Darkness. An all-consuming void.
My breath is shallow, quickening with each intake. My chest rises and falls erratically, in sync with the pounding rhythm in my head.
Huff. Huff...
Where am I? Why is it so dark?
I could swear I went to sleep in my bed last night. But this place—this oppressive darkness—this is not my room.
Ahh!
A sharp pain sears through my skull, like an invisible vice tightening around my temples. And my back… it feels like it's been crushed under a thousand pounds.
I shouldn't have trained chest and back together at the gym yesterday. My body is a mess. I don't have the energy to get up. Maybe I should just rest a bit longer...
A few hours later...
yawns
My eyes flutter open. I blink, trying to adjust to the dim light that has somehow pierced through the darkness. My surroundings are still unfamiliar, shadowy.
Then, a voice—soft but firm—breaks the silence.
"Oh, you're awake. That's good."
Startled, I squint into the gloom, trying to locate the source. A figure slowly materializes—a woman. As my vision sharpens, I make out her features, and my pulse quickens.
"Who are you?" I stammer, anxiety creeping into my voice. "Where am I?"
She watches me with calm, steady eyes, almost as if trying to reassure me. Her voice is soothing, almost serene.
"Don't be anxious. This is my home. You can call me Keshini."
Her features become clearer—she seems to be in her late twenties, exuding a quiet strength that makes me even more uneasy. Realization hits. How did I get here? And why?
Every muscle in my body tenses, questions flooding my mind, each one more pressing than the last.
"Could you please get me some water? I'm a bit thirsty," I manage to ask, my voice shaky.
Keshini nods. "Okay."
Her tone is gentle, but there's something oddly formal about it. She rises gracefully and disappears into the shadows, presumably to fetch water.
As she leaves, I'm left alone with my spiraling thoughts. What the hell is going on? Who is this woman, and what does she want from me?
Her way of speaking feels strange—almost familiar, yet not quite right. It's not exactly Hindi, but a curious mix of Hindi and Sanskrit.
And this place—her "home"—it's not a modern house. The walls are rough, made of uneven stone, and the air is thick with the scent of earth and damp wood. There's no sign of electricity or appliances—just primitive, raw living.
This place feels like it belongs to another time, another era.
Keshini returns with a small clay cup of water. As she hands it to me, I notice two children peeking out from a corner of the hut, their eyes wide with curiosity. The boy looks about twelve, the girl no older than six or seven.
"Are they your children?" I ask, nodding toward them.
Keshini follows my gaze and smiles warmly. "Yes, they are. The boy is Devraj, and the little girl is Bhumika."
I force a smile in their direction, trying to appear friendly, but they just stare at me with intense curiosity, as if I'm some strange creature they've never seen before.
Keshini turns back to me, her expression thoughtful.
"Well, you haven't told me your name yet."
I blink, caught off guard.
"Oh, right! Sorry for the late introduction. My name is... my name is..."
My voice trails off.
A wave of panic washes over me.
What's happening? Why can't I remember my own name?
My chest tightens, and my mind races as anxiety grips me. How is this even possible?
Keshini notices my distress and places a comforting hand on my shoulder.
"Don't worry. Take your time. Maybe you hit your head when you were drowning, and that's why you're having trouble remembering."
Her words echo in my mind—drowning?
"Drowning? Was I really drowning? Where?"
She nods, her expression serious.
"In the Yamuna River. That's where my son found you. Devraj went to the Yamuna with Bhumika to wash clothes, and they saw you struggling in the water. He pulled you out just in time."
A wave of confusion hits me.
The Yamuna? Drowning?
None of this makes sense.
"I'm sorry, I don't remember any of that, but thank you for saving my life."
I glance over at Devraj and give him a nod of gratitude. He still looks at me with the same curious expression, but he nods back.
Something feels wrong.
Drowning in the Yamuna? Is that even possible?
I know the Delhi government recently lowered the water level of the Yamuna for metro construction. It should be impossible to drown there now. And I remember going to sleep in my own bed last night.
This doesn't add up. Is she trying to deceive me? Or... could this be some kind of lucid dream?
No. Looking around the dimly lit hut, it feels too real, too vivid to be a dream.
"Keshini, could you please tell me the name of this place? Since I'm having trouble remembering."
"This is the outskirts of Dillikapur, near the Yamuna," she replies without hesitation.
"Dillikapur? Do you mean... Delhi?"
"What is Delhi? It's called Dhillika," she says, her tone doubtful.
"Oh! Yes, Dhillika," I respond, exhausted.
I'm not sure if this is the same Dhillika from a thousand years ago. If it is, then I'm in what will eventually become Delhi, but I have no idea exactly where I am.
That could be a problem. I need to go outside and figure out where I am.
"Keshini, could you please tell me where the Yamuna is? I want to see where I was drowning."
"The Yamuna is about 300 meters from this village," she replies, pointing to my right.
She whispers something to Devraj. After a moment, she says:
"If you want to go, Devraj will take you. You seem curious for some reason. It might help you remember something."
"Thank you for your help," I say gratefully.
As I walk with Devraj through the village, I notice many huts, all similar to Keshini's but smaller.
A few minutes later, we reach the river—about a kilometer wide.
I'm flabbergasted.
