The mansion stood in stunned silence. The air had turned thick, almost electric, as the dark witch Taamsi began to clap slowly — the sharp sound of her palms echoing through the grand hall like mockery itself.
"Well, what a beautiful narration," she purred, her lips curving into a serpentine smile. "Susheela, I told you my secret, and you went ahead and whispered it to Kiara. How... disappointing."
Kiara stood tall beside Yuvaan, her hand still clutching his, while Susheela — weak and frightened — trembled near the stairs.
Yuvaan's crimson eyes gleamed. "That means… I'm from the Reeva clan too."
The revelation struck like thunder. Vikram, Varun, and Mishka turned toward him in disbelief.
Taamsi's smile widened. "Yes, Yuvaan. You are Reeva by blood. Your father's mother wasn't Chandrika, as everyone believes, but Vasundhara — a fierce Reeva hunter who fell in love with your grandfather, Prashant Pratap Singh. She died soon after giving birth to your father, Pramad. Later, Prashant married Chandrika, who gave birth to Vinod."
Chandrika's eyes welled up. "It's true… Pramad was my stepson," she whispered faintly.
Taamsi laughed softly, seating herself elegantly on the couch, crossing her legs like a queen on her throne. "Such a lovely day for revelations, isn't it? Perhaps I should share a few more truths before this night ends."
Her gaze darkened. "The first isn't about Yuvaan… but about my own son."
The family froze.
Taamsi raised her hand and pointed toward Angad. "Yes, Angad. You."
Angad's face turned pale. "What… what are you saying?"
A slow, venomous smile curved Taamsi's lips. "You are my child, Angad. Mine and Vinod's. When I took Susheela's form, I seduced your father, and you were born. You carry my blood."
The room erupted in gasps. Angad staggered back, shaking his head. "No! That's not true! That means I'm—"
Chandrika rushed to him, her trembling hands cupping his face. "You are my grandson, Angad. The blood of this family flows in you. Not hers. Not that witch's."
"Moti Baa…" Angad's voice broke as he hugged her tightly, burying his face against her shoulder.
Taamsi clapped again, mocking their emotions. "What a touching scene! Such familial warmth — it almost makes me sick."
Yuvaan took a step forward, anger burning through his veins. "Enough! You killed my father. You drove my mother insane. You tried to kill Kiara. Why, Taamsi? Why destroy everything that ever mattered to me?"
Taamsi rose from the couch with regal grace, her eyes glowing an eerie green. "Why? Oh, Yuvaan… that's not all I did."
Her voice slithered like poison. "I lived in this mansion for years under Susheela's face. I whispered lies into Vinod's ears, turned him against you. I made sure he blamed you for every misfortune — your father's death, your mother's madness, the family's downfall."
Yuvaan's fists clenched.
Taamsi continued with a cruel grin. "I poisoned Aakash and Riddhi's minds too, taught them to mock you, to make you hate yourself. I made your childhood a living nightmare. I wanted your heart to rot with loneliness."
Tears welled in Yuvaan's eyes as long-buried memories clawed their way back — the darkness of locked rooms, Aakash's laughter echoing from outside, Riddhi's cruel taunts, Bhoomi's cries for her child.
Kiara stepped closer, her hand gently brushing his arm, her voice trembling. "Yuvaan…"
Taamsi's laughter cut through the air. "You all must wonder why I went through so much trouble for one child. The answer is simple — because Yuvaan was born to destroy me."
Everyone turned toward her, confused.
Taamsi raised her hand, dark mist swirling around her fingers. "Yuvaan was born with two souls. The gods cheated. They made him Kaal's reincarnation — the Lord of Shadows — but they also tied him to the Reeva bloodline. I realized that if he grew surrounded by love, the light in his blood would awaken… and he would walk the path of purity. So, I made sure that never happened."
She smirked, eyes gleaming like molten jade. "Hatred, pain, rejection — those were my gifts to you, Yuvaan. And they worked. On your twelfth birthday, your powers awakened."
Yuvaan's eyes widened. "That night…"
Taamsi smiled darkly. "Yes. That night. No one celebrated you. Everyone celebrated Aakash's school success. And when the fire broke out, everyone was saved… except you. You screamed for help while the flames surrounded you. But your mother — that mad woman — still came for you. When she was caught in the blaze, your fear… your love… your despair awakened Kaal's power within you. The fire bowed before you. You saved Bhoomi that night, but you also saved me."
Her laughter echoed through the mansion, sharp and terrible.
Kiara's eyes filled with tears as she looked at Yuvaan — his head lowered, his face a storm of grief and guilt.
"You were never cursed," she whispered, clutching his hand. "You were made to believe you were. But your soul… your heart… it's stronger than her darkness."
Taamsi's voice thundered across the hall. "No, child. You're wrong. He is mine! His destiny is darkness, and the war between light and shadow begins with him!"