Shanti turned around to see a woman calling out to her. "Shanti! Shanti!" he shouted. Shanti looked puzzled and asked, "Who's Shanti?"
The young man smiled and said, "It's your name, your nickname. Someone gave it to you... but I don't remember anything about this life. Can you remind me?"
Shanti tried to recall, but her mind was blank. Suddenly, the System made her unconscious and showed her entire life journey.
Shanti saw she was a woman who'd taken a man's form to study at a gurukul - her wish. Her mother supported her.
She saw her father had multiple wives, which she considered normal. He'd married them mostly for political reasons.
Shanti woke up, finding herself on a bed. "I remember now," she said.
The System replied, "Yes, you did. And your mother's beside you."
Shanti saw her mother and said, "Yes, I remember. I saw her in my memories." Her mother hugged her, saying, "Be strong, daughter. Achieve your goal."
Shanti suddenly said, "But I didn't say anything, Mummy." Her mother replied, "No, you're forgetting. You achieved something great! You never forget your achievements." Her mother's eyes welled up with tears of joy. "You're going to study under the famous Guru Shishta Nanded! I'm so proud of you."
Shanti smiled, "Yes, Mummy, I remember. Don't worry." She changed the subject, "Tell me, what's new with you?"
Her mother beamed, "I'm overjoyed! Your papa has agreed to send you to Gurukul, despite being a girl. You'll go there and study."
Shanti thought, "Mummy's really happy. Every parent would be." She decided, "I need to act normal so no one suspects me."
She asked the System, "What's my next role? What do I need to do?"
The System replied, "Just study and play your part. You'll impact the main character's life significantly."
The System hesitated, "Forgive me for one thing."
Shanti asked, "What is it?"
The System said, "This character doesn't exist. I lied earlier. You weren't an extra; you didn't exist."
Shanti shrugged, "No need to apologize. But why can't my Mummy hear me talking to you?"
The System explained, "You're on auto mode. You can talk to me mentally without speaking aloud."
Shanti found this useful. "System?"
"Yes?" the System replied.
"What's next?" Shanti asked.
The System said, "I told you - just study and play your part."
A man entered, saying, "Congratulations, son," with a hint of sarcasm. Shanti thought to the System, "This guy's weird. I know he's my father, but his tone's off. I don't trust him."
The System replied, "He's genuine. I've scanned his emotions. No sarcasm detected. But he's not ordinary."
Shanti was puzzled, "What do you mean? Sarcasm's a human trait. He's being sarcastic, right?"
The System said, "Trust me, I know. He's tougher than he seems. He married your mother for political reasons."
Shanti asked, "System, what's going on?"
The System said, "Just listen to him first."
Shanti agreed, "Okay."
The System explained, "Your existence won't impact the plot unless you act. If you do nothing, you'll fade away. The more distance you keep from the protagonist, the more you'll disappear from people's lives. Don't distance yourself from him."
The System continued, "You need to go to Gurukul as a math student. Your papa agreed, but others won't. Guru Shishtanand, the main character's guru, won't accept a girl student."
Shanti recalled Shishtanand's character, "He's not against girls' education. He has female students."
The System clarified, "True, but he's interested in the main character, Naveen. If he sees you, a girl, around Naveen... remember what happens to those who come between Naveen and his interests?"
Shanti recalled a scene where someone tried to take Naveen away, and... She said, "He won't let me near Naveen. He'll think I'm a distraction."
The System said, "Exactly. Naveen's ideology about women might make him wary."
Shanti snapped, "I've been sitting like a boy too long. Time to shake things up."
The System asked, "Personal question: your original name?"
Shanti replied, "Saina."
The System said, "Congratulations, Saina. You're a player now. I hope you play well."
Shanti's papa called out, "Shanti!" He said, "I didn't think you'd surpass my sons. They're useless."
Shanti disliked him badmouthing her brothers. He added, "Don't cause trouble at Gurukul. Can you beat up a guy for me?"
Shanti retorted, "I'm there to study, not for your missions."
Her papa said, "You're answering back?"
Shanti stood firm, "I've been doing this for a month."
Her papa backed off, "Fine."
Shanti said, "This guy's a darling villain." The System agreed, "Yeah, he's trouble. You'll leave for Gurukul in two days. Your mom's thrilled. Hope you do great."
