Whoosh, whoosh...
A strange sound sliced through the warm afternoon air, like something enormous tearing across the sky at an unnatural speed. Shadows danced over the streets of Jaipur's Malviya Nagar, near the bustling Gaurav Tower area. It was 1:00 PM, mid-April, 2016.
A 35-year-old woman, dressed sharply for her office, was sipping juice from a bottle while waiting at the curb. As the swift, eerie shadow zipped past her, she instinctively looked up. Her eyes widened in disbelief.
"What... is that?" she cried out.
Her voice caught the attention of passersby. A middle-aged man nearby frowned and walked over."Are you alright, madam? Why are you shouting like that"?
The woman didn't answer. She simply raised her hand and pointed upward.
Everyone around her followed the direction of her gaze—and gasped.
There, streaking across the bright blue sky, was something enormous and unknown. It moved like lightning, casting a fleeting yet undeniable shadow over the buildings and streets below.
"Maybe... maybe it's an aeroplane?" suggested a street vendor in his forties, flipping a kachori on his hot plate.
A younger man, likely on a lunch break, scoffed. "Aeroplane?Uncle, Jaipur Airport is over six kilometers from here. There's no flight path in this zone. That's not a plane."
An elderly woman, shielding her eyes from the sun, offered another theory. "Could be a giant bird?"
A group of college students laughed. "Daadi, maybe it's SkyMan!"
The elderly woman raised an eyebrow. "What is this SkyMan? A new bird species?"
Another student grinned. "No Daadi, he's not a bird. He's a hero from the NovaVerse films. You should watch SkyMan. Or maybe even DarkShadow."
"Or how about TechTitan?" added another, filming with his phone. A few others began recording too, captivated by the bizarre spectacle.
Up in the sky, about 500 feet above ground, Aarav was flying—or rather, being dragged violently through the air by an invisible force. The air pressure was intense, slamming against his face like a hurricane. Tears streamed from his eyes—not from fear or pain, but simply from the sheer force of the wind.
Buildings whipped past. Once, he collided with the side of one—pain shot through him, and he barely managed to regain balance before crashing into a massive tree. Leaves exploded around him like green confetti.
He was dazed, confused, but somehow still conscious. Everything around him was a blur of motion and noise. For a moment, it felt like he was caught in a dream—or maybe a nightmare.
And then...
Aarav looked straight ahead, as if aware of someone watching.
"Wait… am I really doing this? Talking to someone who's not here?"
He blinked hard, then continued with a sudden spark of realization.
"Hi. I guess I should introduce myself, right?" he said mid-flight, his voice steady despite the chaos. "My name is Aarav Verma. I'm in 9th standard. I study at Devika International School in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan. English medium, if you were wondering. Batch of 2016."
He paused.
"Oh god… Am I breaking the fourth wall now?" he asked, genuinely puzzled. "That's something comic characters do. Am I becoming a comic character too? No-no-no, focus Aarav!"
The wind howled louder as he spun again, narrowly missing the top of a tall billboard. The city below was still buzzing with confusion and fear. No one had any clue what the flying object truly was—or that it was a teenage boy, terrified, bewildered, and completely out of control.
"Okay, okay. Let's think! How do I land? Is there a parachute setting somewhere? Do I scream for help? Wait, wait, maybe this is all a dream. Maybe I fell asleep in math class again and this is just another weird—"
WHAM!
Another tree.
Aarav groaned mid-air, leaves in his hair, clothes fluttering like a kite in a storm. His arms flailed as he tried to balance. "This isn't a dream, is it? No, it feels way too real..."
People on the ground could only stare, phones out, jaws dropped, hearts racing. Some were terrified. Others were amused. And some... were already spinning theories faster than news channels.
Meanwhile, Aarav kept flying. Or falling. Or something in between.
Aarav (breaking the fourth wall):
"Okay, fine! Let me tell you my story. And hey—don't give me that look. You're sitting comfortably on a chair or bed, maybe in a metro, reading about me, while I'm literally zooming 500 feet up in the sky, pushed by winds I never asked to meet! So, I think I deserve a moment to tell you how this all began. And don't worry—I won't make it overly dramatic… maybe just a little."
[Flashback Begins: August 2nd, 2015 – Jodhpur Trip Plan]
Aarav's voice carries us back to a time before the sky turned strange—when life was all about assignments, friends, and silent crushes.
