Meanwhile — On the Road
Ranav drove in silence, his grip firm on the steering wheel, eyes scanning the near-empty stretch of road. Beside him, Arav leaned forward slightly, restless, his gaze darting from one side to the other.
"There—" Arav suddenly said, straightening. "Ranav… slow down."
Ranav followed his line of sight.
Arnav.
Walking alone on the side of the road, coat draped neatly over his shoulders, phone in hand, expression tight with irritation rather than fear.
Ranav hit the brakes immediately, pulling the car over.
Before the engine had fully stilled, both brothers were already out.
"Bhaiya!" Arav called out, relief flooding his voice as they rushed toward him.
Arnav looked up, mildly surprised. "What are you two doing here?" he asked, brows knitting together. "And why are you looking at me like that?"
Ranav scanned him quickly—head to toe—searching for injuries, something… wrong. "Are you okay?"
Arnav frowned. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"You weren't picking up your calls," Arav said. "Mom was worried. Everyone is worried."
Arnav exhaled, clearly unconcerned. "There's no signal here. That's all."
Ranav exchanged a brief glance with Arav. Then, more firmly, "Come home with us, Bhaiya."
Arnav hesitated. "What's going on?"
"You'll understand once you're there," Ranav replied, his tone calm but leaving no room for argument. "Please."
Arnav studied their faces for a moment—the tension they were trying to hide, the urgency beneath their restraint. Finally, he nodded. "Alright."
They got into the car, the doors shutting one by one. Ranav started the engine and drove off, the taillights disappearing into the dark road.
High above, perched silently on the branch of an old tree, Kapalika watched.
Her braid swayed slowly in the night air, eyes narrowing as the car vanished from view. "Protected… even now," she whispered, lips curling in irritation. "But not forever."
She slipped back into the shadows, unseen.
Meanwhile — At the Raizada Villa
The car had barely come to a stop when Vedshree rushed out of the house.
"Arnav!" she called, crossing the distance in hurried steps.
Before he could even close the door, she reached him, her hands gripping his shoulders, her eyes scanning his face as if searching for wounds only she could see. "Are you alright?" Her voice trembled despite her effort to stay composed.
"I'm fine, Mom," Arnav said gently, confused more than concerned. "Nothing has happened. Why does everyone look like something terrible already has?"
They moved inside together.
The living room felt heavy—too quiet, too tense. Suman stood near the mandir, fingers clenched. Vanraj and Sanjeev were seated, their expressions grim. Ranav and Arav hovered close, unusually silent.
Vanraj rose slowly. "Arnav," he said, his voice steady but burdened, "what we're about to tell you… is not new to this house. But it has returned."
Arnav's brow furrowed. "Returned… what has?"
"The Evil Eye," Vanraj said quietly.
The words landed like a blow.
Arnav's breath stilled. His gaze flicked instinctively to his bracelet, his fingers curling into his palm. Memories—fragments—fear—rose unbidden. "That means…" His voice dropped. "It means I could lose control again."
Vedshree stepped closer immediately. "No," she said firmly. "You will not go there."
He looked at her, shaken. "Mom, you don't understand. If it returns fully—if I turn into what I was born as—I could hurt you. All of you."
She placed her hand on his chest, grounding him. "You promised me," she reminded him, her voice soft but unyielding. "You swore on my life that you would never call yourself a monster again."
Arnav swallowed hard, shame and fear mixing in his eyes. "I remember."
"And we promised you," Vedshree continued, "that we would never let darkness take you away from us. The Evil Eye will not reach you. Not while we are here."
Sanjeev cleared his throat, stepping forward. "I spoke to Ruby's parents," he said, shifting the moment gently forward. "They're returning tomorrow. They'll be here for Maha Shivratri."
Suman nodded. "We were waiting for this time. Tabeezi had said… the age matters."
Before Arnav could ask more, Bani Dadi entered from the inner corridor.
"I spoke to Tabeezi," she said calmly, though her eyes carried years of knowledge and quiet fear. "She has given instructions."
Everyone turned toward her.
"There is a way," she continued, "to find out whether Ruby truly carries the Rivanshi shakti."
Arnav's gaze sharpened. "Rivanshi…"
"Yes," Bani Dadi said. "And we must be careful. If she is Rivanshi, the signs will not reveal themselves easily. The test must be done exactly as Tabeezi instructed."
Ranav and Arav exchanged a glance, both silently thinking, "Dadi was right—her foresight never fails."
Silence followed—thick, uneasy.
Arnav sat down slowly, the weight of it all settling into his bones. Evil returning. A prophecy resurfacing. A power that could either save him… or destroy everything.
Outside, unseen by them all, the night deepened.
And the game had truly begun.