Kabir watched his hometown slowly disappear as the train pulled away and curved toward Jaipur. It was a significant day — the first day of his college life, and also the day his monthly check-in reward would arrive. Exactly one month had passed since he had acquired the Check-In System.
In that time, he had accumulated ₹10,000 ($120) from weekly check-ins and ₹13,000 ($155) from daily check-ins, bringing his total bank balance to ₹23,000 ($274).
He fixed his gaze on the system screen, heart brimming with anticipation.
[Monthly Check-In is Ready!!]
[Congratulations! You have received a Low-Grade Physique Enhancement Potion. Would you like to consume it?]
[Low-Grade Physique Enhancement Potion:
Height: +4 inches Charisma: +2 Intelligence: +20 (IQ) Enhances overall physique by a moderate degree. Note: Potion takes 1 week to fully digest.
]
Kabir's eyes lit up. He had carried insecurities about his height and appearance for as long as he could remember, and now, for the first time, the possibility of transforming himself — of becoming someone with the effortless presence of a Hrithik Roshan — felt within reach.
He was tempted to consume it on the spot, but a flicker of self-awareness held him back. He scanned the compartment. Most passengers were absorbed in their own worlds — except for a wide-eyed toddler who had fixed an unblinking stare directly at him.
The moment the baby registered Kabir staring back, his face crumpled and he burst into tears.
'He probably didn't like my face,' Kabir thought dryly.
He made his way to the train's bathroom, slid the latch shut, and studied his reflection — an average-looking teenager staring back at him, acne-spotted and bespectacled.
'Give me the low-grade potion,' he thought.
A small glass vial materialized in his palm. He hesitated for a brief moment, then tipped it back and drank. He tossed the empty vial into the bin and waited.
It didn't take long for the effects to announce themselves. A warmth spread through his body — not the gentle warmth of sunlight, but something more intense, like a fever cranked several degrees too high. Nausea followed swiftly, and he barely made it to the toilet before vomiting. Only after that did the discomfort begin to ebb. Ten minutes later, he examined himself carefully. His height hadn't shifted yet, but the acne that had plagued him for years had visibly faded, old scars softening into his skin. He looked noticeably better.
"Hmm?"
His vision felt strange — strained and slightly blurred. On instinct, he pulled off his glasses. The strain vanished immediately.
"Looks like I won't be needing these anymore," Kabir said, a slow smile spreading across his face.
He dropped his glasses into the bin without a second thought and made his way back to his seat.
Seeing the world through clear, unaided eyes felt quietly extraordinary — a small freedom he hadn't realized he'd been missing. With ten hours still ahead of him, he settled in to sleep, watch movies, and work through the snacks his mother had so carefully packed.
Ten hours later, Kabir stepped out of Jaipur railway station and flagged down a cab. Jaipur — the Pink City, capital of Rajasthan — was famous for its grand forts, ornate palaces, and sweeping wildlife sanctuaries. The streets, however, were characteristically alive with traffic and noise.
After a ten-minute wait, his cab arrived. He loaded his luggage in and headed toward campus.
By the time he reached Jaipur University, the evening had settled in. Students were streaming into the hostel around him, navigating luggage and new surroundings with varying degrees of confidence. Kabir arranged his belongings, settled into his room, and called his mother to let her know he'd arrived safely.
He decided to go shopping the next morning — there were clothes and shoes he'd been wanting that simply weren't available back home. He drifted off to sleep scrolling idly through his phone.
The following morning, Kabir rose early, bathed, dressed, and took a cab to World Trade Park — one of Jaipur's largest malls. He made his way to the H&M and Nike stores and, without much deliberation, picked out three outfits from H&M, a pair of Nike Air Force 1s, and a clean pair of black Converse. By the time he was done, the full ₹23,000 had been spent.
After lunch, he headed back to campus. It was early afternoon when he returned to his room and opened his laptop. He decided to study some DSA (Data Structures and Algorithms), having already built a foundation in programming. Almost immediately, he noticed something different — his mind felt sharper, more focused. Concepts that would have taken him considerable effort to grasp now seemed to click into place naturally. His retention, too, felt markedly improved.
Curious, he stepped into the bathroom and checked the mirror. Most of his acne had cleared. He had grown an inch taller. His body felt lighter, stronger, and more responsive than it ever had.
He returned to his bed and lay down with a quiet, satisfied smile.
Tomorrow, classes would begin. New faces, new challenges — and he was ready.
'I should be 5'11" by next week,' he thought, grinning at the ceiling.
'I should also start looking for ways to earn money,' he reminded himself.
He briefly considered writing assignments for seniors as a side income, but dismissed the idea quickly. The hours involved simply weren't worth a few hundred rupees.