Chapter 3: Amar's First Major Screw-Up

Monday, 10:32 AM – Mumbai, Alternate Earth (ERTHA)

Amar was having what could generously be described as a terrible morning.

It started with him waking up in a body that wasn't his. That was bad. Then came the discovery that he wasn't even on his own version of Earth. That was worse. And now, barely an hour into his crisis-management session (which mostly involved him pacing around, mumbling "What the hell do I do?!"), his phone rang.

An unknown VIP number.

RING! RING! RING!

Amar hesitated. He considered letting it go to voicemail, but given his luck today, it was probably something important.

He picked up. "Hello?"

A calm, authoritative voice spoke. "Mr. Khurana, your presence has been requested at Sharma Industries. A car will arrive in five minutes. Don't be late."

CLICK.

"WHAT!?" Amar stared at his phone, as if demanding an explanation from it. "Why the hell is a vip number calling me to come to Sharma Industries?"

Before he could figure out what to do, a black Rolls Royce pulled up outside his apartment.

10:45 AM – En Route to Sharma Industries

Sitting in the plush leather seats of the car, Amar tried to calm himself.

Okay, okay. Maybe this is fine. Maybe I was important in this world? Maybe my past self worked here? Maybe—

His thoughts were interrupted when he noticed something.

A small, folded note was tucked into the seat beside him.

Amar picked it up, carefully unfolding it. The message was short and cryptic:

"Play along. You're being watched. - A Friend."

His stomach twisted. "Oh, fantastic. Not only am I meeting a billionaire genius who probably suspects me of something, but I also have mysterious people sending me notes like I'm in a damn spy movie."

11:05 AM – Sharma Industries HQ

Sharma Industries was a monument to wealth and power, a skyscraper piercing the Mumbai skyline. Security was insane. Amar was scanned, checked, and then escorted through a maze of glass corridors until he reached a high-tech conference room.

Inside, sitting at the head of a massive table, was Arjun Sharma.

India's own Iron Man.

The man was in his late 30s, wearing a sharp black suit, his watch probably worth more than Amar's existence.

Arjun tapped a folder on the table and motioned for Amar to sit. "You want to explain why you were seen outside my factory three times last week?"

Amar froze.

"Uh... w-what?" He laughed nervously. "That... can't be right."

Arjun flipped open the folder.

Inside were photos.

Photos of Amar—or at least, someone who looked exactly like him—standing near a restricted Sharma Industries research facility.

WHAT. THE. HELL.

Arjun leaned forward, studying Amar carefully. "You sure you want to play dumb?" His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it.

Amar's brain went into panic mode.

Okay, think. Tell the truth? No, that sounds insane. Fake an excuse? Also insane. Act like I belong? That's probably insane too but let's roll with it.

He straightened his posture, forcing an expression of cool indifference.

"Mr. Sharma, I'd love to tell you everything, but I'm under strict RAW orders."

Silence.

Arjun raised an eyebrow. "RAW?"

"Yes." Amar nodded sagely. "You know how it is. National security. Classified. Very hush-hush."

Arjun stared at him for a long moment. Then, to Amar's horror, he pulled out his phone and started dialing.

"What are you—?" Amar panicked.

"Calling a contact at RAW. If you're telling the truth, they'll confirm. If you're lying… well, that complicates things."

OH SHT.*

"Wait!" Amar slammed his hands on the table. "There's no need for that! Look, I'll tell you what I can." He leaned in. "But we need to talk somewhere... secure. Too many ears in this room."

Arjun tilted his head, then gave a slow, amused nod. "Alright, Mr. Khurana. Let's take a walk."

11:30 AM – Sharma Industries R&D Wing

Arjun led Amar through a high-security corridor into what looked like a weapons testing lab.

Massive mechanical suits, experimental drones, and advanced AI systems lined the walls. Scientists and engineers were hard at work.

Arjun turned to Amar. "Now, tell me exactly what you were doing outside my facility last week. And don't waste my time."

Amar had no idea what to say.

"I..." He stalled, then glanced at a monitor nearby.

It displayed a security feed from the research facility.

Amar's heart stopped.

There, on the screen, was the mystery doppelgänger.

Same face, same build—but the guy was wearing a sleek black suit with cybernetic enhancements on his arms.

The footage showed him breaking into a restricted lab, stealing a silver briefcase, and vanishing into thin air.

Arjun folded his arms. "Well? Care to explain?"

Amar stared at the footage, then back at Arjun.

Okay. Two things are clear.

That's not me.

I am so, so screwed.

Amar cleared his throat. "Okay, hear me out… I think someone's trying to frame me. Or I have an evil twin. Or maybe—" He hesitated. "—I'm in a time loop?"

Arjun didn't look amused. "You really expect me to believe that?"

Before Amar could dig his grave further, a deafening alarm blared through the lab.

11:45 AM – Emergency Lockdown

"WARNING: Intrusion detected on Level 13!"

Arjun immediately activated his wrist device. A HUD display flickered to life.

Amar? Amar did the only thing that made sense.

He ran.

"HEY!" Arjun shouted, but Amar was already bolting down the hallway.

11:50 AM – The Wrong Room to Hide In

Amar ducked into a random lab to escape the chaos.

Inside? A metallic prototype suit, half-finished, labeled "Project Vajra".

Amar stared at it.

Then at the locked doors.

Then at the flashing security alert.

Then back at the suit.

"Screw it. If I die, at least I die wearing something cool."

He jumped inside.

The HUD flickered to life.

"SYSTEM ACTIVATED. POWERING UP."

Amar grinned. "Ohhh, this is either the best or worst decision of my life."

Then the thrusters engaged.

And Amar BLASTED THROUGH THE CEILING.

To Be Continued...