Vyom woke up with a sudden breath, his heart still beating fast from the strange dream. He sat up on his bed, running a hand through his hair.
"Yesterday… the ring's green line kept going full and empty… full and empty… why does that even happen?" he murmured to himself.
As he kept talking, something subtle happened.
The green line on the ring slowly began to shrink—decreasing little by little.
He blinked and shook his head. "Hallucination," he whispered to himself. "I'm just imagining things."
But he didn't notice that his wall clock—the one hanging right behind him—
was not moving at all.
----
The morning light slipped through the window, filling Vyom's room with a soft, fresh glow. The air was cool, the sunlight gentle, and the birds outside were singing.
The wall clock showed 8:00 a.m., and Vyom finally stopped studying.
He went to wash his face, then straight to the dining table. His mother had already served breakfast. Vyom ate quickly and ran out for college. While walking, he kept thinking about last night—the strange bright light.
What was that light…? Yesterday I was tired, maybe I missed something. But today… today I'll find the truth, he thought.
He looked up at the sky and whispered,"Today I'll find out about space… the green light in my ring… and my dream."
But Vyom didn't notice one thing—
the world around him had stopped.
People walking on the road, cars, even the bird flying in the sky… everything froze.
And the moment Vyom stopped whispered, everything started moving normally again.
Vyom reached college and finished all his classes. After the final bell, as usual, he and Anand began walking together.
Vyom, a little embarrassed, said,"Anand… I have a treat today."
Anand replied gently,"Okay bro, then I'll go."
Vyom hurried,"No, no… if you don't mind, please stay. Who will you go with? And if you leave, I'll have to go alone too."
Anand sighed,"Okay man, enjoy your treat. But where? Who's giving you? If it takes long, I'll go. I want to watch a new anime—I only get one hour daily."
At that moment, Keya came to the gate, talking to her friend a little distance away.
Vyom didn't answer Anand. Instead, he called out,"Hey Keya! I'm here!"
Anand frowned,"Bro, are you listening? What was I saying?"
Vyom smiled."Yeah, but you're my friend. And in friendship, this is okay… bro. Missing just one day of anime is fine, right?"
Anand crossed his arms,"No. Anime is more important for me."
Vyom pleaded,"Brother… please stay."
Anand sighed again,"Okay, okay."
Keya arrived."I searched for you everywhere in college… and you're here?"
Vyom grinned,"I was waiting for you."
"Then let's go," Keya said.
"Okay," Vyom replied.
Keya grinned, a little confused. "But where? Restaurant or canteen?"
Vyom, with a playful childish tone, said, "Oh, I think we should go to the biggest restaurant in our town."
Keya nodded,"Okay, let's go."
Vyom quickly waved his hands,"No no! I'm just joking!"
Keya looked confused,"Then where are we going?"
Vyom smiled,"You know… of course."
"Then let's go to the canteen," Keya said.
She turned to Anand,"Will you come or not?"
Anand shook his head,"No, I'm not interested."
Vyom whispered,"Oh… you wanted a restaurant?"
Keya laughed,"Then let's go!"
Anand protested,"No! You told me to stay. I'm waiting a little, and I told you—I'm not hungry."
Keya said,"But you can sit there."
Vyom insisted,"Yeah bro, come."
"No bro, I'm fine," Anand said.
Vyom pulled him aside and whispered,"Anand… how can you say that? This is our friendship, bro. Okay? I just want to see how much our friendship actually means to you."
Anand groaned,"Okay, okay… I'll come."
Vyom immediately turned to the girls,"He'll come."
Keya's friend said,"I'll go then. Bye."
Keya insisted,"Come na!"
The friend hesitated.
Vyom added,"If you don't come, we three will get bored. Please come."
Keya joined in,"Yeah, come."
"Okay…" the friend agreed.
They all went to the canteen and ate. Anand hesitated but finally ate too. They talked about studies, their work, problems, and random things.
Time passed quickly.
At the end, Keya paid the bill. Keya and her friend went one way, and Vyom and Anand walked the other way.
Anand spoke,"Even though I know you well… today you ate with Keya but didn't look that happy."
Vyom didn't answer. He was lost in thought.
Anand got annoyed,"Hey! Vyom! Are you listening to me?"
Vyom blinked,"Oh… sorry. Did something happen?"
Anand sighed,"What were you thinking? You missed the restaurant chance—that was your mistake."
Vyom said, "No. I didn't want to go to a restaurant straight from college. And in that kind of situation, I wouldn't enjoy it as much as I enjoyed this."
Anand nodded. "Yeah, you're right."
Vyom raised a brow. "And at first, you weren't even interested to come."
Anand sighed. "Yeah, bro… and now I won't even get to watch my anime today."
Vyom smiled lightly. "It's okay, bro."
Anand shook his head. "It's not okay. I wasted my one hour."
Then, with growing curiosity, he leaned closer and asked, "But seriously… what were you thinking about?"
Anand became curious. He looked up at the sky.
"Then what are you thinking?"
Vyom took a breath.
"I have something important to tell you."
Clouds slowly covered the sun.
Vyom hesitated, but he knew he had to say it.
The road was empty, and only birds could be heard.
Suddenly Anand spoke, his voice shaky with fear,"Bro… I don't have a crush in real life, but I do in my imaginary world—dreamland or anime land. And bro… I'm not gay."
Vyom glared,"Bro—that's not what I meant."
Anand gasped dramatically,"Oh! That means you are really gay!"
Vyom exploded, "I swear I'll kill you, Anand!"
Anand held up his hands. "Calm down, man…"
Vyom huffed, turning away. "Okay, okay! Then I won't tell you anything!"
Anand laughed,"Okay okay sorry bro, please tell!"
"No." Vyom folded his arms.
Anand smirked,"I listened to your words. Now it's your turn."
Vyom warned,"But don't laugh."
Anand nodded,"I won't laugh. If it's too funny, I'll upload it on social media."
Vyom turned away,"Okay, I'm not talking."
Anand quickly waved both hands in panic.
"Sorry, bro! 'In friendship, that is okay!' — a great person said that line. So I'll listen… but the person who said it never follows it himself."
Vyom let out a long sigh.
"Okay… okay…"
A faint orange glow had spread across the sky, the last trace of the setting sun. The leaves on the trees rustled softly, and the birds hummed their gentle evening songs
----
(To be continued)