The Dream!

"Please save me, mister," a young girl pleaded with Shailya, her eyes wide with fear.

"I can't. I don't have my military certificate yet," Shailya replied helplessly.

"Please, I will die if you don't... don't... Arghhh," the girl cried out, her voice breaking with desperation.

A huge man appeared, grabbing the girl roughly and dragging her along the ground. Her tear-filled eyes looked back at Shailya, silently begging for his help. Shailya stood frozen, unable to act, as his cadet training forbade him from engaging in any fight. The man dragged her into the dark forest, her cries for help growing fainter.

"Please—Please help me, sir," she begged, her voice echoing in the night.

"You got any problems, young man?" the huge man asked, turning his intimidating gaze on Shailya.

"No, sir," Shailya stammered, fear gripping him.

"Protect my elder sister, she is at Sompada Banglavaram," the girl managed to cry out, revealing her sister's whereabouts before the man silenced her with a slap.

"You shouldn't say anything," the man growled, anger flashing in his eyes. "Go away," he ordered Shailya.

"Yes, sir," Shailya replied, backing away in fear.

He felt utterly helpless. The image of the girl's tear-streaked face haunted him as he rushed back to the event without asking for help from anyone. Even after receiving his military certificate, the girl's desperate cries replayed in his mind.

"Who's that girl?" Shailya asked his fellow partner.

"I don't know. I was just clicking some photos of trees and nature," his partner replied.

"Oh, I see," Shailya said, frustration simmering within him.

Suddenly, the sound of a glass tumbler falling to the ground jolted Shailya awake.

"Huff... Huff... Huff..." he panted, realizing it was just a nightmare. The girl's plea for help still echoed in his mind.

"I-I failed as a cadet, as a citizen," Shailya criticized himself. "How could I not help someone asking for help despite being in cadet training?" He berated himself for overlooking the situation.

"Son," his mother called out. "Breakfast is ready."

"Coming," Shailya replied, getting out of bed. He changed clothes and went to the dining table, still preoccupied with thoughts of the girl. After breakfast, he headed out.

"Mom! I'm going out for some time."

"Come home by lunch, son."

As he walked, he realized he was already late; the sun had risen. He hurried towards the sacred tree, finding it deserted. As he approached, he noticed a letter pinned to the tree.

"A letter for me? This must be from that old man," Shailya muttered.

**I AM FOLLOWING YOU!

VAHALLA**

"Following me? What does he even mean by this?" Shailya wondered aloud. "I think I should head back home."

"Not so soon, Shailya," a familiar voice called out. It was his old friend, Marin.

"Marin, you're here!" Shailya exclaimed.

"Yeah," Marin confirmed.

"It's been months since we last crossed paths."

"Yeah, I got the job of an ambassador."

"Ambassador? Cool. Where are you posted?"

"Indonesia. I know a little Indonesian."

"That's awesome."

"What are you doing these days?" Marin asked.

"I applied as a cadet for the Royal Malwai Army."

"Got your certificate?"

"Yeah, I got it yesterday."

"Who was the chief guest?"

"Bakshi Shuturga."

"Wow! I just love his ideology."

"He's not a philosopher, man."

"He's just a great commander to me."

"Indeed, but I think the next Bakshi will be chosen within the next two years."

"Sad."

"Anyways, wanna hang out together?"

"Sure, let's ask Shama and Sahiba too."

"Uhm, then why not ask Munir and Samrat as well?"

"Fine by me."

"Then call them."

"Who brings a telephone with them?"

"You don't have one?"

"Nah! At least here in Diwankula, the networks are too slow despite being the biggest city in the district."

"Then let's head to the PCO."

"Sure."

They went to the PCO and called their friends.

"Is this Shama?" Marin asked.

"Yes, who is it?" Shama replied.

"Marin."

"Been months, bro. Where were you?"

"Wanna hang out this evening?"

"Uhm, sure. I don't have any work to do."

"Fine. Bring Sahiba too."

"Okay. Who else is coming?"

"Samrat, Munir, and Shailya along with me."

"I'll bring Tanvi too. Is that fine?"

"Umm, yeah, absolutely."

"Then let's meet at Old Mall Street."

"Fine."

Marin hung up the phone, and now it was Shailya's turn to call Samrat and Munir.

"Hey, Munir," Shailya greeted.

"Yeah, Shailya there?" Munir answered.

"True."

"Let's meet up today."

"Evening?"

