Kiara's eyes glistened as she stepped toward him, the faint tremble in her voice carrying years of buried pain.
"I can't marry the king of the Dark Force, Yuvaan," she whispered.
Yuvaan froze, the air caught in his throat.
Her next words sliced through him.
"Because that king… is Kaal. The same Kaal who stole my mother from me. The one who made my entire clan suffer."
For a moment, Yuvaan felt the ground slip.
He looked away, unable to meet her gaze—terrified of what she might say next.
But Kiara didn't stop.
She gently held his hand, lifting it to her chest.
"But I can marry a son of the Pratap Singh family."
Yuvaan blinked, startled.
Her voice grew steadier, warmer, rising from the depths of her heart.
"A son of Bhoomi Pratap Singh…
Brother of Angad, Akash, and Riddhi…
And the man who would burn the world if it meant protecting me."
She took a breath, her lips curving into a soft, trembling smile.
"I am ready to marry that man.
I am ready to marry Yuvaan Pratap Singh."
And just like that, the weight of centuries broke inside him.
Yuvaan's eyes filled, and in the next heartbeat, he pulled her into a crushing embrace—breathing her in as if she were the only thing keeping him alive.
"Bad joke," he murmured against her hair, voice thick with emotion.
"You scared me. I'm the one who teases people, not you."
Kiara laughed softly, wiping her tears.
"Living with you for so long… I've learned a lot."
And for the first time in a long time, the shadows around Yuvaan felt small—because she had chosen him, not the king he used to be… but the man he had become.
Yuvaan didn't give Kiara a chance to say another word.
With a sudden, joyous laugh, he swept her off her feet—literally.
Kiara gasped as he lifted her into his arms and spun her around, her red saree flaring like a halo around them.
Above their heads, rose petals drifted from the terrace parapet—soft, fragrant, cascading like blessings from the sky.
Kiara's cheeks flushed as she tightened her arms around his neck.
For once, the world wasn't fighting them.
The world was celebrating them.
Yuvaan brought her down carefully, brushing a kiss to her forehead as he whispered, "Now you're never escaping me."
Holding her securely, he carried her down the stairs, step by step, refusing to let go even when she playfully protested.
The moment they reached the living room, the entire Pratap Singh family rose from their seats—stunned at the glowing couple approaching them.
Bhoomi covered her mouth, tears of happiness shining in her eyes.
Riddhi clapped excitedly.
Angad and Akash exchanged knowing smirks.
Yuvaan stood at the center, Kiara still in his arms, and announced with a pride he didn't bother hiding:
"We're getting married. Properly. With all the rituals and all the blessings."
A stunned silence followed—then an explosion of joy.
Vinod stepped forward, his smile wide and fatherly.
"Then there's no time to waste," he said warmly.
"I'll call Vikram right now. We must discuss the dates and start preparing for their real wedding ceremony."
Kiara looked at Yuvaan, her heart fluttering.
Soon, she would be Kiara Pratap Singh—not by destiny, not by prophecy… but by love.
Chandrika stepped forward first, her eyes softening as she looked at the two of them—still wrapped in each other's warmth, still glowing from the moment they had just shared.
Placing her hands gently over their bowed heads, she whispered a blessing filled with motherly affection:
"May Mahadev protect this bond. May your love stay unshakeable, and may no darkness ever touch you again."
Kiara closed her eyes, letting the blessing wash over her like a prayer she didn't realise she had been waiting for.
Bhoomi couldn't hold back any longer.
Tears glimmered in her eyes as she cupped Kiara's face and pulled her into a hug.
"I can't believe I'm getting to see this again," she said, voice trembling with happiness.
"This time, I will perform every ritual myself… every vow, every tradition… with my own hands."
She hugged Yuvaan next, smacking his arm lightly out of sheer joy.
"And you," she sniffed, "you're going to let me enjoy this wedding properly without running behind trouble for once."
Yuvaan huffed dramatically, "No promises, Mom," and everyone laughed.
Susheela joined them, clapping her hands with excitement.
"Arre wah! Our Kiara and Yuvaan getting married again—but this time, with full-on celebration! Shaadi ka maha-mahol ban jaayega!"
Kiara blushed while Yuvaan grinned proudly, his arm still possessively around her waist.
For the first time in a long time, the Pratap Singh mansion wasn't echoing with battles, curses, or prophecies.
It was echoing with happiness.
🌙 Precap / Upcoming Teaser
The wedding rituals had barely begun when an unnatural cold swept through the mandap. The flames in the havan trembled, shrinking as if frightened. Before anyone could understand what was happening, a shadow descended at the entrance.
Taamsi stepped forward—calm, deliberate, and terrifying in her certainty.
Her voice sliced through the silence.
"This marriage cannot continue. You two are bound by a curse… and one of you is fated to die."
Yuvaan's hand tightened around Kiara's.
Kiara felt her heartbeat stumble, fear pressing down on her ribs.
Around them, the entire family stood frozen, staring at Taamsi as her warning settled over the mandap like a death sentence.
The petals beneath Kiara's feet suddenly felt heavy…
as though the earth itself was preparing to choose which one of them it would claim.
—To be continued.