K: You know what? I know for a fact that you are the Adi Naagin! Killing you will not only allow me to absorb your powers but that would also let me control Gandhak...my dream since long!...So for that, you have to die!

B: (thinks) Bholenath! Raksha kro meri....

She closed her eyes, praying to her lord while Veer shook the cage violently, regardless of how much it zapped him.

K: (smirks and takes out a dagger with some symbols on it) Bye Bye Bahurani

..................................

V: DON'T YOU DARE!? I DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE, I'LL KILL YOU AND CLAW YOUR INSIDES IF YOU HURT MY WIFE!

K: Just keep mum beta! I'll do you a favour, I'll kill you after her so that you can reunite in afterlife and I'll have no one who can manage Gandhak other than me...Yay! I have dreamed about it for so long! (She acted like she was tearing up out of happiness)

Vani looked at each other. Veer continued to get shocked from the cage but kept pulling at the bars. Soon, he created a dent. Meera, who was thin and a human, tried to touch it and realized the trap doesn't hurt humans. She quickly slipped out of it. It tore at her flesh but she kept trying. Bani saw Meera trying to escape and immediately started to indulge Karishma in a conversation.

B: Mujhe maar kr kya faida...mai tumhe aise hi Gandhak de dungi (thinks: left me get free, just wait and watch)

Meera successfully slipped out.

T: Meera ab tum kissi tarah Bani ki rassiya khol do..pehle us tree ke peeche chup jaana phir hum usse distract karenge and tum Bani ko azad kr dena..

Meera hid behind a tree.

D: Maa?

K: (ignores)

D: MAA!!

K: Kya hai?

D: We are your own blood. Don't you care?

K: No

Karishma gave a blunt reply. Daksh stood frozen.

P: Ye to sun bhi nahi rahi..Bani bhabhi ko hi dekhe jaa rahi hai...she really doesn't care about us (his voice broke as he spoke the last line)

K: Aye Chuhe! Kya khuzur phusar laga rakhi hai...tang mt kro mujhe..smjhe na...wrna Adi naagin ki shaktiyan milte hi tum sbko ulta latka dungi.....chup raho

B: (thinks: soch Bani soch...kaise is trap se niklenge...idea!)

Bani closes her eyes and summons Gandhak.

B: (thinks: Karishma just said I can also control it...please aa jao, humari madad kro...)

Bani closed her eyes to see nothing happened.

B: (Gandhak nahi aya)

The moment Bani thought this she felt something really hard in her fist. Her eyes widened. She wished for it to release her family from the trap. To her surprise, even the dent Veer had managed to create got repaired. Even Karishma noticed the trap heal itself and Veer did too.

K: Ye kaise ho raha hai...tum sb to aam cheel ho..ya toh ye rajkumar kuch kr raha hai ya ye naagin...nahi! ..I should not delay...

She takes the dagger and moves closer to Bani.

B: Vo trap to nahi tutega, mujhe hi in rasiyon se nikalne ka upaye krna hoga..

Meera was still hiding behind the tree as she was unable to get the opportunity to move closer to Bani but the moment Bani spoke this, Gandhak rose up high in the air and created a huge blast, the trap broke and everyone was free. There was smoke everywhere and all the cheels were coughing. Karishma turned shocked but was also looking at Gandhak. The crazy look in her eyes explained her obsession with the stone. She looked at it the way a foodie looks a cheese pizza, the way a dessert dweller looks at water, the way Veeru looks as his Bani.

K: Gandhak! Barso tarsi hoon tumhari ek jhalak ke liye..

Meera had used this distraction of hers and was struggling to open Bani's ropes. They were magical and hard to handle but Meera persisted.

M: Ye chachi saas bhi pagal hi hai, dekh kaise dekh rahi hai gandhak ko..

Karishma took some ash out of a small pouch that was tucked at her waist and threw it over Gandhak. She spoke some words in some unknown dialect and immediately took Gandhak in her hands.

K: Yay!!!...(kisses the stone)

M: Ye pagal aurat!...uff Bani ye rasi bohot difficult hai...

B: Di bs thodi si loose kr do, I will slip out..

M: Bani tu sach me? Vo jo keh rahi thi ?

B: Ye uska time nahi hai ...please jldi..

Meanwhile, Karishma was celebrating.

V: If you could touch stone with this magic of yours, why create the drama?

