Meet Up - I

I swear, if I ever get out of this mess, I’m going to make sure that criminal suffers. No, not just suffer—I’ll ruin him. I’ll hack into every database that has ever recorded his existence and erase him from history. No name, no records, nothing. People will wonder if he was ever real. That’s what he deserves for kidnapping me and dumping me in this manforsaken place.

I still don’t know how he did it. One moment, I was in my underground apartment, surrounded by my glorious, humming machines, bathed in the blue glow of multiple screens, sipping my overpriced energy drink, living my best life. The next moment, the screens glitched, the power cut off, and before I could react, someone grabbed me from behind. A hand clamped over my mouth, and then—darkness. When I woke up, I was here.

At first, I thought I had been drugged. Maybe some underground rival had finally gotten sick of me. Maybe the feds had tracked me down. But no, it wasn’t anything that simple. Because when I opened my eyes, I was in a world that shouldn't exist.

This place… it’s like some twisted fairy tale. The trees are too tall, too ancient-looking, their bark shimmering slightly under the light. Some of the plants glow at night—not like the bioluminescent ones I’ve seen in science documentaries, but in eerie, unnatural colors. And the animals? Let’s not even start on them. There are creatures here that I don’t have words for. Some look like mutated versions of animals I know, while others seem like they’ve stepped out of some fantasy novel.

And then there’s him. The man who ruined my life—Ash.

I hate him. I hate everything about him. His stupid composed face, his quiet arrogance, the way he acts like everything is beneath him. He walks like he owns this place, like none of this is a big deal. But worst of all—he’s the reason I’m here.

And that muscle-headed idiot, Balram, is following him willingly. Seriously, what kind of moron gets beaten up once and decides, "Yeah, I should totally dedicate my life to this guy now"? Balram’s the very definition of a dumb brute. Muscles for brains. A walking pile of biceps with no common sense.

I’ve been stuck with them for a week. A week. I thought I would go crazy. I did go crazy. Not that anyone noticed, because I haven’t been able to say a single word.

Yeah. That’s another thing. I literally couldn’t talk. I tried. I screamed, I yelled, I cursed every deity I could think of, but my voice just wouldn’t come out. It was like my mouth had been sealed shut by some invisible force.

But now… now something is different.

We’ve been walking through this strange valley for a while now, following Ash. He told us that today, more people would be arriving. I don’t know if that means more poor souls kidnapped like me or more brain-dead followers like Balram, but either way, I don’t care. I just want to get out of here.

And then we see them.

A small group is approaching from the other side of the valley, moving through the rugged terrain. I can’t make out much from a distance, but then—something even more bizarre happens.

Ash BOWS!!

Wait. What?!

This guy—the same guy who acts like the entire world is beneath him,this arrogant piece of shit bows? He is lowering his head infront of someone? Who could be the person who can do this to this abducting bastard?

That’s when I realize the old man leading the other group must be someone important. REALLY IMPORTANT.

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Balram is stunned. I can practically feel his brain short-circuiting. He looks like a kid watching his hero get beaten in a wrestling ring. His entire worldview is probably shattering. I don’t blame him. If even someone like Ash shows respect to this old man, then who the hell is he?

The man has white hair, long and slightly unkempt, and he carries himself with a relaxed but commanding presence. Something about him seems… old. Not just in years, but in experience. He radiates a kind of authority that’s different from Ash’s. While Ash is sharp and unreadable, this man is like a mountain—immovable and solid.

I decide to call him Gold-Man.

Not because of his hair, but because it stands for Good Old Legendary Dude. (Or something like that.) Also, he just criticized Ash, so he’s instantly my favorite person here.

Then my eyes move to the others.

The first one I recognize immediately- Ananya.

Of course, I know who she is. Who doesn’t? She’s a freaking celebrity. The famous dancer, adored by millions. I actually have some past connection with her but she probably doesn't know anything about it so I don't want to bring it up either. I don't want to be hated after all. Back to Ananya, She looks just as flawless in real life as she does on screen, even in the middle of this wilderness.

Then my gaze moves—and I freeze.

There’s a girl standing next to Ananya. She’s not dressed as fancy, not carrying herself like someone used to the limelight. But there’s something about her—something different.

She’s small, but not delicate. Her dark short dark hair are so messy, as if she couldn’t be bothered to fix it. There’s something sharp in her eyes, something fierce. And yet…

“Cute.”

The word escapes before I can stop it.

Balram shoots me a weird look. Ash glances at me like I’m an idiot.

I don’t care.

Because something even more important just happened.

I spoke! I actually heard my own voice after a whole week!!

For the first time since I got kidnapped, I was able to say a word.

And just like that, the floodgates open.

“You kidnapping son of a b-”

I whirl on Ash, my voice finally back, and let loose every ounce of frustration I’ve been holding in for a week.

“What the hell is wrong with you?! Who the hell kidnaps people in this day and age?! Do you have any idea how illegal this is?! I swear to every law enforcement agency in existence, I will ruin you! You better have a damn good reason for bringing me to this madhouse because I am two seconds away from losing my mind! And don’t even get me started on this muscle-head following you around like some lost puppy—”

Balram steps forward, cracking his knuckles. “Who the hell are you calling a muscle-head, you twig?!”

“You, you dumb slab of meat! Who follows a random criminal just because he lost a fight? Have you never heard of self-respect?!”

Balram growls. “You’re really asking for it, brat.”

“Try me, biceps-for-brains!”

Before Balram can lunge at me, Ash casually flicks his fist out—and punches me right into the gut.

I double over, wheezing. The world tilts for a second. Damn it. How the hell is he this strong?!

Gold-Man sighs, shaking his head. “Ash, you didn’t actually kidnap this kid, did you?”

Ash shrugs. “I did.”

“I knew it!” I wheeze.

Gold-Man pinches the bridge of his nose. “I don’t approve of that. You can’t just drag people here against their will.”

Ash crosses his arms. “It was the fastest method. I know you wouldn’t agree, but I don’t have the patience to go around playing silly characters like you do. And my head already hurts enough as it is. I can't go around taking care of stupid brats.”

“That's no reason to go around kidnapping kids and bringing them here without their consent " Mr Goldman suddenly becomes my second favourite person in this gathering. First is ofcourse the girl I do not know name of.

"I don't need your lectures. We are behind the schedule because you played around so much. If you had brought them here earlier, we could have moved ahead in the program. I brought these guys before you brought yours, I am clearly the winner and you have to respect." Ash comes with a counter but he is a stupid criminal so who cares about what he says.

MORE IMPORTANTLY

What the hell are these guys even talking about? What program? What schedule? They are not going to dissect us, are they? I think all of us here have the same question, except the muscle head ofc.

"I got late because I didn't go around kidnapping kids, you stupid brat!! But it's not completely surprising given your situation and character. So, what about the other one? Did you abduct him too?" Old man for the win!!

Balram, rubbing his chin, finally speaks. “I wasn’t kidnapped. I followed him willingly.”

I glare. “That’s why you’re a muscle-head. Who follows random criminals?”

Balram bristles. “Say that again, twig.”

“Muscle. Head.”

We glare at each other, ready to fight—until Ananya sighs loudly.

“Can you all stop acting like children?”

We both pause.

She crosses her arms. “This is getting annoying.”

…Fair point.

“What's done is done. No use crying over what's already happening. Why don't we move forward now?" Ash says acting like some wise old prophet but remember - he is just a CRIMINAL who kidnapped me. REMEMBER IT!!

"That's right . No use crying over spilled milk. Let's proceed".

Concluding words by Mr Goldman