The episode begins with Mangal in the kitchen, her mind occupied with Shanti’s recent words. As she stirs a pot on the stove, the aroma of spices fills the air, but her thoughts are distant. She picks up her phone and dials Kapil’s number. When he answers, a smile spreads across his face at the sight of her name on the screen. Mangal expresses her regret for leaving the responsibilities of Pehla Swad entirely in his hands. Kapil reassures her that it’s alright, encouraging her to focus on her personal challenges while he manages the business in the meantime. Grateful for his support, Mangal thanks him, feeling a sense of relief wash over her.
As she hangs up, Adit enters the kitchen, his brow furrowed with concern. He notices Mangal cooking despite her injured foot and questions her decision to do so. He reminds her about her medication, emphasizing the importance of self-care, especially since she tends to his father’s needs so diligently. Adit places a painkiller tablet nearby, urging her to take it. After he leaves, Kapil, still on the line, inquires about her use of painkillers. Mangal explains her injury, revealing Adit’s insistence on her taking the medication. Kapil advises her to be cautious and ends the call, his worry lingering in the air.
Turning away from the phone, Kapil notices Pratima standing nearby, her expression serious. She questions him about the truth behind his conversations with Mangal, urging him to be honest about his feelings instead of hiding behind half-truths. Kapil brushes off her concerns, feeling the weight of her scrutiny as he steps away, leaving Pratima to ponder his evasiveness.
Meanwhile, Sudesh struggles to grasp a glass, his hand trembling with effort. As he squeezes it tightly, the glass shatters, cutting into his palm and causing him to cry out in pain. Mangal and Kusum, who are nearby, rush to his side, their faces etched with worry. Mangal quickly tends to his wound, her heart heavy with regret for having placed the glass in his reach. From a distance, Sowmya watches the scene unfold, a smirk playing on her lips as she reflects on her scheme to sabotage Sudesh’s efforts to draw the tattoo mark on paper.
Later, after returning from a walk, Sowmya observes Sudesh attempting to draw with his left hand, realizing that her plan to incapacitate his right hand has failed. Frustration bubbles within her as she contemplates the need for assistance. She decides to enlist the help of Pratima and Shanti to keep Mangal away from Sudesh, knowing that she cannot act against him while Mangal is present.
Sowmya arrives at Pratima’s house, bringing fruits and traditional shagun items. Pratima greets her with curiosity, questioning the purpose of her visit. Sowmya, with a calculated demeanor, broaches the topic of Mangal and Kapil’s potential marriage. She states that Shanti also desires Mangal to move on, suggesting an alliance between Mangal and Kapil. Sowmya emphasizes the benefits of such a union, framing it as a solution to their current dilemmas.
In her persuasive tone, Sowmya asserts her position within the Saxena household, highlighting Mangal’s sacrifices for Sudesh’s recovery. She claims that Mangal wishes to leave, but Kusum’s emotional manipulation keeps her tethered. Meanwhile, Kapil, returning home, senses something amiss and decides to investigate the conversation between his mother and Sowmya.
Sowmya continues her pitch, stating that Shanti is aware of the truth and wants Mangal to settle down. She insists that Kapil’s life would be significantly improved with Mangal by his side, and she would also benefit by having Mangal out of her and Adit’s lives. Sowmya urges Pratima to speak with Shanti about making Mangal her daughter-in-law. Pratima listens thoughtfully, weighing Sowmya’s words carefully.
Sowmya offers to approach Shanti herself, arguing that they both stand to gain from this arrangement. Pratima, however, counters that this is not a decision to be made hastily; they must first understand Mangal’s feelings. Sowmya, confident in her assessment, insists that she knows Mangal well, claiming that Mangal cares for Kapil despite her old-fashioned demeanor, which prevents her from expressing her emotions openly. She even shows Pratima a video of Mangal discussing her thoughts on Kapil, pushing her to support the marriage.
At that moment, Kapil calls out for his mother, prompting Sowmya to hide quickly. When Kapil enters the room, he questions his mother about her conversation. Pratima, quick on her feet, lies, stating that she was on a call. Kapil notices the sweets and thali, inquiring about their purpose. Pratima explains that she ordered them for a pooja at the temple the next day and sends him off to freshen up, all while Sowmya slips away unnoticed.
Meanwhile, Mangal is on a call with the inspector, her voice steady yet urgent as she discusses her father’s repeated drawings of the same symbol. She believes there is a connection to his accident and requests the inspector to reopen the case to investigate who might have tried to harm Sudesh. Mangal also asks the inspector to examine the drawing she sent. The inspector, however, expresses skepticism, stating that they cannot proceed based solely on a sketch, especially since Sudesh is not mentally stable. Undeterred, Mangal presses for at least a preliminary inquiry, convinced that the symbol holds significant meaning. As she hangs up, determination fills her; she knows she must uncover the truth behind the symbol.
Meanwhile, Sowmya, who bears the same tattoo on her hand, watches with a sinister smirk, her mind racing with thoughts of how to manipulate the situation further. The episode draws to a close, leaving viewers on the edge of their seats, eager to see how the intertwining lives of these characters will unfold amidst the brewing tensions and hidden agendas.