The air was thick with anticipation. The house was abuzz with preparation for the small, intimate celebration of Nandini and Dhruv’s six-month wedding anniversary. After all the heartache and trials they had endured, this gathering was a chance to breathe again—to pretend, even if only for a night, that they could live a normal life. But lurking in the shadows, Tarini had other plans. Her obsession with Dhruv’s destruction was far from over.

At Kapoor mansion, Karan paced back and forth in his room. Sneha’s condition had slightly improved; she had been moved out of the ICU, but she still hadn’t fully regained consciousness. Despite the minor progress, Karan’s instincts screamed that something was wrong. His every thought circled back to Tarini. He had been watching for her, waiting for any sign she might make her move again. And tonight felt like it—like the calm before the storm.

Downstairs, Nandini and Dhruv were laughing together, the joy in their voices filling the space. Nandini’s smile had returned over the past few months, though her heart remained cautious, still wary of Tarini’s shadow. She was determined to live in the moment tonight, to celebrate her love with Dhruv despite everything they had been through.

Dhruv, however, was not at peace. His memory had returned in fragmented pieces, but the image of his attacker remained elusive. He knew it had to be Tarini, yet there were flashes of doubt—those brief moments where he wasn’t sure if it was Nandini’s face or Tarini’s he saw behind the gun. Tonight, he pushed those thoughts aside, choosing to live in the bliss of the present with his wife.

As the evening wore on, the guests began to settle into casual conversation, soft music playing in the background. Karan joined the group downstairs, his eyes scanning the room as though expecting Tarini to emerge at any second. But there was nothing—no sign of her.

Until the lights suddenly flickered, plunging the room into momentary darkness.

A hush fell over the guests as the power briefly cut out, and in the split second of blackness, Karan ’s pulse quickened. He moved instinctively, pulling out his phone to use the light. When the power flickered back on, his eyes widened—there, across the room, was a figure cloaked in black, her face masked in shadow.

Tarini.

She had finally come.

"Dhruv!" Karan shouted, rushing across the room, but it was too late. Tarini moved swiftly, pulling out a gun from beneath her jacket, her hands steady as she aimed straight at Dhruv.

The room erupted into chaos, screams piercing the air as guests scrambled for cover. Dhruv stood frozen, his body locked in shock as the muzzle of the gun stared him down. But Nandini, without thinking, threw herself in front of Dhruv, her arms outstretched, shielding him with her body.

"Tarini, stop!" Nandini cried out, her voice filled with desperation.

Tarini’s eyes flashed with madness. "You took everything from me, Nandini! You took Dhruv, our parents’ love—everything! This ends tonight."

"Tarini, don’t!" Dhruv shouted, his voice trembling. "This isn’t you."

"This is who I’ve always been!" Tarini snarled, her hands shaking now as she aimed the gun. "You were supposed to be mine, Dhruv! But you chose her. And for that, you’ll both pay!"

Just as she was about to pull the trigger, Karan  lunged at her, knocking her off balance. The gun went off, the deafening sound of the shot ricocheting through the room, and in the chaos, Nandini collapsed to the ground, clutching her side.

"Nandini!" Dhruv screamed, dropping to his knees beside her, panic and terror flooding his veins.

Karan wrestled with Tarini, trying to get the gun away from her, but she fought back with feral intensity. For a moment, it looked like she would overpower him, but then Sneha’s voice rang out weakly from the doorway.

"Karan…"

The sound of her voice stunned everyone into silence. Sneha, still pale and weak, had managed to drag herself out of bed, using the wall to support herself. Her eyes, filled with pain, locked onto Tarini.

"Please, don’t… no more pain…"

Tarini’s grip on the gun faltered, her eyes wide with shock as she looked at Sneha. For a brief moment, something human flickered behind the madness.

But it was too late.

Karan took his chance, knocking the gun out of her hand, sending it skidding across the floor. Police sirens could be heard outside as officers rushed into the mansion, finally arriving after Karan’s earlier suspicions had led him to alert them. Tarini, disarmed and outnumbered, was swiftly subdued, her face a mask of rage and defeat as they handcuffed her.

"You’ll regret this!" she screamed as they dragged her away. "You’ll all regret this!"

The room fell into stunned silence, the weight of everything that had just transpired settling like a heavy blanket over them. Dhruv cradled Nandini in his arms, his heart pounding with fear.

"Nandini, stay with me. Please…" His voice cracked as tears welled in his eyes.

"I’m… okay," Nandini whispered, her face pale but her voice steady. "I’ll be okay."

Karan rushed to Sneha’s side, wrapping his arms around her, supporting her frail body. "You shouldn’t be out of bed," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

"I couldn’t… stay away," Sneha replied weakly, leaning into him for strength. "I had to be here."

As the police escorted Tarini away, her screams faded into the distance, but her presence lingered—like a dark cloud over the lives she had nearly destroyed.

Dhruv looked at Nandini, his heart swelling with love and relief. She had saved his life, once again putting herself in harm’s way to protect him. And as he held her, he knew one thing for sure: they had survived the storm together.

But as the dust settled and the night grew quiet, Dhruv couldn’t help but wonder—what would come next?

Would they ever truly be free of the shadows that Tarini had cast over their lives?

Or would her darkness follow them forever?

Only time would tell.