Bhoomi rushed to her son first.
Her hands trembled as she cupped Yuvaan's face, her voice barely steady. "Are you okay? Yuvaan… say something."
"I'm fine, Mom," Yuvaan whispered, placing his hand over hers. But the lingering shock in his eyes made her pull him into a tight, trembling embrace.
Kiara stepped closer, her breath still uneven from the power she had summoned. Her eyes swept the melted chandelier, the venom scars on the marble floor. "Who tried to harm Yuvaan?" she demanded softly, her voice edged with fear she tried to hide.
Susheela swallowed, eyes wide. "Luckily you saved him, Kiara… but even if he had gotten injured, Yuvaan would've healed up. Right?" she asked, trying to reassure herself more than anyone.
Yuvaan shook his head.
"No, Aunty," he said quietly. "I wouldn't have healed."
The entire family turned toward him, stunned.
"What do you mean?" Vikram asked sharply.
Yuvaan pointed at the remains of the chandelier. The venom still hissed faintly against the floor.
"Venom was dripping from it," Yuvaan explained, his voice calm but grave. "This wasn't ordinary poison. It came from a serpent. And serpent venom…" He paused, choosing his words carefully. "It's deadly to all dark-force beings. Including me."
A heavy silence fell.
Bhoomi tightened her grip on his arm, her breath catching at the implication.
"And whoever attacked me," Yuvaan continued, "knew this."
Vikram exchanged a tense glance with Chandrika. "Could this be the same dark force you sensed outside the mansion yesterday?"
Yuvaan shook his head.
"No," he said firmly. "This wasn't a dark force."
His eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"This was… something else."
The family leaned in as he continued.
"It was a golden serpent. From the glow, from the venom… it seems to be from Naagalok."
Murmurs rippled through the room.
Chandrika stepped forward, voice low. "A golden serpent of Naagalok…"
"Yes," Yuvaan confirmed. "A divine clan. Not evil. Not dark. But extremely powerful."
He lifted his gaze to the railing above—
where the serpent had once slithered unseen.
"For a divine serpent to attack me…"
His jaw tightened.
"…someone is directing it. Someone who knows exactly how to kill a Yodha."
The room remained frozen, breath held, the weight of the revelation settling like a storm cloud.
The family was no longer facing just shadows and rumors.
A divine assassin had stepped into their war.
The family was still gathered around the melted chandelier, whispers heavy with tension. Yuvaan's words about the golden serpent lingered in the air like a warning.
And then—
Creak.
The main doors of the hall swung open on their own, the hinges groaning through the silence.
Everyone turned.
A woman stepped inside with a stride that was almost… choreographed.
Confident.
Regal.
A touch theatrical—like the graceful glide of someone walking the ramp of a beauty pageant.
Her black-and-gold saree shimmered dramatically with every step.
A heavy veil covered her face, trailing behind her like a shadow that refused to detach.
No one moved.
No one breathed.
She paused at the very center of the room, letting the silence tighten around her presence.
Then, slowly… deliberately…
her hand rose.
She pulled the veil away.
Taamsi.
Her long braid uncoiled like a living serpent behind her as she tilted her head with a wicked, amused smile.
"Well, well…" Her voice dripped poison and charm in equal measure. "What's this? A family celebration?"
Her eyes fixed on Yuvaan, glowing with dark delight.
"And you didn't even care to invite your own aunt to your wedding, Yuvaan?"
She clicked her tongue in mock disappointment.
"But no problem," she continued, lifting her chin proudly, "I've invited myself."
The family stood frozen, shock rippling through the hall.
Yuvaan's jaw clenched.
Kiara instinctively stepped closer to him.
Taamsi simply smiled wider—
as if the chaos she was about to unleash was her favorite form of entertainment.
Yuvaan's expression tightened, irritation flickering across his face as he stepped forward, placing himself protectively in front of Kiara.
"Taamsi," he said bluntly, "why do you have this habit of gatecrashing? Seriously. It's a very bad habit. You should let go of it."
Taamsi let out a theatrical gasp, placing a hand on her chest as though deeply offended.
Then her expression melted into a wicked grin.
"What to do, Yuvaan?" she purred, sauntering further into the hall.
"If I don't gatecrash… then how will I bring a dhamakedaar moment?"
She spread her arms, eyes gleaming.
"A beautiful big explosion into your happy celebration?"
Kiara stepped forward beside Yuvaan, her gaze unblinking and calm.
"You only know how to cause explosions, Taamsi," Kiara said, her voice steady, divine energy subtly crackling beneath it.
"But we," she added, chin raised confidently, "know how to stop them."
A ripple of shock moved through the room.
Taamsi's smile twitched—half amusement, half irritation.
Her braid slithered behind her like a warning.
The tension thickened, poised to break.
To be continued…