The illusions of Aarya and Shreya stood before Bhairava, their forms glowing faintly in the dream‑space. He stared at them, his mind clouded with confusion.
"What kind of situation is this?" he thought, his chest tightening.
Aarya's figure remained silent, her eyes calm and unreadable. Shreya, however, spoke with confidence, her voice sharp as she looked directly at him. "What are you asking? He would definitely choose me over her."
Kid Bhairava turned his gaze from Shreya to Bhairava, his expression curious. "Is that so?"
Bhairava frowned, frustration rising in his voice. "I don't have to answer your stupid question. You're not even giving me proper answers. so why should I answer yours?"
The child's reply was simple, almost chilling. "Because I asked you so."
Bhairava blinked, disbelief flickering across his face. "What…?"
Shreya's illusion stepped closer, her tone insistent. "Come on, Bhairava."
Kid Bhairava echoed her words, his voice steady. "Yes… come on, Bhairava. Pick anyone soon. Anyway, I already know who you'll choose."
Bhairava's thoughts churned. "As if you know everything," he muttered inwardly, his eyes shifting between Shreya and Aarya. He began to think deeply about Shreya and Aarya, about who they were, about the bonds he shared with them. Shreya, the girl he loved. Aarya, his closest friend. Each relationship carried its own weight, its own meaning.
He didn't want to respond, didn't want to play into the child's game. Yet the question lingered in his mind and heavy.
His inner voice whispered, "If I truly had to choose… I would…"
Before he could finish, a female voice cut through the silence. "He would choose Shreya."
Bhairava's eyes widened in surprise. It was Aarya's figure speaking the one who had remained silent until now.
Kid Bhairava tilted his head toward her. "Hmm? Why do you say that?"
Aarya folded her arms, her tone calm but certain. "Because he loves her."
Shreya smirked, her voice sharp with confidence. "See? I told you already, he would choose me."
Kid Bhairava's eyes sparkled with excitement as he turned back to Bhairava. "Ohh… now I understand. So in that kind of situation, you would choose Shreya."
Bhairava's face remained expressionless. He folded his arms across his chest, his voice steady and calm. "I didn't say that. And I am not willing to answer you."
Disappointment flickered across the child's face. He closed both hands, and the glowing figures of Shreya and Aarya vanished into the air. The boy sighed, his voice carrying a hint of frustration.
"You are no fun at all."
In the next instant, his form shifted again—this time into Shreya. She stepped closer, her eyes fixed on Bhairava. "But from what both of them said, you would definitely choose me, wouldn't you?"
Bhairava opened his mouth to protest. "I never said…" But his words faltered as Shreya's face moved close, so close he could feel her breath. He knew it wasn't truly her, yet the sight of her face inches from his own left him speechless. Heat rose in his cheeks, and he turned shyly away.
Shreya's voice was soft, teasing. "And I can see it in your eyes…"
Blushing, Bhairava turned his head aside. "Yeah, whatever you think. You got the answer you wanted, right? So now answer my questions."
Shreya smiled warmly, her gaze lingering on him. "So cute… You know, you're very cute when you're shy."
She drifted back a little, her expression shifting to something more serious. "As I told you before, I am not your subconscious. I am not you. I am only a void… an echo wandering through the universe."
The word echoed in Bhairava's mind. "Echo?" he thought, unsettled.
Shreya's voice grew calm, almost gentle. "I am only a well‑wisher who wants to help you. You are living inside a dream, and I came here to wake you—to show you reality."
Bhairava's brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?"
Shreya began to rise slowly into the air, her body glowing faintly as she floated before him. Her words carried a strange weight, as though they were both warning and prophecy.
"Reality will hit you harder than you expect. Remember this: whatever you are seeing is not supposed to be real… and whatever you are not seeing is not supposed to be absent."
At that moment, Bhairava remembered the strange feeling he had sensed earlier. In reality, he had felt like someone was watching him and an unseen presence that lingered ever since he arrived here. He hadn't been able to place it before, but now the memory returned sharply.
