The headline hit Aarohi like a slap.
"GOVT. TO CLOSE NIDHIVAN GROUNDS FOR PUBLIC ACCESS — PERMANENTLY"
Due to recent psychological incidents, missing persons, and land disputes, an official order has been filed to seal the forest zone by August 15.
She looked at the calendar.
It was August 14.
"They can't do this," Ishaan muttered.
"They think it's unsafe—" Aarohi started.
"They think it's dangerous. But not in the way we know."
Aarohi froze.
"If they seal it… the Raas will be interrupted."
Ishaan nodded.
"And if the Raas is interrupted, the energy cycle breaks.
And something… might escape."
They rushed to Vivan.
But he was already packing.
"They sent the order this morning," he said. "We have to leave."
"You knew?" Aarohi snapped.
"I warned you not to stay during the forbidden hour," Vivan said. "Now the land is awake. And the government's interference will trigger something that was never meant to be disturbed."
"Then we stop it," Ishaan said.
Vivan laughed darkly.
"You think bureaucrats believe in bansuris and tulsi guards?"
Ishaan:
"They'll believe in proof."
📁 Operation: Divine Evidence
Aarohi and Ishaan set out to find real evidence — not just spiritual, but scientific.
Sound anomalies
Unrecorded fluctuations
A broken tulsi plant that regrew within 24 hours
But the most powerful?
The mirror.
From the forbidden room.
Ishaan returned to the Mirror Room and found it sealed again.
But when he touched the door — it opened.
Inside: only one mirror.
And in it — a video playing.
Of him and Aarohi… watching the dance.
A moment that was never recorded… now playing on its own.
"This is it," he whispered. "The evidence they never asked for."
📦 The Case File
Aarohi compiled everything:
Vrinda's diary
The Sanskrit marks
Ishaan's lunar cycle sound graphs
The mirror footage
All sent anonymously to the press.
But also… to one powerful person:
A judge who once visited Nidhivan as a child.
And remembered… the flute.
🧾 The Final Verdict
August 15.
Sealing day.
Officials arrived.
But the area had already been marked as a "Heritage Shakti Zone" —
protected under cultural spiritual law.
The closing order?
Withdrawn.
Aarohi smiled, clutching Vrinda's diary to her chest.
"The grove gets to breathe again."
Ishaan stood beside her, eyes soft.
"And we get to stay… until the next hour returns."