K: Ugh! You sure you are Cheel Rajkumar? Stupid! This magic that I learned over the years only allows me to make the stone useless for a few hours but I cannot use it.. Tumhari wife ko to marna hi padega...

V: YOU!!

Veer opened his cheel eyes and tried move closer to her. He wanted to rip her throat out.

K: Arey arey beta, ruko..pehle ek chotu sa trailer toh dekh lo..

Karishma again took some ash and spoke some words. She blew the ash in the air and suddenly a vision bubble appeared. They could see Chandrakala. She was tied on a chair.

V: Kya kr raho ho meri maa ko? Choro unhe!!

Here, Bani had turned into a naagin and slipped out. Meera gulped.

B: (turns back human) I won't hurt you di..Please ab aap chup jao..

Meera nodded and hid herself. Bani turned into a naagin again and wrapped her tail around Karishma's body.

K: Arey! Oops...dhyan hata gaya mera ..tum to azad ho gayi bahurani..

B: Chup raho tum!!

K: Ek second, pehle jo trailer tumhare pati ko dikhaya hai vo toh dekh lo..

B: (looks at the screen) khabardaar jo meri mummy ji ko kuch bhi kiya!

K: Ye tum miya biwi dhamki bohot dete ho...mujhe bohot hurt hota hai..waise tumhari mummy ji ko kuch hoga ya nahi, ye to tumhare hath me hai..(she winked)

B: mtlb?

K: mtlb ye..

Karishma pricked Bani's tail with her dagger. Bani winced and released her. Karishma smirked and used the same knife to give herself a small wound.

'Ouch! Ah! Kon hai? Kon maar raha hai mujhe?'

K: aise kya dekh rahe ho? Awaz udhr se aa rahi hai..

The Singhanias looked horrified when they realized what was happening. Any pain they gave Karishma was appearing on Chandrakala.

B: What black magic has she done!! This-

She controlled her anger somehow. Ponky and Daksh looked really torn.

K: tch tch tch...ab kya karoge tum sb...hahahaha...Gandhak mere pass hai, aur useless bhi hai filhaal...mujhe maar tum skte nahi...ab to ek hi rasta hai, khud mr jao (winks)

Karishma tried to invoke her powers and started to attack the Singhanias. They all dodged while she started to shoot blasts from her palm every minute.

Bani: iska kuch to krna padega...sorry mummy ji..

Bani closed her eyes and turned into a very tiny naagin. She slyly crawled towards Karishma as near as she could without getting spotted.

K: hahaha...kahan bhaag rahe ho...kahan chupoge?..yahan ke jungle me bohot nakaratmak skti hai..meri takat bohot hai yahan...hahahaha..

Veer was flying up high and dodging her attacks. Bani crawled near her and wrapped herself on her ankle. She bit her and Karishma fainted. Bani unwrapped herself and turned human.

Ba: ye kya hua? Kahin ye? Bani ye kya kr diya..

B: Daddy ji, she is not dead...maine utna deadly poison nahi diya..she only fainted. Mmummy ji bhi faint ho gayi hongi pr aur koi rasta nahi tha..

V: accha kiya Bani...aur kya krte..pr ab iska kya kre?

B: Vo dekhenge...pehle yahan se chalte hai..

........................

The family returned to the mansion. They had a lot of underground vaults and rooms in the mansion with a private prison. They were the royal family after all. Veeranshu took her to the dungeons. Bani and Meera checked her body for all the weapons. They found a few daggers and some ash and confiscated it. They put metal gloves on her hands and chained it to the wall. Her legs were tied with ropes as well.

Post this, they came to the hall. They were worried about Chandrakala. Veer sent a few patrolling teams to search for his mom. He asked them to specifically look into caves near the area where she had trapped them.

B: Daddyji aap chinta mt kijiye...mummyji mil jayenge aur inhe nahi milli toh hum Gandhak ke shaktishaali hote hi unhe dhoond lenge...

Balwant nodded.

Pa: Sorry bhaisaab..

Ba: Tu kyu maafi maang raha hai...tere saath toh sabse bada dokha hua hai..

Balwant hugged his brother and Pawan nodded sadly.

Pa: Mai kuch time akela baithna chahta hooon..please.

He left to the room.

Daksh had gone with the patrolling team since his nose is the strongest and they found Chandrakala in no time. He bought her home. She looked fainted and pale.