Shreya's voice broke through his thoughts. "That's it for now. Let's meet again."
Bhairava opened his mouth, startled. "What..?"
Before he could finish, the floor beneath him vanished. His body dropped suddenly, weightless, as he began to fall. From the distance, a faint red glow shimmered, growing brighter as he descended. His eyes widened when he realized what it was. It was the red gate.
He had no time to process the thought. Before he could steady himself, he plunged straight into it. It wasn't a choice; it was as if the gate swallowed him whole.
Inside, he continued to fall endlessly. Around him, countless glowing screens floated in the air, drifting like fragments of glass. Each one carried a piece of his life - memories replaying themselves in vivid detail. Childhood moments, school days, friendships, pain, laughter all of it surrounded him, spinning in a chaotic storm of his past.
Bhairava stared in astonishment, his heart pounding as he watched his own life unfold around him.
Finally, his body struck the ground. The floor was covered in water, rippling from the impact. Yet nothing happened to him no pain, no injury, as though the fall itself had been an illusion.
He pushed himself up, scratching his head in frustration, and looked upward. His voice rose in anger. "You son of a—"
He stopped mid‑curse, hesitating. "Wait… is it a boy or a girl?"
He exhaled sharply, calming himself. "Whatever. Next time I see you, I'll definitely kill you."
But then, Shreya's voice echoed faintly through the darkness. "I am waiting…"
Bhairava's anger flared. He shouted into the void, "You…!"
The sound of his voice faded quickly, swallowed by the silence. He turned slowly, trying to take in his surroundings. The space was pitch‑black, endless, and unsettling. The floor beneath him was covered in shallow water, rippling with each step he took. All across the floor, tall mirrors rose upward, each one towering higher than him. Their surfaces shimmered faintly, reflecting fragments of light in the dark.
Bhairava turned slowly, his heart pounding. "Where am I now?" he whispered to himself.
He stepped toward one mirror. Inside, he saw a single droplet of water floating as if suspended in air. In the next mirror, golden dust drifted lazily, glowing like fireflies. Then, in another, a monstrous figure lurked within, its twisted form glaring back at him. Bhairava stumbled back, fear tightening his chest, but curiosity pushed him forward.
One by one, he examined the mirrors. Each showed him a reflection of himself—but never the same. In one, he wore a police uniform like his father. In another, a lawyer's robe like his mother. Another showed him as a child, another as a scientist, and more still—different versions of himself, different lives he could have lived.
Finally, he came upon a mirror that stood apart from the rest. It was tall, imposing, and unlike the others, it showed his exact reflection. No distortions, no disguises—just him.
Bhairava stared at it, unsettled. "Is it all… me?" he thought.
The reflection copied his every move perfectly. Then, in a sudden moment, Bhairava reached out and touched the mirror. His reflection did the same. But instead of stopping at the glass, a hand burst outward from the surface, gripping his wrist tightly.
Bhairava's eyes widened in shock. "What…?"
The reflection yanked Bhairava through the mirror, dragging him into its strange world. It was like plunging into deep water—heavy, suffocating, every breath stolen from his lungs. Cold currents pressed against his body as he struggled, thrashing to break free.
The reflection's grip was iron‑tight, holding both his hands so he couldn't move. Bhairava's chest burned as he fought for air, panic rising with every second.
Then the reflection leaned closer. Its face was his own, identical in every detail, but twisted with malice. An evil smile spread across its lips, slow and deliberate, as its eyes locked onto his.
The sight froze Bhairava's blood. His eyes widened in terror, his heart pounding violently. He could see himself staring back, yet it wasn't him. It was something darker, something that wanted to consume him.
----------
Bhairava jolted awake, his chest rising and falling quickly. For a moment he was disoriented, but then he realized the surroundings were familiar. He was lying in his own room. The morning sun had already risen, its golden light pouring through the balcony glass door. Outside, birds were singing, their voices carrying a gentle rhythm that calmed him.
