Vani FF// The Phoenix (Thread 2 Link in Pg 1) - Page 2

Join Naagin5 Writing team already..pls send a mail to mukta. We all want to see such amazing scenes in the show as well.

Such genuine writing!!!!!❤️❤️❤️🤗 Am loving the equation you are creating here, between VaNi! First they are dwelling into friendship here! That dance sequence was so cute!!! You described it so beautifully! Literally it seemed like, these are the missing scenes and emotions from whole of N5 till now! Pls continue!!! It just feels so real!

Chapter 4: Carmine Masquerade

Bani and Veer returned to the Cheel Mansion when the storm had passed.

“Bani…” Meera was first to meet her. “Tu theek haina?”

“Of course, Meera di. I’m completely fine.” Bani assured her sister.

“Acha hai ki zinda wapas aa gaye.” Daksh commented.“Doubt ho raha tha ki kahin Naagin aapko bhi dhoke se maar na de.”

“Daksh…” Veer warned him.

“Anyway. I have good news.” Daksh told him with a smile.

“I can tell by your expression that it is something great.” Veer answered.

“Samrat is returning home.” Daksh said. That news almost lit up Veer’s face.

“Samrat? Sach mein?” Veer asked.

“Such an idiot. He couldn’t tell us earlier?” Veer was happy. Bani wondered what had made him so happy.

“Such an idiot. He couldn’t tell us earlier?” Veer washappy. Bani wondered what had made him so happy.

“Surprises are not meant to be revealed earlier, Veer bhai.” Veer and Bani turned around to see a man standing. He was as tall as Veer and had a wide grin on his face.

“Samrat bhai!!” Ponky exclaimed from the top of thestairs. Behind him, Tapish, Balwant and Pawan came.

“Finally, sir ko time mila ghar aane ka.” Balwan a custom to touch your bhabhi’s feet, right?” Samrat asked.amrat the most. His early years, he had lived with his mother and after her he had lived with them.

“Bhabhi, right?” Samrat walked up to Bani. Veernodded. Something no one had expected happened. He touched her feet.

“What are you doing?” Bani asked surprised.

“Well, I’m too sure but as such it is a custom to touch your bhabhi’s feet, right?” Samrat asked.

“Tu kabse sanskari ho gaya be?” Veer asked raising an eyebrow. Samrat laughed.

“Veer bhai, impression kharab mat karo.” Samratcommented.

“Zaroorat nahi hai itne respect ki. Ek Naagin ke pair choone ki zaroorat nahi hai. Woh dushman hai humari.” Pawan commented bitterly.

“Dad, you see her as a Naagin 24*7. At this moment,I’m just seeing her as my Bhabhi. Her being Naagin or Nevla, we can decide later. Naagin ke saamne nahi jhuk raha, bas apni Bhabhi ko respect de raha hu.” Hesaid and hugged his father.

“Kabhi baap ke pair toh nahi chue.” Pawan commented.

“Ab hum konse customs follow karte hai? Woh Bhabhi ke ghar pe hote honge tabhi thodi se unko ghar wali feeling dene ki koshish...”Samrat commented. “Waise, Bhabhi, it is a one time thing. Aadat mat daal lena.”

Veer laughed.

“Woh sabh chod. Tu bata. How is everything?” Balwant asked.

“Ponky, jaa bag utha.” He pushed Ponky and hugged Balwant. “As always. Singhanias live grand everywhere.”

“Samrat is Pawan chachu’s second son. Let’s say that out of all my brothers, I’m closest to Samrat.” Veer told Bani.

“You’ve just arrived and you’re already throwing orders to me.” Ponky complained while picking up his bags.

“Chal acche time pe wapas aaya hai.” Balwant patted his back.

Bani had no idea about this new member of Singhania family. Was he rather like his brothers or would he be atleast half way like Veer? Bani had no time to wonder about that with so much trouble in the house.

“What is even happening, bade papa? Daksh told me that we’re actually living with a Naag. Since when did we start inducting naags in our family? Uska kiske saath chakkar chal raha hai? Ponky?” Samrat asked. Ponky gave him a look.

“I’m hundred percent straight. He’s nothing to me. He’s here with that Naagin.” Ponky answered. A moment later Jay showed up. “He is the Naag.”

Samrat started laughing like he had heart the funniest joke.

“Meet Jay Mathur. Adi-Naag. Aur bin bulaya baarati.” Veer introduced. Samrat laughed.

“Meet Jay Mathur. Adi-Naag. Aur bin bulaya baarati.”Veer introduced. Samrat laughed.

“Acche din aane wale hai ka kya hua, Veer bhai? Mathur is going to compete with you?” Samrat commented.

“Well, actually he’s staying here for her. Adi-Naagin and Adi-Naag.” Ponky whispered to Samrat. Samrat grabbed the back of his head.

“You’re an idiot and you’ll always be an idiot. Zaraaankhe khol aur dekh. Veer bhai aur uska koi comparison hi nahi hai. Regardless, I suggest you rather shut up trying to comment about Bhabhi before Veer bhai buries you as well.” Samrat told him. “Tu bag utha aur mere room mein rakh.”

Bani was working for lunch when she saw Samrat enter the kitchen.e wanted to place this Samrat. He wasn’t like his brothers. Dakshand Ponky both have some amount of fear but Samrat was much up rather like Veer. Not quite scared of her. He didn’t look exactly relaxed like Veer but he wasn’t scared like the rest either. He gave off a dangerous aura. He was really close to Veer. Bani didn’t know what to make of that. It wasn’t enough information. She knew nothing about him.

Bani was working for lunch when she saw Samrat enterthe kitchen.

“Need help?” Samrat asked her.

“I wouldn’t expect any cheel to be of help.” Bani commented. He chuckled.

“Typical Naagin, isn’t it? Anyway, I don’t care for your prejudice. I guess you must have formed an image of my family already. I have nothing personal against you. As long as you’re not going to kill my brothers, I’m no trouble in your way. I know Veer bhai loves you. It is out there in his actions and eyes. I don’t know about you but I’m going to respect that. I respect you as a woman. More so because you’re not trying to be a lamb and all.It takes courage to live among enemies out as what you really are. I respect that but respect doesn’t mean that I’m going to let you kill my brothers.” He told her. He took the vegetables and chopped them. He chopped much like a butcher cutting meat. Bani could have almost sworn he was making a rather threatening gesture.

“Is that meant to be a threat?” She asked. She looked at him with her Naagin eyes. He looked back into her eyes with a courage that could only a true cheel can master.

“Well, it is a threat if you see it as a threat. It is just making myself clear to you if you see it that way. I am going to stand with my brothers and protect them against anything that can harm them.” He commented. Bani then noted that he had a tattoo of a chakra on the back of his neck. It was small, almost could go unnoticed with the soft colour of it. His wrist had a tattoo of an eagle. He wore a gold locket. White buttoned up shirt with black jeans. He earlier wore a denim black jacket with it. Like Veer, he wore rings. Bani was good at judging someone’s aura. While Veer’s aura was that of chaos, Samrat gave that neutral aura.