B: Mere zeher ka asar inpr bhi ho gaya...pta nahi kya kala jadoo kiya hai usne inpr..

Ba: pata nahi..pehle isse room me le jata hoon mai...let her rest..hosh me aa jayegi..tb we'll talk...Tum sb bhi jao...it has been a very long night and day for us...rest kro...kl subah baat krte hai...

Everyone stood rooted to their places.

Ba: Mujhe pata hai sbke mn me bohot se sawal hai pr pehle rest kr lo..kl subah hum sbhi sawalo ke jawab dhoondenge....

Everyone nodded and left.

...................

Vani entered their room. Veer took his clothes and went to take bath in the guest room. He came back to see Bani was still sitting on the bed looking lost.

V: Bani tum ready nahi hui...(she gave no response) Bani!!!

B: hun? Kya hua?

V: kahan khoyi ho?...aur abhi tk shaadi ke kapdo me ho..aur ye baal..

Veer gently took each hair pin out of her hair. Bani winced at the pain.

V: I know it must be hurting.

B: Not more than the hurt Ponky and Daksh must be feeling..

V: I know Bani...but what can we do...kash Chachi mari hui hi hoti..I know it sounds bad..

B: But it's true..I know! What will we do with her?

Veer had taken all pins out of her hair and was massaging her scalp. Bani moaned as it felt good against the pain and eased her roots.

V: We will first find out a way to undo whatever she did with maa and then see a fit punishment for her...probably banish her to cheel prison..she herself is a cheel runt Bani..

B: What is that?

V: A runt is a disgrace. A Cheel who cannot phase and turn into cheel..they usually have wings but are too weak to fly..

Veer now started to take off her jewellery. He held her palm and eased out the bangles.

B: She had powers to create blasts ...

V: That is what surprises me, kissi cheel ke pass bhi ye shaktiyan nahi hoti..ho na ho inhone koi ghor tapasya ki hai...kuch pooja ki hai..

B: oh..ab?

V: Ye pooja, mantra sadhna illegal hai cheel realm me..forbidden magic hai ye sb because iske process me bohot balli chadti hai..

Veer continued to removed her necklace and earring. He rubbed her ears and Bani smiled gratefully.

B: Thanks Veer. Mere dimag me itna kuch chal raha tha...

V: I know Bani..You don't need to thank me..tum fresh ho jao please.

Bani freshened up and wore light blue kurti with white loose trousers.

V: Feeling better?

B: Hmm..

It was nine-thirty at night now. She went to the kitchen. Veer went to check on his mother and if Gandhak was restored. Bani saw Meera was coming to the kitchen only.

B: Di, sb bhooke honge na..

M: mai bhi yahi sochkr aayi thi..kl raat faint hue they sb aur aaj shaam ko hosh aya hai..

B: haan...kuch light bana lete hai..

Meera and Bani make soup and sandwiches.

Meera: Mai aur Tapish Pawan chachu ko khilla denge aur phir apna le jayenge...tu Daksh aur Ponky ko khilla de...

B: haan..aur daddyji ka bhi mai aur Veer dekh lenge..

Meera nodded and went away with the food. Bani set up a plate for Veer and Balwant and went to the Balwant and Chandrakala's room. Balwant was holding her hand and Veer and him were talking.

B: Daddy ji, Veer ...dinner..

Ba: mood nahi hai beta..

B: Daddy ji, kl raat se bhooke hai aap..Veer please.

They refused but somehow she convinced them to eat. Then she went to Ponky and Daksh. They were upset and looking out of the window.

B: Dinner?

D: Mood nahi hai bahbhi..

P: Mera bhi..

B: I know tum log aaj bohot hurt hue ho...Pr please khud ko bhuka rakh kr saza mt do..

Bani started to talk to Daksh and Ponky. She forcefully made them eat with her hands. Afterwards, Ponky kept his head on her lap and she patted his head. She looked at Daksh who looked sad too. She made him sit and put his head on her lap as well. Both boys had their head on one of her legs and she ruffled their head and patted it. Tears poured out of their eyes but eventually they slept.

V: Sweetheart? Swee- Tum yahan ho. Mai kbse doodh raha tha.

B: Shh Veeranshu. They just slept.

Veer nodded and helped Bani put both of them on the bed. They returned to their room.

V: Tu baitho, mai aata hoon.

Veer when out and came back with some soup and sandwiches.

