Then her laughter twisted into a chilling echo.
"He…he…ha…ha…HAAA…"
And she began walking toward Vyom.
---
Vyom awoke and saw a woman sitting beside him. He blinked, disoriented, and whispered, "I… I don't know what's happening…"
The woman looked at him, confused. "What? What are you talking about?"
As he looked closer, he realized it was his mother.
"If you're tired, then relax. Can we go to the doctor?" she suggested.
Vyom shook his head. "No… it's okay."
He pointed at the empty water bottle beside him. "I'm just thirsty. My bottle was finished, and when I went to fill it… my head hit something… ah…"
"Okay, rest. I'll take care of it," she said gently.
"Mom… what's the time?" Vyom asked.
"It's about eight o'clock," she replied.
"Wait… I was unconscious for four hours?" he murmured.
"Yes. Were you hungry?"
Vyom, feeling shy, nodded. "Yes."
"Alright, I'll make noodles," she said and went to the kitchen.
Vyom noticed his ring on the table. The thin green line glowed faintly. She mentioned a prison… maybe that was some kind of punishment. What's happening to me? Is this real or just my mind?
His mom said,
"Vyom, eat first. After that, take the plate back to the kitchen. And don't put so much pressure on your studies. You haven't been sleeping enough.Studying first thing after waking up like that isn't good for you, If you slept properly,and don't stay up late. this wouldn't have happened.
"It's okay, Mom! I need rest, okay?!" Vyom burst out, too tired to control his tone.
Some time later, he started studying, and by 1 a.m., he fell asleep again.
During dinner, his mother said, "If your father doesn't go for a walk today, we should sleep early."
His father replied, "He sleeps late every night, so it doesn't matter."
Vyom's mother said, "Today, he was unconscious."
His father looked at him. "Hey, why aren't you eating properly?"
"No… my head… it hits somewhere," Vyom murmured.
"Don't give excuses. Eat everything," his father scolded.
"My tummy is full," Vyom said softly.
"I told you to eat," his father repeated.
"Okay," Vyom relented.
Some time later, he went to sleep, but his mind refused to rest.
No… I don't want to sleep. What happened wasn't normal. If I go back to that cell again… what will happen? She would…
But the weight of the entire day pressed on him, heavier than his own thoughts.
Despite trying to resist it… sleep finally swallowed Vyom whole.
And when his eyes opened again—
he wasn't in his room.
He was lying on a forest floor, his cheek pressed against cool, damp earth.
Slowly, Vyom pushed himself up on his elbows, confusion tightening in his chest.
A vast jungle stretched around him.
Towering trees rose like ancient giants, their branches woven together so tightly they blocked almost all sunlight. The leaves were stacked in dense layers, as if they were intentionally refusing to let the light pass through.
Yet in a few places…
thin, golden rays slipped through tiny loopholes in the canopy — narrow cracks in the leaves where sunlight escaped. Those rays fell to the ground like delicate glowing paths painted across the shadowed forest.
Vyom blinked hard, his breath unsteady.
This wasn't a dream.
This place felt alive… real… far too real.
Where am I? he thought.
He began walking, hoping to find a cave or shelter like the one he had spent the night in. After some time,
He searched for a long time, pushing through thick bushes and tangled roots, hoping to find a cave or anything that could shelter him.
But he didn't stop — not even for a moment.
After what felt like hours, he finally discovered a massive tree with a hollow carved into its trunk.
The opening was large enough that two grown men could sleep inside it together.
Compared to his room back home, it was small… cramped…
but right now, it felt like the safest resting place he could hope for.
After resting for half an hour inside the hollow tree, Vyom thought about looking for food.
But another idea struck him.
If I find a place where people live, I can ask someone about my hometown… India. Maybe they'll know something.
With that hope, he stepped out of the hollow — only to notice a tall mountain rising in the distance.
A thought sparked in his mind.
If I climb to the top, I might see everything around me… maybe even a village.
So he began climbing.
The climb wasn't easy. The ground was uneven, rocks slipped under his feet, and branches scratched his arms. But he kept going.
After some time, he reached a height where he could look down.
From there, he spotted the hollow tree — his makeshift shelter for the night —
but just beyond it… his breath caught.
…but just a few steps later, his breath caught.
A city.
No—bigger than that.
It looked like an entire nation.
Curiosity pulled him like a magnet.
The sun hung directly above his head, warm and bright, filling him with a strange surge of energy.
With renewed strength, Vyom began climbing down the mountain, each step faster than the last, moving with a newfound vigor.
The city looked ancient, as if it had appeared straight out of a king-and-queen era — like a film set, Vyom thought. Its streets and houses were beautifully crafted, each corner brimming with history. Men and women moved gracefully through the streets, dressed in traditional attire, their presence adding a timeless charm to the city.
As Vyom walked through the bustling streets, he accidentally bumped into a girl carrying a tall stack of books. The books slipped from her hands and tumbled to the ground, scattering across the cobblestones.
The girl wore a pink saree, her hair neatly tied back, and her eyes widened in surprise as she quickly knelt to gather her fallen books.
"Auch!" the girl exclaimed.
"Sorry! Sorry!" Vyom apologized quickly.
---
(To be continued...)
Part- 1 end. When I complete part -2 in my note book then I started to upload in webnovel and I was started my work 2-3 month ago and some time later I complete it and thanks for reading if you like then please add in library.