Shivansh couldn't shake off the thoughts haunting his mind since that night.
Questions swirled within him, each more confusing than the last.
"What is happening to me? Who was that man, and why was he asking me such strange questions? What does he want from me? Is this a dream or reality? And most importantly-– who can I even talk to about this?"
Lost in deep thought, he stepped outside. His mind was still tangled in confusion when he spotted Lucky waiting for him.
The moment Lucky saw Shivansh,he knew something was off. His friend looked completely absorbed, oblivious to the world around him.
Frowning, Lucky stepped forward and gave Shivansh a slight nudge. "Hey! What's up with you? Where you lost?"
Shivansh snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Lucky. For a moment, he hesitated. Should he tell him? Should he share the bizarre dreams, the strange tests, the mysterious yogi? The burden of it all was becoming too much to bear alone.
Taking a deep breath, he finally decided– it was time to tell Lucky everything.
He struggled to find the right words and glanced at Lucky, who now watching him with raised eyebrows waiting for an explanation.
"Lucky.... have you ever had a dream so real that it felt like more than just a dream?"
Lucky burst into laughter. "Bro, I dream of eating unlimited pizzas and burgers with extra cheese every night. Feels real until I wake up hungry."
Shivansh shook his head, a small smile forming on his lips, but his expression quickly turned serious. "No I mean something... different. A dream that feels like a message.... or a warning."
Lucky immediately noticed the shift in his tone and grew serious too. "Wait, are you actually serious? What kind of dream are we talking about?"
Shivansh hesitated for a moment, then glanced around to make sure no one was listening. Lowering his voice, he spoke.
"For the past two nights, I've been seeing this... old man. But he's not just any old
man–he looks ancient like he has lived for centuries. First he tested my strength. Then, last night, tested my mind. And every time I try to ask him who he is.... I wake up!"
Lucky's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Dude.... are you telling me some old sage is giving you pop quizzes in your dreams?
That's next-level weired."
Shivansh nodded. "Exactly! And the weirdest part? It doesn't feel like just a dream. It feels real, like it's actually happening somewhere beyond this world.
Lucky rubbed his chin, pretending to be a detective. "Hmmm... so, either you have watching way too many historical dramas...
or something really freaky is going on."
Shivansh's expression darkened. "Lucky, I'm not joking. I feel... different. Like something inside me is waking up."
Lucky's playful smirk faded . He hand never seen Shivansh this serious before.
"Okay, bro. If this is real, we need to figure out what's happening to you.
Maybe these dreams mean something.
Maybe... they're trying to tell you who you really are."
A heavy silence followed.
"Who am I really?"
That question had been haunting
Shivansh too. And even more terrifying –
Was he really to find out?
The two of them sat on a nearby bench , their minds racing.
Lucky broke the silence. "There has to be a way to meet that yogi in real life. He's appearing in your dreams for a reason, right?"
Shivansh let out a frustrated sigh. "I don't know, Lucky! I don't even understand if this is real or just my imagination. I have no clue how to reach him."
Lucky tapped his fingers on the bench, thinking. "Come on, bro! Think! Maybe there's some place, some sign, something unusual that could help us find him?"
Shivansh shook his head. "I've thought about it over and over, but nothing makes sense. It's like he only comes when he wants to... I have no control over it."
Before Lucky could respond, a sudden gust of wind howled through the air. The dust swirled around them, and dark clouds rapidly gathered in the sky.
Lucky jumped. "What the– ? Why did the weather change so suddenly?"
Shivansh shot up from the bench, his heart pounding. Something was coming.
He could feel it.
And then– out of nowhere – the yogi appeared.
His presence was overwhelming. Ab ancient, unshakable power radiated from him. His tall frame stood unmoving despite the raging wind, and his piercing gaze looked onto Shivansh.
Lucky's voice was barely above a whisper. "Shivansh... Is this him? The yogi from your dreams?"
Shivansh swallowed hard, his throat dry.
He could barely believe in his own eyes.
"Yes," he whispered. "It's him."
Lucky took a step back, his mind struggling to process what was happening. "He's.... real?"
Shivansh exhaled shakily. "More real than I ever imagined."
Before they could speak further, the yogi's deep voice resonated through the air.
"Shivansh, the time has come. You must come with me. That is the only way to learn the truth."
Shivansh froze.
Lucky, suddenly snapping out of his shock, stepped forward. "Wait a second! He's not going anywhere alone. If he goes, I go too!"
Shivansh looked at Lucky in surprise, but before he could say anything, Lucky grabbed his wrist tightly.
The yogi narrowed his eyes. "The path is not for ordinary men."
Lucky's jaa tightened. I don't care. He's my friend. I won't let him go alone."
A brief moment of silence passed before the yogi gave a small nod.
"Very well," he said. "But know this– once you step into my world, there is no turning back."
Before they could react, the yogi raised his hand, chanting an ancient mantra.
A powerful light surrounded them, and in the blink of an eye, they vanished.
Blinding golden light engulfed Shivansh and Lucky. For a moment, they felt weightless, as if drifting through nothingness. And then–
A sudden jolt.
They hit the ground hard.
A strange, unnatural silence surrounded them. As they opened their eyes, an entirely different world stretched before them.
Towering stone pillars covered in glowing runes stood beneath a sky that was neither day not night– a twilight realm swirling with galaxies. Waterfalls defined gravity, flowing upward. The air buzzed with unseen energy, making their skin tingle.
Lucky's voice was barely above a whisper.
"Where the hell are we?"
Shivansh's heart pounded. The very ground beneath them seemed... alive.
From the shadows of a distant temple, a faint chant echoed – like a whisper calling out to them.
The yogi turned, his gaze sharp.
"Welcome to the realm beyond mortal sight," he said calmly. "Your true journey begins here."
A shiver ran down Shivansh's spine.
There was no turning back now.