CHAPTER 17
Veer woke up the next morning, feeling a little better than the day before. His muscles still ached, but the pain was dull now, manageable. As he lay there staring at the ceiling, he couldn't help but reflect on how drastically his life had changed. Just days ago, he had been fighting for his life in a jungle, and now he found himself in a luxurious room in Mumbai, in the company of wealthy and powerful people.
He chuckled softly to himself, stretching his arms above his head. "Veer, now you've got this wonderful opportunity in this new world," he said out loud. "Don't miss it. Do everything in this life that you didn't get to do in the last one."
He sat up, feeling the warmth of the sun streaming through the windows. His thoughts drifted, slipping back into his old life, back when he was just an ordinary teenager.
---
**Third-person reflection on Veer's previous life:**
Veer, in his previous life, had been a typical teenager. He had kind, loving parents and a sweet little sister. His life had been peaceful, his goals modest. He wasn't particularly ambitious—sure, he had dreams of becoming rich one day, but he was more than content with the idea of living a simple, farmer-style life. He loved the world's rich culture and wanted to learn everything about it, though his curiosity was often outweighed by his laziness.
He had knowledge about a wide range of topics, having tried to learn things little by little. But despite his curiosity, Veer never became proficient in any specific field. He dabbled, but that was all. **A jack of all trades but master of none.**
---
Veer grinned, thinking about how he had always lacked focus in his past life. But now, in this new world, with a second chance laid out before him, things were going to be different.
"So now," Veer said to himself, "I have to set real goals. I need to do everything I didn't do in my previous life."
He glanced around the room and spotted a notepad and a pen in the drawer of the bedside table. Pulling them out, he began writing, his hand instinctively moving in Gujarati, the language he grew up with. **A small reminder that this isn't my old world.** Mumbai might be a bustling metropolis, but it was a city where Hindi was the dominant language, and while Hindi was the national language of India, each state had its own regional dialect. **Languages might be the same here, but this world is different.**
As Veer started jotting down his thoughts, he focused on the information he had so far:
1. **His Body** – He was in the body of an average-looking teenager. Not malnourished, but not particularly strong either. He had the most generic face possible, nothing remarkable about him.
2. **People he knew** – Sonia and her mother, Sheena, were the only connections he had. **That's a start**, he thought.
3. **Sheena** – Sonia's mother, Sheena, wasn't just wealthy—she was a powerful businesswoman, involved in industries like petroleum, technology, and food. She was easily a millionaire in Mumbai's high society.
4. **Sonia's Father** – A scientist, which possibly explained Sonia's kidnapping. Maybe her father was involved in something big, or perhaps it was just bad luck. Either way, the connections between her family and the kidnapping were unclear.
Veer scribbled down his summary and leaned back, nodding to himself. **The first thing I need to do is secure my shelter and basic needs. Then, I can start learning more about this world in detail. Who knows? Maybe my memories from my previous life can help me make money here. Thank God I spent time learning about the stock market and watching useful documentaries.**
He paused, thinking. "Maybe I should hug Sheena's big thigh," he mused out loud, then quickly shook his head with a chuckle. "Okay, that sounds wrong." What he really meant was that he could offer his knowledge and help in her business, and in return, she might support him. **It's a win-win situation**, he thought, but his excitement faded as a sobering thought crept in.
"Veer, slow down. What are you thinking?" he scolded himself. "Be patient. Don't reveal your trump cards too soon. No matter how good someone seems, don't let your emotions cloud your judgment."
He closed his eyes and took several deep breaths, trying to clear his mind. Once calm, he reassessed the situation. Four options presented themselves in his mind:
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### Veer's Options:
1. **Act Normal** – Veer could play the role of a normal kid. With a bit of manipulation—or maybe some coaxing from Sonia—he could end up being adopted by Sheena. This would solve his financial problems, at least temporarily, and give him a comfortable life.
2. **Wait for News of His Family** – There was still a chance that Sheena might find information about his real family. If they were good people and cared for him, he could go back to them, assuming they even existed in this world.
3. **Be Independent** – This option was the hardest but the most appealing. He could strike out on his own, relying on his wits and skills. Study, work, and live independently. **This way, no one controls me.**
4. **Join the Army** – The wildest option, but one that piqued his interest. He was only 14, but he could enroll in a military school. The army would teach him how to become powerful, both in body and mind. It was an ideal way to gain strength, information, and skills. Whether he wanted to take down armies or learn strategies to outsmart the world, the army might be his best shot.
---
Veer jotted down all four options on the notepad, weighing them carefully. The army option lingered in his mind longer than he expected. He knew it was a long shot, but the idea of becoming strong, both mentally and physically, had its appeal. **If I'm going to survive in this world, I can't rely on others forever.**
He tapped the pen against his chin, grinning to himself. **Whatever I choose, I've got to be smart about it. This time, I won't be lazy. This time, I'm going to make something of myself.**
As he finished writing, he felt a renewed sense of purpose. He was no longer the aimless teenager of his past life. Now, he had a second chance—a blank slate.
