Storm continued the nect day. Vikram went fishing as he caught a big one. They got some milk fro other villagers and bread from nearby market. They could not contact anyone.
" Aunty would be freaking out", said Riya.
" I am trying to contact", said Vicky. " Do you trust me"?
IRONICALLY SHE DID.
She nodded.
Riya started cleaning the house so that they can stay here fo time being.
The house looked familiar. Strange.
" Did Gunjan ever come here", she asked.
" No", said Vicky. " Why"?
" Nothing", she replied.
But as she cleaned the backyard with Vicky thayt afternoon she looked at a ground. Suddenly she was digging.
" What are you doing", asked Vicky.
" Don't ask questions", she said and just help..
He started digging with her. They found a box.
" What is in it", asked Vicky.
" A doll", she replied. " And a toy horse".
As they opened the box they found both the toys.
" You were right", said Vicky. " How do you know"?
" I buried it", she replied.
" But Gunjan did not live here", he said. " Not even as a child".
" It was Dhara's house", came a voice.
Both of them turned. And were shocked. They have met this person.
" YOU", said Vicky. " You are the ascetic who met us at Ganga river while we immersed Guruji's ashes".
" Yes", he said.
" Who are you", said Vicky.
" Dhruv", said Riya.
" Yes sister", smiled the ascetic.
A new story was about to unfold.
" Sister", asked Vikram. " Your sister"
" Yes Srikant Pundit and I am your ancestor. Dhruv the son of the man whom Gautam cursed to become a monster".
Flashback
Ten centuries ago.
" Amma ( mother) chacha( uncle) did not kill the prince. It was his brother", said the little girl. " And baba helped him. He lied. He was there with prince".
Little Dhara was crying.
" You must not say these things Dhara or king will hang baba", said Sumati.
" But uncle is innocent too".
But our mother locked her , fed her and made her sleep. But Dhara escaped to Shiva temple at night. Aditi was crying there.
" Chachi ( Aunt) don't cry", saod the little girl.
" Uncle is innocent. Younger prince killed his brother".
" How do you know", Aditi asked the girl.
" I witnessed it and I will tell the truth to the king".
DHARA WAS AS DETERMINED AS A ROCK.
Unbeknownst to them someone was listening to them. It was Sumati. As she saw Dhara missing she searched her and reached the temple.
" I vow on my life I will speak the truth", said a young Dhara.
Listening to them talk Sumati was horrified. If Aditi proves her husband's innocence Uttam would be implicated. So she told her husband.
Dhara was getting ready for her witness when she asked,
" Where are you going"?
" To play",lied Dhara.
" Okay finish your milk first", said Sumati.
She did. But Sumati drugged it. So she slept. And was locked again.
And they both added camphor to Aditi's sandal mixture.
After Aditi and Gautam passed away. Shiva cursed our family.
" None of you will ever live in peace. The one who kept quiet knowing everything suffers the worst phase. The fires of hell lies in all her lives".
Dhara could never forgive our parents. She even buried the doll our father gave her.I added my horse too.
Dhara passed away at a young age of 13.
Curse never left her. I prayed hard to Shiva. Went to HimLayas and Kashi.
" It was not her fault Shiva", said Dhruv. " She was tricked". He cried and cried.
So Shiva took a pity
" If she guides the son of Shiva to right choices her curse is removed", He blessed.
"Shiva also asked me to get married and carry on my line. He promised that the blessed son will come in my lineage. I did as I was told. And I recognised you", said Dhruv to Srikant.
" And so I met you both at Ganga", said Dhruv. " I tried to warn you but..."
Flashback ends
" But I made a wrong choice and she keeps on suffering", said Vikram.
Dhruv looked at his sister. Riya was crying.
" Are you an immortal too", she asked.
" No", said Dhruv sadly. " I am just an unsatisfied soul". He started fading into air.
" Brother", called Riya.
" Right choices Dhara", said Dhruv. " Remember that. We are all counting on you".
And he fades away in thin air.
Riya was shocked. And deeply saddened.
" Now I know", she said to Vicky.
" Know what", he asked.
" I alway wondered that Gunjan was a righteous girl. So why did she suffer so much. It was a curse", she said.
" You will be theone to end it", said a determined Bikram.
Shiva wrote this story. Hence they were caught up in this storm. And were stranded here. And reached this house.
Now he has to go back. To make right choices. He hired a bullock cart.
" Our car is not in condition to travel", he informed her." This man drops us to place from where we can get a bus".
She agreed. They took a bus as they reached outskirts of Mumbai. There from a pay phone Vicky called his father.
" VICKY..WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU", his father cried. " WE WERE ALL SO WORRIED. HOW IS RIYA"?
" I am fine uncle. We lost our way and got stranded in a village. There was a storm. But we are fine. Not hurt at all. The villagers helped us".
Within an hour cars and doctors reached where they were. They were brought back.
And hospitalized.
" Minor sunburn, emotional exhaustion and dehydration" informed Dr. Shetty.
Riya fell ill. And Vicky collapsed as they reached them.
A state of panic ensued. But now they could relax. Manav and his family got worried too.
" Complete bedrest for you", declared Suhasiniji. They have just returned from pilgrimage when she heard they lost contact with Vicky and Riya.
" Sonia is turning nice", she said but Ram's son is incorrigible. My poor baby".
Vicky did not try to cpntact Riya. Instead one dark night he met someone else.
Forbidden forest
Midnight
" If Dhara became Gunjan and I am a descendant of Uttam then what happened to that younger prince Agni", he asked.
" Are you sure he is involved in this matter too".
Vikram nodded.
" Yes Shiva would not let him go. He was yhe original culprit. The one who usurped the throne. "
" What do you think", asked Agni.
" In this war he plays a crucial role. If he lurks somewhere there he is more dangerius than Uttam", said Vicky
" You want me to find his truth", asked Agni.
" If you can", said Vicky. " But more important is to find the weapon that could kill him."
Agni was in deep thinking.
" I will need help", he said.
" Whose", asked Vicky.
Agni mentioned the name.
" Do you trust yhat person", asked Vicky.
" Now I do", replied Agni.
Vikram nodded.
" Your call. And one more thing. Its here. The clue to end him is here. Hence he is hauntong this place."
When it came to war Agni never doubted Srikant.
" Okay Srikant. Follow your destiny. May Shiva bless you".
And Agni left.