn't reach his eyes.
"Something feels incomplete," he muttered, brushing his fingers through his hair. "Where is my darling younger cousin, Yug?"
The family stiffened. Veena quickly spoke up, forcing a smile. "Yug is resting, beta. He… he wasn't feeling well, so he went to sleep."
Raani chimed in, nodding nervously. "Yes, that's right. He must have caught a chill last night. Don't worry, he'll be fine."
Vihaan narrowed his eyes, the smirk fading. He sniffed the air dramatically, tilting his head like a predator catching a scent. "Asleep? Funny… because I smell something different in this house. Something very fishy."
The atmosphere grew heavy. The chandeliers flickered, casting eerie shadows across the room.
Sharda stepped forward, trying to steady her voice. "Vihaan, you're overthinking. Everyone is here. There's nothing to—"
Vihaan cut her off sharply, his voice dropping to a deadly tone. "If I find out you're lying to me… not one of you will be spared."
Everyone froze, their fear almost tangible. Veena's hands shook as she clutched her saree pallu, while Dadi silently mouthed a prayer under her breath.
Vihaan's eyes glowed faintly red as he gave a cold laugh. "Enough games. If Yug is really resting, I'll see him later. For now…" He turned suddenly toward the staircase, his footsteps echoing ominously. "I should go and check on my sweet wife. It will ease all my doubts."
The Kotharis gasped, panic flashing in their eyes as Vihaan began to climb the stairs, each step heavier than the last.
Vihaan's boots echoed against the marble as he started toward the stairs. Veena, her heart pounding, rushed forward and grabbed his arm.
"Vihaan, wait," she pleaded, her voice trembling. "Gauri must be resting too… she was hurt yesterday. Don't disturb her right now."
Raani quickly joined in, nodding in desperation. "Yes bhaiya, bhabhi needs peace. If you barge in, she might—"
Vihaan stopped abruptly, his head tilting ever so slightly. His eyes glowed with a dangerous crimson, and his smirk returned—this time sharper, colder.
"So…" he said slowly, his voice dripping with menace, "you admit there's something worth hiding."
Veena's breath caught in her throat. "N-no, that's not what I—"
"Silence!" Vihaan roared, the sound reverberating through the hall like a thunderclap. The lights flickered wildly, and the air seemed to grow heavier, pressing down on everyone's chest.
"You've just proven my suspicions right," he hissed, leaning closer to Veena, his face inches from hers. "There is something fishy in this house. And if any of you dare stand in my way again…" His eyes flicked dangerously between Veena and Raani. "I will show no mercy."
Both women stumbled back in fear, their hands trembling.
Vihaan chuckled darkly and resumed climbing the stairs, his voice echoing as he went. "Now, let me see what my precious wife is up to."
The family exchanged horrified glances, dread pooling in their hearts as his footsteps faded upward.
Vihaan pushed the door open with a flick of his wrist, the lock breaking apart with a burst of dark energy. His eyes scanned the room—empty.
"Gauri…" his voice dropped, suspicion lacing every syllable.
Then, faintly, the sound of running water reached his ears. His lips curled into a dangerous smirk as he turned toward the washroom. "So, you thought you could hide from me here."
He flung the door open, only to be caught completely off guard.
Gauri stepped out at that very moment, draped in her saree but still damp from the shower, adjusting her pallu when she bumped straight into him. The force sent them both stumbling backwards into the washroom.
Before either could react, Vihaan's arm shot out, caging her against the tiled wall. Water from the shower splashed over them, soaking his dark shirt and dripping down her face.
Their eyes locked—hers wide with shock, his burning with an unsettling mix of rage and something deeper, something he tried to mask.
"Gauri…" he muttered, his voice low, husky, almost dangerous. "What game are you playing?"
Gauri steadied her breath, her heart racing at their closeness but her voice firm. "I don't need to play games, Vihaan. I am your wife. And no matter how much you fight it, you can't erase that truth."
For a second, his grip faltered, his gaze flickering over the vermillion in her hairline, the mangalsutra resting against her chest. The symbols of their bond mocked the darkness consuming him.
Vihaan's jaw tightened. He pushed himself back slightly, trying to regain control, but the water cascading down blurred the moment between menace and intimacy, leaving the air thick with unspoken tension.
Vihaan's chest rose and fell heavily, his heart pounding faster than he wanted to admit. Without another word, he gripped Gauri's wrist and pulled her out of the washroom, his eyes narrowing as he searched her face.
The silence of the room was broken only by the soft patter of water dripping from the shower. Vihaan's fingers tightened around Gauri's wrist as he pulled her out of the washroom, his eyes blazing with suspicion.
"Were you in this room the whole time?" he demanded, searching her face as though her very breath could betray her.
Gauri, instead of shrinking back, placed her palm gently on his forehead. "Are you suffering from fever… or perhaps partial memory loss?" she asked softly, her tone carrying a trace of mischief.
His jaw clenched. "Stop your nonsense."
But Gauri only gave an awkward little laugh, her eyes shining with quiet stubbornness. "It isn't nonsense. I need to be sure you're alright, Vihaan. You yourself locked me in this room, remember? To prevent me from interfering in your so-called wedding."
For a moment, Vihaan faltered, as if her words had cut through the haze clouding his thoughts. "I remember," he admitted slowly. His voice dropped, low and dangerous. "But your precious family acted strange. They were trying to stop me from coming here."
"They were scared," Gauri answered gently, her gaze steady. "Scared you might harm me. That's why they lied."
Her calmness unsettled him. He took a sudden step forward, closing the space between them until her breath caught in her throat. His hand gripped her shoulder. "Aren't you scared of me?"
Instead of flinching, Gauri smiled and cupped his face with both hands, as if soothing a child. Her voice was tender, defiant. "Who can be scared of a husband so handsome… so impossibly cute?"
Something shifted in Vihaan's eyes. For the briefest moment, his walls trembled, the darkness wavering. But just as quickly, rage surged back, hardening his features. He shoved her away.
"Stay away!" he stammered, his voice cracking with the weight of the battle raging inside him. "Stay away from me—or I will kill you!"
He stormed out, the door slamming shut with finality.
Gauri sat frozen on the bed, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Relief and fear tangled in her heart like two stubborn vines. Her eyes drifted toward the window. That was how she had come in—how she had defied his magic. She, Yug, and Charvi had stolen into the mansion's shadow, climbed the walls, and slipped inside like whispers of the night.
Now, alone in his room, Gauri pressed a trembling hand to her heart. Vihaan's threat still echoed in her ears, but so did the moment his eyes had softened beneath her touch. Somewhere, beneath the darkness, her Vihaan still lived. And for him, she would fight until her last breath.