Krishna's heart pounded in his chest as he held Devashree's convulsing form. Her body was cold and clammy, her face ashen and her eyes glazed with pain.

He knew he had to act fast.

"Bring forth a vaidya!" Krishna shouted urgently, his voice commanding and filled with desperation. "Now! We need help immediately!"

Revati stayed by Devashree's side, whispering soothing words to her as she convulsed. Mata Rohini was still frozen in shock for a moment before snapping into action, helping to comfort Devashree and keep her steady.

Without waiting for a response, Krishna gently laid Devashree on the floor and then sprinted towards a nearby cabinet where he knew the emergency herbs were kept.

His hands moved with frantic speed as he grabbed a handful of bloodroot herb and mustard seeds. Crushing them together in a bowl, he made a mixture that filled the air with its sharp pungent scent.

"Bhabhi, hold her steady!" he called out, his voice strained with worry. Revati gently held Devashree's shoulders to keep her from thrashing.

Krishna's hands trembled as he mixed the herbs, turning them into a rough paste. "Hold on, Shree," he murmured, his voice breaking with emotion. "Stay with me."

Krishna lifted her head slightly, bringing the bowl to her lips. "You need to swallow this, Shree," he urged, his voice soothing yet firm.

"Hold her steady," Krishna instructed, his voice steady and commanding. "This will help."

With careful hands, he fed the mixture to Devashree, gently prying her mouth open and ensuring she swallowed the potent remedy. Her body convulsed again, but Krishna's hands remained firm, supporting her head.

"It's alright, Shree. Stay with me," Krishna whispered, his voice breaking with emotion. "This will help. Please, stay with me."

After administering the mixture, Krishna pressed deeply into Devashree's throat, triggering her gag reflex.

Her body heaved, and she began to vomit, expelling the contents of her stomach along with the poison.

Krishna held her firmly, his hands gentle yet strong. "That's it, Priye. Get it all out," he murmured, his voice soothing. "You're going to be alright."

When Devashree finished vomiting, Krishna quickly cleaned her with his angvastra, wiping away the froth and bile.

He scooped her up gently, carrying her to the bed with the utmost care. Her body was limp, her breathing was shallow and labored.

Krishna sat beside her, holding her hand tightly, his eyes never leaving her pale face.

Minutes felt like hours as they waited, the tension in the room palpable. Finally, the door burst open, and a servant hurried in, leading the vaidya, an elderly man with a calm demeanor and a steady hand.

"Over here," Krishna called out, his voice filled with a mixture of hope and desperation.

Krishna reluctantly moved aside to let him examine Devashree, his heart pounding in his chest.

As the vaidya worked, drawing a curtain around the bed for privacy, Krishna began pacing back and forth. Balram stood beside him, his fists clenched in quiet rage, his eyes dark with concern.

The vaidya emerged from behind the curtain after some time, his expression serious. "She was given a plant poison," he stated, his voice steady and authoritative. "It was meant to be lethal, but due to your quick thinking, most of the poison was expelled before it could do much harm."

"Will she recover?" Krishna asked, his voice a mix of hope and fear.

"Yes," the vaidya replied, nodding reassuringly. "I've given her some medicines to counteract the remaining poison and support her recovery. She needs rest and close monitoring, but she should recover fully."

"What about the baby? Will the poison affect our child?" Krishna's voice trembled with concern.

The vaidya paused, his expression thoughtful yet reassuring. "Given the prompt action and the amount of poison expelled, there should be no lasting harm to the child. However, I will prescribe additional medicines to ensure both mother and child remain safe. She must be closely monitored for the next few days."

Relief washed over Krishna, but the tension in the room remained thick.

"Which poison was it? We need to know what was used to find out who did this." Balram asked as he stepped forward, his voice low and filled with intensity.

"It was a cardio and neuro-toxin compound found in the Madar plant."

Krishna's eyes narrowed as he processed this information. "Madar... Calotropis," he repeated, his voice tinged with anger. "It's too common. It won't be easy to trace the source."

Balram clenched his fists tighter, his knuckles turning white. "But it's a start. We have to find out who had access to this poison and who would want to harm Devashree."

Mata Rohini burst into tears, her voice trembling. "How can this be possible? I myself prepared the sweets. How could anyone have tampered with them?"

Krishna moved to her side, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Mata, we will find out who did this. No stone will be left unturned. Devashree will recover, and we will get to the bottom of this treachery."

"Mata, think properly. Someone must have definitely touched the bowl. Try to recall the events that happened from the moment you prepared the sweets to the time you brought them here." Balram urged.

Mata Rohini wiped her tears and took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. "I prepared the sweets early in the morning. No one else was in the kitchen with me," she began, her voice shaky but determined. "After preparing them, I placed them in a covered bowl and left them on the kitchen counter under the watch of Kamala. I went to the temple for a short while to offer my prayers."

Balram's eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Kamala? Are you sure no one else had access to the kitchen?"

Mata Rohini nodded. "Kamala has been with us for years. She is loyal and trustworthy. She couldn't have betrayed us."

Krishna exchanged a glance with Balram, who looked equally unconvinced. "We should question Kamala anyway," Krishna said, his voice firm. "We need to be thorough."

