" My Home!!! "
I screamed in happiness as I found myself back in my own created home. No matter how strange this reality escape was, it always felt amazing. I glanced at the stylish wooden wall clock—it was 9 in the morning. At that exact moment, my phone buzzed with a new !notification.
Mission Arranged: Meet Mythili
Ah, it must be the meeting we had planned. That explains the timing. First, though, I needed some food. I made my way to the kitchen.
The kitchen greeted me with a bowl of fresh fruit and a plate of breakfast already set on the dining table. I took a seat and grabbed a sliced apple, savoring its freshness. As I ate, my mind wandered.
I had everything here: stylish clothes, a dashing shoe collection, and even a substantial amount of money. Plus, this beautiful house. It was all fantastic, but something felt off. How did the system know so much about me—my measurements, food preferences, even my tastes? Was everything I did being monitored?
I looked around the house for anything unusual but found nothing. Well, I had willingly chosen this world, so I couldn't blame anyone but myself.
After finishing my meal, I stored the leftovers in the fridge and headed back to my room to get dressed. I selected a dress from the wardrobe and went to the bathroom to prepare.
---
I checked my reflection in the mirror one last time. I was pretty. It might sound like self-praise, but I knew I was attractive. This was part of why my family was so overprotective. Whenever we went out, many boys would glance at me, leading to my restriction from going out alone. My mother even sought a groom for me to avoid any scandal or affair. To prevent any embarrassment, it seemed better to arrange my marriage sooner rather than later.
I sighed, determined to enjoy this world while I had the chance. I walked to the door, put on my shoes, and noticed a brand-new phone waiting for me on the doorstep. Was it an iPhone? Oh my God, is the system in love with me or something? I picked up the phone, already set up and ready to use. Time to get a cab. I stepped outside, ready for the mission.
---
:- The Aesthetic Café
The cab pulled up in front of an aesthetic café, one of those places designed more for taking pictures than for eating. The exterior was trendy and picturesque, with vines hanging down the walls and cozy outdoor seating adorned with fairy lights, even though it was morning. The kind of place that just screamed "Instagram-worthy."
:- Meeting Mythili
As I stepped into the cozy café, the warm aroma of freshly brewed coffee greeted me. The vibe inside was as inviting as the outside—a soft, relaxing atmosphere perfect for idle chit-chat. My eyes quickly scanned the room, searching for my target, and there she was, seated by the window, her two bodyguards standing out like sore thumbs. Poor Mythili. It must be exhausting being the center of attention every single day. Being the female lead is no joke.
I walked over and took a seat in front of her, giving her my warmest smile.
"Hey, babygirl," I greeted her with a playful nickname. She was absolutely stunning today, looking as pure and innocent as ever, like a fairy straight out of heaven. As I watched, her cheeks turned a soft shade of pink, and she smiled back, clearly a little shy.
No way, did I just make her blush? The urge to flirt a little more bubbled up inside me—her reaction was priceless.
"Hi," she replied softly. "Let's order."
Her honey-sweet voice was melting me. I didn't notice her much the first time we met, probably because her alpha husband, Ashwin, overshadowed everything. But now that I was paying attention, I couldn't help but admire her beauty. I've always had a weakness for pretty faces.
"Yeah, sure," I said, and after we placed our orders, we fell into easy conversation. Thankfully, we didn't dive into our college days, so I wasn't left scrambling to keep up. She started telling me all about her love story with Ashwin—how perfect everything was and how lucky she felt to have him. Of course, I already knew all this from the story, but I listened intently, acting surprised at all the right moments.
Then, something shifted. The gentle smile on her face gave way to a troubled expression as she said, "Can I share something with you?"
My response was immediate, teasing but sincere. "Of course, Mythili, I can even bury bodies for you."
She hesitated, fidgeting nervously with her dupatta before finally confessing, "I think Ashwin is hiding something from me."
:- Secrets and Suspicions
"Hiding something..?" I echoed, surprised by her revelation. This was definitely new. Ashwin? Hiding things from Mythili? The man was obsessed with her, and his disdain for any woman who wasn't her was painfully obvious. He seemed like the type who would burn the world for her, not keep secrets.
"Yeah," she whispered timidly. "I saw him secretly leaving late at night after I'd fallen asleep. And yesterday, when he came home, I noticed bloodstains on his shirt... but he wasn't hurt at all."
My mind raced. Ashwin was a mafia boss—of course, the blood likely belonged to some poor soul who had dared to cross him. But wait... Did Mythili not know this about him? I scanned my memory, but I didn't recall reading any part of the story where she learned the truth about his mafia life. Oh god, this was a major problem.
"Uh, Ashwin's a businessman, right?" I asked cautiously, trying to sound as casual as possible.
"Yeah..." she replied, a hint of uncertainty in her voice.
"So... any other jobs besides that?" I prodded carefully.
"Other jobs?" She tilted her head, clearly confused.
"Yeah, you know... like any side hobbies? Maybe painting or something?" I quickly covered up, skillfully dodging the bullet.
My heart sank a little as I realized the truth—she had no idea. Mythili had been kept in the dark all this time. And now, Ashwin was in deep trouble.
:- Unraveling Doubts
"No, Khushboo..." Mythili sighed, a trace of frustration evident in her voice. "It wasn't paint—I saw it clearly."
Her frustration was growing, and I knew this was serious. I had to tread carefully.
"Did you ask Ashwin about it?" I probed, hoping to gauge whether Ashwin had already spun some excuse.
