Touchdown in India—Kolkata.
The moment the aircraft landed, the air itself seemed to shift, heavy with anticipation, tradition, and something far deeper—something ancient.
Lilith stirred.
Her lashes fluttered open slowly, her small fingers tightening instinctively around her teddy bear as she sat up. The world outside was bright, unfamiliar, yet strangely welcoming.
"Mahi—Mahira!"
A familiar voice broke through.
Ariz.
He was standing there, waving excitedly, his face lighting up as he saw her awake.
"Ariz!" she giggled, her voice soft, childlike, full of warmth.
She ran toward him without hesitation, her tiny steps quick and eager. He caught her gently, lifting her slightly as she laughed.
"Come on," Zafraan said, his tone firm but gentle. "Let's get you clean and change into your outfit. Everyone is waiting for you."
Nikolai stepped beside her, his hand naturally finding hers.
"Let's go," Aarav added, leading them out of the airport.
The moment they stepped outside—
"Wow!!!" Daria gasped.
Rows upon rows of guards stood in perfect formation. Luxurious cars—twenty-six in total—lined the cleared roads, engines humming softly like restrained power.
Every guard bowed deeply.
"Namaste Ratna (Greetings, The Gem)," they said in unison.
Lilith froze slightly, clutching her teddy tighter.
"N…N…Namaste (Greetings)," she replied shyly, her voice trembling.
They surrounded her. Not threatening—protective. Reverent.
Nikolai's family watched, stunned.
"Wow," Mr. William murmured as they all got into the convoy of cars.
The vehicles moved as one, gliding through cleared roads like royalty in motion.
Inside the car, Zafraan leaned closer to Lilith, slipping ₹500,000 rupees inside her teddy bear discreetly.
She didn't notice.
She was too busy looking outside, her eyes wide with wonder.
Their first stop—
The Ganga River.
The sacred river flowed endlessly, shimmering under the sky, carrying centuries of prayers, tears, and devotion.
The boys stepped out first.
Nikolai had already changed Lily. He wrapped her gently in a white cloth, careful, protective.
She handed him her teddy.
"Why are we here?" Albert asked.
"To bathe her," Viktoria answered calmly.
Lilith stepped into the river.
The water touched her feet, cool, sacred.
Karim stepped forward with a pot filled with water and flowers. Slowly, carefully, he poured it over her head.
"Jai Maa Ganga! (Hail Goddess Ganga!)" Karim declared.
"JAI (HAIL)!" the guards, the boys, Rohan, Vishal, and Urlima echoed.
Lilith closed her eyes.
Her small hands came together in prayer.
She was silent—but present.
Watching.
Feeling.
The ladies captured the moment, their cameras clicking softly.
Karim stepped out of the water.
They guided Lilith to sit on a small wooden stool.
Anika leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
Then she, along with Rafsan and Reyan, began pouring water gently over her again.
Rafsan chanted:
"Om Gange cha Yamune chaiva
Godavari Saraswati
Narmade Sindhu Kaveri
Jalesmin sannidhim kuru"
(O sacred rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu, Kaveri, please be present in this water.)
The water shimmered as it flowed over her, mixed with different flowers.
Lilith giggled.
Soft, innocent laughter.
They smiled at her, continuing the chant.
Nikolai stood nearby, wearing his AI glasses. The cameras were recording everything.
Her moments.
His gaze softened as he watched her.
She turned slightly and waved at him.
He smiled.
Blushed.
The ritual ended.
Anika quickly took her away.
"I wanna see how Lily looks like in her Hindi wedding outfits!" Addison said excitedly.
"Us too!" the men added.
"Are you excited, brother?" Arina asked.
"Yeah," Nikolai replied.
But his face remained cold.
"Okay, everyone close your eyes please!" Anika instructed.
They obeyed.
"Nikolai, take those glasses off—I can see your eyes," she added.
He sighed, removed them, and closed his eyes.
Then—
He heard it.
The soft clicking of bangles.
Delicate.
Rhythmic.
And shy giggles.
Anika placed a tiny hand into his.
He held her fingers instinctively.
"O…O…Open, Nikki," she whispered into his ear.
He wasn't prepared.
He opened his eyes slowly.
And then—
He saw her.
A silver bindi rested on her forehead.
