Meanwhile, deep in the forest leading toward the Cave of Answers…
Varun pushed aside long strands of silver-leafed branches as he made his way through the shifting terrain. The air here felt ancient, alive, changing paths as it pleased.
He muttered under his breath,
"Every time we come looking for the Cave of Answers, this forest decides its own mood… sometimes gentle, sometimes ready to eat us alive."
A cold breeze curled around him, too precise to be natural.
Varun stopped.
The air behind him thickened—heavy, watchful.
Someone was following him.
He reached back slowly, gripping the Reeva Bow. In one swift movement, he pulled it forward, drawing the glowing string of light tight as he turned.
"Who's there?"
Silence.
Then—
A soft, familiar giggle drifted through the trees.
Light. Nervous. Almost excited.
A small figure peeked from behind a massive tree trunk, her eyes shining like she'd been waiting for him.
Dilruba.
She stepped out timidly, hands clasped behind her, her fox-like aura shimmering faintly.
A shy smile spread across her face.
"Yes… handsome," she said with a small giggle, "it's me."
Varun huffed out a breath, lowering the bow only slightly—but still staying cautious.
"Dilruba," he said firmly, "this isn't the place to be wandering around. The forest is acting strange today."
Dilruba twirled the end of her dupatta nervously, taking a tiny step closer as if she couldn't help herself.
"I wasn't wandering," she said softly. "I… followed you."
Varun blinked.
"Why?"
She looked down at her feet, her voice turning small.
"Because… you looked serious when you left the Shetty house. Dilruba felt worried. And… and because Dilruba likes seeing you."
Varun's jaw tightened, not in annoyance but in caution.
Her innocence was disarming.
"Dilruba," he said slowly, "you can't just follow people into dangerous forests."
She peeked up at him, eyes wide and glowing.
"But you're here. So Dilruba is safe."
Varun was momentarily speechless.
Around them, the forest rustled, leaves shifting as if reacting to their presence. The shadows moved, whispering secrets Varun couldn't catch.
His instincts prickled again.
Dilruba's presence meant the dark force he sensed earlier wasn't an illusion…
or alone.
Varun lifted the Reeva Bow again, this time steady, eyes narrowing.
"Dilruba," he said quietly, "did you… come alone?"
Her playful smile faded.
She clutched his sleeve lightly, her voice dropping to a whisper.
"No… someone else is here too. Someone who doesn't want you to reach the Cave."
Varun's grip tightened around the glowing bowstring.
The forest exhaled—long, cold, and dangerous.
The real threat had just arrived.
---
Meanwhile, at the Pratap Singh mansion…
Kiara and Yuvaan stepped out of the washroom, both still dazed from the overwhelming rush of the last few moments they had shared—still unable to touch, still bound by the curse, yet closer than ever.
But before Kiara could say anything—
Yuvaan's hand flew to his chest.
His knees buckled.
A raw, searing pain tore through him.
"Yuvaan!" Kiara gasped, rushing forward—then stopping short, her hands trembling inches from him, terrified of harming him with even accidental contact.
Yuvaan collapsed the next second, hitting the floor with a thud.
Kiara's voice cracked with panic.
"Someone! Please—help! Yuvaan fainted! Please!"
Her scream echoed through the corridor.
Within moments, Bhoomi, Chandrika (Moti Baa), Vinod, Aakash, and Angad rushed in.
Bhoomi's hand flew to her mouth.
"Hai Bhagwan… Yuvaan!"
Kiara pointed helplessly, voice shaking.
"I—I can't touch him… please, Angad, Aakash—lift him! Put him on the bed! Please hurry!"
Aakash immediately knelt beside his brother.
"Angad, come on—carefully!"
Together, the brothers lifted the unconscious Yuvaan and placed him on the bed.
Kiara hovered near the edge, fists clenched, fighting back tears—because the one time she wanted to touch him more than anything… she couldn't.
Bhoomi sank beside him, crying softly.
"What is happening to my Yuvaan… why is his body burning like this? What has he done to himself?"
Kiara's breath hitched.
She knew what he had done.
He had sacrificed his powers—to save her.
And now… he was paying the price.
---
Meanwhile, deep inside the forest…
Varun narrowed his eyes at her.
"Dilruba… who is here? Who's trying to stop me?"
Dilruba giggled immediately—
"Heheheheheeee…"
—tilting her head in that mischievous fox-witch way.
"Oh, that?" She tapped her chin with a long nail. "Umm… what's it called again? That Yakshini… the one that likes dirt and mud. Uff, what is the word…?"
Varun closed his eyes for a second, exhausted already.
"Earth Yakshini, Dilruba."
Dilruba snapped her fingers proudly.
"Exactly! Same-same! That one!"
Then she leaned closer, eyes glimmering.
"And by the way… you look sooo cute when you roll your eyes at me like that."
Varun stared at her, expression flat, clearly irritated.
Of course.
He was a witch hunter…
and a witch was falling for him.
A very chaotic, unpredictable, dangerous witch.
Dilruba fluttered her lashes dramatically, absolutely unbothered.
"What? Don't make that face, Varun. My fox-heart goes dhak-dhak every time you act all serious."
Varun exhaled sharply, gripping his bow tighter.
This was going to be a long journey.