THE CURSED CHILD

WHO ARE YOU?

Mahira's POV

My heart thundered in my chest as I tried to process everything happening. The name "Uday" echoed in my mind like a haunting melody I couldn't forget. Kabir's smirk felt so familiar, like a page torn from my dreams and thrust into reality. Every fibre of my being screamed for answers, but I was paralyzed by the storm of emotions raging within me.

Why was this happening? Why did he feel like a shadow from my past—one that lived in my nightmares? Was he the monster who whispered promises of destruction and fate?

"Mahira?" Tanya's voice pierced through the silence, jolting me back to the present. She nudged me playfully, a grin spreading across her face. "Are you going to answer him, or should I?"

I glanced up at Kabir. His smirk had softened, but his chocolate-brown eyes still held that piercing intensity, as though he was trying to piece together a puzzle only he could see. His presence filled the room, shrinking it and making it harder to breathe.

Everyone was staring at me now. Dida, Arjun, even the doctor—all of them waiting for me to respond.

A thousand thoughts raced through my mind, colliding and tangling until I couldn't tell one from the other. Could he be Udayveer, the man who haunted my dreams—the one who whispered, "You're mine"? Or was he truly Kabir Malhotra, a stranger who had somehow stumbled into my life?

His eyes locked onto mine again, and I felt trapped in their depths. They seemed to know me, to search for something hidden beneath my surface. My hand trembled slightly as I clenched it into a fist to steady myself.

Tanya nudged me again, breaking the moment. "Well?" she said, dragging the word out playfully.

I managed to lift the corners of my lips into a faint, uncertain smile. Then, I gave a small nod.

Kabir's smirk deepened, satisfaction flickering in his eyes as though he'd won a silent battle. The air in the room seemed to shift, heavier with something unspoken.

I knew I wouldn't get the answers I wanted, at least not yet. But one thing was certain—this man, Kabir or Udayveer, was tied to my soul in a way that defied explanation. And soon, I would have to uncover the secrets that bound us together, whether I was ready or not.

On the other hand, 

Udayveer stood in a place that looked like a ruin. No one was around, and his eyes were moist as he remembered the day it all started.

The story unfolded centuries ago, during a time when kingdoms rose and fell under the rule of powerful kings and queens. Among these rulers was Yuvraj Udayveer Singh, a fierce and ambitious king known for his charm, valour, and the dark arts he practised in secret. He believed in seizing whatever he desired, whether it was a throne, a kingdom, or a heart.

The First Encounter

One fateful morning, while riding through the dense forests that bordered the rival kingdom of Aryagarh, Udayveer stumbled upon a breathtaking sight. By the river, amidst the soft rays of dawn, a group of young women bathed and laughed freely. Among them stood Princess Manyta, her milky-white skin glowing in the sunlight and her hazel eyes sparkling like jewels. Her beauty was ethereal, her laughter a melody that seemed to echo through the forest.

Udayveer froze, his heart skipping a beat. He had seen many women in his life, but none as captivating as her. At that moment, he made a vow to himself—she would be his queen, no matter the cost. Without hesitation, he rode forward, his imposing figure casting a long shadow on the riverbank.