The fireflies swirled in a frenzied dance, their golden light casting a shimmering veil over the cottage, bathing Vihaan and Gauri in a glow that felt alive with their desire. The air was heavy with the scent of damp wood and their shared heat, the cold floor beneath them a forgotten contrast to the fever building between their bodies.
Their kisses had turned ravenous, a primal edge to each press of lips, as if they could devour every moment of pain, fear, and years kept apart. Vihaan's breath came in sharp, uneven gasps, the poison's grip on his veins overshadowed by the overwhelming pull of Gauri beneath him.
His hands, trembling from the poison's lingering venom, moved with a slow, deliberate hunger to the waistband of his tattered trousers. The fabric slid down his thighs, a soft rustle in the quiet, leaving only the taut stretch of his undergarments. Gauri's eyes met his, a flicker of question in their depths, answered by the raw trust in his gaze.
Her fingers, steady yet charged with anticipation, reached for him, easing the last barrier away. His arousal was evident, standing proud in the firelight, and Gauri's breath hitched, her cheeks flushing under the lanterns' warm glow. Her eyes, though, burned with fierce love, drinking in his vulnerability—the sweat beading on his brow, the faint tremor in his frame—as it deepened their bond.
She shifted beneath him, her body turning slowly until her back pressed against his chest, her curves molding to his hardened form. The heat of their skin melded, electric, as Vihaan's lips found the sensitive curve of her neck. His kisses began soft, a teasing brush, then grew bolder, his teeth grazing her skin, sending shivers cascading through her. His hands roamed her sides, fingers splaying over her hips, pulling her tightly against him until there was no space left between them.
The gash on his back, raw and dark with poison, seemed to fade in the fire of their need, its pain no match for the pulse of desire coursing through them.
"Gauri," he growled against her skin, his voice thick with raw emotion and want, "you're everything i could ever wish for."
His lips traced a searing path along her shoulder, each kiss a vow branded into her flesh. Gauri's fingers reached back, tangling in his hair, tugging him closer as she arched into him, her soft moans filling the air.
His hands slid lower, finding the loosened ties of her blouse and pulling them free, the fabric slipping away to reveal the smooth expanse of her skin, glowing like molten amber in the fireflies' light.
Their bodies moved together, a rhythm of instinct and longing. Vihaan pressed himself against her, his arousal unmistakable as he ground slowly, deliberately, against her warmth. Gauri's breath came in sharp gasps, her body yielding to his, inviting him closer.
His kisses on her neck grew fervent, a hungry edge to each one as he nipped and sucked at her pulse, drawing soft whimpers from her lips. The fireflies pulsed faster, their light mirroring the frantic beat of their hearts, as Vihaan's hands guided her hips, their bodies aligning in a dance as old as time.
The cottage, the jungle, the threats lurking beyond—none of it existed. There was only Vihaan and Gauri, their love a wildfire consuming every fear, every doubt. As they surrendered to each other, their movements a blend of desperation and devotion, the world outside dissolved, leaving only the heat of their union, a defiant claim against the darkness that had tried to tear them apart.
The night air at the Kothari mansion was heavy with the bittersweet echoes of laughter and tears. Raani, dressed in her bridal red, stood beside Bharat as the family gathered for her bidaai. Emotional farewells were exchanged—Urvashi's hands trembled as she held her daughter, Sharda whispered prayers, and Dadi blessed the couple. Yet amidst the joy and sorrow, Charvi's eyes darted restlessly across the courtyard, searching every corner.
Her heart sank when she found no trace of Vihaan or Gauri. "Where are they?" she murmured, a nervous knot tightening in her chest. Yug, beside her, wore the same troubled look.
As the ceremony drew closer to its end, Sharda and Veena subtly pulled Charvi and Yug away from the crowd. Their smiles faded the moment they were out of sight of the guests.
"Tell us the truth," Sharda demanded, her voice low but firm. "Where have Gauri and Vihaan gone? I can see it in your faces—something is wrong."
Charvi hesitated, exchanging a glance with Yug before speaking. "We went into the forest… following a vision. And what we found…" Her words faltered, but she forced herself to continue. "There was a cave. A statue of Kamini. Not just stone—her shadow still lives inside it. And… she's not alone. We saw a monster footprin, some… Vish Purush I think if heard the name correctly in my vision. He met Kamini there."
Sharda's face turned pale, her hand instinctively going to her chest. "Kamini…" she whispered, her voice trembling. "That witch is trying to rise again."
"Bade Maa," Yug added gravely, "if Kamini has already summoned a creature like that, then Bhaiya and Gauri bhabhi are in danger. What if—"
"No," Veena interrupted firmly, though fear glistened in her eyes. "Nothing will happen to them." Her voice wavered slightly, but she held onto her faith. "My son, my Gauri—they're stronger than darkness. I believe in them."
Sharda exhaled shakily, still unconvinced. "Even so, if your suspicion is right, they could already be facing Kamini's wrath."
Charvi's fingers dug into her dupatta, her heart pounding. "We have to find them before—"
Veena placed a hand on her shoulder, steady but insistent. "Not now, beti. If Raani's in-laws sense something is wrong, questions will arise, suspicions will spread. We cannot let Raani's new life begin with shadows of fear. We will send her off first, with love and dignity. Then—" her gaze hardened—"we will search for Vihaan and Gauri."
Tears rolled down Charvi's cheeks as she nodded. Sharda closed her eyes briefly, whispering a prayer under her breath. And though Veena stood tall, her knuckles tightened around her saree as she silently begged the heavens to protect her son and daughter-in-law from the storm rising in the shadows.