As Surendra steps inside the temple, kanak in his arms motionless with no emotions .

Inside the temple, the old priest looked up in shock as Surendra pulled Kanak before the sacred fire. “Pandit ji,” he ordered, his voice trembling with emotion, “start the mantras. We’re getting married—now.”

The priest hesitated, glancing between the frightened girl and the furious man. “Beta, marriage cannot happen like this,” he said softly. “The girl must give her consent.”

Surendra’s fury rose. “Chant the mantras!” he shouted, his voice echoing through the temple. The bells outside rang with the wind, as if nature itself was protesting.

It was already late at night . The sacred fire crackled, throwing shadows across the ancient stone floor. Rain clouds gathered outside, rumbling in warning, but inside the temple, time seemed to stand still.

Surendra’s chest rose and fell with uneven breaths. His voice, though trembling, was firm.

“Sit,” Surendra said through clenched teeth, pointing toward the sacred fire.

The holy fire (Agni) burned in a bronze vessel at the center of the mandap, its flames flickering wildly. The priest (Pandit ji) hesitated, glancing between the two.

“Beta,” the priest said carefully, “marriage cannot be performed like this. Both souls must accept the bond willingly. Otherwise—”

“Start the mantras,” Surendra interrupted sharply. His voice cracked with desperation. “You’ll chant, and I’ll take every vow. Even if she doesn’t.”

The priest’s lips quivered. Fearful of the man’s anger and the sanctity of his duty, he reluctantly began to chant.

The priest looked torn, his wrinkled hands clutching his prayer beads. “Child,” he said softly, “a vow taken without a heart is a curse.”

But Surendra’s eyes glinted with pain more than anger now. “Let the curse fall on me,” he whispered. “I can't lose her".

The priest sprinkled holy water around the mandap and lit incense.

“Om Shri Ganeshaya Namah,” he recited, invoking the remover of obstacles.

The fragrance of sandalwood filled the air — but instead of peace, it deepened the tension.

Kanak sat motionless, her eyes fixed on the flame.

The priest gestured for the garlands. A temple attendant hesitantly handed them over.

Surendra lifted the floral mala and placed it around Kanak’s neck. She didn’t move, her face pale. Her garland slipped from her fingers and fell to the floor.

Surendra grabbed the garland and held kanak's hand, making her wear him the garland.

"Surendra, you still have time, please stop all this", kanak said , a glimpse of hope in her eyes.

" Marry me , I will stop all this", Surendra said.

As they sat, The priest looked around, helpless. “There is no guardian present,” he said softly.

Surendra glared. “There’s no need. She’s mine to protect.”

Every guard, even vipul was upset and scared by his boss. His fear was clearly evident in there eyes, but they can't help kanak.

The priest asked them to stand and take vows. Surendra stood up but kanak was still sitting there, Surendra held her arms tightly and made her stand.

The pandit ji announces, “Now it’s time for the pheras — the seven sacred vows.”

He looks at the couple expectantly. The sacred fire crackles as if warning them.

As the pheras begin, Kanak hesitates. Her feet refuse to move. Surendra grips her wrist tightly, forcing her to walk around the fire. Her anklets jingle in protest — a haunting sound that fills the silent temple.

As the priest asked them to recite the vows -

पहला फेरा — सुरक्षा का वचन / The First Vow – The Promise of Protection

"मैं वचन देता हूँ, कनक, कि मैं तुम्हारी रक्षा करूंगा, तुम्हें हर दुख से बचाऊंगा।"

"I vow, Kanak, to protect you and keep you safe from every sorrow."

Pandit ji looked at kanak to recite the same vow .

"मै वचन देती हूँ, तुम्हारे हर सुख को दुख में बदल दूंगी|"

"I vow, to turn your every happiness into sorrow ".

Pandit ji tried to stop kanak from reciting wrong vows but Surendra stop them with his hands.

दूसरा फेरा — शक्ति का वचन / The Second Vow – The Promise of Strength

"मैं तुम्हारा सहारा बनूंगा, हर कठिनाई में तुम्हारे साथ खड़ा रहूंगा।"

"I will be your strength and stand beside you in every hardship."

"मैं वचन देती हूँ, तुम्हारा हर दिन तकलीफ के साथ बीतेगा "

"I vow , that your each and every day with be filled with struggles and hardships ".

Surendra smirk deeper with the every vow kanak recite.

तीसरा फेरा — समृद्धि का वचन / The Third Vow – The Promise of Prosperity

"हम मिलकर सुख और समृद्धि से भरा जीवन बनाएंगे।"

"Together we shall build a prosperous life."

"मैं वचन देती हूँ, कि तुम्हारे बनाए हर झूठे सुख के महल को राख कर दूंगी।"

"I vow to turn every palace of false happiness you build into ashes."

With every vow and step they were writing a their fate with struggles and hardships.

चौथा फेरा — प्रेम और विश्वास का वचन / The Fourth Vow – The Promise of Love and Trust

"मैं तुम्हें प्रेम और विश्वास दूंगा, तुम बस मेरा साथ निभाना।"

"I will give you love and trust, you just have to stay by my side."

"मैं तुम्हे कभी अपना पति का स्थान और प्रेम नहीं दूंगी "

"I will never give you the place and love of my husband".

As the four vows completed , priest asked bride— kanak to come forward and lead further vows.

पाँचवाँ फेरा — संतान और ज़िम्मेदारी का वचन / The Fifth Vow – The Promise of Legacy and Duty

"हम अपने घर को आगे बढ़ाएंगे, अपने वंश का नाम ऊँचा करेंगे।"

"We will build a family and carry forward our lineage with pride."