V: Sbko khilaya pr tumne khud nahi khaya. Mai sahi keh raha hoon na?

B: (smiles guiltily) Tumhe sb pata rehta hai mere rajkumar.

V: Sb ka toh nahi pata pr tumse related jaane ki poori intention rkhta hoon.

He kissed her nose lightly and fed her the food. After the food, Bani snuggled into his side.

V: Tum thik ho na Gharwali?

B: I am fine physically Veer. Mentally, I just feel exhausted, too much has happened.

V: I know love.

Veer rubbed her shoulders.

B: Unka kya hoga? You told earlier that her powers are a result of illegal practise. Uski punishment kya hai?

V: Sweetheart, It is a death sentence!

B: It will devastate Chachu, Ponky and Daksh.

V: I know that too, It worries me. We'll see it tomorrow though..

Bani nodded and noticed Veer's hands felt rough. She frowned and looked that there was faded burn marks.

B: Veeranshu!! Ye tumhare hath!!!

V: Vo cage ke karan, I was trying to break it. It burned my hands. It was laced with dark powers and that is why I could only heal some part of it.

Tears feel from Bani's eyes seeing Veer in pain.

B: Kahin aur bhi chot lagi tumhe?

V: haan..ouch!! udhr dard bhi bohot hai..

B: Kahan? (Panics)

V: (Points at his heart) Yahan.

Bani still did not understand. She innocently started to undo his buttons.

B: Dikhao mujhe..

V: (laughs a little) You are too cute Gharwali! I don't mind undressing for you (winks). But, I meant ki mere dil me dard ho raha hai, tumhe rota hua dekhr.

B: (hits his chest lightly) tum bhi na bohot filmy ho

She got up.

V: Jo bhi hoon, tumhara hoon pr tum itni se baat pr gussa hokr mt jao..

B: Kahin nahi jaa rahi, tum iss life me hi nahi hr lifetime me mere hi ho..I was only going to get some first aid since these wounds won't heal with our powers.

Bani bought an ointment and put it on his palms. She blew at it softly. Veer smiled seeing her care. She looked at him smile and a yawn escaped her lips.

V: So jao sweetheart, we've had a long day. Kl kafi kuch clear krna hai hume

B: Hmm..

They lie down. Bani carefully arranges two pillows on Veer's sides and keeps his hands on it so that his wounds don't get bothered in sleep.

V: You are treating me like a child Gharwali..

Bani said nothing put pecked his forehead.

B: Good night Veeranshu.

V: Good night Gharwali

..............................

As the Singhanias slept deeply post the storm they faced that day, another storm was ragging outside. It rained heavily and winds blew. People shut their windows and kept out of the storms way. Amidst all this terror and darkness, two people slowly walked towards an ancient temple. It was the prachin nag temple.

J: ah! Masi. It still hurts.

M: Jai beta, you'll be fine in a day or two. You are not weak, just as powerful as a normal snake.

J: I wanted the most her powers, her powers! Not be ordinary again.

M: You'll get habitual. Let me get the herbs and make you the medicine that will ease your pain.

J: Before that I need to try something Masi.

Mandakini understood and helped Jai to reach the trident of Lord Shiv (Shivji's Trishul). Jai touched it with shivering hands and lifted it.

J: I can still handle it. Iska mtlb jaanti hai na app? Abhi bhi kuch Adi nag ki shaktiyan baaki hai mujhme, Bani aur Veer ka milan nahi hua hai. Meri kuch shakityan kamzor hui hai, poori tarah nahi gayi hai..

M: Pr hume kuch jaldi hi sochna hoga..

J: Haan...jld se jld upay krna hoga...isse pehle unka milan ho jaye aur mai is trishul ka haqdaar na rahu..mujhe ek khaas hathiyaar tayar krna hoga..ab wahi ek upay hai..

M: I'll help you

Together they stormed inside the temple and used Mandakini's access to its vaults to find all that they will need to trap the mighty adi naagin.

......................

Hey Everyone!!!

Are the chapters getting too confusing? I thought I should tone down the revenge and supernatural element if it was getting more complicated or too much.

Also, going by all your feedbacks on the last chapter, I have tried to make this chapter a longer one to make up for the cliff hanger last time and added a few Vani moments. You'll get to see more romance in upcoming chapters and Jai's plot to suck out her powers.

Until then, take care
xoxo