His words seemed like he wasn’t exactly like his family but wasn’t exactly innocent kind either.

“Sam, you working in the kitchen?” Veer asked surprised.

“Nothing, Veer bhai. I came here to get some water. I saw Bhabhi and asked her if she needed help.” He replied to Veer.

“Kya jaadu kar diya hai mere bhai par, gharwali. He is seeming a little too sanskari. The brother I remember was the laziest monkey in the town. He wouldn’t get up to even get himself a spoon for food and would get Ponky or Monil get him the spoon. Now he’s here working in the kitchen helping you.” Veer commented with a grin.

“I didn’t kill Monil.” Bani told Samrat. She hwho actually why she was explaining that to Samrat.

“Bhabhi, don’t worry. I’m here. I’ll find out who killed Teer bhai and Monil. Rest assured; I’ll show them what hell looks like. If it is actually not you then chill, I’m not against you.” Samrat commented.

“She didn’t kill them. Bani doesn’t lie, Sam.”Veer defended her.

“Veer bhai, you know this about me. As long as I don’t make a decision for myself, I keep my doubts up but I am going to respect that she’s my Bhabhi. I’m not going to against her until I have my proofs.” Samrat assured Veer. Veer smiled at his brother. After Samrat was done chopping the vegetables, he left.

Bani couldn’t stop thinking about what to do further. She had reached such a dead end that it almost made her feel disturbed. She was lost in her thoughts when Jay entered the kitchen.

"Where the hell were you? Itni der tak Veer ke saath kyu thi?" Jay asked her.

"Jay, what is wrong with you? I was doing what was needed. I don't need to ask your permission to go anywhere with anyone. Calm down. Bekaar mein aise sawaal mat karo. Mujhe kisi tamsic shakti ki feel aayi thi toh out of control ho gayi tha. Isiliye Veer mujhe kuch time ke liye bahar lekegaya. Uske baad woh storm warning aayi and dono phas gaye." Bani answered. She didn't know why she didn't tell Jay about the creature and her meeting with the aghori. Halfway, she knew that Jay would taunt her for acting like a cheel and entering shamshaan with a cheel. She didn't want to face that yet. Then the warning that she was getting. Bani wasn't sure why all this was happening.

"Bani, tum badal gayi ho. Kya ho gaya hai tumhe. Apna badla bhul chuki ho. You're Adi-Naagin. Have you forgotten that? What is to be said if Adi-Naagin doesn't finish her revenge?" Jay tried to provoke her. Bani felt really angry. The way Jay kept telling her that she was not doing what she's supposed to do.

"Sweetheart..." She heard Veer. Jay huffed in anger.

"Phir se aa gaya?" Jay asked. Veer gave him a look.

"Dhabewale, yeh mera ghar hai. Apni marzi se kahi bhi aa jaa sakta hun. Aur Bani meri biwi, jab baat karni hogi baat kar lunga. Tujhse permission lene ki zaroorat nahi. Uska baap hai kya ki tujhse permission lu?" Veer asked.

"Just stop." Bani stopped them before they took off like two kids again.

"What do you want to say?" She asked Veer.

"Woh baat is sautan ke saamne nahi keh sakta,sweetheart." Veer answered as he winked at her. Bani rolled her eyes at him.

"I'll talk to you later." Bani told Veer. Jay saw Veer and Bani walking towards their room. Veer laughed after saying something andBani hit him. He teased her about something. She acted like typical wife exasperated with her husband's antics. He was going on with it and Bani pushed him into the room. The rooms were all soundproof.

Jay kicked on the pillar nearby. He was told to take Veer and Bani away from each other and here they were fitting into their roles as husband and wife. As long as Veer was standing before Bani, they cannot takeher down. Just when Jay thinks he's close to killing Veer, Bani jumps up andsaves him. Jay didn't understand what to do to keep them away from each other. Not like he was being able to get Bani to fall for him because for some reason, she doesn't see him that way. Nageshwari were so in love with Hriday but here Bani who had no so ever feelings for Jay. As it seemed to Jay, Bani was falling for Veer.

The evening was decided for a masquerade party. Bani was looking around for that person who gave her those energy signals. It was more difficult since they were having a masquerade party.

"Ponky, are you crazy? Why is there a need for masquerade party? Saalon se teri shakal dekh ke pak chuka hun but iska matlab yeh nahi hai ki masquerade party organize kar de." Veer argued.

"Koi problem nahi hai. Masquerade party rakh lo." Balwant said. Veer sighed.

"Dad..." Veer tried to say something but Balwant walked away. Tapish looked at Veer. "Bohot gussa hai mujhse?" He asked Tapish.

"Jisko sar ka taj maan kar humesha rakha usne hi koi respect nahi di. Gussa toh aayega hi na." Tapish pointed out. Veer looked at the picture of him and Balwant in the room. Even Veer knew that Balwant always loved him more than anyone else. Tapish always felt sad about that. He always wished to prove himself to his father.

Tapish looked at Veer. The exact reason why both Balwant and Tapish loved Veer the most was same. He was like a sharp reminder of the woman who gave birth to him. Almost as if he was her shadow. A little eccentric, super confident, energetic, the one crowd loves to butter and beautiful.

"Tapish bhai, aapko pata hai. Main dad se gussa ho saktahun but in the end he is my father and is really important to me. Maa ya dad mein se kisi ek ko choose nahi kar sakta." Veer confessed to his brother."Mujhe gussa hai ki dad ne aisa kiya hai mom ke saath. Itne saal unhe basement mein rakha hai. Maa ko itni chot pahuchayi hai."

"Abh is mein main kya kar sakta hun, Veer? Dad meri kab sunte hai?" Tapish commented.

"Aisa nahi hai, Tapish bhai, dad aapse bhi pyaar karte hai." Veer tried to tell him but Tapish just chuckled and walked away.Veer and Bani both looked at each other. A worry set up in their minds. They wanted to find the one who was that person and here his brothers messed it up.

"Tumhari beheno ne kaha Ponky ki unhone kabhi masquerade party nahi dekhi aur aa gaya Ponky.... hero banne. Considering dad mujhse gussa hai, woh bhi Ponky ke saath cooperate kar rahe hai." Veer explained to Bani. She sighed.

"Do you think koi aurhai jo hume help kar sakta hai?" Bani asked.

"I don't know. Samrat ko bol dunga. He'll be out alerted." Veer said.

Chapter 5: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/155014953

Interesting one. Hope this samrat guy s in positive side.

Update soon

Soooo loved it...pls continue

Read all four in a go in an hour

I loved it.

This is amazing.

I really like this thrilling and mysterious vibe that you have created in this story.

The story about Veer's biological mom was a genuinely good touch.

Even I was very glad that Vani did not get interrupted by jay.

