That evening, the Sandhanpur Palace buzzed with activity as everyone prepared to leave for the groom’s family home.
Inside her room, Avanthika struggled to tie the knot at the back of her lehenga blouse, twisting helplessly in front of the mirror.

Just then, Rithima walked in, calling out, “Honeybee! Are you ready yet?”

“Ya, Rithu baby! Come here and tie this knot for me… I just can’t reach it!” Avanthika said, dancing in place in frustration as she held the dangling strings.

“Turn around,” Rithima said, quickly tying the knot before dragging her friend along with her.

They hadn’t even taken two steps when Prathyusha blocked their way and snapped, “Hey! Stop there, girls! Can’t you see a human standing right in front of you?”

“Huff! These mosquitoes are more visible than you, Prathu!” Avanthika teased dramatically.

Rithima silenced her with a glare, then placed a hand on Usha’s shoulder. “Okay, my little darling, what do you need now?”

With a shy smile, Usha handed them a small gift box. “This… I bought it for Varun. Please give it to him for me.”

“Of course, dear! If only you could come with us… but who in this palace has the courage to disobey the great Kalyani Devi?” Avanthika joked with a sigh.

Seeing Usha’s face fall, Avanthika whispered something into Rithima’s ear. Rithima nodded, then extended her palm toward Prathyusha. Prathyusha placed her hand over hers. Then Avanthika placed hers last.

“Whatever situations come…” Avanthika began.
“Whatever difficulties we face…” Rithima continued.
“However many tests life throws…” Usha added.

Together, all three said, “We should never let go of the courage in our hearts or the smile on our lips—no matter who or what stands in our way.”

They pulled each other into a warm hug.

Before they could leave, Usha held her wrist and reminded softly, “Video call me… don’t forget. Okay?”

After bidding her goodbye, the family set out and soon reached the bungalow where Varun’s family was staying. The Kapoor family head, Kunal Kapoor, and his wife Priya welcomed them at the entrance.

To Avanthika and Rithima, these North Indian pre-wedding rituals felt completely new—unlike the South Indian ceremonies they had grown up watching.

The engagement—Sagai—began as Ranveer, Prathyusha’s elder brother, applied tilak on Varun’s forehead. Meanwhile, Varun searched for Raghav, and Kishore pointed upstairs.

Raghav stood on the balcony, scolding his manager on the phone.

“I don’t want explanations. I want results. Show me that first, then talk to me,” he snapped and cut the call.

Hearing noise from downstairs, he realized the ceremony had already begun. He rushed down, not noticing Manas walking toward him with a tray.

In his hurry, he collided with him—the entire tray of juice spilled all over Raghav’s kurta.

Terrified, Manas stammered, “Raghav bhaiya, please forgive me…”

But before he could finish, Raghav slapped him hard across the face.

Avanthika, who had gone upstairs to leave Usha’s gift in Varun’s room, witnessed the entire scene. Fury shot through her veins.
She walked straight toward him.

“Excuse me, Mister! Why did you hit Manas bhaiya just now?” she demanded.

Raghav acted as though he hadn’t heard a word, standing there with infuriating indifference.

Annoyed, she raised her voice. “Hello? I’m talking to you! Why did you hit him?”

For a moment, Raghav actually looked stunned—no one had ever dared speak to him like this. The shock quickly turned into bruised ego.

Taking a step closer, he spoke in a low, dangerous tone:

“Number one: never raise your voice at me again. I don’t respond calmly every time.
Number two: Manas is a servant in this house. Because of his carelessness, my entire mood for the function got ruined.
And number three: I don’t usually talk to people beneath my status. And trust me, from the way you look—definitely middle class—so stay away from me. For your good… and for mine.”

He turned to leave, but her voice struck him like a whip.

“Excuse me. I learned one, two, three in school too. And yes, Manas is a servant—but he’s not your slave. You had no right to slap him.”

Her words carried a boldness Raghav hadn’t expected. His thoughts burned:

“This girl… this Jhansi Rani dares to talk back to me?”

His jaw tightened with anger.

“And for your kind information,” she continued, “I don’t judge people by class. Humans are humans.
But I don’t speak the language of animals—so I always stay away from them. Bye.”

Before Raghav could respond, she walked away, leaving him clenching his fists in helpless rage.

Later, as the groom’s family walked the guests to the gate, Raghav spotted Avanthika laughing with Rithima.
Pointing toward her, he asked Varun who she was.

“Prathyusha’s best friend,” Varun replied with a smile.

Raghav’s eyes hardened.

“So I’ll be seeing this Jhansi Rani often…”
“Let me show her who she messed with. I’m Raghav Kapoor—I won’t rest until she regrets crossing me.”

Back home, Avanthika and Rithima rushed to Usha’s room and narrated everything. Usha sighed dramatically, “If I had gone, this wouldn’t have happened…”

The girls teased her until she brightened up again.

Just then, Maithili called from downstairs, “Girls! Dinner’s ready. Eat and sleep early—you need energy for tomorrow’s Sangeet!”

Meanwhile, in Kapoor House, Raghav was still fuming.

“That girl is unbelievable, Kishore! How dare she talk to me like that?” he shouted.

His phone rang—Ma Calling.

He immediately softened. “Yes, Mom?”

“My sweet boy, what are you doing?”

Hearing her voice calmed him instantly. He spoke gently, nothing like the angry man from moments earlier.

After chatting, he handed the phone to Kishore and stormed out, muttering,

“What did she say? She doesn’t understand the language of animals? She called me an animal?
Just wait and watch, Avanthika. This ‘animal’ will show you exactly what he can do.”

At dinner, his uncle instructed, “Raghav, you and Kishore go to the bride’s house tomorrow and help with the Sangeet arrangements. The planners can’t manage everything.”

Raghav nodded.
But when he learned that Avanthika herself had planned the theme for the Sangeet, a wicked idea lit up in his mind.

He lay awake half the night thinking of ways to trouble her.

Meanwhile, Avanthika lay awake too—restless, uneasy, feeling as if something inevitable was about to unfold.

Morning arrived.

As per family tradition, the bride had to perform a Ganapati pooja with her own hands. Kalyani Devi had already arranged for the temple preparations.

Usha woke early and got ready to visit the Shiva temple.
Rithima and Avanthika were already dressed.

At the temple, the priest handed two garlands—one each to Rithima and Avanthika. It was a local custom: unmarried girls offered garlands at the serpent mound beside the temple.

If the serpent emerged when someone placed their garland, it meant her marriage time was near.

Rithima went first. Nothing happened.

Then Avanthika placed her garland.

The very next second, a snake slithered out with a sharp hiss.

The priest exclaimed, “Congratulations, Kalyani Devi! Another wedding is soon to happen in your family!”

Avanthika groaned. “Nani, come on! Who believes such things in this century?”

The three of them laughed and returned to the car.

Back at the palace, Avanthika noticed an extra car parked outside.

Inside the garden, someone sat casually, one leg crossed over the other.

Her heart dropped.

It was him.

Raghav Kapoor.

What is he doing here so early? she wondered, freezing in her tracks.