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When The Time Smiled

DhakkanKiraa
7
chs / week
The average realized release rate over the past 30 days is 7 chs / week.
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Chapter 1 - JUST ANOTHER DAY... OR NOT

The alarm buzzed loudly at 6:30 a.m., and Liyan groaned, pulling the blanket over his head. Another school day. With a reluctant stretch, he finally sat up, his messy black hair sticking out in all directions.

At sixteen, Liyan wasn't the type who liked too much attention. He was tall and lean, with curious brown eyes that always seemed to notice things other people didn't. His smile was calm and kind — the sort that made people feel at ease.

"Liyan, hurry up! You'll be late!" his mother called from the kitchen.

"I'm coming!" he shouted back, quickly pulling on his white shirt and neatly pressing down his navy-blue tie. He stuffed his books into his old backpack, grabbed the steel tiffin box his mother had packed, and rushed out the door.

The streets outside were full of life: auto-rickshaws honking, vendors selling hot chai, and little kids in oversized uniforms running after their parents. Walking beside him was Aarav, his next-door neighbor and best friend. Shorter than Liyan but always full of energy, Aarav was already talking non-stop about cricket.

"This year, I'll definitely make the school team, you'll see," Aarav declared, swinging his cricket bat like a sword.

"You said that last year too," Liyan teased, adjusting his tie. "And the year before that."

At school, their first stop was the courtyard, where the big old banyan tree spread its branches like a giant umbrella. That tree had always been their group's meeting spot.

Ahana was already there, tying her hair into a ponytail. She had bright, lively eyes and a quick smile that made everything feel exciting. Beside her stood Isha, quieter and thoughtful, holding her books neatly against her chest.

"Late again, genius?" Ahana smirked as Liyan walked up.

"The alarm and I are not on speaking terms," he replied seriously, which made everyone laugh.

The day went on with the usual classes — math, English, and history. Their classroom was noisy, full of chairs scraping, whispered jokes, and the occasional chalk thrown by their strict teacher, Mr. Rao. During lunch, the group sat in their usual spot under the banyan tree, sharing food and teasing each other. Liyan secretly liked how Ahana always passed him her favorite paratha without even being asked.

After school, Aarav convinced him to stop at the pani puri stall near the gate. The spicy water burned Liyan's tongue, but he laughed through the heat. This was life. Simple. Ordinary.

Or so he thought.

That night, as Liyan sat at his desk finishing homework, something strange happened. The old wall clock in his room — the one his late father had gifted him — started ticking unusually loud. Then, all at once, the hands spun wildly before stopping at exactly 12:00.

Liyan blinked. "What the…?"

The room suddenly felt colder. A faint humming sound filled the air, almost like a hidden machine was alive around him. He rubbed his eyes, and when he looked again, the clock was perfectly normal.

Maybe I'm just tired, he thought, trying to laugh it off. But something deep inside told him — tomorrow would not be ordinary.

And he was right.