Chapter 2: Testing the Gift

Arjun sat frozen, staring at the golden coin on the floor. His breath was uneven, his heart hammering against his ribs. Slowly, he reached down and picked it up. The weight felt real, the surface cool and metallic. He bit it on instinct. Solid gold.

"This… this isn't possible," he whispered.

Yet, it was.

He took a deep breath and focused. If he could create one thing, what else could he do? He glanced around his cluttered apartment. His desk was filled with old notes, his shelves stacked with books he barely had time to read, and in the corner sat his broken coffee maker—another casualty of his financial struggles.

He raised his hand, hesitating before whispering, "Fix the coffee maker."

A soft glow enveloped the machine. Arjun's breath hitched as the cracks in the plastic vanished, the buttons realigned, and the machine hummed to life.

"No way…" He rushed forward and pressed the power button. The light flickered on. He opened the lid—intact. He grabbed some coffee grounds, poured water in, and hit brew. Steam rose as the rich aroma filled the air.

Arjun let out a shaky laugh. "This is insane."

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Experimenting with Creation

Over the next hour, Arjun tested his newfound ability. He started small—pens, notebooks, a fresh set of clothes. Everything he imagined materialized before his eyes, forming out of thin air in a shimmer of energy.

Then, he pushed further.

Holding his hand out, he focused. "A thousand rupees."

A crisp stack of bills appeared in his palm. He flipped through them, feeling the texture, the embossed ink. It looked perfect. But would it pass scrutiny? He decided not to test it yet.

He turned toward his kitchen. His fridge was nearly empty, save for a few stale slices of bread and a carton of milk nearing expiration. "A plate of biryani," he murmured.

A warm plate of fragrant biryani appeared on the counter, complete with raita and a spoon. His stomach growled at the sight. He picked up a bite hesitantly and took a taste.

Delicious. Spiced just right. Just as he'd imagined it.

He sat down, eating slowly, his mind racing. This power—Creation—was beyond anything he had ever thought possible. But how far could he go? Was there a limit? A cost?

After finishing his meal, he turned to another idea.

He held out his hand. "A smartphone. The latest model."

A sleek, brand-new phone appeared before him. He turned it on. It worked perfectly, with all the latest apps and software.

His excitement grew. He had a way out of his struggles. He could fix his life. No more debt, no more rejection. He could fund his company, build his empire.

But then a thought struck him. If money wasn't an issue anymore… what else could I do?

His eyes flickered toward his laptop screen. Movies. TV shows. What about his second ability?

---

Stepping into Another World

Taking a deep breath, Arjun focused. The knowledge had been planted in his mind when the being gifted him the powers. He instinctively understood how it worked.

He closed his eyes. "Take me to the world of… Inception."

The air shimmered around him. His apartment faded. The floor beneath him shifted. When he opened his eyes, he was no longer in Delhi.

Instead, he stood on a bustling street with towering skyscrapers. The world had a strange, surreal clarity—just like the cinematography of the movie. People walked by, unaware of his presence.

His heart pounded. This is real. I am inside the world of Inception.

He spotted Cobb and Arthur talking near a café, discussing dream manipulation. His breath hitched. He had watched this scene dozens of times, but now he was inside it.

Testing his control, he focused. "Return home."

The world shimmered, and within seconds, he was back in his apartment, gasping for breath.

He staggered to the chair, running a hand through his hair. He could create. He could travel between worlds. The possibilities were endless.

A slow grin spread across his face.

His life was never going to be the same again.