Am I back one year ago?

Kashi's eyes fluttered open, her chest heaving as her heart pounded against her ribs. For a moment, she lay frozen, caught between the remnants of a dream and the stark reality of her surroundings. She drew in a sharp breath, her lungs burning as though she had been submerged in water for too long. Her trembling fingers clutched at the soft, silk sheets beneath her, seeking an anchor to steady her spiraling thoughts.

The faint scent of jasmine and sandalwood lingered in the room, delicate yet almost suffocating in her heightened state of awareness. The familiar fragrance should have brought comfort, but instead, it stirred an unsettling ache deep within her. Her vision swam, the edges of the room blurring as she blinked rapidly to clear the haze.

With a shaky exhale, Kashi pushed herself upright, her body slick with sweat and her brow damp. She pressed a trembling hand to her forehead, her fingers brushing over the cool, clammy surface of her skin. Her breath came in shallow gasps, and a soft tremor ran through her as she tried to calm the relentless pounding of her heart. The room felt suffocating, and the faint scent of jasmine and sandalwood that usually soothed her only heightened her unease.

"It was just a nightmare," she whispered to herself, her voice trembling with uncertainty. Her words hung in the air, fragile and unconvincing. Her fingers gripped the edge of the bed tightly, the pressure grounding her momentarily in the present. Yet, no matter how firmly she tried to reassure herself, the thought of Veer being hurt refused to leave her mind. The vivid flashes of her nightmare replayed in her head, tugging at her resolve.

Her pulse quickened as she made a decision. She couldn't sit here, paralyzed by fear. She had to check on him. The image of Veer, vulnerable and in pain, lingered like a haunting specter, fueling her resolve. Her lips pressed into a thin line, and her trembling hands clenched into fists as she steadied herself. Whatever it was—a premonition, a bad dream, or just her overactive imagination—she wouldn't let it rest until she knew he was safe.

Just as she swung her legs over the side of the bed, her bare feet brushing the cool floor, a familiar voice pierced through the suffocating silence, interrupting her thoughts.

"Rajkumari, should I call a physician? You don't seem well," Radha said, her voice filled with concern as she moved closer to Kashi.

Kashi blinked at her, confusion clouding her features. "Rajkumari?" she echoed, her tone uncertain, as though the title was unfamiliar to her.

She glanced around the room, her heart pounding. The grand tapestries hanging on the walls, the ornate furniture, and the golden glow of the oil lamps—it all seemed foreign, yet strangely familiar, like a half-remembered dream. Her fingers gripped the edge of the bed tightly as her voice wavered.

"What am I doing here? Sarkarji… where is he?" Kashi asked, her eyes wide and searching.

Radha sighed softly, a mix of worry and irritation crossing her face. "Rajkumari, have your feelings clouded your judgment so much that you're still looking for him?" she asked gently, her tone hesitant but firm. "When will you accept that he is married? Holding onto this will only bring you pain."

Kashi's chest tightened at Radha's words, each one cutting deeper than the last. She felt the weight of reality crashing down on her, but still, the thought of him refused to leave her mind.

Radha's expression softened, but her voice carried a quiet warning. "If you keep dwelling on this, Rajkumari, how will you prepare yourself for the Nights-of-Royals? Those nights demand strength, composure, and focus. You cannot afford to lose yourself over what you cannot have."

Kashi kept listening to Radha's words, but they seemed to blur together, their meaning slipping past her as though carried away by the wind. Nothing made sense. Her heartbeat echoed loudly in her ears, drowning out everything else. Slowly, almost instinctively, she rose from the bed, her legs unsteady beneath her.

Drawn toward the mirror, she stopped and stared at her reflection. Her breath caught in her throat as she took in the sight before her. She wasn't draped in the heavy, jewel-toned silk lehengas she once wore as queen. Instead, she found herself in a simple pastel lehenga, soft and unadorned, its muted tones a stark contrast to the dark, commanding colors she had grown accustomed to.

