Ranav leaned a little closer to Arnav, nodding toward the stage. "Bhaiya… I think this was supposed to be a bikini-style performance, right? But Pranati… she turned it into something completely different. Respectful, fun… comfortable."
Arav grinned, glancing at the stage. "Yeah… smart move. I think I'd like someone like that."
Arnav's gaze snapped to him, sharp but quiet. "Don't even joke about that."
Arav held up his hands, mock surrender. "Relax, brother. I'm just saying."
Ranav laughed softly. "Look at you… getting all protective already, even though Ruby's supposed to be your fiancée soon."
Arnav's jaw tightened just a fraction, but he didn't reply. Instead, he watched Pranati on stage, her confidence, the way she controlled the performance… and something in him stirred that neither teasing nor engagement plans could touch.
The brothers exchanged amused glances, leaving Arnav to his quiet, unspoken thoughts.
---
Far out on the open sea, Kapalika moved with an eerie grace, her feet barely disturbing the water beneath her, as if she floated rather than walked. Her long braid whipped through the air like a dark serpent, catching the faint moonlight.
She paused, eyes narrowing as she recalled Mohana's commands. "As long as Arnav keeps using his daavansh powers… feed him darkness, little by little. Let it seep into him… and he will come to me."
A cold, calculating smile spread across her face. The wind tugged at her robes, carrying the distant sounds of celebration from the villa. Tonight, she thought, the seed has been sown… but the harvest is still far away.
And with a final glint of mischief in her eyes, she smirked.
---
After the performance, the music faded into soft murmurs and the clinking of glasses. The guests were cheering, some still laughing at the playful energy Pranati had brought to the stage. Swara approached her first, her eyes glimmering with gratitude.
"Pranati…" Swara began, voice low and earnest, "I don't even know how to thank you. You saved my wedding… and my sanity tonight."
Pranati smiled softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's alright. You just trust me next time, that's enough."
Swara hugged her tightly. "I owe you everything. Truly."
Anokhi stepped forward as well, giving her a friendly nudge. "You've got guts, Pranati. Not just talent, brains too. Neil picked the wrong girl to underestimate."
Pranati chuckled lightly, her hands folding in front of her. "I think I just know how to survive the chaos. That's all."
As the sisters walked away to rejoin the guests, Neil slowly made his way toward her. His presence alone made the air feel heavier. His eyes appraised her, calm but calculating, measuring every inch of her posture, the confidence in her stance, the subtle glint of defiance in her eyes.
"Bravo," he said finally, slow, deliberate. "Very impressive."
Pranati tilted her head slightly, the faintest smirk tugging at her lips. "Is that all?" she asked, her tone teasing, yet with a sharp edge. "I thought someone like you would have more… to say."
Neil's smile didn't waver. "Clever," he said, almost conversational, yet there was an underlying weight to the word. "You're very clever. I should have known."
Pranati's eyes sparkled with that playful defiance she always carried. "What can I do? As a kid, I ate too many almonds—brain got sharper. Guess I just learned to put it to use at the right moment," she said, stepping back slightly, crossing her arms. "Now… our debts are cleared. This chapter? Consider it closed."
Neil's gaze didn't leave her. "Do you really think it's that simple?" he asked softly, almost a whisper that only she could hear, yet sharp enough to make her heart skip.
Pranati straightened, shoulders back, her voice steady and unwavering. "I pray I never have to meet you again. Because if I do, I'll be ready."
She gave him one last, measured look—a mixture of challenge and finality—then turned and walked toward the gathering crowd. The laughter, the chatter, the clinking of glasses seemed to embrace her like a shield. With every step, her confidence radiated, the earlier tension of the yacht and Neil's threats melting into determination.
Neil stood there, silent for a moment, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly. His lips curled into a faint smirk. "You think you're done, Pranati?" he murmured under his breath, almost to himself. "No… you haven't even begun. You'll be seeing more of me."
And with that, he turned, his expression unreadable, leaving a trace of unease lingering in the room.
Pranati paused at the edge of the crowd, inhaling deeply, letting the music and celebration wrap around her. A small, quiet smile touched her lips. She had survived this night on her terms. But somewhere, deep inside, she knew this was only the beginning.
To be continued...