Honestly, Veeranshu Singhania has my heart.

I love the way you have choreographed their dance sequence.

'Main regular visitor hoon'

'Haan dad? Nahi zinda hona

'Tumse zyada confused maine iss zindagi mein kisi ko nahi dekha'

🤣

This is so Veer.

Another thing I really loved was how you wrote about Aakesh and Veer.

Samrat confuses me. Let's see what happens with him.

Please update soon alisha 🤗

Chapter 5: Burgundy Threat

Daksh then spotted a figure he couldn't recognize by the drinks. She was dressed in a dark green and black dress. Her eyes were deep brown. She was wearing silver rings. Her hair halfway in a bun and halfway let down.Slightly wavy, it came down till her waist. Her aura was really strong. Like you wouldn't want to mess with her. She wore a green dress with a mask.

"Can I help you?" She asked him. Daksh's mind went on a rewind mode. That voice was extremely familiar. He knew that he had heard that voice before but wasn't being able to place it.

"You are ..?" Daksh didn't know what to say exactly. His mind was on a sensory overload. The woman was awfully familiar but he wasn't being able to place exactly who itwas. Bani and Veer passed her. Bani touched her and decided that she was safe but, in that moment, she sensed the scales on the woman. Daksh couldn't concentrateon anything else. He should have known instantly who it was when it seemed so familiar. This had never happened before to him. He was the one who had the sharpest memory among all of the clan. Even among all of cheels that existed, his memory was the sharpest. His sensory skills were the sharpest. That is whyonly he could instant smell off naagins and naags. He realized later that Adi-Naag and Adi-Naagin don't leave a scent. The moment she noticed that Daksh was trying to figure her out, she started taking off.

He shot off behind and crashed into Pawan.

"Dad, I want you to cover that woman." He toldhim.

"Daksh, I don't usually comment on what you do with your personal issues but this is a little odd. You're asking me to help you? You’reasking me to help you set up with a woman?"

"Dad, kya bol rahe ho. I'm not saying like that." Daksh got irritated. "She is awefully familiar to me but I can't recognizeher. It has never happened to me. I always remember people I've met. Yet, I can't remember her." He tried to explained. He seemed to be going crazy. It made him useasy that he was losing edge.

"Daksh, shaant ho jaa." Pawan tried to tell him.

While Daksh was still up to find out who that cloaked woman was, she passed up round and round around the large people at the party and reached Ponky. The moment Ponky’s eyes met hers, he was taken aback. She was beautiful. And there was no way Ponky would pass up an opportunity to measure up to abeautiful woman. Jay pulled away Bani from the party.

"Bani, maine plan kar liya hai. Aaj ki raat hum saarecheelon ko khatam kar denge. Maine sabh plan kar liya hai." Jay toldher.

"Jay, are you out of your mind? Didn't you hear what I said already? I will do as I plan. Don't do anything stupid." Bani toldhim.

"I have done enough of my waiting, Bani. 10,000 years I have waited to get my revenge. Have you forgotten what all these cheels have done to us? They have destroyed us in Satyug. As such the way it feels you're not in mood to finish off any of the Singhanias. So I'm going to work on it." Jay told her.

"Jay, are you mad? Have you forgotten how Aakesh was? Did you forget how exactly powerful Aakesh was? This is 2x of Aakesh. This is Veeranshu. To be honest, deadlier than Aakesh. Aakesh was simply all violent and not much of a thinker, Veeranshu isn't like that. He plans and executes them really well. Tumne kuch bhi kiya na toh Veeranshu tumhe ek second mein maar dega. Usne mujhe khud bataya hai use kuch shaktiyaan yaad hai jo Aakesh ke paas thi. Bewakoofi mat karo. Baat suno." Bani tried to tell him.

"Bas, Bani, bas. Tum toh bohot jap rahi ho Veer-Veer ki mala. Jaise woh doodh ka dhula hai. He has killed me in satyug but now, it is different. I have beaten him once at a straight fight even when I wasn'tAdi-Naag. Now, I'm Adi-Naag. I can easily defeat him." Jay shouted her. Bani raised an eyebrow at Jay.

"Really? Aren't you a little too confident. I have seen with my own eyes what Veeranshu is capable of, Jay. He can defeat a whole group of vultures on his own. What makes you think that you can do it on your own? You were able to beat him because he let you beat him. You were able to beat Aakesh because he let you do that. Because when Aakesh had made his mind to kill you, he did kill you. Have you forgotten? I killed Aakesh out of rage. If youreally think that it is so easy to beat Veeranshu then you're wrong. The only reason I can survive a fight with these cheels is because I'm Adi-Naagin. Mahadev had given me this boon to be able to fight them well. He gave me the ability to heal quickly and convert all their energy and use it on them. If you have something like that, then by all means, go try but let me warn you, the moment Veeranshu finds out what you can do, he will find a way to cross it out." Bani told him.

"Waah, kya baat hai, Bani. Apne pati par itna bharosa hai. Veeranshu kuch nahi hai Aakesh ke comparison mein. Aakesh yaad hai na acche se? Na darr hota tha, na hi kisi chees se attachment. He was danger because of his maddness and violent tendency. Veer ko theek se notice kiya hai? Veer Aakesh nahi hai. Uski kamzoori hai." Jay taunted her. Bani was exasperated andrubbed her forehead. There was no way to explain to this dull-head.

"Jay, I'm telling you. You're not going to do anything. We are not killing Veeranshu." Bani made it clear. "You technicallycan't outwit him. Even I couldn't outwit him, what makes you think you can do it? Ek second mein pehchaan lega ki tum kya kar rahe ho."

Bani had decided. She wasn't going to let Jay out of her sight. He was a little too out of his mind.

"Bohot acche, Bani. Ban gayi na us cheel ki biwi? Bhul gayi sabh? Tum aur main. Bhul gayi tum hum dono ke saath ko? Humesha saath rehne kawada kiya tha na? Bhul gayi sabh? Humara pyaar bhul gayi, hum dono ke saath kobhul gayi, humari kasamo ko bhul gayi. Amazing. Par main nahi bhula..." Jay taunted her. He tried to look emotional to her. "Tumne aur maine ekbaat decide ki thi ki un cheelon ko maar ke ek nayi kahani banayenge. Sabh bhulgayi. Pyaar mein phasa hi liya na us Veer ne tumhe?"

"Jay, stop spitting nonsense. I'm not in love with Veeranshu. Yes, I admit that I have found a new perspective about him becausehe genuinely seems capable of being a good person. He has saved us from that plane crash when we were young. He saved me from the truck blast when I followed his family's truck. He's just someone who has faced a lot from hischildhood." Bani tried to tell him. Jay just laughed.

"Very funny, Bani Sharma. Now you're also defending your husband. But I care for you. Yeh kechuli raat hai jab tumhari shaktiyan kamzoorpadh jaati hai." Jay said.

"Jay, kya kar rahe ho?" Bani asked as he pushed her into the room.

