Chapter One: The Awakening of Karikalan
"Before the stars were born, fate had already chosen its path."
Prologue:
The Cosmic Truth
Long before the creation of the universe, its fate was governed by two eternal
forces: Dharma and Karma. These were not mere laws they were paths,
omnipresent and omnipotent. The universe itself was created and destroyed in
cycles, shaped by the balance—or imbalance of these forces. But as time passed,
across countless eras and dimensions, people changed. Modern civilizations,
drunk on luxury and comfort, began to ignore the sacred principles. They called
it happiness. They called it love. But beneath the surface, reality twisted into
selfish intent.
The underworld
waited patiently, watching humanity drift from Dharma. And the gods,
silent and sorrowful, prepared to let mankind suffer the consequences of its
own choices.
Suddenly,
Karikalan jolts awake -his breath shallow, his heart racing.
"What was
that dream? It felt… different. Why do these visions keep haunting me?"
He
glances at the clock.
"8:30
AM?! Damn it , I overslept again. No
time to think about this now… I have to hurry."
He throws
off the blanket, grabs his bag, and rushes out— But the dream lingers. The
words echo in his mind: Dharma. Karma. The underworld. The gods.
"Why me?What am I supposed to do with this?"
🏫 Scene: The College Corridor
Karikalan rushes through the college gates, panting, his
bag swinging wildly behind him. He checks his watch—9:45 AM.
Late again.
He enters the classroom quietly, hoping to slip in
unnoticed.
But the staff turns, arms crossed.
"Why are you always late?"
Karikalan scratches his head, sheepish.
"Sorry, ma'am… I slept too well. I'll try to come early
from tomorrow."
The staff sighs, clearly unimpressed.
"You've been saying that since you joined. It's been three
months, Karikalan. Still the same excuse. Stand outside for the first period."
Karikalan's face drops.
"Ma'am, please—just this once…"
She ignores him.
He walks out, defeated, and leans against the wall outside
the classroom. The corridor is quiet. Only the muffled voices of the lecture
echo through the door.
As he stands alone, his mind drifts back to the dream.
"Dharma… Karma… The gods… The underworld…"
He stares at the floor.
"Why do I keep seeing these things?Why do they feel more real than this classroom?"
The bell rings. First period ends. Karikalan exhales and
walks back in— But something inside him has already begun.
🧍♂️ Scene: The Classroom Cruelty
Despite his struggles—inferiority complex,
earworms, and crippling shyness—Karikalan
tries to connect. He walks up to a group of classmates during the break,
forcing a smile.
"Hey… mind if I join you guys?"
One of them sneers.
"Why are you even here? Asking us to talk to you, you
filthy freak?"
Karikalan lowers his gaze.
"I just… wanted to be friends."
They burst into laughter.
"Friends? With you? What's your status, huh? Are
you rich? Are you strong? Do you even have anything that makes you worth our
time?"
Another voice chimes in.
"Look at your body, man. You've got a belly like a pregnant
woman!"
The entire class erupts in cruel laughter.
"Hahaha…!"
Karikalan stands frozen, his ears ringing—not from the
noise, but from the shame.
📚 Scene: The Silence Returns
Suddenly, the staff for the next period enters. The
laughter dies instantly. Everyone returns to their seats, pretending nothing
happened.
Karikalan walks slowly to his bench, eyes fixed on the
floor.
💔 Scene: The Quiet Kindness
But even after all this, Karikalan doesn't change who he
is.
He still feeds the
stray dogs behind the canteen every evening.
He still delivers food
late into the night, earning just enough to survive.
And with what little he earns,
he donates to an old orphanage, slipping money into their
donation box without a word.
He walks alone. But he walks with purpose.
"They may not see me.But
I see them.And I will never become like them."