Later that night, the Kothari mansion shimmered under a thousand golden lights. The air was thick with the scent of incense and sweet marigolds, the laughter of guests echoing faintly below.
But high above the noise and glitter, on the quiet terrace bathed in moonlight, two sisters stood side by side — Gauri and Charvi — holding small clay lamps in their hands.
Charvi smiled softly.
"I didn't think you'd remember," she said, glancing at her sister. "Our little Diwali ritual… we used to sneak to the terrace every year and light these diyas, just the two of us."
Gauri chuckled, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face.
"Forget?" she said, her voice warm. "You're a piece of my heart, Charvi. How could I ever forget something that belongs to us?"
They crouched together, lighting their lamps, the flames flickering gently in the night breeze. The faint hum of distant fireworks painted the sky in bursts of color, reflecting in their eyes.
Charvi whispered,
"Every year, we made a wish before placing the diyas. What are you wishing for this time, Didi?"
Gauri smiled, her gaze softening as she looked at the glowing lamps.
"For our family's happiness," she said. "For peace… and for you to always smile."
Charvi's eyes welled with emotion. She reached out, holding her sister's hand.
"And I wish," she murmured, "that no shadow ever falls between us."
The two sisters shared a quiet hug, their diyas glowing beside them — two flames burning in harmony against the dark horizon.
Neither noticed the faint silhouette watching from below, eyes glinting coldly in the half-light.
As the sisters descended the grand staircase, every light in the mansion seemed to bend toward them.
Gauri's deep crimson lehenga shimmered with each step, the golden embroidery catching the glow of the diyas that lined the walls. Beside her, Charvi moved gracefully in a pastel-blue saree, her earrings swaying like tiny stars.
For a heartbeat, the bustling celebration below paused.
Vihaan stood near the center of the hall, mid-conversation with a few guests, but his words faltered as soon as his gaze met Gauri's.
Her smile — soft yet radiant — made the whole world around him blur. The reflection of the diyas danced in her eyes, and he thought to himself that no festival light could ever outshine her.
Yug, on the other hand, nearly dropped his plate of sweets.
"Wow…" he whispered under his breath, watching Charvi approach, her dupatta gliding like mist.
When she looked up and their eyes met, Charvi felt her heart stutter for reasons she didn't fully understand. The faint memory of his earlier words — "I'll tell you everything tonight" — echoed in her chest, and she quickly looked away, cheeks coloring.
Gauri reached Vihaan's side, smiling teasingly.
"You look lost, Officer Kothari. Thinking about the case… or something else?"
Vihaan smirked faintly, leaning closer.
"Definitely something else," he replied, his tone low, his eyes never leaving hers.
Nearby, Yug playfully handed Charvi a sweet.
"For the festival," he said with a grin. "And maybe… for courage too."
"Courage?" she asked, arching a brow.
"To hear what I'll say later," he said softly, his gaze lingering a second too long.
The sound of laughter, music, and the crackling of fireworks filled the air again, pulling everyone back into the rhythm of celebration.
But beneath the glow of the lamps and smiles, unseen shadows waited — and in one corner, Veer watched it all unfold, his face unreadable under the golden light.
After greeting the guests and exchanging smiles, Gauri turned toward the elders, her hands joining reverently.
She first approached Dadi, who sat near the grand rangoli, her silver hair gleaming under the diyas' glow. Gauri bent to touch her feet.
"Jeete raho, beta," Dadi blessed warmly, placing her hand over Gauri's head. "May your light never fade — just like these lamps."
Gauri smiled softly and moved to Sharda next. Sharda's eyes glistened with quiet pride as Gauri bowed before her.
"Bade Maa," Gauri said gently, "this home shines because of you."
Sharda caressed her cheek with motherly affection.
"You're the new strength of this family, Gauri," she said. "Keep everyone together, always."
Gauri then turned to Veena and Urvashi, who stood side by side, both radiant in their festive sarees. She bowed to them, and Veena immediately touched her head, her voice affectionate yet firm.
"You've brought so much happiness into our home," Veena said. "May you and Vihaan always walk in light, never in shadow."
Urvashi added with a teasing smile,
"And may you never lose that mischievous spark, my dear Gauri. It keeps this house alive!"
Finally, Gauri walked up to Shyom, who looked pleasantly surprised as she bent for his blessing.
"A daughter-in-law like you is no less than a daughter," he said, his tone sincere. "You're the pride of the Kotharis, Gauri."
Gauri straightened up, eyes glimmering with warmth.
"It's your love that makes me feel like one of you," she said softly.
As she stepped back beside Vihaan, the family gathered near the grand idol for the final Diwali aarti.
The bells chimed, lamps flickered, and for a moment — surrounded by light, laughter, and love — it felt as if nothing could ever go wrong.
But far away, hidden beneath the same festive sky, a shadow watched from the darkness… waiting for the perfect moment to strike.