The Monster within

Chapter 3: The Monster Within

The worksite buzzed with murmurs long after I lifted the boulder. Eyes followed me, whispers trailing in my wake. These were men who had known Dalip Singh Rana his whole life—seen his struggles, his gradual growth into a man of strength. But what I did today? That wasn't normal.

Makhan walked beside me in silence as we headed home. The sun had begun its slow descent, painting the sky in hues of orange and red. The weight of his stare was heavier than the stones I had lifted. Finally, he spoke.

"That wasn't human, Dalip." His voice was low, cautious. "I know you've always been strong, but today… you were something else."

I kept my gaze forward, wrestling with the same thoughts. How much should I reveal? Would he even believe me if I told him the truth—that I wasn't really his brother, that I had died and woken up in this body, that something unnatural had been injected into my veins?

Instead, I exhaled slowly. "I don't know what's happening to me, Bhai (Brother)," I said, letting the uncertainty in my voice be real. "I just feel… different."

Makhan didn't respond right away. He was a practical man, not given to wild imagination. But he wasn't a fool either. He had seen what I had done.

When we reached home, our mother greeted us with her usual tired smile. She was a small woman, weathered by years of hard labor, her eyes carrying the weight of raising seven children in poverty. "Come eat," she said simply, setting out chapatis and lentils.

As we sat down, the reality of my situation hit me again. This life wasn't mine, yet it was now. These people—Makhan, my mother, my younger siblings—they were my family. And I had a responsibility to them.

I couldn't afford to be reckless.

But I also couldn't ignore what was happening to me.

The Test

Later that night, after everyone had gone to sleep, I slipped out of the house and walked towards the empty fields beyond the village. The cool night air did little to calm the restless energy thrumming beneath my skin.

I had to know my limits.

Dropping into a stance, I focused on my breathing. Then, I clenched my fists and threw a punch into the air.

The force behind it startled me. My arm cut through the air with unnatural speed, a whoosh echoing in the quiet night. I threw another, and another. Each time, my muscles coiled and uncoiled with effortless precision.

Then, I turned towards a nearby tree, its thick trunk sturdy and unmoving.

Let's see how strong I really am.

I pulled my fist back and struck.

CRACK!

The entire tree shook. Leaves rained down, and a deep indentation formed where my fist had landed. My knuckles stung slightly, but nothing more.

I took a step back, heart pounding.

This was beyond human.

A deep hunger stirred inside me—not for food, but for more. I wanted to push further. To see just how much I could take.

I dropped to the ground and started doing push-ups. One, two, ten, twenty—my body moved with a precision and ease that made it feel like I was barely exerting effort.

I flipped over and did sit-ups. Fifty, sixty, seventy—my core felt unbreakable.

Then, I stood and took a deep breath.

I bent my knees and jumped.

The world blurred for a moment. My feet left the ground, and before I knew it, I was five feet in the air.

I landed with a thud, dust rising around me.

Adrenaline surged through me.

I wasn't just strong. I was fast. I was durable. I was enhanced.

And if this was just the beginning… what else could I do?

A Dangerous Path

As I walked back towards the house, my mind spun with possibilities. With this strength, I could change everything. I could lift my family out of poverty, protect them, ensure that no one ever dared look down on us again.

But there was danger in power.

If people found out what I was capable of, would they accept me? Or would they fear me? Would I be seen as a monster?

I needed a plan.

The old Dalip had worked as a laborer, but I knew that wasn't my future anymore. Even in his past life, he had taken a different path—joining the Punjab Police, then wrestling, then the grand stage of WWE.

That's my path too, I realized.

If I could control my strength, if I could learn to wield it properly, I could rise. I could become more than just a man with unnatural power—I could become a force.

And the world would have to take notice.

But first, I needed training.

Real training.

I made up my mind.

Tomorrow, I would seek out the strongest fighters in the village. Wrestlers, brawlers, anyone who could push me further. If I wanted to master this power, I had to sharpen it like a weapon.

And once I did…

The world wouldn't know what hit it.

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End of Chapter 3