The Secret Of Rebirth(18+)

Chapter 30: Pain of a Cursed

Madhav sat in his dimly lit study, the events of the past few days playing over and over in his mind. The memories of their previous lives haunted him, and the curse placed upon them by the shape-shifting mongoose weighed heavily on his soul. The pain from the kiss Kavya had given him at the party still lingered, not on his lips, but deep within his heart. It was as if the curse was punishing him for daring to taste the love that was forbidden until the appointed time.

He closed his eyes, trying to block out the memory of that kiss. It had been so sweet, so tender, but the moment her lips touched his, a searing pain had shot through him, as if the very essence of the curse had been activated by their intimacy. He had pulled away abruptly, confused and in agony, but unable to explain the sudden change to Kavya. She had looked at him with hurt and bewilderment in her eyes, not understanding why he had rejected her so coldly.

"Why does it hurt so much?" Madhav whispered to himself, clutching his chest where the pain was most intense. It was as if a thousand needles were piercing his heart, reminding him that their love was still bound by the cruel magic of the past.

Kavya, oblivious to the curse and its effects, had been devastated by Madhav's coldness. She had seen the passion in his eyes, had felt the love in his kiss, and yet, his sudden withdrawal had shattered her. She couldn't understand why he had pushed her away when every part of her was yearning to be close to him.

In the quiet of his study, Madhav tried to calm himself, focusing on the advice the temple pandit had given him in his flashback. The curse would not allow them to be truly together until the day of Naag Panchami, when Kavya, as Parvati, would perform the ritual to awaken the Naagmani's power within him. Until then, any act of intimacy between them would only bring pain and suffering.

Madhav knew he had to stay away from her, to protect both of them from the curse's wrath. But the pain of separation was almost as unbearable as the pain of their kiss. Every moment he spent away from her, he felt the emptiness growing inside him, a void that only Kavya could fill.

He reached for his phone, his fingers hovering over her name. He wanted to call her, to hear her voice, to explain everything. But how could he? How could he tell her about the curse, about the pain he was enduring because of their past lives? How could he make her understand that it was for her own good that they stayed apart?

Kavya, on the other hand, sat alone in her room, staring at her phone, waiting for a message or a call that never came. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong, that Madhav was hiding something from her. The connection they had felt at the party, the intensity of their kiss, had been real-she was sure of it. But why had he pulled away? Why was he avoiding her now?

As she lay down, trying to find solace in sleep, the memories of the kiss replayed in her mind. She could still feel the warmth of his lips, the way his hands had held her so gently, so protectively. It was more than just a kiss; it had felt like a promise, a promise of something greater, something eternal. But now, all that remained was confusion and a gnawing sense of loss.

In his study, Madhav finally gave in to the exhaustion that had been pulling at him. As he drifted into sleep, the pain in his chest dulled, but it never fully went away. It was a constant reminder that the curse was still in effect, that their love was still bound by the chains of their past.

As his eyes closed, he made a silent vow. "I will endure this pain, Kavya. For you, for us. I will do whatever it takes to protect you, even if it means keeping my distance. But when the time comes, when the curse is broken, I will love you with all my heart, just as I did before. And this time, nothing will tear us apart."

But for now, they both had to endure the pain, the longing, and the uncertainty, not knowing that their trials were far from over and that the curse still had many challenges in store for them before they could find their way back to each other.