The first rays of sunlight seeped into the room. Veer opened his eyes, blinking against the brightness. Instinctively, his gaze landed on Bani, who was still asleep beside him. She lay on her side, her features soft, her hair messy yet oddly perfect.

He leaned back against the headboard, his lips quirking into a faint smile. She’s fierce when awake, but like this... she’s just Bani,his sweetheart.

Unable to resist, he brushed a stray strand of hair off her face. She stirred, her brows furrowing slightly, before her blue eyes fluttered open.

“Good morning, Mrs. Singhania,” Veer said, his voice playful but low, his eyes warm with adoration.

Bani blinked, trying to make sense of her surroundings before realization dawned. “Stop staring at me,” she muttered, shifting to sit up and tugging the blanket with her.

Veer smirked. “How can I not? Tumhare saath subah aur bhi khoobsurat lagti hai, sweetheart.”

Bani shot him a sharp look, trying to hide her embarrassment. “Veer, stop with your nonsense.”

“Nonsense?” Veer grinned, getting off the bed in one fluid motion. “If it’s about you, it’s never nonsense. Waise, don’t you think you should treat your partner a little better?”

“Partner or not, don’t push your luck.” She got up, brushing past him, but her heart stuttered at his intense gaze following her every move.

As she reached the washroom door, he called out, “Bani, you’re forgetting something.”

She paused, turning her head slightly. “What now?”

“You didn’t wish me a good morning, sweetheart.” he said, his tone teasing.

“Hmm,” she replied curtly, walking in and shutting the door.

Inside, she leaned against the door, a small, involuntary smile tugging at her lips. He’s impossible. But... maybe that’s what makes him Veeranshu.

*******

Veeranshu was sitting in the Singhania mansion’s dining room, sipping his coffee, when Bani entered, fresh from her morning routine. Her expression was guarded, but he couldn’t help but notice the faint glow on her face.

“You’re late,” Veeranshu said, leaning back in his chair with a lazy smirk. “Maine socha tumhe breakfast bed par le aata.”

Ignoring him, Bani sat across the table. “We have more important things to discuss, Veer. About those cheels and that naagin from last night.”

Veer’s grin faded as seriousness replaced his usual lightheartedness. “Woh cheels mere clan ke nahi the, Bani. I know every single one of them, and I’ve never seen those faces before.”

Bani nodded, her brows furrowed in thought. “Aur woh naagin bhi meri clan ki nahi thi. I could sense it. Unka aura alag tha... unnatural, even.”

Veer set his cup down, his jaw tightening. “Then the question is—where did they come from? Aur ek hi jagah dimaag mein aa rahi hai—Kaal Lok.”

“Kaal Lok?” Bani’s voice held a tinge of disbelief.

“Haan,” Veer replied, his eyes darkening. “It’s the place where creatures like cheels aur naags mil kar exist karte hain. But they’re not like us—they’re corrupted. Twisted. If they’ve entered our world...” He trailed off, the unspoken danger lingering in the air.

Bani clenched her fists. “We need to find out why they’re here and who sent them.”

**********

In a dark  room, Mayuri paced back and forth, her heels clicking against the floor. “We can’t delay anymore, Jai. Veer ko pehle hatana hoga. Agar woh zyada der tak Bani ke saath raha, toh humare plans khatre mein pad jayenge.”

Jai leaned against the wall, his expression cold. “I know. Veer is stronger than most, but he’s reckless. He underestimates us.”

“And Bani?” Mayuri asked, her voice dripping with malice. “She’s powerful, but her attachment to him weakens her judgment. That’s what we’ll exploit.”

Jai smirked. “Pehle Veer ko alag karte hain. Without him, Bani will be vulnerable. Aur phir...” His eyes gleamed with dark intent. “We finish her, once and for all.”

Mayuri’s lips curled into a wicked smile. “Perfect. Let’s start by luring Veer out. Uska ego humein kaam aayega.”

*******

Later that evening, Veeranshu and Bani returned to the Singhania mansion after a day of searching for clues and getting just one . Veeranshu threw his jacket onto the couch and stretched.