She wore a pink Salwar Kameez.
A soft pink, clear flower veil draped over her hair.
White glass bangles adorned her wrists, clicking gently as she moved.
Silver ear cuffs glimmered against her skin.
"I forgot the nose rings!" Anika exclaimed, facepalming.
"I got it," Nikolai said quietly.
His eyes never left her.
His tiny, absolutely gorgeous wife stood before him.
"Are you okay, Nick? You're all red," Mrs. Francesca teased.
He rolled his eyes.
"Y'all are crazy," he muttered.
"And you're in love," everyone said together.
He rolled his eyes again but said nothing.
Instead, he held Lilith's hand and guided her into the car.
Inside—
She was kissing her teddy bear, giggling, her bangles jingling as she moved.
Nikolai opened a small box.
Inside were nose rings—diamonds, rubies, gold, silver—each crafted perfectly.
He selected one.
A pink Serafina-colored piece.
He gently placed it on her nose, pinning the flower design carefully.
She leaned forward and kissed his forehead.
Giggles.
He froze for a moment.
Then remembered—
In a few days, he might not see her like this again.
The thought tightened his chest.
He leaned in and kissed her lips softly.
Their lips moved together slowly.
A quiet, intimate rhythm.
She touched his face gently.
He pulled away quickly.
And held her hands tightly.
They arrived.
The second oldest Muard mansion.
Massive.
Ancient.
Powerful.
Both families were already outside.
"Mahira and in-laws are here!" a girl shouted.
The cars stopped.
Doors opened.
"Wowwwww!!!!"
The doctors, Nikolai's family, Xeno, and his friends—all were stunned.
Sohan stepped out.
He wore a blue and white Mundu.
"Mihu!" Riyana called.
She was breathtaking.
A blue Kasavu saree wrapped elegantly around her.
A Kundan necklace rested on her neck.
A Nath (nose ring), gold bangles, and a Tagdi waist belt completed her look.
Her hair was tied into a bun, decorated with flowers.
Sohan gently placed a flower on her.
Drums began beating loudly.
People gathered quickly.
They came to see—
The Gem of the Obsidian Trail.
The Gem of the Muard Empire.
Ishaan stood with Vanya and Trinetra.
"It's fine, girls. If she comes near you, go behind me, okay?" he whispered.
He wiped their tears and kissed their foreheads.
Then hugged them both.
"Welcome, welcome," Mr. Kadeon said, shaking Mr. William's hand.
Nikolai was still in the car.
Then—
The drums stopped.
Silence.
The air turned cold.
A woman stepped forward.
Her anklets echoed with each step.
Lilith held her veil and teddy tightly.
"Mahira?" the woman called.
She wore a white saree.
A large red bindi marked her forehead.
Barefoot.
Her hair, a mix of black and grey, was covered with her saree veil.
Men and women followed behind her.
Nikolai looked through the window.
And saw her.
"Take her blessings," Rafsan whispered.
Lilith moved forward slowly.
Then bent down.
She touched the woman's feet.
"Be blessed and happy, dear," the woman said.
"How is she now?" she asked.
"Still mentally unstable, Maa," Karim replied.
"Hello, Mihu," the woman said.
"H…H…Hi a…auntie," Lilith stuttered softly.
"Where is the husband?" she asked.
"Right here."
A deep, darker voice responded.
Nikolai stepped forward.
The women gasped.
"Oh my goodness," one auntie whispered.
"He is very tall and handsome too," another added.
Nikolai bent down.
Touched her feet.
"Bless you," she said coldly.
"You're the Russian mafia who took and married the Muard gem without Sohan's permission?" she asked.
Nikolai smirked.
"Let's just say the gem caught my eyes," he said, glancing at Lilith.
The woman chuckled.
"Mahira," she called.
"Huh?" Lilith responded.
"Chhod do, mere nanhe ratna (Let go, my little gem)," the woman said, extending her hand.
Nikolai looked at Lilith.
Then nodded.
She took the woman's hand.
And followed her inside.
Her name—
Bhairavi Muard.
A mafia woman.
The ruler of the mansion.
A woman who once ruled India as president.
Now retired.
Now working with mafias.
Feared.
Respected.
Forty-five years old.
And powerful beyond measure.
The drums continued beating outside.
But inside—
Everything had changed.