Gauri's breath caught as Vihaan's fingers slowly loosened around her wrist. The glint in his eyes was no longer warmth—it was mockery wrapped in charm. The air around them shimmered faintly, heavy with something dark and knowing.
"So," he drawled, circling her like a predator toying with its prey. "You really thought you could fool me, didn't you, Gauri?"
His voice was smooth, dangerous—each word laced with venomous amusement. He stopped just behind her, his shadow falling over hers. "You followed me, thinking I'd lead you to the Maan Kalash. Clever," he said, his tone softening only to harden again, "but foolish."
He moved in front of her now, his smirk deepening. "You see, I led you here. I wanted to see how far you'd go. I thought, perhaps, a little fun was in order before I destroy what's left of your hope."
Gauri stared at him, her heartbeat a mix of anger and ache. "You misled me…" she whispered.
He chuckled darkly. "No, Gauri. You misled yourself. All for this ridiculous emotion you call love." His gaze flickered—half Vihaan's tenderness, half Sarvansh's cruelty. "Tell me, was it worth it? Sacrificing your powers, your pride… all for a man who no longer exists?"
His words sliced through her like shards of ice, but she refused to waver. Lifting her chin, she met his stare head-on. "You can mock me all you want, Vihaan," she said, her voice trembling but resolute. "But love isn't foolish. It's strength."
He scoffed. "Strength? Or delusion?"
"Both," she said firmly. "Because I'm not just fighting to win back Vihaan's love… I'll win Sarvansh's heart too. You two may think you're separate, but I know the truth."
He blinked, momentarily thrown off.
"You're one," she whispered, stepping closer. "Two halves of the same soul. You can hide behind darkness, Vihaan… but your light still burns within it."
For a moment, the wind stilled. The teasing curve of his lips faltered—just slightly. The Vihaan she knew flickered behind those crimson eyes, before vanishing again beneath Sarvansh's smirk.
He leaned in, voice low. "Then try, Gauri. Try to love a monster. And when he breaks you, remember—you asked for it."
Her reply was steady, a quiet flame beneath the storm. "I've already been broken, Vihaan. Now, I burn."
The highway fell silent, the echo of their words hanging like prophecy between them.
The afternoon sun blazed softly over the winding highway as Yuvaan's sleek black car slowed to a stop. A massive tree lay sprawled across the road, blocking their path. Just a few feet ahead, a couple stood in the middle of the lane, seemingly in the midst of a heated argument.
Yuvaan killed the engine and glanced ahead. "Looks like we've got company," he muttered, stepping out of the car. Kiara followed, draping her scarf against the warm wind. The faint scent of dust and dry leaves filled the air as they walked toward the couple.
The woman, dressed in a red traditional gown and a red dupatta, turned first — her expression softening as she saw them. "Oh, hello! Sorry, the road's completely blocked. We're just figuring out what to do," she said politely.
Before Yuvaan could respond, he leaned toward Kiara and whispered, "I can just move it out of the way."
Kiara's eyes widened slightly. "No, Yuvaan. Not here. People might see you," she murmured, almost through gritted teeth. "Let's act normal."
He rolled his eyes but didn't argue — though his fingers twitched slightly, itching to use his powers.
Meanwhile, the woman smiled at Kiara and introduced herself, "I'm Gauri. This is Vihaan."
Kiara nodded, returning the smile. "I'm Kiara… and this is my husband, Yuvaan."
The two women exchanged a brief handshake — soft, polite, and yet oddly knowing. Something about Gauri's calm aura contrasted sharply with Yuvaan's brooding presence.
Vihaan gave Yuvaan a short, curt nod. "Looks like we're stuck till someone brings help."
"Or until someone does something," Yuvaan replied dryly, his tone edged with sarcasm.
Kiara lightly nudged him in the ribs. "What my husband means," she said with a forced smile, "is that maybe we can all try to move it together."
Gauri nodded. "That would be great."
The four of them stood before the fallen tree — two strangers' worlds brushing against each other for the first time. While Kiara and Gauri exchanged a few warm words, Yuvaan and Vihaan kept silent, each sizing the other up with quiet intensity.
Finally, as they began clearing the smaller branches, Kiara looked at Gauri and said softly, "Sometimes… life throws obstacles to test how far we can go."
Gauri smiled faintly. "Yes… or to make us meet someone who reminds us why we keep going."
The wind stirred around them, carrying an odd sense of destiny — as if the universe itself had orchestrated this brief encounter before the roads led them back to their separate fates.