It was just after 11 a.m., and lunch break had ended at Devika International School, 8th Standard, Section A, second floor.
Aarav sat at the last bench, clearly stressed.
"Great. I didn't do that science homework Lalita ma'am gave us," he mumbled, running a hand through his already-messy hair.
Just then, a familiar voice called out—cheerful and slightly loud.
"Dude, what's going on? You didn't even step out during lunch!"
Aarav didn't need to turn to recognize that voice.
Ishaan Kapoor—his best friend since Grade 7. Tall, a bit bulky, always wearing that steel bracelet on his right wrist, and one ear pierced—on the left, of course. Classic Ishaan.
Before Aarav could reply, Ishaan's voice echoed again—this time louder.
"And why do you look like Aastha just found out you like her or something?!"
Every head in the class turned.
Aarav (internally screaming):No. No no no. Not so loud, idiot!
Flustered, Aarav leapt from his chair, stomped toward Ishaan, and punched him lightly on the shoulder.
"Have you completely lost it?! What if someone tells her? Next time, why don't you just yell it through the school's mic system during morning prayer!"
Ishaan realized his blunder instantly.
"Okay, okay, sorry bro! That was... louder than I meant it to be."
Aarav sighed, the panic still on his face.
"Anyway, forget that. Tell me—do you remember the science homework?"
Ishaan blinked. "What homework?"
Just then, they turned toward a calm, focused girl seated in the middle row—Komal Moyal. The class topper. Always the one with the answers.
"Hey, Komal!" Ishaan called out.
Komal, busy solving a math problem, looked up and replied sweetly, "Yes?"
Narrator (to reader):
No, she wasn't sweet on Ishaan. Her voice just always sounded that nice. Don't get ideas.
"Did Lalita Ma'am give any science homework yesterday?" Ishaan asked.
Komal looked over at Aarav, then shook her head. "Nope. Not officially."
Aarav raised his brow. "What do you mean, 'not officially'?"
Komal adjusted her notebook. "Well, she didn't assign anything directly. But before the bell rang yesterday, she distributed those extra worksheets and told us to attempt the first five questions at home. She said she'd check randomly."
Aarav blinked. "Wait… what?! I don't remember any of that."
Ishaan squinted at him suspiciously. "Dude… are you sure you weren't high on cafeteria aloo-tikki or something?"
Just then, another voice chimed in—lightly sarcastic and teasing.
"Oh no. Maybe Aarav's started some sort of mysterious habit we should all be worried about?"
It was Priya Sen, Komal's best friend. She laughed while giving Aarav a mock concerned look.
Aarav groaned. "Oh, come on! What are you even saying, Priya?!"
He dragged himself back to his seat, facepalming.
Narrator (smirking):
The universe may have been planning to throw Aarav 500 feet into the air… but clearly, it decided to start with a little classroom turbulence first.
Everyone was quietly settled in the classroom, each student immersed in their own little world—some scribbling in notebooks, others whispering under their breath, while a few tapped their feet rhythmically, lost in thought. Just then, the door creaked open, and Lalita Ma'am entered with her usual composed yet commanding aura. A girl stood up almost instinctively and greeted, "Good morning, Ma'am."
Her voice was sweet and melodious enough to make even the distracted students snap to attention. Everyone promptly rose to their feet and chorused, "Good morning, Ma'am."
"Sit down," Lalita Ma'am instructed, scanning the room with a half-smile. Before everyone could fully settle back into their seats, the door opened once more, this time revealing not one, but two teachers entering together. In perfect synchronization, the students rose again and greeted them respectfully.
These two women were well-known among the eighth graders. One was Jyoti Shekhawat Ma'am, their math teacher and also the class teacher of Section A—firm, witty, and always two steps ahead of her students. The other was Vinita Sharma Ma'am, who usually taught English and Physics but didn't take any classes for the eighth grade. Her presence was always a mix of elegance and authority, with an undertone of mystery.
The three teachers stood at the front, exchanging cheerful greetings, playful remarks, and soft laughter that stirred curiosity among the students. Aarav leaned slightly toward Ishaan and whispered, "Looks like there's a secret mission going on. Think they're planning to abduct us to another surprise test?"
Ishaan snorted quietly. "If it's a surprise, let's hope it's a pizza party."
