The museum was buzzing with excitement. Prerna Agarwal, a college student, walked through its grand halls . This trip was supposed to be a fun escape, but something about this place felt like it was calling to her.
The highlight of the museum was...
The grand hall of the Kahilya Kingdom reverberated with the heavy clang of swords as soldiers practiced in the courtyard outside. Inside the royal court, the air was thick with tension. Seated on an intricately carved throne, King Bhanu Kshatriya listened intently to the grievances of his people. However, all eyes often turned to the man standing beside him—PRINCE PRITHVIRAJ KSHATRIYA.
Tall, with a commanding presence and piercing dark eyes, Prithviraj was the embodiment of authority and power. His reputation as a ruthless warrior preceded him, and his word in the court was often considered law. Despite his father being the reigning king, Prithviraj’s strategic mind and sharp instincts had earned him unparalleled respect.
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I stood in the grand hall of the Kahilya Kingdom, the sound of swords clashing in the courtyard outside echoing in my ears. My father, King Bhanu Kshatriya, sat on his throne, listening to the grievances of the court, his eyes heavy with the weight of his duties. But no matter how much I respected my father, there were times when his decisions were too slow, too careful. In moments like these, my word mattered more than his.
I could feel the eyes of the court on me, waiting for my response. A missing child—again. This was the fifth case in two weeks, and I could feel the unease building within me.
“vistaar se bataiye,” I ordered coldly, my voice cutting through the murmur of the court. ( Tell me in details)
The minister, clearly nervous, spoke up. "Bachhe Parthiva ke jungle ke paas se gayab hua hai, Rajkumar. Gawahon ka kehna hai ki wahan kuch ajeeb saaye dekhe gaye. Aur... jo hamara jasus tha, woh bhi gayab ho gaya." ("The children disappeared near the forest bordering Parthiva, Your Highness. Witnesses claim to have seen strange figures. And... even our spy sent to investigate has vanished.")
My eyes narrowed. Parthiva. The name alone stirred something deep within me. I didn’t trust them, not one bit.
“Parthiva,” I repeated, my voice low, filled with suspicion.
My father interjected, trying to rein me in. "Prithviraj, humein sambhal kar chalna hoga. Bina saboot ke hum kisi padosi rajya par ilzaam nahi laga sakte. Isse jung ho sakti hai." ("Prithviraj, we must tread carefully. We cannot accuse a neighboring kingdom without solid proof. It could lead to war.")
I turned my gaze to him, unyielding. "Saboot milega, Pitaji. Main dhoondh loonga." ("Evidence will be found, Father. I’ll ensure it.")
With that, I left the court, my mind already racing.
That night, I discarded my princely attire and donned a black cloak, hiding my face with a scarf. I had no need for the throne’s power when I could move in the shadows, solving problems my own way, without the constraints of rules or titles. The people whispered about a mysterious figure—the "Black Shadow"—but none knew that it was me, the ruthless prince of Kahilya, working in the dark to protect my kingdom.