"Jo mujhe karna chahiye. Tumhe aur us Veer ko ek dusre ke bohot dur." Jay answered and locked her in the room. Bani tried to stop but too late, he had already closed the door and locked it. He changed into her naagin form and tried to open but it didn't open it. She realized that he had locked it with magic. Bani desperately tried to open the door.

"Jay!! Darwaza kholo." Bani shook the door. It shook but didn't open.

"Kya karna hai?" She heard Jay.

"Woh hume sun legi toh?" She heard a female voicescold Jay.

"Woh nahi sun sakti hai hume. Is ghar ke saare kamre soundproof hai. Darwaza band karte hi, bahar ki awaz andar nahi jaati aur andar ki awaazbahar nahi aati. Toh Bani koi nahi sun sakta aur Bani kisi ko nahi sun saktihai. Batao kya karna hai. Maine Veer aur Bani ko alag kar diya hai." Jay told the voice. The voice laughed. Bani instantly felt the same tamsic energy .Jay was speaking to that energy? She couldn't believe it.

Her skin was burning up again.

"Aaahh..." She exclaimed in pain.

"Veeranshu..." She shouted. She desperately tried toopen the door but nothing happened.

"Bas isi ka wait kar raha tha. Aaj akhri raat hai us Veeranshu ka." Jay laughed.

"Jay!!!" She shouted but it was futile because theycouldn't hear.

"Use marna itna aasaan nahi hai. Veeranshu bohot takatwarhai. He's calculated and always alert. You can't kill him the way Aakesh killed you. Uski raftaar ko pechaante nahi ho tum." The female voice warned him.

"Mujhe pata exactly kya karna jisse woh pura shake ho jaaye aur khud par se saara control kho de." Jay said.

"Jay... nahi. Tum uski mom ko kuch nahi kar sakte. Yeh galat hai…" Bani shouted. She just heard their footsteps walking."Nahi nahi nahi...." Bani exclaimed. She desperatedly tried to open the door but couldn't. Bani had no idea how to react to this news. Jay was working with this person who wants to kill Veer. Bani couldn’t understand the correct reaction to the situation. It was like a situation of panic. One way, Veer was in trouble. Bani couldn’t explain that panic she felt when she couldn’t open the door or escape from the room.

“Veer!!!” She changed into her Naagin form and tried to open the door. It didn’t open. Bani then tried to crack the window. Her naagin form managed to break the window. She slid down the window to the garden. Only to realize that the trouble awaited her there.

Chapter 6: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/155015580

Interesting. Suspense. Update soon

Chapter 6: Raspberry Revelations

Daksh couldn’t spot her anymore. What caught him in the middle of this was that he smelled a Naagin. He stopped. Dehek tried to flirt with him but that Naagin scent caught him out of the mood for any kind of flirting. He met up with Balwant.

“Bade papa, I can smell a Naagin. Some Naagin has entered the party.” Daksh told him.

“Must be that Adi-Naagin.” Balwant tried to brush off.

“Nahi, Bade papa. The Adi-Naagin doesn’t give off any scent. This one is different.” Daksh explained. Balwant got up alerted at that. Daksh couldn’t have mistaken this much. Daksh couldn’t understand what the hell was happening because the scent came and went. It was like a flickering tube light. “It is coming and going. Something is wrong, Bade papa.”

“Yeh kaise ho sakta hai, Daksh?” Balwant asked irritated.

“Why would I ask you if I understood? Wouldn’t I rather go catch on my own?” Daksh retorted. Balwant wanted to say something but decided against it. Daksh looked quite irritated and Balwant knew it had to be a reason for that. Balwant and Daksh took off in opposite directions to look for that Naagin scent.

"Sam, I can smell a Naagin. I want you to go around and look if you can spot a Naagin." Daksh told Samrat.

"I presume its not Bhabhi..." He pointed out.

"No, the weird thing is that the scent is flickering." Daksh explained. Colours on Samrat's face changed. There was only one Naagin who was capable of that. Samrat started going around the party. He spotted Ponky laughing with some woman and trying to warm up to her. He decided to go up to Ponky and warn him. More eyes means more possiblility of finding that Naagin.

Looking around, Daksh saw Jay snooping around in a suspicious manner. Daksh felt trouble. One, there was a new naagin around. Two, that familiar scent which he wasn’t being able to remember and now there was this dubious naag. Not that he was being able to find the naagin or that woman, so he decided to choose for the one he had an eye on. He followed Jay. He hid behind a tree to see what the hell was going on. That’s when he noticed someone attacking Bani. Bani was in her Naagin form. His body shook when he saw creature. His hands shook and he froze at spot. Bani was fighting it as it took Bani up in the air. It was a woman. Was it the Naagin scent he got? That scent of the creature registered in his mind. That didn’t match with that of the Naagin they were previously hunting. Jay was watching over as Bani was being attacked. He seemed to be cheering the creature.

‘Should I run or help Bani?’ Daksh wondered. Daksh knew that Veer loved her regardless of who she was. Daksh didn’t know what to do of it? Should he let his brother’s love be killed right there or should he let his own brother’s killer die? Daksh loved Monil but he never loved Veer any less. To avenge Monil’s killer, could he destroy Veer’s feelings? Also, Veer had made it clear that no one was to hurt Bani.

He stepped on a twig. Jay turned around and saw Daksh. Jay wasn’t going to risk Daksh opening his mouth to Bani. He turned into naag and proceeded towards Daksh. Daksh turned into a cheel but in the next second, he was forcefully shifted into a human. Daksh’s eyes met that creature’s in that one moment. He realized that the creature had done something. He was no longer being able to turn into a cheel. Panic over took Daksh. He dodged Jay’s attack as much as he could. But in a moment, Jay cornered him.

“Ab kaise bachega? Tu aur tere bhai bohot uchalte hai na. Cheel cheel kehke khud ko superhero samajhte ho. Ab batao.” Jay laughed like a maniac. Jay was about to attack Daksh but someone pulled him behind. He was pushed behind her so easily like his weight was nothing to her. Naagin scent. It was the same one he smelled in the party.

“Who the hell are you?” Daksh asked.

“Would you rather want me to save your life or would you want to interrogate me?” She asked, her attitude on point. Her eyes had changed into that of a Naagin.

“Main Adi-Naag hoon. Hat jaao raaste se. Yeh mera aadesh hai jo tum nahi kaat sakte.” Jay tried to assert his authority.

“Adi-Naag? Naag toh theek se ban nahi paaye aur Adi-Naag ki baat kar rahe ho.” The naagin taunted.

“Waah, ek naagin ek cheel ko defend kar rahi against her master?” Jay retorted.

“Master? Aur who bhi tum? Rehne do. Ek naagin sirf Bholenath, Adi-Naagin aur Naagrani ke saamne jhukti hai. Tum toh kuch bhi nahi ho.” She pointed out. Jay got really angry. “Kisi dagabaaz naag ke orders follow karne ki zaroorat mujhe nahi hai. Aur waise bhi abhi ke liye toh yeh cheel bhi nahi hai. Tumne use yeh shakti hi cheen li hai.”