Back at the front, Jyoti Ma'am gestured towards Vinita Ma'am. "You should announce it. After all, you're the guest of honor today."
Vinita Ma'am chuckled. "No, no, you go ahead. I'm just here to enjoy the show."
"Hurry up, yaar! My class is slipping away minute by minute," Lalita Ma'am said, shaking her head playfully, trying to suppress a smile.
Their laughter caused a ripple of chuckles to spread among the students. Some of the girls giggled. A few boys tried their best not to burst out laughing.
Finally, Vinita Ma'am took a step forward and addressed the class, her voice calm yet spirited. "Children, as you all know, August 15 is just around the corner. That means we have several school activities lined up. Before going home today, each of you must inform your class teacher about which activities you'd like to participate in. Don't wait till the last minute. We have very little time left to prepare."
Jyoti Ma'am added, her eyes gleaming with enthusiasm, "And now for the announcement I know you'll all love." She paused dramatically, which made even the students at the back sit up straighter.
Just then, Amit raised his hand eagerly and asked, "Ma'am, is there a holiday tomorrow?"
"Oh, you silly goose!" Jyoti Ma'am replied, throwing her hands up. Laughter exploded across the room...
Vinita Ma'am grinned. "This child only dreams of holidays. Ask him what we taught yesterday and he'll go blank. But if it's a break, he's the first to remember."
Ajay, Amit's best friend, nudged him. "Congrats, bro. Got roasted in HD. Just sit quietly now."
The amusement barely died down when a curious girl spoke up, "Ma'am, please tell us the actual announcement now."
With a teasing smile, Jyoti Ma'am said, "Alright, alright! Here it is. Right after the Independence Day celebrations, on the 18th of August, we are going to Jodhpur for a school picnic!"
The class erupted.
Cheers, gasps, and thrilled chatter flooded the room. Even the usually reserved students couldn't contain their excitement.
"Are you serious, Ma'am?" someone shouted from the middle row.
"Absolutely," Vinita Ma'am confirmed. "We'll be traveling by train. After that, a private bus will take us to the hotel. We'll be staying there for an entire week."
"A week?!" Ishaan exclaimed, eyes wide. "We'll be royalty!"
"Hotel mein rukne ka matlab hai... actual beds, no homework, room service?" Aarav asked, half-joking.
"Don't get ahead of yourself," Lalita Ma'am laughed. "There will be discipline too. But yes, you'll get time to explore, bond, and create memories."
"Yeh toh dreamy lag raha hai," Komal said quietly, her eyes lighting up as she imagined the trip.
"Will there be a swimming pool, Ma'am?" asked Priya, raising her eyebrows with curiosity.
"You'll have to wait and see. We don't want to spoil all the surprises," Jyoti Ma'am replied mysteriously.
Backbencher Amit whispered, "Hope they don't make us do morning yoga at 5 AM."
"With your energy levels, you'll probably sleep through the trip," Ajay muttered.
Meanwhile, Aarav leaned over to Ishaan. "Now this... this is going to be epic."
Ishaan grinned. "Better start writing your travel diary. Day 1: Survived the train ride. Day 2: Discovered that Komal snores."
Aarav snickered. "Day 3: Tried to confess my feelings to Astha. Failed miserably. Day 4: Drowned in hotel pool out of embarrassment."
"Day 5: Got rescued by Priya, who now thinks I'm a tragic poet," Ishaan added dramatically.
Their jokes went unnoticed by the teachers, who were now discussing logistical details with each other. The students were told they would receive circulars and consent forms soon, along with a list of things to carry.
The bell rang, but no one moved. The air was thick with joy, laughter, and the kind of anticipation that only a school picnic could spark.
Jyoti Ma'am concluded, "Get your permissions signed and make sure you all behave well till then. Only those with good discipline records will be allowed."
Everyone nodded eagerly. The promise of Jodhpur, the joy of being away from home, the thrill of freedom—it was all too delightful to ignore.
As the teachers exited the class, Aarav looked up at the ceiling with a dreamy smile. "Let the countdown begin."
And just like that, a simple morning turned into a moment that would be remembered forever.
[To be continued...]
What did Aarav witness in the sky that no one else believes?
Can uncovering the truth about the unknown flight cost Aarav more than just answers?