He put down the pen and notepad, staring out of the window, feeling the cool morning breeze brush against his face. Life was different here, but that wasn't a bad thing. In fact, it was an opportunity.
---
As Sheena sat in her office, her office telephone rang. It was the police officer she had put in charge of investigating Veer's missing parents. She listened intently, her expression becoming more serious with each passing second.
"There's no record," the officer said, his voice flat. "No missing person report for a boy matching Veer's description in any state. We've even sent his photo to every police station across India, and still nothing. It's like he doesn't exist."
Sheena felt a sinking feeling in her chest. **No record?** How could a boy like Veer not be missed by anyone? He was smart, polite, and clearly from a decent background, yet it seemed as though the world had no trace of him.
After ending the call, Sheena leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling. **There's no clue at all.** She couldn't shake the sense of debt she felt toward the boy. He had saved her daughter, and despite the danger, had acted with intelligence and bravery that far surpassed his age. Perhaps he wasn't just any child; maybe he belonged to a powerful family. She had met plenty of influential people over the years, and their children often acted more mature than their age in public. Sonia was much the same—poised and confident in front of strangers, but at home, a spoiled child in her mother's eyes.
A thought crept into her mind—**Should I adopt him?** She was reluctant, not because she didn't care about Veer, but because of the life she and her husband led. They were powerful figures, constantly under scrutiny from both allies and enemies. Their work, especially helping the poor and opposing corrupt interests, had made them many enemies. She didn't want to put Veer in any further danger.
Shaking the thought away for now, Sheena stood up and went to find Veer to give him the news.
---
Veer was in the room when Sheena walked in. She noticed him standing by the trash bin, methodically tearing a piece of paper into tiny fragments before discarding them. She raised an eyebrow but didn't immediately question it.
"Why are you throwing that away?" she asked curiously, nodding toward the shredded paper.
Veer didn't miss a beat. "I was trying to write something down, maybe to jog my memory, but I couldn't remember anything," he replied calmly.
Sheena's eyebrows lifted slightly. **Interesting...** Most children wouldn't think to use writing as a tool for memory recall. Veer's behavior was sharp, calculated even, though his face showed nothing but innocence. He was smart—**too** smart for a boy his age.
Veer watched her expression carefully and cursed himself internally. **Why the hell did I say that? You could have said you were drawing a picture of Doraemon!** Wait—was Doraemon even a thing in this world? The thought made his heart race. He had to be more careful.
Sheena's eyes narrowed ever so slightly as she studied him. "Well, I came to tell you something," she began, her voice soft but serious. "The police couldn't find any records of a missing boy that matches your description. No reports, no files. It's like you don't exist." She watched his face closely, gauging his reaction.
Veer blinked, pausing to process the information, then let his face fall into a childlike expression of confusion and sadness. "So... no one's looking for me?" His voice quivered just enough to seem genuine, but not overdone.
Sheena nodded, her eyes still locked onto his. "It seems that way for now. But don't worry—we'll keep looking."
Veer frowned, as any child would, but inwardly, he was working through a dozen scenarios. **No record.** It confirmed one thing for him—he wasn't from this world. But he had to keep up the façade, especially with Sheena watching him so intently. **She's testing me,** he realized. Her subtle questions weren't just about getting information; she was probing his intellect, assessing him in a way that made his skin crawl.
Deciding to play along, Veer let his voice drop into a more thoughtful tone, mimicking the way he imagined a kid would speak when trying to make sense of a complicated situation. "Maybe... maybe I'm from somewhere really far away? Or maybe someone... took me and erased all the records?" He hesitated, letting a hint of fear creep into his voice as he threw a question back at Sheena. "Do you think someone wanted to... make me disappear?"
Sheena stared at him, impressed by the level of deduction. **He's sharp,** she thought, **almost too sharp.** But the way he framed it, with the innocence of a child, made her hesitate to fully believe that he was playing her. His intelligence could be a natural gift—many children showed signs of brilliance at an early age.
Veer, sensing her contemplation, kept his gaze on the floor, allowing just enough vulnerability to show through. **Keep it simple, Veer. Don't let her see through you.**
Sheena sighed, her suspicions subsiding for the moment. "I don't know, Veer. But we'll keep trying to find out." She smiled, softening her tone. "In the meantime, you're safe here."
Veer nodded, his eyes still wide with faux uncertainty, but inside, he was calculating every move, every word, every thought. Sheena had underestimated him this time, but she wouldn't stop testing him. **I need to be careful. I can't afford to slip up.**
As Sheena left the room, Veer exhaled slowly, releasing the tension that had been building. His mind buzzed with possibilities. She was onto him, and she wouldn't stop digging. He had to make sure every step forward was calculated, every action careful.
**No matter what happens next, I can't afford to lose my grip on this situation.**