She turned into her Naagin form. Her dark green scales flashed danger. She was swift. Her strike was fast like that of a viper and her aggression like that of a cobra. Lightning fast to dodge. Jay did his best to dodge her fast strikes. She stood as a naagin in her human form. Green and black clothing with silver jewellery.

“You’ll pay for this dearly.” Jay threatened.

“You should think about the result, Adi-Naag. You’ve betrayed your own clan. Aur dhokebaaz ko kahin jagah nahi milti.” She retorted. Jay was dumbfounded. How could another Naagin be more powerful than him? He was Adi-Naag. He was supposed to be powerful than all other naags. Only one above him was Adi-Naagin and Naagrani. Jay tried to attack Daksh but she instantly shielded Daksh and got bit herself.

Daksh couldn’t believe it. A naagin, after all a naagin had saved him from Jay. He knew what that was going to mean. She had gone against the order of Adi-Naag. It could technically mean she might be cast out from her clan.

She changed back into a human form. Back into that velvet green black dress. She picked up herself and started to leave.

“Listen, let me help y-” Daksh tried to offer but she signalled him to stop. She started leaving with that. Daksh had no idea how far can she manage to reach.

She somehow managed to reach the Shiv Temple. The panditayin spotted her. She fell right before the stairs. The sapera and panditayin quickly took her inside.

“Kon hai yeh?” Panditayin asked. She was changed into a naagin in human form.

“Ise ek naag ne dasa hai.” He pointed out.

“Us dagabaaz naag ke alwa aur kon aisa kar sakta hai?” She claimed.

“Iska zeher kaise kaatenge? Sirf Adi-Naagin ka zeher hi is zeher ko kaat sakta hai.” The panditayin proceeded to call Bani quickly but sapera knew the time was short. She might not survive till Adi-Naagin shows up at the temple.

“Yeh kya kar diya Adi-Naag.” He turned to the shivling. “Yeh kaisa Insaaf hai? Who Adi-Naag kisi ko bhi das jaaye aura aap bas dekh rahe hai?”

“Aap hai kon?” He heard Panditayin ask. He turned around and saw a little boy down checking up on the naagin. He was the most beautiful boy they had ever seen. He was around 17-18 years of age

“Vanshika…” He called her out. “Hamesha ki tarah. Pagal. Aggressive and thoughtless. Kabhi toh seekh lo.” He chided her like a brother chiding his sister.

“Aap jaante hai ise?” Sapera asked. They couldn’t understand how just any man could have showed up in the temple. He took out some herbs and mixed it with some potion. Mixing them together, he gave it to her. She instantly started coughing up. In that moment, Bani came in running. She saw her lying on the floor.

“Kya hua hai ise?” Bani asked the moment she got to her side.

“Zeher diya hai ise…” Sapera answered.

“Zeher toh bahar aa hi raha hai. Kisne help ki?” Bani asked. Panditayin and Sapera looked around but the boy was gone.

“Abhi toh who bacha yahi tha. Kahan chala gaya?” They asked.

“Konsa bacha?” Bani asked.

“Kuch 17-18 saal ka ladka tha yaha. Usi ne kuch jadibuti di ise aur yeh bach gayi…” Sapera asked. The Panditayin started looking around the temple but there was no sign of it. The other naagin started to wake up.

“Are you alright?” Bani asked. Bani felt she was weak. She broke into another fit of cough. “Just last bit of poison is coming out. It is going to be fine.” Bani caressed her back.

After a few moments, she seemed to regain her regularity.

“Adi-Naagin…” She greeted Bani. She was about to bow down to her but Bani stopped.

“It is okay. I understand. You’re giving me respect. I’ve accepted it. Right now, you need to sit down. What happened? Who are you?” Bani asked.

“Vanshika.” She started. “I am your cousin. Well… by blood. My mother and your father were siblings.”

Bani stood surprised. Her cousin? She couldn’t believe it. She assumed she had no living relatives. Here there was a Naagin standing and claiming she was her cousin.

“After mama and mami left Naaglok, maa tried to look for you all. Everyone who knew where you three were staying were getting killed. So, they kept changing their location. We didn’t know anything even though we tried to keep tracks. Your family would be long gone from there by the time we reached a location. After we found your father dead, we couldn’t trace you and your mother any longer. We all assumed that you two were dead. There were no traces of you and your mother at all. Seemed like a dead end to us. It up until a few months ago when, dadi said that she could sense you. Here, I am.” Vanshika explained. Bani was still trying to process all that information.

“I have a family?” Bani asked.

“Of course. That’s an odd question. If you’re born then you must have a family, right?” She answered with a tone which questioned Bani’s mental stability. “Is she broken?” She whispered to the sapera. His glare made her shift a bit away from him. “Wow… touchy much..”

“I…” Bani didn’t know what to say.

“What?” She asked. “Well, it would be a rather difficult situation if you now hate us thinking we didn’t look for you or something like that because rest assured we tried but we just couldn’t reach you.”

“No… no… I wasn’t going to say that. I just mean to say that it’s a bit of a shock. For the longest time, I thought no one from my original family was there and now you’re here saying you’re my cousin. A bit unbelievable.” Bani chuckled awkwardly. Vanshika sighed a relief.

“Thank God!! That can be dealt with. Anyway, are you alright?” Vanshika asked. “I saw that creature. What the hell is that?” She looked disgusted with that creature.

“Yes. I’m fine but I don’t know how far it would be well.” Bani confessed.

“Ask me about it. I almost had shrieked out loudly when I saw that creature. What the hell was that? I didn’t know icchadhari dragons existed too.” Vanshika commented. “That seemed more like an odd version of a chinese dragon. Like an uglier version of Chinese dragon. Aise hawa mein udta saanp kaafi ajeeb lag raha tha.”

Bani looked at her ‘new found’ cousin. Bani noted that her cousin was rather chatty. She had an expressive way of speaking.

“You can come with me to my house. I mean you can stay there.” Bani offered. Vanshika laughed.

“You’ll take me there?” Vanshika asked.

“Yes. Why not?” Bani was confused.

“Adi Naagin, your foster family has set their feet in that house and then your naag is also staying there. You bring one more person and Balwant Singhania might possibly lose his mind.” Vanshika laughed. "Though that would be hilarious to see. I'd pay a hundred thousand rupess to see that. With popcorn of course."

“I am sure I’ll find a way. Don’t worry about that.” Bani tried to assure her.

“Adi-Naagin, relax about that. Let me take care of that. I’ve done enough research about this Singhania Family. I know how to find my way into the house. Aap yeh sabh mat socho.” Vanshika said.

“You can call me Bani. After all, you’re my sister now.” Bani said with a faint smile.

