The sun rose slowly, painting the sky in hues of gold. Birds sang their morning songs, and the trees swayed gently as the wind moved through them. On the terrace of a modest house, a blanket rustled with the breeze. Beneath it, Pranith stirred, his eyes blinking open. He rubbed his forehead and muttered to himself,
"What was that dream last night? Am I just watching too many stories?"__
Before he could think further, his mother's voice called from below. "Pranith! Did you wake up? Breakfast is ready. Come and freshen up fast before the food gets cold!"
"Coming, Mom!" he replied, dragging himself off the terrace.
After breakfast, Pranith returned to his desk, staring blankly at his diary. The dream kept replaying in his mind, like a puzzle he couldn't solve.
Fourteen Hours Earlier
The evening before, Pranith had come home from college, finished his chores, and freshened up. By 8:30 p.m., he sat on the terrace with his personal diary and pen in hand. He wanted to write, but no words would come.
What kind of story should I create? he wondered, staring at the blank pages. His eyelids grew heavy, and before he knew it, he had fallen asleep around 9:00 p.m.
That's when the dream began.
A vast, dark space surrounded him. Suddenly, a blinding light appeared in the distance. A voice echoed, deep yet calm:
"You finally came. I have been waiting for you."
Pranith froze. "What are you talking about? Where am I?"
The figure stepped closer, but its face remained hidden in the radiance.
"I know you have many questions. Listen carefully—I am here to help you. I know your dream: you want to write a story, but you don't know where to begin, isn't that right?"
Pranith's heart skipped. "Yes… I want to become a novelist. But how do you know that? I've never told anyone… so who are you?"
"Before I answer, let me introduce myself. My name is Tarkshya. I amthe Watcher of Worlds. Right now, I observe two worlds—Earth, your world, and another called Genesis Waves. It is unlike anything you know. If you truly wish to write, then write about this world. I will showit to you."
Pranith frowned. "So you're saying you're some kind of observer who watches Earth and this… Genesis Waves? What a strange name. And you want me to write about it as my story? Hah… this must be my imagination. None of this is real. Please, let me out of this dark space."
The figure's light dimmed slightly, as if disappointed. "As you wish. But remember this—if you ever reconsider, sleep before 9:00 p.m., and you will meet me again."
The dream ended.
Present
Pranith leaned back at his desk, running his hands through his hair. "What the hell was that? Why can't I forget it? Normally, dreams vanish as soon as I wake up, but this one… it feels different. And that name—Genesis Waves… why does it echo in my head like I've heard it before?"
His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden knock at the door. "Oi, Pranith! Still daydreaming?" called a familiar voice.
It was Krishna, his closest friend—the only one who knew about Pranith's dream of becoming a novelist. Behind him stood two more friends, Srinivas and Rahul, a cricket bat resting on Rahul's shoulder.
"Come on, we're going to be late for the match," Krishna said, smirking. "Don't tell me you forgot?"
Pranith shook his head quickly. "Of course not. I remember—we promised to play today. Let's go."
But even as he followed his friends, the dream weighed on him. Why does it feel so real?
On the Cricket Ground
The teams gathered and split up quickly. Pranith's team was set to bowl first. As he took his position, the echoes of Tarkshya's voice still lingered in his ears. His focus wavered, and his performance showed—he played terribly in the first half.
During the break, Krishna approached him with concern. "I don't know what's going on with you. If you want to share something, I'm always here."
Pranith forced a smile. "It's nothing. Just a dream that won't leave my head. But thanks, man."
"Alright then," Krishna said, clapping him on the back. "Man up. I want to see the real Pranith—the one who taught me this game. The OG."
That made Pranith laugh. "Okay. Let's play."
The fire returned. In his next over, he bowled brilliantly—two wickets, three dot balls, and only one run conceded. The opponents crumbled under the sudden pressure, losing four wickets in five overs. Cheers erupted from his teammates as the tide turned.
Now it was Pranith's team's turn to bat. They needed 176 runs in 15 overs. Opening with Rahul, Pranith pushed hard, reaching 67-0 in just
five overs. Rahul was dismissed soon after, and wickets began to fall. By the 9th over, they were struggling at 82-5.
Krishna stepped onto the pitch. What followed was electric—sixes, fours, and a powerful partnership with Pranith. In just three overs, they chased down the target, finishing with a glorious six struck by Pranith himself. The team erupted in victory.
By 2:00 p.m., the friends dispersed, heading back to their homes. Nightfall
Back at his desk, Pranith passed the afternoon watching anime, though his mind kept drifting. The hours slipped by. At 7:25 p.m., his mother called him for dinner. He ate quietly, lost in thought.
By 8:30, he was back in his room. The clock ticked steadily toward 9:00.
Will I sleep before nine? he wondered. Will I meet Tarkshya again? Should I take the offer?
The question weighed heavily in his chest as the night deepened.
End of Chapter One