Vikram's gaze sharpened as he observed his son-in-law, reading the subtle tightening of Yuvaan's jaw and the way his eyes darted across the hall.
"You're not imagining it," Vikram murmured, his voice low, almost swallowed by the music and chatter. "Even my Reeva instincts are picking up… something dark. But it's been holding itself back. Probably sensing you… the same dark energy in you. That's why it hasn't revealed itself openly."
Yuvaan's eyes narrowed, a flicker of his usual villainous charm mixed with seriousness. "So it's here… hiding, observing… thinking it can move unnoticed."
Vikram nodded slowly. "Exactly. And since you are sensing it… then we need to find it. Quietly. No one can suspect a thing. We can't let the family feel the tension. This is a celebration… a henna ceremony. We can't ruin it."
Yuvaan exhaled, his eyes scanning the room with precision. "Understood. I'll handle it. Subtly. Nobody will see it coming."
Vikram placed a hand on Yuvaan's shoulder, the gesture firm yet reassuring. "Good. Keep your senses sharp. I'll watch from the periphery. Together, we'll identify the source without alerting anyone. The moment it acts… we'll be ready."
Yuvaan smirked faintly, that signature hint of dark mischief returning. "Always fun to play detective, isn't it? Especially when the game involves hidden enemies in plain sight."
Vikram's lips twitched in a subtle smile. "Fun… and deadly."
The two men exchanged a quiet nod, a silent pact forming between them. Around them, the henna ceremony continued—laughter, music, and the scent of fresh flowers filling the air—completely oblivious to the storm that had already crept into the room.
Dilruba moved away from the crowd, slipping into a shadowed corner behind a pillar. Her human form flickered subtly, a faint ripple under the skin as her nine tails curled invisibly behind her. She touched the dark purple stone on her ring — the surface pulsed once, like a heartbeat.
Her eyes glowed.
"Hehehehehe…"
Her whisper slithered through the air, carried on a curl of dark energy that drifted across the hall like smoke.
Across the room, Kiara paused mid-conversation. A slight shiver ran through her spine. Her eyes softened… then glazed.
Dilruba's voice slithered into her mind, honeyed and dangerous.
"Jishwa…"
A cruel smile tugged at her lips.
"Come to Dilruba. Meet Dilruba in the backyard of this big, big mansion."
A sharp giggle escaped her.
"Dilruba will like it very, very much if you come… hehehehehe…"
Kiara's fingers twitched.
Her smile weakened.
The sound around her faded as the enchantment wrapped around her mind like invisible vines. Her breath hitched softly — not in fear, but in that eerie stillness hypnosis creates.
She blinked once.
Twice.
The trance settled.
She pushed her chair back slowly, steadying herself on the armrest. Bhoomi noticed her movement first.
"Kiara beta? Are you alright?"
Kiara forced a small smile, her voice faint but steady.
"I'm okay… I just need to use the washroom."
Yuvaan, who had been watching her from across the hall, raised a brow slightly — something about the way she stood felt… off. But before he could move toward her, a group of cousins blocked his path, asking about a ritual detail.
Kiara walked away step by step, every movement smooth and dreamlike, her anklets chiming softly against the marble.
She didn't head toward the washroom.
She walked straight toward the backyard corridor…
…drawn by a dark call she didn't even realize she was following.
Behind the pillar, Dilruba watched her leave, her smile stretching wider, eyes gleaming with triumph.
"Hehehehehe… Jishwa is coming…"
Her tails flickered invisibly.
"And Dilruba is waiting."
Yuvaan moved through the crowd with sharp, silent alertness. His senses were stretched thin, trying to pinpoint the darkness that gnawed at the edge of his instincts.
"Where are you hiding…" he murmured under his breath, eyes scanning every corner.
Just then—
A flash of movement.
A streak of gleaming gold slipped past the doorway at the end of the corridor.
Yuvaan froze.
"Not now…" he whispered, brows tightening. "Why are YOU here again?"
Ignoring the party noise behind him, he slipped away from the hall and followed the serpent's trail. The corridor lights flickered as he walked, as if reacting to the tension rising around him.
The golden serpent slid into his bedroom.
The door creaked slightly as Yuvaan pushed it open.
"Alright… come out," he said softly, voice deep, controlled, dangerous.
The room looked empty.
Still.
Too still.
Yuvaan stepped inside, loosening his shoulders, magic humming faintly in his palms. "If you want something, just take one step forward."
Silence.
He exhaled sharply and turned slightly—
And that was when the air shifted.
Behind him, the shadows stretched.
A massive shape uncoiled, rising… rising… five golden heads lifting slowly, jaws widening, fangs glinting like daggers in the dim light.
The serpent revealed itself fully now — no longer the small, disguised creature that rode in the car.
Its five heads spread out in a perfect deadly circle behind Yuvaan, each one poised to strike.
Its deep golden eyes glowed with something ancient… almost judgmental.
Yuvaan's breath stilled, awareness snapping like a wire.
Meanwhile —
far away from this danger —
Kiara walked through the backyard garden, her steps soft, hypnotized, her gaze unfocused.
Under the shade of a tall peepal tree, Dilruba stood waiting, rocking slightly on her heels, her tails invisibly swaying in excitement.
She twirled a strand of her hair and whispered to herself, voice dripping with glee:
"Hehehehehe… any moment now… Jishwa will walk to Dilruba… straight into Dilruba's hands."
Her eyes glowed wicked purple.
"Then the real fun will begin… hehehehehe…"
The wind rustled.
Footsteps approached.
Dilruba grinned wider.
To be continued…