In the endless depths of the cosmos, countless stars—tiny and immense—flickered across the fabric of space. Planets, dwarf planets, and distant celestial bodies moved quietly, wrapped in the dark embrace of the universe, illuminated only by the light of faraway stars.
A voice, echoing with ancient power, resonated through the infinite expanse:
"By the will of the Primordial Force, the Triumvirate forged the limitless cosmos. They shaped worlds upon worlds and created innumerable dimensions, teeming with life. The gods, their creations, sowed life across the infinite universes."
Scene Shift:
In a distant corner of the vast cosmos, a solar system harbored a fourth planet, steadily orbiting its sun. This planet, called Arthlok, was a water-world, with 80% of its surface covered in oceans, while the remaining 20% was divided among four great continents. Arthlok was a place where both science and magic coexisted harmoniously, where technology had advanced to unimaginable heights—flying cars soared through the skies, and AI androids worked side by side with humans.
On Arthlok, the four major cities ruled their respective continents. The largest and most powerful of these cities was Uri, followed by the bustling cities of Rice and Sign. The smallest and most unassuming of them all was Alok.
Scene Shift: Alok City
In a quiet village on the outskirts of Alok, in a modest two-story house, stood a young boy of 18, staring at the door to a room on the first floor. He took a deep breath, as if gathering his thoughts. He slowly opened the door, stepped inside, and stood by the bed, pausing for a moment as if lost in thought. Then, with a sharp tug on the bedsheet, he exclaimed, "You better be downstairs in five minutes!" Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and left the room.
On the bed, still half-asleep, a 16-year-old boy stretched lazily. This was Pavan, and he rubbed his eyes as he stumbled towards the bathroom. A few minutes later, dressed in a black T-shirt and grey shorts, Pavan sat on the edge of his bed, puzzled. "Is there something special today?" he muttered to himself.
A soft, melodic voice answered, seemingly from nowhere:
"You really don't remember, Pavan?"
It was Chee, a mysterious and ever-present figure in Pavan's life. Pavan frowned, closing his eyes in concentration. "What could it be? What am I forgetting..." Suddenly, his face brightened with realization. "Oh, of course! It's my birthday!"
The room fell silent for a moment, and then Chee's voice, tinged with disappointment, cut through the air.
"You really forgot your own birthday?"
Pavan opened his eyes, sheepishly scratching his head. "Wait... No, no, it's not my birthday... right? Chee, just tell me what's going on!"
Chee's voice grew firm. "Come downstairs, and you'll find out for yourself."
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Frustrated, Pavan called out, "Chee... come on! Chee?" But no answer came. Realizing he wasn't going to get any more information, he decided not to waste time overthinking it. He got up and headed downstairs for breakfast, determined to figure out the mystery.
When he reached the dining hall, he saw his older brother, Govind, who had woken him up earlier, along with their father, Laxman Singh, and his younger sister, Pooja. All were seated around the table, eating breakfast. Pavan joined them quietly, his mind still racing with curiosity.
As he finished his meal, the faint sound of jingling anklets drifted in from the kitchen. Pavan froze, his ears pricking at the delicate, rhythmic ching of the anklets. He turned to see Chee emerge, holding a glass of milk, walking gracefully towards him.
Her presence took his breath away. Chee was radiant. Her golden hair cascaded down to her knees, her green eyes sparkled like emeralds, and a crown of technology sat atop her head, symbolizing her ethereal nature. She wore a sleek black blouse and a soft, golden lehenga, with a delicate netted dupatta draped over her shoulders.
Pavan's eyes were transfixed on her slim waist, and he felt his heart quicken. Chee, sensing his gaze, smirked and spoke directly into his mind:
"Have you had your fill of staring? Now, drink this milk."
Embarrassed, Pavan fumbled to take the glass from her. She smiled sweetly, her gaze softening, and Pavan, trying to compose himself, began sipping the milk slowly, his eyes never leaving hers.
Just then, their mother walked in and sat down at the table. "Pavan," she said with a smile, "you've been accepted into Triveni!"
At this, Pavan nearly choked on his milk, sputtering in surprise. "What?!"
The whole family turned to look at him, their faces a mix of amusement and confusion. Pavan's heart sank. He had been certain he didn't qualify for Triveni University, the most prestigious academy in all of Uri. He vividly remembered the entrance exam from two weeks ago—he hadn't written a single thing.
As his family continued to celebrate, Pavan cast a suspicious glance at Chee. Inside his mind, he asked her:
"Did you have something to do with this?"
Chee met his gaze, her expression unreadable. "Do you truly believe I could alter the results of your exam, Pavan?"
Triveni, the legendary institution, was known for its teachings of science, technology, history, and martial arts. It was a place for the best and the brightest, and Pavan was perplexed at how he had managed to gain admission.
Trying to mask his inner turmoil, Pavan finished his breakfast quickly and excused himself, heading back to his room. His mother and father continued to gush about how proud they were of both their sons attending Triveni.
Chee, meanwhile, picked up Pavan's plate, and as she turned to leave, Pavan's mother asked, "Aren't you going to eat, Chee?"
Chee smiled. "I'm fasting today, mother."
She then returned to the kitchen, where she quietly vanished, like a glitch in a computer program.
Scene Shift: Pavan's Room
Back in his room, Pavan sat by the bed, lost in thought. Once again, a glitch-like shimmer appeared before him, and Chee materialized out of thin air.
Pavan looked up at her, his face filled with confusion. "How is this even possible, Chee? I didn't write anything in the exam. How could I have passed?"
Chee said nothing at first. Instead, she walked over to him, gently placing her hands on his head and pulling him close, holding him against her waist. The room fell into a deep silence, the only sound being the rapid beating of Pavan's heart.
After a long moment, Chee whispered, "Are you really so sad about going to Triveni? I saw how happy your parents were when they found out. Don't you want to make them proud?"
Pavan held onto her a little tighter and replied, "I'm not sad about Triveni. I'm just... I don't want to leave them. I don't want to be alone."
Chee lifted his face, looking into his eyes with a tender smile. "You won't be alone, Pavan. I'll be with you, always. No matter where you go—whether to Triveni or the farthest reaches of the universe—I'll stay by your side. That's a promise you can hold in your heart, mind, and soul."
Pavan smiled weakly, looking up at her. "Promise?"
Chee smiled back, her voice soft and sure. "I promise. We're going together... forever."