[Two Weeks Later]
"Stop daydreaming, Tushar! Come and help me!"
A cute little girl no older than seven interrupts my thoughts.
"Ah, my bad. Sorry, Bhumika," I say, turning to see her pouting at me. I grin at her.
"What did you bring me today?"
She hands me a mango with a smile.
"This!"
"Thank you!" I reply, smiling.
Over the past two weeks, I've formed a great bond with her. Thanks to Bhumika, I've learned much about this world and gathered enough information to make sense of my situation.
After asking her countless questions, I learned that this Dhillika is ruled by the Tomar dynasty—putting the time around 1024 CE. Based on what I know, the Tomars ruled Dhillika roughly 1,000 years ago.
This confirms my suspicion: I've somehow traveled back in time.
Strangely, I still can't remember my name. I remember everything else, but my name seems to escape me. In the meantime, I've adopted the name Tushar, which belonged to my best friend.
Keshini seems suspicious of the name, but it can't be helped.
Today is the day Keshini's husband, Akshat, is supposed to return from the capital. She mentioned that he's the chief blacksmith there and works for the lord.
That explains why their house is larger than the others and why they enjoy a higher status in the village.
While lost in thought, Bhumika suddenly jumps up, her face lighting up with joy.
"Father!"
I turn to see a tall man, around 6'1" with broad shoulders, heading toward the house. His deep voice booms with warmth as he calls out:
"Oh, my sweet Bhumika!"
He kneels down, catching her in a warm embrace.
"Namaste, Akshat," I greet him, trying to make sense of everything.
Akshat's smile fades as he turns to me.
"Who are you?" His voice, still deep, becomes more serious. "And what are you doing here?"
Before I can respond, Keshini steps in.
"He's our guest. Devraj saved him from drowning in the Yamuna. He's lost his memory."
I nod politely, though my thoughts are racing.
It's been a few days since I arrived, and this village is starting to feel like a prison—quiet, monotonous, and isolated from the rest of the world.
The villagers survive on boiled food and fruit, with no luxuries like salt or oil, which are reserved for the wealthy or village elders.
But Akshat—he might be my way out.
I've overheard gossip that he's preparing for a trip to the capital to forge weapons for the soldiers in anticipation of an invasion from the west.
If I go with him, I might uncover where—or when—I truly am.
Akshat's frown deepens.
"Who is this 'Tushar,' and why is he staying here?"
Keshini quickly explains.
"I told you, our son saved him from drowning. He's lost his memory and is staying until he recovers."
Akshat crosses his arms.
"But what are we supposed to do with him?"
Keshini replies, her voice tinged with irritation:
"Take him with you to the capital. Present him to your lord. Look at him—tall, fair-skinned, well-groomed. He looks like someone of noble birth or a wealthy merchant's son. There could be value in him," she finishes, her tone sharp but calculated. Akshat studies me, his eyes narrowing. "Hmph. You don't look like a farmer or a peasant. But still—taking you to the capital is a risk. I don't know what the lord will say."
"I understand," I reply calmly. "But I need answers. And maybe... your lord can help me find them."
He doesn't respond immediately. Instead, he turns away and walks toward the hut, his heavy steps stirring dust from the floor. Keshini watches him, then turns to me.
"You'll need to prove yourself," she whispers. "He doesn't trust easily."
That night...
I lie on the cold floor, the flickering fire casting shadows on the stone walls. Devraj sleeps beside Bhumika, their soft breaths the only sound in the quiet hut. My mind races.
If I really am in the 11th century, then I'm far away from everything I've ever known—family, friends, technology... even my identity.
But one thing is clear: I can't stay here forever.
If I want answers, I'll have to earn Akshat's trust and join him on his journey to the capital. Only then might I learn how I got here—and possibly how to get back.
Or worse...
What if I'm never going back?
The Next Morning
The village is already buzzing. Smoke curls from cooking fires, and villagers carry baskets of grain and bundles of firewood. I step out into the morning light, stretching. My body still aches, but it feels stronger.
Keshini hands me a bundle of clothes. "You'll need to wear this if you want to blend in," she says. "You stick out too much in your modern clothes."
I unfold the outfit—a simple tunic and dhoti, coarse but comfortable. I nod and step inside to change.
Minutes later, I emerge dressed like the others. Devraj gives me a thumbs-up, grinning.
"You look like a proper villager now," he teases.
Suddenly, a voice booms from the other side of the village.
"Tushar! Come with me."
It's Akshat. He's waiting by a cart loaded with tools, ropes, and supplies. Two oxen stand harnessed, ready for travel.
"I leave in two hours," he says flatly. "If you really want to come to the capital, you'll help me prepare. Prove you're not dead weight."
I nod without hesitation. "Yes, sir."
Two hours later...
The cart creaks as it begins to roll forward. I sit on the edge beside Akshat, the village fading behind us. Bhumika runs after us for a few steps, waving enthusiastically.
"Come back with gifts!" she shouts.
I smile and wave. "I will!"
As we pass the edge of the forest and the canopy opens to reveal the horizon, a strange sensation floods my chest—nervousness... and excitement.
This journey could be my path to the truth.
Or it could be the beginning of something far greater.
Whatever lies ahead in the capital of Dhillika, I'm ready to face it.