“I’ll admit,” Veeranshu said, smirking as he looked at Bani. “Tumhare saath time spend karna even in these situations... kaafi enjoyable hai.”

Bani raised an eyebrow, her arms crossed. “We were investigating, Veeranshu. Not hanging out.”

“Same thing,” he quipped. “Tumhare saath rehne ka ek aur bahana mil gaya.”

Bani sighed, shaking her head. “You’re impossible.”

As she began to walk away, Veer caught her wrist gently, stopping her in her tracks. “Bani,” he said, his tone suddenly soft.

She turned to face him, startled by the sincerity in his eyes. “Kya hai, Veer?”

He hesitated for a moment before saying, “Be careful. Whatever’s coming... it’s dangerous. Aur main tumhe khone ka risk nahi le sakta.”

For a fleeting moment, her guarded expression faltered, but she quickly masked it again. “I can take care of myself, Veer.”

“I know,” he replied, letting her go. “But that doesn’t mean I won’t protect you.”

As she walked upstairs, her heart felt heavier yet strangely lighter at the same time.

*******

The ancient book given by saint of naaglok to Bani lay open between them, its pages crackling under the weight of time. Bani’s fingers trembled as she turned to the next chapter, her voice low but steady.

“Kaal Lok… a realm of shadows created to imprison those who defied the natural order. It is home to creatures who pledged their loyalty to Maarkat, a demi-god stripped of his divinity for his cruelty.”

Veer leaned forward, his gray eyes darkening. “Maarkat. The god of cheels.”

Bani glanced at him, startled. “You know him?”

Veer nodded, his jaw tightening. “Every cheel knows him. He’s the one who blessed our clan with the power to shape-shift. But he wasn’t always… evil. He was worshipped by cheels as a protector. What changed?”

Bani scanned the next lines, her voice breaking slightly. “It says Maarkat became obsessed with power. He began punishing humans and exploiting the naags, claiming their venom could amplify his strength. When the devas tried to stop him, he turned on them too. As punishment, they banished him to Kaal Lok.”

Veer frowned, his expression grim. “But why are cheels and naags working together now? Maarkat would never have allowed it.”

“That’s what worries me,” Bani admitted, her blue eyes flickering with fear. “This isn’t natural. Kaal Lok is a prison. How did his army escape? And why are they after us?”

Veer stared at her, the realization hitting him like a storm. “Maarkat always believed in merging powers. If he’s escaped, he’ll want to use us—the Aadi Naagin and the Cheel Prince—to regain his immortality.”

Bani’s breath hitched, her composure cracking. “Veer, this is too much. Kaal Lok, Maarkat, an unrecognizable army—it’s not just about us anymore. What if we’re not strong enough?”

Veer reached out, gently placing his hand over hers. “Tum darr rahi ho?” he asked, his voice steady but firm.

Her lips parted in protest, but she couldn’t deny the truth.

“Bani,” he said, leaning closer, “tum Aadi Naagin ho, aur main cheelon ka rajkumar.Power se badkar bhi zid hoti hai aur hum usse hara denge Bani .Agar Maarkat sochta hai ki woh humse aasani se  jeet jayega, toh yeh uski galti hai. Tum yeh dar apne upar kabhi mat aane dena, sweetheart”

Her eyes shimmered with doubt, but his unwavering gaze held her steady.

Veeranshu tilted his head, his voice softening. “Agar tumhaare dimaag mein itna stress chalega, toh tum khud se haar jaogi. Tumhe shanti se sochna hoga, bina panic kiye.”

She blinked, her breathing slowing as his words registered. For a fleeting moment, his confidence felt like an anchor she desperately needed.

“Tumhe mujh par bharosa hai?” Veer asked, his voice a whisper now.

She hesitated before nodding, the faintest of smiles tugging at her lips. “Haan, Veeranshu.”

His expression softened further. “Bas. Toh tension chhodo. Hum dono milke sab samajh lenge.”

As the tension eased, their eyes met again, a silent exchange of trust and something deeper. Veeranshu leaned back, watching her closely as she turned her attention to the book again.

But this time, Bani’s fear didn’t feel so overwhelming.