He glanced at the clock—7 AM. A sigh escaped his lips. "That's it…" he thought.
Bhairava woke as usual, his body tense, but this time the weight of it was lighter. He had expected the dream to end this way, and because of that, he calmed himself quickly, pushing aside the confusion that usually lingered.
Footsteps approached his door. It creaked open, and Shivani stepped inside. She had come to wake him, but found him already sitting upright on his bed. Her eyes widened in surprise.
Bhairava smiled faintly and greeted her. "Good morning."
Shivani raised her hands, signing in her language, "You woke up already?"
He nodded with a smile. Shivani then walked to the balcony and opened the door. Her gaze immediately fell on the cocoon hanging there. From the very first day she had seen it, she had been watching it closely, waiting for the butterfly to bloom.
This morning, something was different. The cocoon trembled faintly, small movements stirring within. Shivani leaned closer, her eyes widening as she realized. It was about to open. The butterfly was ready to emerge.
Her heart raced with excitement. She turned quickly and gestured for Bhairava to come.
He stepped out of bed and walked toward her. "What happened?" he asked, curiosity in his voice.
Shivani pointed toward the cocoon, her eyes wide with anticipation. Bhairava followed her gaze and noticed the faint movement inside. Both of them stood silently, waiting.
Moments later, the cocoon cracked open. Delicate wings slowly pushed their way out, shimmering with vibrant colors. Shivani and Bhairava's eyes sparkled with excitement as they leaned closer, watching in awe.
The butterfly emerged fully, its wings spreading wide, glowing with patterns more beautiful than they had imagined. It fluttered gently in the air, circling near them. Bhairava's lips parted in wonder, and he whispered, "Beautiful…"
Shivani smiled brightly, reaching out as if to touch it, but the butterfly darted away, flying gracefully toward the open sky.
Bhairava glanced at her, amused by her childlike joy. He gently patted her head and said with a calm smile, "Go and wait for breakfast. I'll get ready and come."
Shivani nodded with smile and left the room, and Bhairava remained calm. The dream hadn't shaken him as much as before; its effect was weaker than he had expected. He opened his cupboard and pulled out a towel, but as he did, a strange discomfort washed over him. His vision blurred slightly, and the sounds around him began to fade.
He pressed a hand to his head and shook it, trying to steady himself. "It must be tiredness," he thought, brushing it off. He went into the washroom, turned on the hot shower, and let the water run over him. When he stepped out, his hair still damp, he began searching for clothes.
But the feeling returned. The sounds of the world around him grew faint, slipping further away. He frowned, confused, and rubbed at his ears, trying to clear them. Nothing worked. Suddenly, all sound vanished, replaced by a sharp, piercing beep that echoed inside his head.
Then another wave hit him, his vision blurred again, worse than before. He rubbed his eyes, blinked hard, tried to focus, but everything remained hazy. Panic stirred in his chest.
"What is happening?" the thought raced through his mind. His legs weakened, refusing to hold him. He bent forward, bracing himself with one hand on the bed, then collapsed to his knees.
It felt as though something was pulling him out of his own body. He could neither see nor hear. Darkness and silence swallowed him whole. He lowered his head onto the bed, his body trembling. His eyes closed as dizziness overwhelmed him.
"I feel… dizzy… what is happening to me?" he thought, his mind slipping into the void.
Then, suddenly, Bhairava jolted awake. He was sitting upright on his bed. The room was quiet, sunlight streaming through the balcony glass door. Outside, birds sang cheerfully, their voices filling the morning air.
Confused, he glanced at the clock. It read 7 AM. His mind reeled. "What? I just woke up… or was that a dream?"
As he tried to make sense of it, footsteps approached his room. The door creaked open, and Shivani stepped inside. Her eyes widened in shock as she raised her hands to sign, "You woke up already?"
Bhairava's own eyes widened. His heart skipped a beat. This moment - this exact scene - was what he had just experienced a few moments ago.