The pastel hues seemed to whisper of youth and innocence, a time untouched by the burdens of the crown or the weight of her title. It felt foreign yet familiar, like a memory she could almost reach but couldn't grasp.

Her hands brushed over the fabric lightly, her fingers trembling. Why this? Why now? Her reflection looked back at her, vulnerable and stripped of the authority she had once carried. The image unsettled her, leaving her unsure of who she was or where she belonged.

Her mind was a battlefield, torn between truth and illusion. Flashes of the past mingled with fragments of the present, and the lines between dream and reality blurred. Was this real? Or was it just another figment of her imagination?

"Leave me alone," Kashi commanded, her voice steady yet laced with exhaustion.

Radha hesitated for a moment, concern flickering in her eyes, but she didn't argue. With a small bow, she left the room, ushering the maids out behind her.

The silence that followed felt heavy, almost suffocating. Kashi's feet carried her aimlessly across the room, her gaze flitting over the familiar surroundings. It was the same room in her parents' house—the one she had spent her youth in. The faint scent of jasmine and sandalwood lingered, weaving memories of simpler days.

Her eyes moved to the walls, where portraits hung in quiet reverence. They were all of Veer Chauhan, the King of Udaipur, his regal presence captured in every brushstroke. Her admiration for him was evident in the way the room was adorned—each piece carefully placed as if in homage.

Kashi stopped in front of one portrait, her fingers brushing lightly against the frame. Veer's sharp eyes and poised expression seemed to gaze back at her, as though he were watching her every move. The adoration she once felt for him came rushing back, yet it mixed with a deep sense of confusion and longing.

Unable to stand the weight of her thoughts, she turned and let herself fall back onto the bed. Her gaze locked onto the ceiling as her mind churned with the events unfolding around her.

"Am I dreaming this?" she murmured softly, her voice barely audible.

She pinched her arm, the sharp sting making her flinch. "This is reality, Kashi," she whispered to herself, her tone uncertain, as though saying it aloud would make it more believable.

But no matter how much she tried to ground herself, the dissonance lingered. She couldn't grasp the threads of what was happening. It all felt surreal, like a waking dream that refused to release her.

The words Radha had spoken earlier began to echo in her mind, reverberating like a haunting melody she couldn't escape. They twisted and turned, wrapping themselves around her thoughts, pulling her deeper into the turmoil.

The Nights of Royals.

What did Radha mean? Kashi's brows furrowed as the phrase circled her mind. Her thoughts raced, trying to untangle the knots of confusion. I was? she repeated to herself. If she was truly preparing for the Nights of Royals now, then that could only mean one thing.

Her pulse quickened. That event… she remembered it vividly. It was exactly one year ago. The night she had finally made peace with Chavi's existence. The night she had reluctantly attended the grand royal gathering, determined to push past her resentment.

Her mind spiraled as fragmented memories began to surface. That was the same event, she recalled, her breath hitching. The night when Chavi…

Kashi's eyes widened, her stomach knotting at the memory. Chavi had choked on her drink, her hands clawing at her throat as crimson blood spilled from her lips. The sound of Veer's anguished cries echoed in her mind, a sound she could never forget. The sight of his heartbreak, his desperation—it had stayed with her like a ghost.

Her hand shot to her throat instinctively as another realization struck her like a lightning bolt. Wait, what? Her mind reeled.

Chavi had choked… like me… and Veer.

The image of herself gasping for air, blood staining her lips, flooded her thoughts. Her body froze as the pieces began to fall into place. It was too similar, too haunting. Her breaths came in short gasps as a sickening sense of familiarity washed over her.

"What… What is this?" she whispered, her voice shaking. She couldn't understand, couldn't piece it together.

Her eyes darted around the room again, her mind desperately clinging to logic, but none of it made sense. Am I back? she thought, panic creeping into her chest.

Am I back one year ago?