At the Pratap Singh Mansion
The atmosphere in the living room was thick with unspoken fear.
Vikram exhaled heavily and looked at Kiara with fatherly worry etched deep into his face.
"Kiara… this isn't something we can take lightly."
His voice trembled slightly.
"Kalapishachi's curses never fail. Not once in centuries."
Kiara met his gaze calmly, her voice soft but steady.
"Papa, I don't believe darkness can ever win over light.
Not when love stands in the middle. We shouldn't stress ourselves more than needed.
Love can break any curse."
Bhoomi gave a weak, hopeful nod.
Just then, Chandrika began coughing, trying to hide it behind her dupatta.
Kiara immediately stepped forward, touching her arm with gentle concern.
"Moti baa, wait… I'll bring you a glass of water."
"No, beta," Chandrika protested softly. "Let the staff bring—"
"It's just water, moti baa. I'll go."
Kiara smiled and turned toward the kitchen, her anklets chiming softly as she walked.
Yuvaan glanced at her—
a flicker of worry passing through his eyes.
Something in the air felt wrong.
Kiara was about to step into the hallway—
CRAAAAACK—
The terrifying sound ripped through the mansion.
Everyone froze.
Above Kiara, the ceiling splintered in a violent shudder—
and before she could even look up—
THE ROOF CAME CRASHING DOWN ON HER.
"KIAAAARAAA!"
Yuvaan's scream tore from his throat as he sprinted forward.
Dust exploded everywhere. Wooden beams and shards of plaster scattered across the floor.
He tore through the debris with shaking hands, eyes wide with terror—
And then he found her.
Still. Motionless. Buried under the rubble.
"Kiara… Kiara, no—KIARAAA!"
Yuvaan pulled her into his arms, his voice breaking.
Her body was limp.
Cold.
Breathless.
"No… no, you can't— you can't leave me again…"
His fingers touched her neck, searching desperately for a pulse.
Nothing.
Vikram fell to his knees. Bhoomi covered her mouth. Chandrika sobbed uncontrollably.
Yuvaan's heartbreak echoed through the silent, shattered hall.
"Kiara… come back…"
He held her tighter, his shoulders trembling.
She was dead.
Yuvaan's fingers trembled as he cupped Kiara's lifeless face.
The world around him blurred—nothing mattered but her stillness.
With a broken gasp, he fumbled inside his pocket.
The second orb.
His second chance.
Before anyone could stop him, Yuvaan whispered:
"I won't fail this time."
He swallowed the orb.
A blinding flash burst around him—
and Yuvaan collapsed beside Kiara's body, unconscious.
"Yuvaan!"
Bhoomi screamed as the family rushed to him.
But before anyone could touch him—
---
Time Rewinds
Yuvaan's eyes snapped open.
He was standing on the staircase—
his arms wrapped around Kiara, holding her safely away from the shimmering water.
She blinked at him, confused.
"Yuvaan? What happened?"
He didn't answer.
He simply clutched her tighter for a moment, relief flooding him.
The horror of watching her die twice still shook him.
He finally stepped back, lifted his hand, and with a swipe—
The water dried instantly.
"Let's go downstairs," he said, forcing a smile.
They walked down the steps together.
---
In the Living Room
Kiara hugged Vikram warmly.
"Papa, why does everyone look so tense?"
Susheela sighed.
"How can we not be tense when the curse hangs over your heads, beta?"
Kiara tried to lighten the mood, consoling each of them one by one, even telling Bhoomi not to stress her health.
But deep inside, Yuvaan's pulse raced.
He remembered the roof.
The crushing weight.
Kiara lying there… still.
He kept close to her, watching every shadow, every corner.
When Kiara noticed Chandrika cough, she said:
"Moti baa, I'll bring you a glass of water."
Yuvaan stepped forward instantly.
"Kiara, I'll go—"
"No," she said sweetly. "It's just water. I'll bring it."
Last time, he tried stopping her.
And the curse found another route.
He couldn't stop Kiara from living.
He had to stop death from reaching her.
So he let her go.
Quietly, he followed her with his eyes.
She walked into the hallway toward the kitchen—
And Yuvaan felt it.
A faint tremor.
A pulse of darkness.
He snapped his head up.
The ceiling.
The crack had already begun to form.
A thin line spidered across the plaster—
the same line that brought her death minutes ago.
Yuvaan raised his hand.
A surge of golden–blue energy burst from his palm, sealing the crack, knitting the ceiling whole again, leaving not a mark behind.
He exhaled sharply, relief washing over him.
Kiara, unaware of what had almost happened, continued walking, humming softly as she reached the kitchen.
Yuvaan whispered under his breath—
"Not this time.
Not ever again."
---
To be continued…