"Look at him… he's so handsome… isn't he?"
"Oh my God… which family does he belong to?"
"Damn… just look at him!"
"Uff… hot and spicy!"
"He looks like he just walked down from heaven…"
"Should we go talk to him?"
The moment Om stepped into Seema's father's grand party hall, it was as if time itself paused for a second.
Every eye in the room locked onto him.
From head to toe—he was scanned, observed, judged… and admired.
But it was the girls whose reactions spoke the loudest. Their expressions shifted instantly, hearts skipping beats, whispers rising like a soft storm. It was clear—Om wasn't just noticeable tonight…
He was glowing.
Unaware of the chaos he had caused, Om walked forward calmly, his eyes searching through the crowd, trying to spot Seema's father.
And then—
"Om, son… here?"
The familiar voice made him turn.
Standing ahead were Kathwani Sir, the Mayor, and Seema's father—Mr. Chauhan—each holding a drink, dressed sharply in tailored suits. Beside them stood Abhay and Ayush, equally well-dressed, blending perfectly into the elite atmosphere of the party.
And then there was Om—
Simple.
Effortless.
A jacket, a T-shirt, and pants.
Nothing extravagant… yet somehow, he outshone them all.
Om immediately smiled and walked toward them, greeting each of them warmly, shaking hands with ease and familiarity.
And that's when—
The entire room shifted again.
People were stunned.
A seemingly ordinary boy… casually interacting with three of the city's most powerful businessmen like he belonged right there with them.
Questions began to ripple through the crowd.
Who is he?
But the real shock came moments later—
When Supriya, Seema, and Anshika joined him.
Smiling.
Laughing.
Talking to him like he was the center of their world.
And just like that—
Hearts broke.
The boys in the room burned with silent frustration. Expensive suits, luxury cars, carefully crafted appearances—none of it mattered. Because a simple guy in a plain jacket had just walked in… and stolen the spotlight from all of them.
And the girls?
They were no less disappointed.
The boy who had just entered like a dream prince… had already been "taken" by three butterflies.
Jealousy filled the air.
Eyes turned sharp.
Whispers turned bitter.
Om had unknowingly become the center of envy.
And then—
Yuvraj Chauhan stepped forward, raising his voice just enough to command attention.
"Hello, everyone! May I have your attention for a moment?"
The chatter faded.
Curious eyes turned toward him.
"I won't take much of your time," he continued with a composed smile, "but I would like to introduce you to someone very special."
The room fell completely silent.
"You all know that today's party is to celebrate the profit made in my jade business. But what you don't know is—this success wasn't achieved by me alone. There is someone… a remarkable individual… who possesses an extraordinary ability to identify the purity of jade stones."
Murmurs spread.
"That very ability has earned me profits worth crores today. And that is why… along with introducing him to you all, I want to make an announcement."
A pause.
The tension thickened.
"From today onwards… I am giving 40% shares of Chauhan Jade Business… to that person."
For a moment—
Silence.
Then—
Shock exploded across the hall.
Forty percent.
Hundreds… maybe thousands of crores.
Whoever that person was… was about to become unimaginably powerful overnight.
Curiosity turned into hunger.
Everyone wanted to know.
Who is he?
Applause erupted, loud and unstoppable.
Seeing the excitement, Mr. Chauhan extended his hand toward Om, ready to introduce him.
"Ladies and gentlemen… please welcome—"
But before he could say the name—
Something changed.
The applause died.
Whispers turned into uneasy murmurs.
And then—
Fear.
People began stepping back, clearing space instinctively.
Kathwani, the Mayor, and the Chauhan family turned toward the entrance—
And froze.
A massive figure stood at the doorway.
Walking in with slow, heavy steps.
Dominating.
Terrifying.
Kamla Thakur.
Dressed in a sharp suit, yet radiating the same raw menace. His presence alone was enough to silence the entire hall. Conversations died mid-sentence. Faces turned pale.
People knew him.
And they feared him.
"What is he doing here…?"
"Why did he come…?"
The murmurs grew, trembling with uncertainty.
Om's gaze sharpened.
Locked onto Kamla.
Serious.
Observing.
Calculating.
Meanwhile, Mr. Chauhan quickly moved toward him, trying to maintain composure.
"Kamla, son… you're here?"
But even as he spoke calmly—
The tension in the room had already exploded into something far more dangerous.
Elsewhere…
Far beyond the mortal realm…
Vipul, draped in a black cloak, walked alongside Kakbhushundi through the mystical paths of Badallok, heading toward Queen Neerja's palace.
Each step he took—
Echoed.
And even from within the palace walls, Dhumketu could feel it.
His presence.
His arrival.
A wave of unease surged through him.
With visible panic, he turned to Queen Neerja.
"Your Majesty… my son will be standing before you very soon. I beg of you… please… do not tell him anything about me. I will explain everything later."
Neerja looked at him, surprised by the urgency, but nodded.
"Yes… Guru."
And before another word could be spoken—
Dhumketu disappeared.
He moved swiftly through the palace and hid himself behind a massive pillar near the grand hall.
His breathing grew uneven.
And slowly…
Tears filled his eyes.
Meanwhile—
Vipul and Kakbhushundi entered the palace.
Queen Neerja watched as they approached, surrounded by royal guards. Moments later, they stood before her.
She rose from her throne, folding her hands respectfully.
"Greetings, traveler of time… revered Kakbhushundi. I am blessed by your presence."
Kakbhushundi and Vipul bowed in return.
"Greetings, Devi," Kakbhushundi said calmly. "This is my companion… and our guest. His name is Vipul. He brings with him… crucial news from Pataallok."
Neerja turned toward Vipul, greeting him with equal respect.
But as she looked at him—
Something felt… wrong.
Her expression changed.
A subtle tension crept into her voice.
"I… cannot sense your life energy," she said slowly. "Is it possible… that you are not among the living?"
The moment those words left her lips—
The entire court froze.
All eyes turned toward Vipul.
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Unsettling.
And filled with a question no one was ready to answer.