“Oh. By the way… that naag of yours...” She was about tell Bani but seeing Bani’s reaction at that, she realized that Bani must have found out. “I guess you know.”

“Yes…” Bani answered.

Bani took a moment to look at her cousin. She gave out a strong aura of being powerful. Deep brown eyes with hint of green in them. In her naagin form, she wore green and silver outfit with silver and gold jewellry. Her hair was pretty shade of brown instead of the regular black. She bowed down before the Shivling. A beautiful smile on her face.

"Thank you meri help karne ke liye. Haan, I know I've been impulsive again. Aapko toh pata hai main kaisi hoon. Gussa mat hona mujhse. Waise bhi bohot saare logo ko pagal kar chuki hoon, I hope ki aapko bhi gussa na aa jaaye. As such I know you can't get angry at me because pata hai mujhe ki aap apni is bhakt se gussa nahi ho sakte. Koshish toh jaari hai meri. Ab jo bhi ho, Mahakaal ki iccha se ho." She prayed to him. Bani chuckled at her chatty-ness. She had never seen a Naagin of her kind.

The two exited the temple and they turned back into the attire they were in. Bani noted that she had a rather modern fashion. She was wearing a green dress with a silver mask that almost shined her eyes.

“I don’t know anything about my family, so I’m sort of curious…” Bani admitted. Vanshika smiled.

“Natural. Come, I’ll tell you about them while we’re going out of the forest.” Vanshika offered. Bani smiled. “Well, in our family, the head is Nani. She’s the angry bird kind. Trust me, I sort of blame her for my fuse blowing out and me reacting bad on her. I’ve inherited it from her. There’s Nana. He’s really sweet. He’s ideology is far away different from everyone else’s. He’s more of a peaceful kind of person. Rather enjoying a peaceful rest than all the violence. Your dad, Sarvesh mama was the eldest son. You’re his only child. Everyone says that he was a lot like nana. I don’t know him personally but all I know is what I’ve learnt from him. There’s Amar mama, the second son. His wife Aditi mami. Their two sons, Kartik and Rishi. Then there’s my mom Aishwarya, me, her only child. Finally, Lekha maasi, the youngest child and daughter. She lives with her husband Aditya here in Mumbai. Well, most of our family lives in Naaglok except Lekha maasi and Adi with their children. We spent quite some time here in Mumbai growing up with her. We as in, Kartik, Rishi and I.”

“What about my mother?” Bani asked.

“Diya mami. She died trying to keep you safe. Though I think somewhere nani never forgave her. She thinks that you were killed because mami didn’t listen to her. She told mami to stay in Naaglok since it was a safe place but she was adamant to bring you here to this temple and rest is history.”

“Where are all others now?”

“Well, Kartik and Rishi are still too young. They’re around 18 years. Annoying at another level. But as of now they’re in naaglok with the family. Things are kind of tough there for our family so they have orders from Naagrani to stay in Naaglok. They cannot leave without permission from her.”

“So, how did you set out to find me?”

“Well, that’s a story I’ll tell you some time. Well, I was supposed to stay in naaglok but as of now, I’m sort of kicked out from there. I don’t know if it is coincidence but maa kind of felt that you were still alive and told me to set out looking for you. Hence, I’m here.”

“What about your dad? And why were you kicked out from Naaglok?”

“That’s a long story. As of now, you don’t worry about me. Take a deep breath and relax. I’ll take care of the whole matter on how to get to Singhania Mansion. It is a typical naagin style.”

“You definitely cannot marry anyone from Singhania family.”

“Are you mad? I’m not going to marry anyone or anything. Especially not those cheel idiots. But no one said anything about being able to fool one of them. Pankaj Singhania. He’s the easiest bait. I’ve known the family for a long time. I’ve been in the same school as them. He’s the easiest to fool. Leave the rest to me. I know exactly how to bait him.”

“It is not really a child’s play, Vanshika. I don’t want you in trouble.”

“Bani… I’m going to be fine. Don’t worry. After all, someone needs to teach them a good lesson.”

“Vanshika, don’t take me wrong. That will be a risk. They’re all cheels. Not to mention now that markaat is there too. She’s no less dangerous. I’m Adi-Naagin and that is why I can survive there. The cheels are dangerous. They can hurt you.”

“You’re living because of Veeranshu Singhania. Don’t mind me but it is true. You’d be long out of the house if it wasn’t for Veeranshu. I know him. He’s not like his family. He’s different from them. Better than them, if I can dare say that. I used to be friends with him in school.”

“He’s older than you. Then how were you…?”

“He was my senior. Who says you can’t have seniors as friends? The only one out of Singhanias I could tolerate. I saw no reason to stay in contact with the lot after I left school so I didn’t know about them much afterwards. I presumed the maa must have found out you were alive because she got that energy signal from you. Every Naag-Naagin have certain signature energy. There’s only minute difference in each one of them but since you’re Adi-Naagin, yours is easily detectable out of everyone’s. That’s how all Naag-Naagins can tell that you’re Adi-Naagin. Maa felt that. She told me that and I assumed that it must be because you had transformed. I had come across Naina. She was requesting for someone to send help to her. Since, nani was once Naagrani, nani sent me a message to go contact Naina. I met Naina at Noor’s party. Noor was one of my classmates. We weren’t close or anything but simple acquaintances. So, I got an invite. I felt Naina’s presence there. Later Naina called and told me about Singhania boys she had seen killing Noor. Also the cops in the police station told me that some Bani Sharma had come to the police station with proof that Singhania Family was responsible for Noor's death. They told me that there were two eye witnesses. Naina contacted me later. She had seen that Ponky and Monil killed Noor with Arneesh and Nitin. I tried to help Naina but it was late. When I reached there, her husband was dead. I saw cheel feathers in the room and realized that they must have taken Naina. I followed her only to find Arneesh and Nitin dead with a naagin’s venom. I assumed it would be Naina. Naina called me to say that she had seen Adi-Naagin. I wanted to ask more but the call got cut. That's when I found myself digging up information about Singhania Family. I went to ask for Naina but she was announced dead. I realized that she had known you and came across you. I went to Silver Moon restaurant which was last time Naina was seen. There they told me, she had arrived there to meet you. She couldn’t have any other reason to meet you unless you were Adi-Naagin. It took a while to find out your address. You lived with a foster family. I met your foster father and he told me you were married to Veer. Trust me, that was one hell of a shock.”

“Well, the whole situation of that wasn’t very normal either. I had just found out about being a Naagin then. The next day, I remembered me being Adi-Naagin. Long story short, I thought that Veer had killed Jay who I was engaged to. I thought I killed Veer but it was Teer, his twin brother. Then Veer and I got married.”

“I couldn’t digest it for a few moments and almost thought I came up to wrong Bani Sharma. I mean, Adi-Naagin marrying a cheel. Not just any cheel but the high up proclaimed leader of cheels. He’s sort of their prince.” Vanshika broke into laughter at that. “And every says that I’m crazy.”

