Chapter 52: Home is a Story We Return To
Just think this is chapter 52 like you think chapter 53 as a chapter 51.
Chapter 53: Home is a Story We Return To
Location: Real Boby's village-town border in Uttar Pradesh
Time: Two days after rescue
Weather: Warm evening, gold dusting the village sky
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The day the military arrived in Boby's neighborhood, the entire 40% village and 60% city zone was buzzing. Armored jeeps lined the streets. Soldiers guarded every entrance of the small colony. And in the middle of it all stood a young man in a T-shirt with a chibi Luffy and a girl beside him wearing salwar-kurta like a celestial being playing mortal.
A Major in olive fatigues stepped forward and saluted.
> Major Singh: "Mr. Boby… India thanks you. We would be honored to offer you a permanent place in our cyber-defense unit. Full clearance. Full honors."
> Real Boby (smiling, polite): "Thank you, sir. But I'm not a soldier. I'm just a manga and anime guy who codes at night and daydreams all the time."
The officer laughed, then clapped him on the shoulder.
> Major Singh: "Then let us know when the country needs daydreams hacked into weapons again."
Everyone laughed.
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Scene: Coming Home
The house was small, warm, and painted a faded blue. Boby hadn't stepped into it in weeks—but as soon as he did, a cry rang from inside.
> "BOBY!!"
His mother flew forward, hugging him so tightly he couldn't breathe. His father, trying to act cool, nodded with hands behind his back—but his eyes were red.
His grandmother, wearing her thick glasses, waddled forward, smacking him lightly on the chest.
> Grandmother: "You left without telling, and now the whole world looking for you like some film hero!"
Then she touched Raviel's face gently.
> Grandmother (smiling wide): "Hai! You look like Lakshmi herself. So beautiful… Boby, is this your girlfriend you found in Goa? I approve. Full support. She's goddess-level, haaye re!"
Boby laughed nervously.
> Boby: "Nai Dadi… her name is Raviel. She's just my… friend."
> Grandmother (deadpan): "Just friend?! Haan haan, and I'm a TikTok star. What a bad luck. But she's cute, so I'm happy."
Raviel just stood there, smiling awkwardly, absorbing everything. So this was "family." So much noise. So much warmth. So much masala.
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Scene: Samosas and Diya Flames
Later, in the kitchen, Raviel took her first bite of a hot samosa.
Her eyes went wide.
> Raviel: "This… this masala… is a flavor supernova! It's like being punched by spices and hugged at the same time!"
She chugged the chai right after and coughed a little, still smiling.
> Raviel: "This tea is dangerous. Why is it sweet, spicy, creamy, and violent at the same time?!"
From the corner, three aunties peeked in from the neighbor's balcony.
> Aunty 1 (gasping): "Arre, did Boby bring back a film-star girlfriend?"
> Aunty 2: "I saw her drinking chai with two hands. Definitely foreign."
> Aunty 3 (muttering): "Foreign girls don't even know how to cook daal properly."
Boby rolled his eyes as Raviel blinked at the gossip squad.
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Scene: Boby's Room of Shame
That night, Boby showed Raviel his room.
It was small, slightly dusty, but full of life.
She turned her head slowly… and saw the shrine of anime: a massive One Piece wall scroll, sexy Nami, Robin, Boa Hancock, Hinata, Tsunade, Ino, Kushina, Android 18, Bulma—every waifu imaginable... and yes, body pillows tucked in the corner like shameful relics.
> Raviel (quietly): "...what… is this."
> Boby (gulping): "Cultural artifacts?"
She turned slowly, her eyebrow twitching.
> Raviel: "Why not marry them then?"
She reached for her imaginary Chain of Equilibrium.
> Raviel: "I swear, I will Chain of Equilibrium your entire waifu harem into a pixel grave."
> Boby (grabbing her waist, pulling her close):
"Because… my life, my love, my forever… is a woman named Raviel."
She blinked. Her expression softened.
Then she kissed him gently.
> Raviel (whispering): "...You're forgiven. For now."
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Scene: A Divine Glitch
That evening, they sat with the family for dinner. Laughter echoed. Boby's mother served more daal while his father quietly cleaned his glasses to hide his emotions. The grandmother leaned on Raviel like she'd known her forever.
Suddenly… a diya lit itself in the family temple. The flame flickered—first orange, then blue, then a burst of gold, then… it burned in Rambo colors—red, blue, gold, purple—before settling.
The family stared.
> Grandmother: "Who lit the lamp?"
> Father (quietly): "No one touched it."
> Mother (looking at Raviel): "Maybe… maybe the house feels safe again."
Raviel glanced at her hands.
They trembled.
Just for a second.
Then she smiled.
> Raviel (to herself): "Not yet. Not now. But the goddess in me… still remembers."
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To Be Continued…