Just then, a guard arrived with Kamala, who looked confused and slightly apprehensive. She bowed respectfully. "You called for me, my lords?"

"Kamala," Krishna began, his tone gentle but probing, "Maharani Rohini left the sweets under your watch. Did you notice anything unusual? Did anyone else come near the bowl?"

Kamala shook her head, her brow furrowed in thought. "No, my lord. I stayed near the kitchen the entire time. No one else came close to the sweets."

Balram's eyes remained fixed on her. "Are you certain, Kamala? This is a matter of grave importance."

Kamala nodded emphatically. "I swear, my lord. I would never let anything happen to the food prepared by Maharani."

Krishna sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Then how could the poison have been added?" he muttered to himself.

Suddenly, a realization dawned on him. "Mata Rohini," he said, turning to her, "did anyone else handle the sweets or the bowl on your way here?"

Mata Rohini's eyes widened as she considered the question. "Yes," she replied slowly. "There was a servant who helped carry the sweets. She took the bowl from me and carried till we reached the hallway outside this chamber."

Krishna's expression hardened as he pieced together the puzzle. "That's it," he said, his voice filled with determination. "The poison must have been added on the way to the chamber."

Balram's eyes narrowed in agreement, a fierce determination settling over his features. He turned to Krishna, his voice low but resolute. "I will find that servant and get to the bottom of this."

Placing a reassuring hand on Krishna's shoulder, he set off with purposeful strides.

He made his way to the servant quarters, his mind racing with possibilities. Who could have orchestrated such a vile act, and why?

"I need to speak with the servant who assisted Maharani Rohini with the sweets earlier today." Reaching the quarters, he called out to the head servant, his voice commanding.

The head servant nodded quickly "Of course. That would be Madhavi. I'll fetch her immediately."

As the head servant hurried off, Balram's mind continued to churn. He couldn't afford to let any detail slip through the cracks.

Moments later, the head servant returned, her face pale with anxiety. "Madhavi is nowhere to be found. She is not in her quarters, and no one has seen her since she left with the sweets."

"She must be hiding. Spread out and search the entire palace. Find her, now." Balram's eyes darkened, his suspicion confirmed.

The guards sprang into action, fanning out through the corridors and rooms.

Balram himself joined the search, his determination unyielding. He moved swiftly, his senses heightened, ready to confront the traitor.

After several minutes of tense searching, a shout echoed from a distant hallway. "She's here! We've found her!"

Balram rushed toward the sound, arriving just as a group of guards cornered Madhavi in a narrow corridor. Her eyes were wide with fear, her body trembling as she realized she had nowhere to run.

"You're not going anywhere," Balram said, his voice a dangerous growl. "You will answer for what you've done."

Desperation flickered in Madhavi's eyes. With a sudden, frantic movement, she reached into her garments and pulled out a small vial. Before anyone could stop her, she swallowed the contents.

"No!" Balram shouted, lunging forward, but it was too late.

But it was too late. The poison had already been consumed, sealing her fate.

The girl stumbled, her movements growing sluggish as the toxic substance took hold. Guards surrounded her, their expressions a mix of shock and urgency.

"What have you done?" Balram demanded, his voice laced with disbelief and anger.

Her eyes locked onto Balram's, a twisted smile forming on her lips. "You will... never... know," she gasped out. "Devashree... will die... for sure..."

With that, her body went still.

Balram knelt beside her, fury and frustration boiling within him. "Damn it," he muttered, his fists clenched. "She was our only lead."

He stood, taking a deep breath to steady himself. He turned to the guards, his voice firm. "Inform Dwarkadhish. We need to secure the palace even tighter. No one gets in or out without clearance."

*****

Krishna's eyes blazed with fury unlike any seen before, his entire being consumed with rage.

"How could this happen?" Krishna's voice was low and dangerous, filled with a barely restrained fury.

He turned to the guards, his piercing gaze demanding answers. "How did she get past you? How did this happen under our watch?"

His hands clenched into tight fists, his knuckles turning white as he struggled to contain the storm of emotions raging within him. The image of Devashree convulsing on the ground, froth at her lips, played over and over in his mind, each replay stoking the fire of his fury.

His jaw tightened, and his breath came in short, sharp bursts as he grappled with the reality of how close he had come to losing her.

If the poison had been more potent, or if he had not been there to act quickly, Devashree could have been taken from him forever, it gnawed at his soul.

"We will find who did this, Kanha. I promise you," Balram said, keeping his hand on his shoulder.

Krishna turned back to the guards "Double the guards at all entry points. No one is to enter the inner chambers without being thoroughly searched. Increase patrols around the palace and ensure that every servant is vetted. I want all food and drink to be tested before it reaches any member of the household."

"Yes, my lord," they replied in unison, hurrying to implement the new security measures.

Mata Rohini and Mata Devaki watched Krishna with a mixture of fear and sorrow. They had never seen him so enraged "Krishna, we will find the truth,"Devaki said softly, trying to offer some comfort.

"I know, Mata," he replied, his voice cracking with emotion. "But until we do, I cannot rest. I cannot let this go unanswered."