Bani didn't know what to say anymore. Would Vanshika be disgusted with her if she told her that she had a soft perspective about Veeranshu Singhania?

"Nani is going to have a field day when she finds out you married a Cheel." She teased laughingly. That didn't make Bani feel good but rather tumbled the worry on her conscience. It reminded her of Jay's reaction. Now, she had to come in terms with the truth that she had a Naag family who might take severe offense at her soft corner for a cheel.

Chapter 7: Berry Trap

Mehek, Dehek and Ponky had gone out. Their car was parked in a corner of the road near a tree. Mehek Dehek and Ponky were accompanied with his friends. All of them just as useless as him. His friends wanted to go hiking in the forest. While walking, Ponky was behind.

He was grabbed by someone. He tried to fight but it was no use. He then noticed two naags before him.

“Aaj maza aayega. Ek cheel humara shikaar banega.” One of the two boys said.

“Perfectly said, bhai.” One of them said laughing.

“Listen. You guys don’t know my family. They will kill you.” Ponky started to get scared and tried to threatened them. They laughed again.

“Kahan hai? I don’t see them?” They taunted him. They turned to their naag form and started to constrict around Ponky. He tried to scream. Ponky’s panic rose to heights. The more he tried to make noise, the stronger the coils could coil around him. It was like with every breath it was coiling stronger. They were Naags but coiled and constricted like pythons. Ponky could die of heart attack rather than asphyxiation from the snake coils.His fear had taken his heart rate faster than the speed of his flying.

Suddenly, the two snakes were pulled away from Ponky and thrown aside.

“Are you alright?” Ponky opened his eyes and saw that beautiful pair of eyes he had seen last night’s masquerade party. She was beautiful. Dressed in black jeans with stocking and a dark green hoodie crop top. Black nail polish which was coated perfectly. Silver rings on her fingers.In her hands was a snake stick.

“Tum shayad koi guardian angel ho…” Ponky said and quickly hid behind her. The snakes hissed at her but she pushed them away. “Tum wahi ho na. Kal party mein mili thi.”

“Haan…” She answered. She turned and began to leave. Ponky quickly jumped skipped and followed her.

“Nahi nahi… please mujhe akela mat chodo. Tume saanpose darr nahi lagta?” He asked.

“Nahi. I don’t feel scared of snakes.” She answered.

“Tum yahan aise jungle mein akele?” He asked.

“I just wanted to be alone. So, I hike around the forest to get my mind off things.” She answered.

“Ponky!!!” They heard his friends shouting his name.

“Main yaha hun.” Ponky shouted back. “Come. Chalo.” He held her hand and dragged her with him. They finally reached the others.

“Vanshika!!??” One of Ponky’s friends recognized her.

“You know her?” Ponky asked.

“Of course. She was in school with us. Samrat bhai ki classmate thi. She used to be friends with Veer bhai. You remember the junior that Veer bhai used to hang out with? That’s her. Vanshika Kashyap.” He answered. He smiled at her. A rather flirtatious gesture. Vanshika was quite used to that. She had seen boys all her life.

“Oh… You used to be hot even back then.” Ponky commented. She laughed.

“Thank you.” She answered. They all walked out of the forest.

“Kahin drop kar doon?” Ponky asked.

“No. Not really. Aaj kal kuch theek nahi lagta so, I’m trying to spend some time alone.” She answered.

“Theek nahi lagta? Kyu, baby?” He asked trying act all worried.

“Kuch nahi. I was supposed to get married but then my fiancé turned out to be really bad. Bas tab se thoda akela sa lagta hai. I’m just trying to get used to it. Now I have to learn to live alone.” She told her. Vanshika Kashyap was the perfect killer in that way. She had always been.She knew exactly how to catch someone in a trap. Not to mention her theatre skills always came handy. Her acting almost felt real to everyone. Beauty with brains.

“Nahi, baby. Don’t get sad. Main hoon na. I’ll be withyou. Tum bohot jaldi accha feel karogi. Humare saath rahogi toh accha hi feel karogi.” Ponky said. She smiled.

“You’re pretty sweet, you know. But I don’t want to put any kind of pressure on you. You must be rather busy.” She commented. She knew better than that. Ponky laughed.

“Bilkul nahi, baby, main toh pura din hi free rehta hun.” He answered. “Aur tumhare liye toh aur zyada free hun.”

That said, she sat on the jeep with them. They drove towards the Singhania Mansion. As she stepped down from the jeep, her naagin radar was switched on. Ponky was clearly down in her trap. When she came in,she saw Bani in the garden. Bani was surprised to see her. She didn’t think that Vanshika would manage that so quickly.

“Baby, ab tum yahin rehna. Mere paas.” He said. As she walked inside, she winked at Bani.

“Why is she winking at you?” Veer asked Bani.

“Kyuki she managed to work her plan.” Bani answered and then realized she said that to Veer.

“What plan?” He asked.

“Kuch nahi…” She tried to cover up.

“Sweetheart…” Veer commented.

“Veer bhai, aap bhi yaha ho? Aapko yaad hai yeh?” He excitedly introduced.

“Vanshika Kashyap.” She introduced. Veer laughed.

"Art class junior?” Veer asked.

“Bingo.” She answered with a smile.

“Aapko yaad hai?” Ponky asked surprised.

“Kuch naam aur kuch log hamesha yaad reh jaate hai. Jitna school ki principal mujhe jaanti thi, utna hi ise bhi. Kuch bhi school mein hua ho pehla shak hota that Veeranshu Singhania, Samrat Singhania aur Vanshika Kashyap pe. Of course, yaad hai. Monil ke muh be ek baar football maar diya that kyuki unse goal stands ke paas mari thi and it hit her friend. Naak fracture ho gayi thi.” Veer said laughing.

“Uff… itni tareef…” She laughed.

“Bohot logo ki patang kaati hai ab mere bhai ka turn hai kya?” Veer asked.

“Hi…” Bani said.

“Yeh hai Bani-” Ponky started to introduce her.

“Bhabhi. Tumhari Bhabhi. I’ve heard.” Ponky answered.

“Acha tum ruko ek minute. I’ll get dad to get a room ready for you. Tum yahin rukna mere saath.” Ponky shot off.

“Tume Bani ke baare mein kaise pata hai?” He asked.

“Kyuki yeh bhi Naagin hai. Ek naagin dursi naagin ko pehchaan hi legi.” Daksh answered for her. “Ab Ponky pe koi jaadu kar diya hai. He’s not beliving when I say she’s a Naagin.” Daksh added to that.

“Problem kya hai? He doesn’t seem to mind.” Vanshika answered.

“Problem is that we don’t trust a Naagin.” Daksh commented. She chuckled.

“Oh. It didn’t seem like you were complaining ki main naagin hoon when I was saving your bloody ungrateful life from that dearest Adi-Naag? I almost died saving your life and the thanks I get.” She retorted.