Shanti replied, "Alright, I'll do my thing in two days."
Cut to two days later. A horse carriage arrives. Shanti's belongings are packed, and her mother says, "Hope my daughter does something soon."
Shanti reassures, "We'll do something, don't worry."
Her papa says, "Do something, make us proud. No nonsense."
Shanti leaves in the carriage. A man approaches, "Long time no see."
Shanti doesn't recognize him, "Who are you?"
He laughs, "Just kidding, no need to remember. I'm Sushant."
Shanti thinks, "Sushant... this carriage... important character."
Sushant's age seems off, matching Shanti's. "How's this horse riding?" Shanti wonders.
Shanti's eyes widened, "This is the main character's tool. He ruined this guy's life! He destroyed his village, killed his family... and used him. The worst part's yet to come."
The System agreed, "True."
Shanti realized, "Wait, I wasn't on auto mode. How are we chatting?and I have a question might be stupid but What's your gender?"
The System replied, "I don't have one. Bisexual apply to me."
Shanti laughed, "Bisexual? What does that even mean for you?"
The System said, "I am what I am."
Shanti asked, "What do you think of my looks? I've never seen myself as a man."
The System conjured a mirror. Shanti gasped, "Wow, I'm stunning! Any girl would go crazy."
She described herself, "Rach-black hair, dark eyes... I'm pale, but it's a sickly pale. My lips are perfect, eyebrows too. I look like a moon."
The System interrupted, "Enough self-obsession. Focus."
Shanti snapped, "I'm not self-obsessed. Shut it."
The System teased, "Yeah, sure. Alright, you'll reach Gurukul in two days. Need to learn how to survive there, especially with the main character around. Hope you've packed everything. Know the rules?"
Shanti said, "I do, but go ahead."
The System started explaining, "Gurukul rules..."
Shanti's eyes sparkled with mischief as she leaned back in the carriage, her gaze fixed on the System. "Add your own twist, System. I don't want a boring lecture about Gurukul's rules and regulations. I want the juicy stuff, the secrets, the scandals."
The System chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that seemed to vibrate through the carriage. "Alright, let's spice it up. Gurukul's got ancient traditions, strict rules, and... the main character's got a hero complex. Oh, and food's gonna be basic. Like, 'we're-starving-scholars-eating-roots-and-berr-ies' basic."
Shanti snorted, a laugh bubbling up from her throat. "Sounds delightful. What's the hero complex? Is he going to save the world single-handedly?"
The System's voice took on a conspiratorial tone. "Worse. He's got a 'I'm-the-chosen-one' vibe, complete with a tragic backstory and a penchant for brooding. And, of course, he's got a harem of lovesick girls trailing after him."
Shanti raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "A harem, you say? That sounds like trouble. What's the deal with the food, exactly? Are we talking 'fined-dining-on-battlefield-leftovers' or something?"
The System laughed, the sound sending a shiver down Shanti's spine. "Close. It's more like 'we're-lucky-if-we-get-a-bowl-of-gruel-today'. Gurukul's not exactly known for its culinary delights. But hey, at least the views are nice."
Shanti's gaze drifted out the window, taking in the rolling hills and verdant forests that stretched as far as the eye could see. "True. The scenery's got to make up for something, right?"
The System's voice dropped to a whisper. "Right. And speaking of scenery, you've got to be careful. The other students can be... pricy. Especially the ones vying for the main character's attention."
Shanti's eyes narrowed, a plan already forming in her mind. "Oh, I'm always careful, System. Always."
The carriage rumbled on, the System's voice a gentle hum in the background as Shanti's thoughts turned to the adventures ahead. She was going to shake things up at Gurukul, that was for sure.
As the carriage wound its way through the hills, Shanti's mind whirled with possibilities. She could be the queen bee, the mysterious outsider, or even the main character's love interest. The options were endless, and Shanti was ready to take on whatever Gurukul threw her way.
The System's voice broke into her thoughts, a reminder that she wasn't alone in this adventure. "Hey, Shanti? Just remember, you're not in this alone. I've got your back... sort of."
Shanti grinned, a mischievous spark in her eye. "I wouldn't have it any other way, System."