She shook her head. "I saw it when he left for his job."
I exhaled slowly. This was tricky. If I tried to cover for Ashwin, Mythili might think I was siding with a man I barely knew over my best friend. But at the same time, I couldn't just go up to Ashwin and say, "Hey, dude, we have a problem."
"I think communication is key," I offered cautiously. "You should talk to Ashwin about this." In my mind, I was pleading with Ashwin to understand—Look, brother, I'm trying to help you here, and you've given me nothing but glares in return.
"Yeah, maybe I'm just overthinking," Mythili said softly.
Oh, my sweet Mythili, you're not!
But I couldn't reveal anything, not yet.
"Please give me an update as soon as you sort this out," I said gently, reaching across the table to hold her hand. "I'm here for you if anything happens, okay?" She looked so fragile in that moment, and I silently vowed to protect her.
She smiled, her face lighting up again. "Oh, did you get a new phone? Let's exchange numbers."
"Sure," I replied, pulling out my phone. "Give me yours, and I'll call you."
We exchanged numbers, and after a few more minutes of light conversation, we decided to part ways. As we left, we promised to meet again soon. I watched her walk away, my heart heavy with the knowledge I couldn't share, but I was determined to keep an eye on her.
:- Unsettling Confusion
I glanced down at my phone, expecting to see a "Mission Complete" notification pop up. But nothing appeared—just my own reflection staring back at me on the screen. Confused, I sighed and decided to head back home.
Once I was home, I sank into the sofa in the living room. Grabbing the remote, I turned on the TV and began flipping through the channels. But something felt off. Every channel, show, news broadcast—everything—was unfamiliar. The celebrities, the anchors, even the advertisements were all faces I didn't recognize.
"What's going on?" I muttered to myself before raising my voice. Why is the mission still not completed? "Hey, are we having some technical issues?"
The silence was eerie, and nothing changed. I stared at the screen for a moment, feeling the strange disconnect settle in my chest.
Then, without warning, everything around me started to blur. The glitch was back. The world around me trembled, flickering in and out like a faulty signal. Am I going back? The thought raced through my mind as I braced myself.
But after a few intense seconds of shaking, the world stabilized, and I found myself in the exact same spot, nothing different. No transport, no new mission—just the lingering unease.
"What is happening?" I whispered to myself, the question hanging in the air as the silence returned.
The eerie silence hung in the air as I waited, but nothing changed. The same surroundings circled me, and my mind swirled in confusion. Suddenly, my phone buzzed. I snatched it up, hoping for answers.
System error 404
The passway door eight is shutting down...
Passway door what? I blinked in disbelief, staring at the message.
"Hey! Are you crazy? Explain properly!" I shouted at the phone, but the screen had already turned black. Panic started to settle in as I tried to process what was happening. Passway door? What did that even mean?
I clenched my teeth in frustration. "Okay, listen—open passway door nine! And if not, then ten! You're not understanding, I have a mother waiting at my room door!" My voice grew louder as my irritation peaked.
This was insane. How was I supposed to explain this shit to anyone, let alone my mom?
In a burst of frustration, I grabbed a pillow from the sofa and hurled it across the room. It hit the wall with a soft thud, but it didn't help. The tension was still there.
A few minutes passed after my little outburst, and I found myself slumped on the sofa, holding my head.
"Alright, let's break this down," I muttered to myself, trying to make sense of the madness.
First, there's an error, and apparently, that's why I can't go back. Second, there's some mysterious passway door situation—eight doors, to be exact. And third, despite all this time, I've never figured out what happens to my actual self when I jump into this world for my superhero stunts.
I don't know whether to laugh or cry at my own stupidity.
"Haah..." I sighed, feeling the exhaustion of the day hit me all at once.
"Maybe I should just grab something to eat first," I mumbled, rubbing my growling stomach. I had no idea why I was so hungry. My eyes drifted to the fancy wall clock.
3 in the afternoon?
No wonder I was starving! Time had flown by, and my confusion was only making everything worse. Food first. Figuring out the rest could wait. Pahle pet puja Phir kaam duja.
[ "First, worship the stomach; then comes other work." ]
___
See heartbreak is one thing but hunger is another. Stepping into my amazing modern kitchen, I quickly realized that I had no idea how to cook, and it seemed the magic of this kitchen don't work when I'm present. How much worse could a situation get?
I opened a few drawers and cabinets, rummaging through them. I even unscrewed some jars, but each time I was met with the same disappointing conclusion: I knew nothing in this field. I should have listened to my mom when she said I should at least stand by her and observe how things were made. Sorry, Mom.
I sighed in defeat,Admitting my culinary incompetence, I grabbed my phone and searched for food delivery. "Forget recipes, just feed me," I muttered as I scrolled through the options. Paneer this and that ? Meh. Pizza or a burger? Nah, not feeling it. Pasta? Too fancy for this mood.
Then I saw it—Pav Bhaji. Yes, simple and satisfying, just what I needed. My stomach grumbled in agreement, and I tapped on the order button without a second thought. Sometimes, you just need comfort food to deal with system errors and passway doors.
As I waited for the delivery, I leaned back on the sofa, realizing how absurd my day had been. "So, trapped in a glitchy system, can't cook to save my life, and order Pav Bhaji while some mysterious passway doors are shutting down." I couldn't help but chuckle at my own predicament.
[ Pav bhaji : it's an indian food recipe, and it's commonly loved by everyone]
Be Back Soon… …