"मैं वचन देती हूँ, कि मेरा नाम मेरे बदले से जियेगा, तुम्हारे वंश की छाया भी न बचेगी।"

"I vow that my name will live through my vengeance, and your lineage will fade into shadow."

छठा फेरा — साथ और समर्पण का वचन / The Sixth Vow – The Promise of Companionship

"हर सुख-दुःख में तुम्हारा साथ दूंगा, कभी तुम्हें अकेला नहीं छोड़ूंगा।"

"I promise to be with you in every joy and sorrow, never leaving your side."

"मैं वचन देती हूँ, कि तुम्हें कभी अकेला नहीं छोड़ूँगी — जब तक मैं तुम्हे बर्बाद नहीं कर देती |"

"I vow never to leave you — until I destroy you."

सातवाँ फेरा — सदा के बंधन का वचन / The Seventh Vow – The Eternal Bond

"अब तुम सदा के लिए मेरी हो, यह अग्नि साक्षी है हमारे बंधन की।"

"Now you are mine forever — this sacred fire bears witness to our bond".

"मैं वचन देती हूँ, कि यही अग्नि तुम्हारे अंत की साक्षी बनेगी। जिस बंधन को तुमने जबरदस्ती बाँधा है, उसी में मैं तुम्हें जलाकर मुक्त हो जाऊँगी, आज से बल्कि अभी से मेरे जीवन का लक्ष्य सिर्फ तुमसे बदला लेना है|"

"I vow that this same fire will witness your end. The bond you forced upon me will be the fire that sets me free. From today onwards my ultimate goal is to take revenge from you".

The pandit ji finishes the final mantra of the seventh vow. The flames of the sacred fire crackle softly, the temple echoing with the lingering sound of the conch.

Surendra rises, his eyes gleaming with triumph. He glances at Kanak. “Now, it’s time for the mangalsutra and sindoor,” he says, his voice firm, almost like a command.

Kanak’s hands are folded in her lap, trembling, but her gaze is steady. She knows what comes next, yet she stays silent, letting the ritual proceed — outwardly obedient, inwardly planning.

"Aab var(groom) Vadu(bride) ko mangalsutra pehnae".

Surendra made her wear the necklace around her neck.

" Aab var Vadu ki maang mein sindoor bhare".

Surendra took the a pinch of sindoor in his hands and started moving toward kanak.

Kanak's heart pounding with the every second passing, her life was going to take a new twist and turn.Kanak closed her eyes tightly.

Surendra slowly applies the sindoor on her hairline. As he was applying the sindoor, the clock struck 12 O'clock .As the ritual concludes, he leans slightly closer to complete the gesture, and in his haste or perhaps a surge of excitement, a small amount of sindoor slips from the brush and falls on the tip of Kanak’s nose.

Kanak open her eyes ,both of them stood up.

The pandit ji looks at Kanak and Surendra with solemn eyes. “अब आप दोनों देवताओं के आशीर्वाद लें। यह आपकी नई यात्रा का पहला कदम है।”

“Now, both of you shall seek the blessings of God. This is the first step of your new journey together.”

Surendra nods eagerly, holding Kanak’s hand tightly. He smiles as if he has already won — the fire, the vows, the rituals, everything is in his control.

Kanak walks slowly beside him, her steps measured. Her hands are folded, but her mind is elsewhere, calculating, observing. Every statue, every deity seems to watch her silently.

As they stood near the god's statue (Murti) , something unexpected happens.

Kanak turned only to witness Surendra on his knees in front of her.

" Kneel", Surendra shouted, every man including vipul sat in front of her taking her blessings.

Kanak was utterly shocked to see him—the most powerful, arrogant, egoistic man who only believes in God, was today kneeling in front of her.

Kanak did not said anything.

" From today, you are my Laxmi, my goddess", Surendra said touching her feet.

As all the rituals were done, they both began to leave .

As pandit ji looked at kanak, his eyes become soft because he knows this marriage is going to give them many hardships but will also provide happiness to them with love and care.

" From know onwards ,you are husband and wife" pandit ji said and left from there.

Kanak and Surendra looked at each other, soon the voice of firecrackers came, which filled the sky with the colours.Firecrackers burst one after another, painting the darkness with crimson and gold. The town awoke to the spectacle, unaware of the tragedy beneath the celebration. The sky roared with light, but Kanak’s silence burned brighter—a quiet rebellion beneath the glare of fireworks.

"Congratulations Mrs. Rathod ", Surendra said with a deep smirk and pride of victory.

" Congratulations Mr.Rathod, it's time for revenge, I vow to make your life hell, Happy marriage ", kanak said looking at him.

Prachi, pacing the living room, said anxiously, “It’s been hours. No one knows where they went!”

Tejeshvi tried to stay calm, clutching her phone, “Surendra’s number is unreachable… and Kanak’s too.”

Sapna, her voice trembling, added, “They left after that argument. What if something happened?”

Naman, Yash, and Garv spread out, searching the property, calling everyone they knew, but no trace of the two could be found.

"Mujhe bahut tension ho rahi hai, bata nhi dono bache kaha gaye hai", Surendra's mother was very tensed.

" They will become,bhabhi", Surendra's aunty was consoling her from past few hours but she was only panicking more and more.

" I have talked to Bhavesh also, he too don't know where kanak is, she is did not even reached the wedding venue", sapna said tensely.

As they all were trying to console each other and finding them, just the door bell rang.

The family gathered together, tension thick in the air. Every second felt heavier.

Then—

DING DONG.

Everyone froze. The doorbell.

Garv rushed forward and opened the door—and there they were.

Surendra stood on the threshold, drenched in rain, his hand still intertwined with Kanak’s. Her sindoor was smeared slightly, her eyes lowered, but there was a quiet determination in her face.

For a heartbeat, no one spoke. Shock rippled through the room.

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