“Relax, boys, rest assured. We have bigger problems to handle than your brother. Markaat. Remember that odd creature? Sab ke sar pe uska danger hai so I suggest you keep your personal issues shut and cooperate so we can get this done with and I can leave with my cousin. God knows agar tum jaise idiots ke saath rahi toh konse konse mental health problems ho jaaye.”She pushed him out of the way.

“She’s my wife. I’m taking good care of that part.”Veer assured.

“Tabhi toh I haven’t kidnapped her off this house till now. I know you’ll take care of her. I mean imagine my shock ki Veeranshu Singhania. I mean, Veeranshu Brat Singhania got married. Settling down? Yeh word uske dictionary mein kabhi nahi ho sakta that. And for you to get married… has to be something different. Word flies around ki Veeranshu Singhania ko pyaar ho gaya hai…” She teased him. Veer just grinned.

“Coincidence na? It turns out to be your cousin sister? Waise yeh ajooba kaise hua? How did you two end up as cousin sistersbut those two twins don’t seem to know you.” Veer asked.

“Well, good observation. That’s because only Bani is my cousin. They’re not.” She answered. He was surprised when he realized what that meant. Bani met her real family.

“Really?” Veer asked. He seemed surprised but a large smile came up his face.

“Haan.” Bani replied.

“Welcome to the family, Vanshika. Saali puri form mein aayi hai…” He teased her.

“Please… woh adi gharwali wala dialogue mat marna.”

Vanshika walked in and saw on the couch sat her worst nightmare.

“Yeh… yeh yahan hai?” She exclaimed.

“You know him?” Bani asked.

“Bani, he’s my worst nightmare.” She answered. Samrat Singhania had been the only one who had made her school life miserable. She loved being the miss popular but Samrat Singhania found it as his life mission to trouble her. She hasn’t forgotten all ways she felt bullied by him.

“Vanshika Kashyap.” He stood up.

“Aapko bhi yaad hai?” Ponky asked.

“Kuch chehre aur kuch logo ko bhula nahi jaata hai,Ponky.” Samrat answered. His face had a grin. 8 years. He hadn’t seen this face for 8 years. He thought that he would have forgotten her but those eyes were such a reminder that he can get her out of his mind for a while but it would go back to her when he sees her. “Mujhe doubt toh tabhi ho gaya tha jab Daksh nekaha tha he smelled a naagin’s scent yesterday but it kept flickering. Vanshika Kashyap ke alwa aur kon ho sakta hai jise tricks pata ho apni Naagin scent chupane ki.” He commented to her in a whisper.

“Sam bhai, meri setting ho gayi hai. Samjho pat gayi mujhse.” Ponky whispered to Samrat and tried to act all cool. That took Samrat by surprise.

“Seriously? Raat ki abhi tak utari nahi kya?” Samrat asked.

“Well, Ponky is really sweet so he’s offered to host me with him for a while. Mr Singhania, its nice to meet you.” Vanshika tried act like an adult. Samrat couldn’t understand what that meant.

“Yeh Naagin hai, Sam.” Daksh commented.

“I know. Well, she can thank me for her transformation.” Sam commented. Vanshika wanted to hit something on his for saying something so vain.

“Thank you, Mr Singhania.” She acted along by trying to keep her temper in control. Samrat couldn’t understand this change in her.He knew Vanshika Kashyap. He’d say that they had almost grown up together. Only Veer knew the truth that Vanshika has been the first girl he had ever been interested in. The situation became entirely messy since he met her. She wasone of the biggest drama queen he had come across. Vanshika wasn’t a girl tolet a guy walk over her. He knew well that Ponky couldn’t possibly be what shecould wish for.

He didn’t know if it was jealousy that she had chosenhis brother or protectiveness for his brother. 8 years after trying to walk outfrom that phase, he saw himself there again. The same place. Those unsaidfeelings that had always existed between them. A Cheel and Naagin areforbidden. It was like those vampire love stories that he despised. He wanted tofinally tell her but that whole situation went out of control. The first signsof her scales had appeared when he touched her right after he had been soaringin the sky few moments ago.

“What is this about? What are you doing with him?” Heasked her.

“Nothing as such, Mr Singhania.” She answered with amastered smile. He had seen this smile more than a million times.

“Samrat. Naam yaad hai, right? Every other man in this house has the epithet Mr Singhania. So, I suggested you make it clear who you’re talking to.” Samrat commented.

“Samrat. Nice to meet you again.” She offered her hand for a handshake. Samrat took it. Veer almost grinned at that.

“Yeh kya mazaak hai?” Samrat asked Veer. He laughed.

“Tune haath choda aur Ponky ne pakad liya. Aur kya?”Veer teased him.

“Haan, aur zor se bol do. Taaki dad bhi sun le aur meri band baja de. Yahi bacha tha unke liye. Ek naagin aap ghar le aaye aur ekko main le aata hun.” Samrat commented. Veer laughed.

“Tu abhi wahi hai na? So much for ‘Veer bhai, I have moved on. It is long behind me’. Bohot style maar raha tha.” Veer retorted.

“Dekho, that’s what I presumed because it has been 8 years. No one should be hungover a school crush for that long.”

“Acha hai. Just get ready. Ab soon she’ll end up becoming your brother’s girlfriend.”

Samrat gave Veer a look. It sounded horrendous to Samrat. Ponky and Vanshika. He could shudder at that thought.

“Dur dur tak unka koi match nahi hai. Kya bol rahe ho?Ponky abhi bhi baccho jaisa hai. Ek baar Naagin ban gayi na, wahi phat ke dil haath mein aa jaayega uska. Woh kya handle karega use?”

“Phir ek din, Tere bhai ki biwi.”

“Bas. Bure bure khayal aa rahe hai. Don’t get there. Pehle apni Naagin ko sambhalo phir mere bhai ki biwi ki fikar karo.” Samrat pushed Veer. Veer broke into laughter.

“Ab tujhe hazam nahi ho rahi hai. Main kya karun?”

He walked up to Vanshika.

“Yeh kya hai? What are you planning to do to my brother?” Samrat asked her. She gave a 100 volts smile.

“What? I am doing nothing. He’s just really sweet.” She answered.

“Mere bhai ko khane ka irada nahi hai na? And how so are you suddenly interested in the kind of people that my brother is? I presumed you always had a rather different taste in men.” He questioned. She made a swift turn, raising an eyebrow at him. Samrat could feel her inner Naagin. Now this was the Vanshika he knew. It was bubbling inside.

“None of your business, Samrat Pawan Singhania. I don’t see myself answerable to you. You’re practically a stranger to me for me to explain my choices to you.” She answered, back to being that mature kind of person.

“Pata toh main lagake rahunga, Vanshika.” He made it clear. The way he said her name, it always puts her on alert. To take them lightly is dangerous on its own. The two stood before each other. The way he said her name, it was half way teasing and half way a threat.

"Glad that you're on alert." She gave a smile.

Part 8: