The morning sun had just begun to gild the temple spires when the echoes of sacred chants filled the air. The atmosphere was drenched in incense and devotion, as the temple bells tolled softly in rhythm with the rising dawn.
Gauri knelt beside Vihaan, whose body trembled violently as the last traces of Sarvansh's darkness tried to seize control. His breath came in ragged bursts, eyes flickering between two souls locked in war.
"Vihaan!" Gauri cried, clutching his face. "You have to fight him—don't let that darkness win again!"
Vihaan's hands clutched the stone floor, the veins on his arms blackening for a moment before retreating. The Pandit rushed forward with a small bowl of prashad and holy water.
"Feed him this, beti," the old priest said gravely. "The divine essence of this temple will cleanse the shadows that bind him."
Gauri didn't hesitate. With trembling hands, she placed the prashad on Vihaan's lips. A shudder passed through his entire body, and suddenly, the storm within seemed to break. The dark aura surrounding him faded like mist before sunlight.
He gasped—once, twice—and then his eyes opened fully. They were no longer Sarvansh's eyes, no longer filled with malice or rage. They were Vihaan's… soft, human, and overwhelmed.
"Gauri…" he whispered hoarsely, his voice cracking under the weight of emotion. "I remember everything… everything I did to you."
Tears streamed down his face as he took her hands in his. "I hurt you. I humiliated you. And yet… you never stopped believing in me."
Gauri's own tears spilled freely as she shook her head, her voice breaking. "Because I knew my Vihaan was still there… trapped beneath the darkness. I would've waited a lifetime if I had to."
He pulled her close then, holding her tightly against his chest. The sound of the temple bells swelled, as if the heavens themselves rejoiced at his redemption.
"I'm so sorry, Gauri," Vihaan whispered, pressing his forehead against hers. "For every moment you suffered because of me."
She smiled through her tears. "Then let this be our new beginning."
As the morning light streamed through the ancient pillars, Gauri and Vihaan knelt before the deity together, their hands joined — not just in prayer, but in promise.
At the Kothari Mansion
The morning air was still heavy with the fragrance of incense and the lingering memories of the temple when Gauri and Vihaan arrived back home. The family had gathered in the courtyard, their faces clouded with confusion and worry.
Veena stepped forward first, her voice trembling. "Gauri… where were you? People said you were seen in the old temple—with him."
Her eyes glistened with fear, with the weight of every nightmare she had endured since Sarvansh's curse had fallen upon her son.
Gauri met her gaze firmly, her voice calm yet resolute. "Maa, he is not Sarvansh. That darkness is gone forever."
A stunned silence followed. And then—slow, deliberate footsteps echoed across the marble.
Everyone turned.
Vihaan stepped out of the car, the morning light catching his face — serene now, free from the shadow that once haunted his every expression. He walked straight toward his mother and bent down, touching Veena's and Sharda's feet.
"Maa…" he whispered. "Bade maa…"
Veena froze for a heartbeat — then her composure shattered. Tears burst from her eyes as she cupped his face in trembling hands. "My Vihaan… my son has come back to me!"
The courtyard filled with emotion as Sharda closed her eyes in relief and Yug rushed forward, hugging his brother tightly.
For a moment, Vihaan simply stood there, taking it all in — the warmth, the tears, the love he thought he had lost forever. Then he said softly, his voice carrying a mix of guilt and truth, "A mother's love… it forgives everything. Sometimes it even spoils her children — makes them forget the pain they cause."
He looked at each of them in turn, eyes heavy with remorse. "But I remember now — every tear, every sleepless night I gave you all. I'm sorry… truly sorry."
Veena shook her head, her hands trembling as she held his. "Don't say that, beta. You've come back — that's all that matters."
The family gathered close, their long-lost joy rekindled. For the first time in months, the Kothari mansion felt alive again. Laughter and tears mingled freely.
But even as Vihaan embraced them all, his gaze turned distant. The warmth in his eyes dimmed slightly, replaced by something unspoken.
"I'm happy to be home," he said quietly. "But… my return is only temporary."
A stunned silence fell once more.
He looked at Gauri, his voice steady yet grave. "There's something important I need to tell you all. Something that can't wait any longer."
The air grew still, as if the walls themselves leaned in to listen.
To be continued…