The morning sun spilled through the wide glass windows of the Kothari mansion, painting the marbled floors in shades of gold. The air was thick with the fragrance of jasmine garlands and the soft hum of devotional songs playing in the background.
Everyone in the house was busy — laughter and chatter echoing from every corner. Dadi sat on the swing in the living hall, directing the decorators with her usual warmth. Urvashi and Veena arranged diyas in neat rows along the verandah, while Sharda supervised the rangoli being made in front of the temple.
Gauri came down the stairs with a plate of marigold petals, her face glowing brighter than the festive lamps. She paused for a moment, watching her new family working together in harmony, and smiled softly. For the first time, she felt completely at home.
Vihaan, standing beside her, adjusted his kurta sleeves and said with a teasing grin,
"You've been staring for a while. Thinking about how to outshine the diyas tonight?"
Gauri rolled her eyes, sprinkling a few petals at him.
> "If I do, it's not my fault. The diyas should learn to glow brighter."
Her playful tone earned a laugh from him, but before he could reply, Dadi called out,
"Everyone, come to the temple! It's time for the morning puja."
Soon, the entire family gathered before the beautifully decorated idol of Goddess Lakshmi. The silver lamps flickered gently as the priest chanted mantras, filling the mansion with sacred calm. Gauri and Vihaan exchanged glances as they performed the aarti together, their hands moving in perfect rhythm.
When the puja ended, Dadi smiled and blessed them all.
"May this Diwali bring only light into our lives," she said warmly.
One by one, everyone bowed for her blessings. Sharda placed a hand on both Vihaan and Veer's heads, her eyes soft with emotion.
"Happy Diwali," she whispered.
"Happy Diwali, Bade Maa," the family echoed in unison.
The sound of laughter soon followed — Yug playfully smeared a little tika on Charvi's cheek, earning a flustered glare from her. Gauri handed sweets around, while Urvashi teased Sharda that the party tonight would put every other celebration to shame.
But even as joy spread through the mansion like light itself, Veer stood a little apart from the group, his smile faint, his gaze distant.
The fire of the diyas reflected in his eyes — twin embers hiding a storm no one else could see.
Far away from the bright lamps and laughter of the Kothari mansion, the deep forests of Pratham Vanshi were wrapped in silence. The day was still, yet uneasy — the trees whispered in warning, and the air felt heavy with a coming storm.
Inside a small, sacred cottage surrounded by flickering torches, Pratham Vanshi, the ancient guardian of light, sat in deep meditation. Her silver hair glimmered faintly in the moonlight, her presence serene yet powerful.
Suddenly, her eyes flew open. The sacred flame before her flickered wildly, and the sound of crows filled the air — loud, restless, circling the sky above the forest.
"Darkness…" she murmured, rising to her feet. "A shadow stirs again. Danger is approaching the Kotharis."
She stepped outside, the hem of her white robes brushing the earth. Raising her hand, she whispered an ancient mantra. A radiant golden bird — part flame, part spirit — appeared before her, fluttering its ethereal wings.
"Go," Pratham Vanshi commanded softly. "Find my blood. Warn them before it's too late."
With a high, piercing cry, the bird soared into the night, cutting through the dark like a streak of light.
---
At the Kothari mansion, Charvi stood by her window, brushing her hair as the morning breeze drifted in. Suddenly, she felt something warm land on her arm. Startled, she looked down to see the same golden bird, its eyes glowing with mystic light.
"Nani?" she whispered in wonder.
The bird tilted its head, and a soft hum filled her ears. Without hesitation, Charvi closed her eyes — her heartbeat syncing with the rhythm of its song. The visions came rushing in — flashes of crows, darkness, blood, and the Kothari mansion engulfed in flames.
Her eyes snapped open, wide with shock.
"The family… is in danger," she breathed.
The bird vanished into sparkles of golden dust, leaving Charvi trembling under the soft glow of the diya beside her bed.