As the family tried to make sense of everything, the doors of the mansion opened with a familiar sound. Everyone turned and immediately stood up in respect.
"Pratham Vanshi ji…" Sharda breathed with relief.
She entered with his glowing staff, her expression grave. Veena and Dadi quickly stepped forward to greet her, their faces heavy with worry.
"You came at the right time," Urvashi said. "We were just speaking about Kamini."
Pratham Vanshi looked around the hall, her eyes settling on Vihaan and Gauri. "And you are right to worry. Danger is fast approaching. The blood moon night is only a few days away."
The glow of his staff pulsed ominously as hee voice deepened. "That danger… is Kamini. Though her body is stone, her shadow is free. She is gathering her strength, and on the blood moon night… she will rise again."
A chill passed through the family. Sharda clasped Gauri's trembling hands, while Vihaan's jaw clenched in determination.
"Pratham Vanshi ji," Dadi said fearfully, "if Kamini returns, will we be able to stop her?"
She raised her staff high, the light flaring. "You can—but only if you are prepared. This time, the battle will demand more than courage. It will demand truth, unity, and sacrifice."
Everyone exchanged tense looks as her words hung heavy in the air.
The atmosphere in the Kothari mansion was tense as Pratham Vanshi's words about Kamini echoed in the hall. Her presence filled the room with an aura of both calm and unease. She gripped her staff, her aged eyes glimmering with knowledge that went beyond lifetimes.
"To stop Kamini once and for all," she declared, "her statue must be destroyed. That is where her shadow draws its strength."
Everyone stiffened. Veena's hand instinctively went to Dadi's for support.
Pratham Vanshi slowly turned, her gaze landing directly on Charvi. She raised her staff and pointed it gently towards her. "And you, child… your visions will lead the way. You will guide them to the cave where Kamini's idol lies."
Charvi blinked, startled. "M-my visions? But… why me? Why am I even seeing all this?"
Gauri stepped forward, voicing what was on everyone's mind. "Yes… I've been wanting to ask too. How is Charvi connected to all of this? Why her?"
A soft, almost maternal smile curved on Pratham Vanshi's wrinkled lips as she walked towards Charvi. She reached out, caressing her granddaughter's cheek with trembling fingers.
"Because, my child," she said with a deep breath, "you are also of the Pratham Vansh. You carry the bloodline of the Seers."
The hall fell silent. The Kotharis exchanged stunned glances, whispers rippling like a storm.
Charvi's eyes widened in disbelief. "What…? That can't be… I—I'm just—"
"You are more than you know." Pratham Vanshi's voice cracked with emotion. "You are the daughter of my daughter."
Gasps broke out across the room. Gauri instinctively tightened her hold on Charvi, who stood frozen.
"My daughter, Sheena," Pratham Vanshi continued, her voice thick with memory, "she was born without the gift of sight. She wished for a normal life, away from the burden of our clan. So she left the Pratham Vansh… and began a family of her own. But nineteen years ago, destiny claimed her and her husband Priyom in an accident, leaving only you, Charvi, behind as an infant."
Charvi's knees buckled as tears streamed down her cheeks. "No… no one ever told me… I-I never knew…"
Gauri wrapped her arms around her tightly, holding her as if she could shield her from the weight of the truth.
Pratham Vanshi's voice quivered, but her tone was resolute. "I foresaw Sheena's fate long ago, but destiny cannot be altered. It was written that you, Charvi, would stay close to Gauri… because one day, Gauri would become a part of the Kotharis, and your path would intertwine with hers."
Veena whispered to Sharda, still stunned. "But… wasn't Adrija meant to be with Vihaan? That was fate too."
Pratham Vanshi looked at them, her gaze firm yet kind. "Whatever unfolds is destiny's doing. Adrija's choice was hers, but fate's course remains unbroken. Everything happens for a reason, even if we do not see it yet."
Charvi's tears blurred her vision as she stepped forward and clung to Pratham Vanshi. Her voice broke as she whispered, "Nani…"
Pratham Vanshi's eyes glistened with tears as she placed her palm on Charvi's head, blessing her. "Yes, child. You are my blood. You are the Seer of this generation. And it is through you that the truth will be revealed."
The family stood in awe, shaken yet moved, as the bond between grandmother and granddaughter was finally restored by destiny itself.
Gauri wiped her tears, her heart swelling with relief and pride. She cupped Charvi's face and kissed her forehead. "I'm so happy for you, Charvi… finally, you know where you belong. You're not alone—you have your nani, and you'll always have me."
Charvi hugged her tightly, still trembling. "Didi…" was all she could whisper.
Pratham Vanshi let them embrace for a moment before tapping her staff on the floor. The sound echoed like a call to attention. "This reunion warms my heart, but we cannot lose sight of the greater danger at hand. Kamini's shadow grows stronger with each passing day. The blood moon night approaches fast."
Her piercing eyes turned to Charvi again. "Child, your visions are no accident. They are guiding you for a reason. You must once again locate the cave where Kamini's statue lies. That idol is her tether to this world. It must be destroyed—before it destroys all of you."
A hush fell over the hall, the weight of her words sinking in.
Vihaan, who had stood silent until now, stepped forward with determination blazing in his eyes. His hand instinctively brushed Gauri's shoulder, as if grounding himself in her presence. "I don't care what it takes," he said firmly, voice steady with resolve. "I will not let Kamini harm this family again."
Gauri looked up at him, her heart tightening at the raw intensity in his words.
Pratham Vanshi nodded with approval. "Good. You will need courage, all of you. For this battle is not just against Kamini—it is against destiny itself."
The family exchanged tense glances, each one silently readying themselves for the trial that lay ahead.