With a final glance at the lifeless body of the servant girl, Krishna turned and walked back towards Devashree's chamber, his resolve stronger than ever.

Returning back to her side, Krishna gently held her hand, his thumb tracing small, soothing circles over her cool skin.

Her face remained pale, her breathing steady but shallow.

Hours had passed since the vaidya administered the medicine, and yet Devashree remained unconscious. His anxiety grew with each passing moment. She should have woken up by now. Why hadn't she?

Krishna began pacing back and forth, his mind racing with fear and frustration. The room felt stifling, the silence oppressive. He could not bear the thought of losing her, not after everything they had been through.

"Shree," Krishna whispered, his voice raw with emotion. "Please, open your eyes. I need you here with me. Don't you remember our plans, Shree?" he murmured, his voice cracking. "The garden you wanted to plant, the stories you promised to tell our children... We have so much left to do. You can't leave me now."

The day passed in a blur, the light outside shifting from morning to afternoon, then to the golden hues of evening.

Servants brought food and water, but Krishna barely touched them, his focus entirely on Devashree.

As the sun began to set Krishna felt a wave of despair. He pressed Devashree's hand to his lips, closing his eyes as tears slipped down his cheeks. "Please, Shree," he begged softly. "Please wake up. I love you so much."

Balram entered the room quietly, his face drawn with concern. He approached Krishna, placing a reassuring hand on his brother's shoulder. "Kanha, you need to rest," he said softly, his voice tinged with worry.

"I can't, Dau. I need to be here when she wakes up. What if she needs me and I'm not here?"

Balram sighed, understanding his brother's anguish. "She will wake up, Kanha. The vaidya said she would recover. But you need to take care of yourself too. She will need you to be strong for her."

Revati brought in a tray of food, urging Krishna to eat something, but he could barely manage a few bites.

"She should have woken up by now," Krishna muttered, his voice filled with desperation. "Why hasn't she woken up?"

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Krishna called for the vaidya once again.

The elderly healer entered the chamber, his expression calm but concerned. "What is it, Dwarikadhish?" he asked gently.

"She still hasn't woken up," Krishna said, his voice breaking with worry. "You said she would recover, but she hasn't regained consciousness. Please, do something."

The vaidya nodded, his eyes filled with understanding. He approached Devashree and carefully examined her, his hands gentle and precise. "She is still under the influence of the poison," he said thoughtfully. "I'll give her a stronger medicine to bring her to consciousness."

He prepared a concoction of potent herbs and administered it to Devashree.

Minutes ticked by, but she remained unresponsive. The vaidya frowned, his concern deepening. "This should have worked," he murmured. "There must be something we're missing."

Krishna's heart sank. "What do you mean, Vaidyaji?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly.

The vaidya's brows furrowed deeper as he scrutinized Devashree's unresponsive form. His fingers pressed lightly against her wrist, feeling the faint pulse that indicated she was still fighting the poison's effects.

"Dwarikadhish," he said softly, turning to Krishna, "there's something you must understand. As the poison recedes from her body, it is likely she will experience its final effects. These could include hallucinations, convulsions or other adverse effects."

Krishna's heart clenched at the vaidya's words. "Hallucinations?" he echoed, his voice filled with a mixture of dread and confusion. "What kind of hallucinations?"

The vaidya sighed, his expression grave. "We cannot predict exactly what she will see or feel. The mind can conjure up memories, fears, or entirely fantastical visions under the influence of such a toxin. It is imperative that we remain vigilant and prepared to comfort her through these episodes."

"What should we do?" Balram asked. "How can we help her through this?"

"You must keep a close watch on her," the vaidya advised, his tone authoritative yet kind. "Ensure she is safe and does not harm herself during convulsions. Speak to her soothingly if she becomes distressed, and be prepared to restrain her gently if the convulsions become too violent."

Krishna nodded, absorbing every word. His mind raced with a thousand scenarios, each more terrifying than the last. He knelt beside beside Devashree, taking her hand in his once more, his grip firm yet tender.

"We'll do whatever it takes," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "We won't leave her side."

"Good," the vaidya replied, his tone reassuring. "I've given her the medicine to bring her to consciousness, but it may take time. When she wakes, she may be disoriented and frightened. Speak to her with familiar voices and offer comfort. This will help ground her in reality."

Minutes stretched into agonizing hours as they watched over her. The room was heavy with anticipation and fear.

Krishna's eyes never left Devashree's face, his heart aching with each moment she remained unresponsive. He whispered soft reassurances, his voice filled with love and determination.

Suddenly, Devashree's body jerked, a small, involuntary spasm rippling through her frame. Krishna's grip tightened, his eyes widening in alarm.

"It's starting," he whispered, more to himself than to anyone else.

*********

A/N

Did you read this, Ekta Kapoor.....? 👀

Look at my script above, you should quickly hire me as a script writer for your serials and Dramas! 🤣🤣🤣

This chapter totally reminded me of our typical Indian serials while writing ~

But anyway...it was necessary for the next chapter...✨❤️

Vote if you have enjoyed it as it helps reach new readers just like you ❤️❤️