NISCHHAL 'S POV :

As consciousness slowly returned to me , my mind raced with questions.

" woh kaun log the jinhone mere papa ko mara."

"Who were the people who killed my father ?"

I clenched my fists , feeling the familiar burn of rage within me . Before I could dwell on it further , Rani sa's voice cut through my thoughts .

" waha chal kar apko sab kuch pta chal jayega .......... aap bas humare sath chaliye ."

"You will find out soon enough ....Just come with me ."

I turned to face her , my gaze sharp and unwavering .

"vo kya samjhti hai khud ko jo mujhe orders de eahi hai ."

"who does she think she is giving me orders ?

My voice came out cold ,carrying the weight of my defiance.

"mujhe mat bataiye kya karna hai . mai vahi karti hu jo mera man chahta hai aur aage bhi vahi karungi ."

"Donot try to command me . I do only what I want , and I will always do so."

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Snapping of my thoughts , I realised I was sitting inside a long , luxurious car . The bright sunlight outside confirmed where I was - Rajasthan. That much of obvious -the endless stretch of golden sand was unmistakable . My eyes shifted to the women beside me .

Netra Rathod . Or as they called her - Raani Maa .

She was younger than I had expected , beautiful even , eerily similar to mine , held no emotion . cold and unreadable . Just like mine . Just like me.

A strange feeling settled in my chest . I had always wondered why I was different from my family - why never fit in . I had spent my childhood listening to my parents and younger sister, Nibha , talk about their similarities . And every time , a single question burned in my mind : Why I am so different from them ?

Now I finally knew.

"Because I was never theirs to begin with ."

I closed my eyes , exhaling slowly , and leaned back against the seat .Before shutting off my phone ,I sent a message to someone - shubh whose name brought a sense of familiarity amidst all the chaos .

A sudden jolt shook the car , and it came to an abrupt stop with a loud screech . my body tensed , but I quickly composed myself . Netra , however , remained still unfazed by the sudden halt .

Outside , I could hear muffled shouts . Something was wrong .

My voice was sharp as I asked , "What's happening outside ? What is that noice ?"

Netra Rathod remained silent . yes , netra rathod.... because mai comfortable nahi hu unhe maa kehne me aur unhone aesa koi khas kaam bhi nahi kiya jissse mai unhe maa kehkar pukaru .

she reamined silent as if she didn't hear me at all . Before I could snap at her , the driver - who , I now realised was actually a guard - spoke up .

" Raani Maa , aap car ke andar hi baithe . hum sambhal lenge . "

In respond she give a small nod , and the immediately stepped out .

I wasn't someone who waited for answers . my patience had long since worn thin . Without hesitation , I reached for the door handle , but before I could step out , her [ netra rathod ] hand clamped around my wrist .

" aap bahar nahi jaa sakti ," she said firmly ."

I yanked my arm free , my voice laced with irritation."don't tell me what to do or what not to do . and most important dont 't touch me ."

Without sparing her another glance, I pushed , open the door and stepped out .

The sight before me made my breath hitch.

Bodies lay scattered across the sand , their lifeless forms soaked in blood . The golden dunes were stained crimson as if the desert itself was bleeding . It was a massacre.

And in the middle of it all , Netra's guards were locked in a fierce battle with an unknown group -both sides fighting with merciless brutality .

Before I could process process the scene fully , I sensed movement behind me . Instinct kicked in. My turned sharply just as a sword came swinging towards me . My body moved on its own , my arm shooting up to block the attack . Steel met steel with a sharp clang , and for a brief moment , time seemed to slow .

"NISCHAL"

Netra rathod's voice rang through the chaos , but I had no time to acknowledge it .

The man front of me was strong , his stance deadly . He had meant to kill me . If I had been a second late , his sword would have cut straight through me.

Fool

With practised ease ,I twisted my wrist , disarming him in a single swift motion. Before he could react , I forced him down onto his knees, pressing the cold edge of sword against the back of his neck .

My voice was steady , filled with quiet menace.

"A coward like you.... attacking from behind. how shameful."

I let out a dry chuckle before continuing ," I once read that rajput's never strike unarmed . And Since I now know tat I am a rajput , my conscience won't allow me to kill you in such a pathetic state...."

But I wasn't going to let him go , either.

All around me , the battle had nearly ended . netra's guards had sluaghtered most of the enemy . only this man remained .

My mind flashed back to something I had read before in that diary .

" kuch rakt apko bhi bahana hoga nischal , kabhi khud ki raksha mein to kabhi apne rajya ki suraksha ke liye ."

(Trans: Some blood you will spill for yourself , Nischal ...... and some for the protection of your kingdom...")

And yes , this was the truth . Today , it was the time to spill blood for myself .

I let go of my sword , letting it fall into the sand . Then I met the man's gaze and nodded towards it .

"pick it up."

Shame flickered across his face , but he did as I commanded .

I stepped back , giving him the chance to fight . I saw the fire in his eyes - the same fire burned within me . He lunged and the duel began .

Sword clashed against sword . Blow after blow , neither of us relented . He was skilled , but so was I . The heat of Rjasthan's merciless sun bore down on us , but I barely felt it.

Netra rathod was watching me, I could feel it.

She had assumed I was fragile , that I would need training . But with every move I made , I saw the surprise in her eyes .

She didn't know .

She didn't know that I had spent years preparing myself, training in secret . That I was already a warrior .

My opponent was losing . he was bleeding heavily , his movements slowing . And in one clash , his sword flew from his hands, landing far away in the sand . He fell to his knees , defeated .

Breathing heavily , he looked up at me , his face twisted in pain but his voice steady .

" Ye sirf shuruaat hai . aage isse bhi mushkil raaste hai . sirf aapke dushaman hi nahi aapke aone bhi apki jaan ke pichhe pade hai ........ zindagi pyari hai to jaha se aayi ho laut.....!!!!!!"

(trans : " This is only the biggining the path ahead is far more dangerous than you think . Not just your enemy even those closest to you will seek your life . I f you value it ............ go back to where you came from.")

I didn't let him finish .

With one swift motion , I drove my sword through his throat .

The battlefield fell silent .

Blood dripped from my hands ,saoking into the sand beneath me .my white suit was no longer white - it was stained red .

A single tear slipped down my cheek .

But I quickly wiped it away . there was no room for weakness Not anymore .

TO BE CONTINUED