: The Ritual

At midnight, Aryan and Rukmini return to the banyan tree with the ritual items. As they begin, the ground trembles beneath them. A cold wind sweeps through the village, extinguishing lanterns and making the air thick with dread. Aryan lights the flame, places the water at the tree's roots, and holds up the anklet. The air crackles with energy, and suddenly, the spirit of Chandrika appears. She is no longer a woman of beauty but a figure of fury, her face twisted in anger, her hair wild and flowing like a storm. Her eyes burn with hatred as she lunges at Aryan. But he stands firm, speaking to her in the voice of compassion, not fear. He tells her that her story will be heard, that justice will be done, and that her pain has not been forgotten. Slowly, the fire around the tree intensifies, and Chandrika's form softens, the anger fading into sadness. Finally, she speaks: "You are the first to hear my truth."