CHAPTER 16

Veer blinked awake, his eyes adjusting to the soft, natural light filtering through the large windows of the room. It was unlike anything he had expected to wake up to—a bed too comfortable, a room too elegant. The place felt... expensive. Above average, definitely not the kind of place for someone who just got through a jungle chase.

"Well, I guess being a hero comes with its perks," Veer mumbled, a wry smile pulling at his lips as he glanced around. "Still didn't get a cape though."

Sitting up, he winced as the dull pain in his body reminded him of just how much he'd been through. "Alright, maybe no more heroics for a while," he muttered. He carefully adjusted his body on the plush bed, his muscles protesting with every movement. Once he was settled, he let his mind wander.

The blank space.

It all began there, a place between existence and nothingness. The memory of waking up in that void and suddenly being thrust into this alternate world still felt surreal. He'd thought it was some kind of fever dream—until he got caught in a kidnapping operation and narrowly escaped death. Twice. Now, he wasn't so sure about anything.

He remembered Sonia and how they were saved by Vikram. But this Vikram was more than just a rescuer—he was none other than Kamal Hasan, the superstar from his previous life. Veer chuckled at the absurdity of it. Of all the things that could've happened after transmigrating, meeting one of the greatest actors from his world wasn't on the list.

But this wasn't exactly the life he'd dreamed of, either. An alternate world.

It seemed exciting at first, the prospect of encountering more famous people he'd admired, maybe even crossing paths with the heroines from movies he used to watch. "Maybe even get a chance to meet them," he grinned, imagining it.

Then, a sobering thought hit him. This world might have other people, dangerous people, from those same movies. And if Kamal Hasan existed here, so might the villains, the criminals, the chaos. Veer felt a shiver run through him. Was this world more dangerous than the one he left behind?

With a lot of painful adjustments, he managed to get out of bed and shuffle toward the window. The sun was shining brightly outside, casting a warm glow on everything. Birds chirped in the distance, and the breeze was cool but pleasant. He leaned against the frame, closing his eyes for a moment and letting the wind touch his face. This life… it was full of uncertainty, but there was something strangely peaceful about it, too.

A line from one of his favorite movies echoed in his mind, "Life finds a way, no matter how lost we are." The words felt truer now than ever.

The creak of the door pulled him from his thoughts. He turned to see Sonia standing in the doorway, her face lighting up as soon as she saw him.

"You're awake!" she cried out, rushing toward him.

Veer tensed from the sudden movement, feeling the pain flare up, but before he could say anything, Sonia wrapped her arms around him in a tight, warm hug. "Thank you… for everything."

He winced, trying not to show just how uncomfortable the hug was in his battered state. "Easy there, kid. Hero here, but still a little broken," he joked, gently patting her back.

Sonia pulled away quickly, her face a mix of worry and relief. "Oh no, are you okay? I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you!"

"It's alright, I've had worse. Maybe not as bad as a white tiger almost eating me, but still, worse," Veer said with a smirk. "I'm okay."

Before Sonia could say anything more, her mother walked in. She looked like she stepped out of a corporate office—poised, graceful, but with an undeniable air of authority. There was something in her presence that made Veer instantly see her as both a kind mother and a powerful businesswoman.

"I see you've met my daughter again," Sonia's mother said, her voice warm but probing.

Veer nodded, offering a polite smile. "Yes, she's been great company."

Her gaze softened for a moment as she looked at her daughter, then back at Veer. "I'm deeply grateful for what you did. You saved Sonia's life. But now, I'd like to know more about you."

The questioning began. Veer had to think fast. His memory—or lack thereof—had to be his shield. When she asked about his life before the kidnapping, he hesitated. "I… don't remember much," he said carefully. "I think something happened when I got taken. My memory's kind of fuzzy."

She frowned, clearly unsatisfied with his vague answers, but didn't push him. "Do you remember the year? The date?"

Veer had expected this. He shook his head. "No, I don't. Can you tell me?"

"It's October 7th, 2001," Sonia's mother replied, her eyes searching his face for any signs of recognition.

Veer's stomach clenched. 2001. In his previous life, he was born in that very year. This confirmed two things: he was in an alternate universe, and time travel didn't seem to be the case, despite Kamal Hasan showing up. There were just too many unknowns.

Sonia's mother continued, "You're in Mumbai, Malabar Hill."

That made Veer pause. Malabar Hill. A wealthy, prestigious area. He recognized the name from his previous life. Her status was definitely no joke. Veer's thoughts swirled, and he realized he couldn't afford to give away too much. He couldn't risk these people finding out how out of place he really was.

Dodging more questions, Veer let them go without getting too specific, and eventually, Sonia's mother led her out of the room. He watched them leave, feeling a wave of relief as his head hit the pillow, drifting back into sleep.

Meanwhile, downstairs in Sonia's home office, a figure waited—Vikram. The tension in the air was palpable as Sonia's mother entered, closing the door behind her. They spoke in low tones, discussing the kidnappers and their child trafficking network.

Vikram's voice was calm but grim. "We didn't get much from the boss or his men. They're just pawns in a much bigger operation."

Sonia's mother nodded thoughtfully. "It doesn't matter. We'll tear down their network, piece by piece."

Then Vikram shifted the conversation. "What about the boy, Veer? He's… unusual. For someone so young to handle the situation as well as he did, it's rare. Even adults freeze up in those moments, but he didn't."

Her expression tightened. She was grateful, yes, but hearing Vikram's words made her feel cautious. "I've had similar thoughts. There's something about him, something… strange."

But her gratitude overruled her suspicion for now. "He saved my daughter's life. Whatever his story is, I owe him a debt."

Vikram nodded, standing up to leave. "I'm not going to meet him. Not yet."

And with that, he walked out, leaving her to think about the young boy upstairs, the one who had suddenly become an enigma in her life.