Booooooong… Booooooong…
The temple bells of Bihari Ji Mandir rang out, echoing through the air with a deep, resonant rhythm. Devotees stood with eyes closed, clapping their hands and chanting the name of God with unwavering devotion.
Karan stood before the idol, lost in thought. His mind drifted back to that night, to the mysterious voice he could neither place nor understand.
"Whose voice was that? One moment it felt like it came from inside me… and the next, from somewhere I couldn't even reach."
Thup Thup…
A gentle hand rested on his head. Startled, he opened his eyes. A priest stood before him, dressed in a saffron dhoti and holding a plate for the aarti.
"Child… won't you accept God's blessings?" the priest asked softly.
Without thinking, Karan ran out of the temple, his heart racing.
*****
Huff… Huff…
He collapsed at the edge of the Yamuna River, hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath.
"What was that feeling…? As soon as I saw the priest, it was like someone was calling me…"
He ran his fingers through his hair, seeking calm. Around him, the riverbank was alive with color—children, women, and men laughing and throwing powdered pigments into the air. The soil mixed with the colors, forming a vibrant, chaotic tapestry.
"Holi…!" someone shouted. "Holi hai! Holi hai!"
Karan climbed onto a boat and closed his eyes, inhaling the fragrant, colorful air.
"Yes… today is Holi. Everyone is happy… and yet, here I am…"
*****
"Hey, idiot."
The voice came through the mist, soft yet teasing.
"Not again… the same dream."
"Hello, dummy! Happy Holi. I hate you… why do I even have to wish you every time? I miss you, idiot."
Karan froze. He saw her—Ayra. Tears filled his eyes, and he pressed his hands to his face, letting the emotions spill over.
"Stop crying like a child! You're my hero," she said, cupping his face and gently pressing her lips to his forehead.
"I… I miss you… so much," he whispered, holding her tight. "Don't leave me… please… Ayra."
She smiled softly and tapped his forehead.
"You've grown weaker," he said, managing a faint smile through his tears. "I didn't even feel any pain…"
"I'll always be with you. Whenever you miss me, I'll come… like this," she replied.
"I love you… more than anyone in the world," she added, brushing away his tears.
"It's time for me to go… but I have a gift for you," she said before fading into the mist.
*****
Karan opened his eyes, tears streaking down his face.
"The same dream… again. Why can't I forget her?"
Beep… Beep…
His phone rang. He fumbled for it in his pocket and froze at the screen.
"This… is from UOH?"
The message read:
"Hello Karan, we hope you're having a good day. Happy Holi! We would like to invite you to the University of Heroes for training. Due to a shortage of superheroes, we are now training ordinary humans. You may not gain powers, but you can still become a hero. Report in ten days."
Shock gave way to disbelief. Then a slow, wide smile spread across his face. Tears welled again, and he wiped his nose, barely able to contain his excitement.
He climbed to the top of the boat, standing tall, and shouted:
"Yes! Yes! I will prove everyone wrong! I can be a hero too!"
"Listen up! UOH has accepted me! I will become a hero! Hahaha!"
He laughed like a man unbound, loud and wild.
The crowd along the riverbank turned to look, whispers spreading among them:
"Ignore him… must be a crazy guy who ran away from home."
"I know him… no powers at all… and yet he keeps shouting he'll become a hero every day!"
"How sad… without powers, people like him don't even exist in this world."
They shook their heads, some laughing, some pitying.
Far away, within the marble halls of UOH, the fate of one powerless boy was being quietly decided… Ten days earlier…
****
At UOH .
The grand hall of the University of Heroes was tense. Board members sat around a massive circular table, discussing the growing shortage of superheroes.
"The world is facing increasing threats," said a senior member. "We need to consider training ordinary humans. Not everyone will gain powers, but a hero's heart can still make a difference."
"I agree," another replied. "We should identify someone with courage, resilience, and determination. They might surprise us."
*****
Back on the Yamuna, Karan continued shouting, embracing the moment. The skepticism of the crowd didn't matter. His heart burned brighter than ever.
The river sparkled under the sun, reflecting the riot of Holi colors. Deep within Karan, a small flame of hope flickered—a flame that would soon blaze into courage.
"I will become a hero… no matter what," he whispered, eyes blazing, heart pounding.
Karan froze mid-scream, his breath caught in his throat. The world around him had stopped.
The river, which moments ago flowed restlessly under the bridge, had turned still—its surface frozen in motion. Colors bled into the air, swirling through particles of dust and light, painting the breeze with impossible hues. People stood motionless, mid-step, mid-laughter, mid-life. Time itself had been silenced.
Then, before him, a blue light flickered into existence—small at first, like a spark in the darkness, and then growing, pulsing with life. From within it came a voice, deep and divine, echoing in every direction.
"My child… are you ready to become the guardian of this world? Ready to bear the weight of power?"
Each word struck the earth like thunder. The ground trembled. Even in this frozen moment, Karan felt an invisible pressure crush down on him—as if a mountain had been set upon his chest.
He clenched his fists, his voice trembling. "Y-you… who are you? Why do you keep appearing before me? Show me your face!"
The voice rumbled again, filled with both warmth and terror.
"My child… I am but a fragment of the one who created this world."
Suddenly, the skies roared. Clouds collided in chaos, lightning splitting them open. Winds howled like beasts unleashed, tearing through the silence. Cars lifted from the ground, tossed into the storm like leaves in a hurricane.
The blue light grew brighter, expanding until it consumed the horizon. Karan shielded his eyes, heart pounding, as the pressure intensified.
And then—he saw it.
Something beyond comprehension. A vision so vast, so divine, that his mind could barely hold it. The world around him shattered into light.