"Sure."

"Bring Samrat too."

"Umm, okay."

"Hanging up already?"

"Yeah," Munir chuckled. "Until we meet again."

"See ya."

"It's already evening? How was I asleep this long?" Shailya wondered.

"Shailya, going somewhere?" his dad asked.

"Yes, Dad."

"Take this," his dad handed him 500 Rupees.

"Why, Dad?"

"Just to spend. Come on, chill out. Just look at the day."

"It is beautiful."

"Indeed."

"See ya, Dad."

"Bye, son."

Shailya went to Old Mall Street alone. Samrat, Munir, and Marin were waiting for him. Shama, Sahiba, and Tanvi arrived at the same time as Shailya. They greeted each other and took a cab to the station.

"Where are we headed?" Tanvi asked.

"Ehh, I'm unaware of it," Sahiba replied.

"Marin, you know, don't you?" Shama asked.

"Yeah, Dinki," Marin answered.

"What is in Dinki?" Samrat asked.

"Station," Marin replied.

"Oh," Samrat exclaimed.

"What then?" Munir asked.

"I don't know, Shailya knows that," Marin answered.

"Come on, guys, keep it a surprise," Shailya said.

A few minutes later, they all reached the station. It was now Shailya's turn to reveal the destination.

"Guys! We are taking the local train to Bikkan," Shailya announced.

"Bikkan?" Sahiba asked.

"Yeah," Shailya confirmed.

"I've already visited there countless times," Sahiba replied.

"We will go to Bishwa Peak from there," Shailya announced.

"Oh, that's an amazing place," Sahiba said.

"I know," Shailya replied confidently.

They all enjoyed the day together. Soon, the day passed.

"It was really a great time with you all," Shailya said.

"Yup-yup-yup," Shama chimed in.

"Maybe we can hang out together another day," Sahiba suggested.

"Maybe, but I'm headed to Marinabad for military training," Shailya announced.

"I'm going to Jakarta in Indonesia," Marin said.

"I'm going to Parina for business purposes," Tanvi added.

"I believe I will be in Rajmahal," Sahiba said.

"My job is in Bikkan," Shama stated.

"Anyone going to Saba?" Munir asked.

"Nope, but nearby Barahat," Samrat replied.

"Let's meet again. Bye, guys."

"Bye."

---

"THIS IS THE END OF YOUR LIFE FULL OF ENJOYMENT."

"Who is this?" Shailya asked, alarmed.

"NO ONE," the voice replied.

"Whatever, I don't care."

"I'm here," the voice said again.

"Vahal—Vahalla?" Shailya guessed.

"True," Vahalla confirmed.

"You look so much younger."

"Do I?" Vahalla asked.

"Yes."

"Maybe I'm on a diet."

"A diet to be young? Crap," Shailya muttered.

"Devote yourself to me."

"Huh?"

"I'll be your guardian."

"Guardian?" Shailya repeated, confused.

"Yes! I will look over you."

"How come? You will be here in Diwankula, then how will you?"

"I'm not human, and I chose you."

"Chose me? Not human? What the crap are you saying, old man?" Shailya was a little concerned.

"No need to be afraid of me."

"I don't know who you are."

"You will find me at your training camp, in your bedroom, within yourself, everywhere."

"How?"

"Because you approached me."

"But it was just because you seemed lonely and were awake in the middle of the night."

"I'm not human, neither do I belong to your planet."

"Then who are you?"

"I'm something you'd call a higher being here. I have superpowers."

"Fine, but why choose me? There are billions of people here."

"I wanted someone from Diwankula."

"There are so many others."

"I organized a test. The person who approached me during my night walk would become my disciple."

"I don't understand what you're saying."

"You don't need to."

"Why?"

"Forget it. Just accept me."

"Accept you?"

"Yes, accept me."

"Accept you as what?"

"As your master and guardian."

"I don't know who you are."

"I can guarantee I'm not evil."

"Why would I accept you?"

"Your planet will be invaded."

"Invaded?"

"Yes."

"Invaded by what?"

"Umm, by Rulers."

"Rulers? You mean monarchs and kings?"

"No! Rulers are higher beings who know how to use their Powers."

"Po- Powers?!"

"Yes, this world has Powers or Naritti on it." 

"What the heck are you babbling?! Powers! Naritti"

"It is the truth."

"What the hell are Powers in the first place?" Shailya asked.

[To be continued in Chapter 3]