In our world, people are divided into two kinds.
Those who believe in God.And those who do not.
Believers surrender everything to the divine.Non-believers trust only logic, science, and evolution.
But no one talks about the third kind.
People who are… confused.
They look at the world and feel something is wrong.
The world is too balanced.Too precise.Too perfectly broken and perfectly whole at the same time.
These people think-Maybe there is a higher force maintaining balance.But they also think-Maybe everything is just coincidence, evolution, and probability.
They do not blindly believe.They do not blindly deny.
They question.
They ask believers, and believers get angry.They ask non-believers, and non-believers mock them.
"You're trying to prove us wrong.""You just want to start arguments.""You think you're smarter than everyone?"
Even their own family starts looking at them differently.Friends distance themselves.Love slowly turns into irritation… then hatred.
So these people stop asking others.
They start asking themselves.
But silence has a cost.
The more answers they seek alone,the wider the gap between them and society grows.
And somewhere beyond fate…even the supreme entity notices them.
People don't know they exist.
But ancient texts once gave them a name.
They are called "Madhyastha" The Ones Who Stand Between and yes.
I am one of them.
My name is Atharv.
I was born in Caelora.the city where people don't just believe in God,they surrender to Him.
Every street smells of incense.Every sound feels like a prayer.Here, questioning God is considered a sin.
And today…
Today is a special day.
All teenagers who turn seventeen are summoned to the Chamber of Dharma.
The place where power is granted.
Power bestowed by the Three Supreme Gods:
Vishnu -- The Preserver
Shiva --The Destroyer
Brahma --The Creator
They grant each person a power most suitable for their Dharma.
You may ask--What is Dharma?
Dharma is--
"Hey Atharv! What are you doing? Did you get ready?"
A voice shouted from outside my room.
It was Aayu.
Before I could answer, he barged in and froze.
"…Don't tell me you're talking to yourself again."
I sighed."Aayu, it's a good thing. When I talk to myself, I find answers."
"Yeah yeah," he waved his hand, "whatever philosopher. Get up. It's time. Everyone's already gathered."
"Alright, alright."
(Can't even talk to myself in peace.)
I grabbed my jacket, wore it, and casually put my hand on Aayu's shoulder.
"Let's gooo," I said."It's time for new mysteries to awaken."
"You will never change, man."
Hehe
At the gathering point, buses were already waiting.Almost everyone had arrived.
As we ran toward one bus--
"HEY, IDIOTS!"
A girl shouted from the window.
"Are you two planning to be late on this day too?"
It was Mei
( we hop on the bus)
"We're not late," Aayu said while sitting down."We're exactly on time."
Mei laughed."That's what late people always say."
She looked at me."You look unusually calm."
"I'm just curious," I replied.
"About what?"
"About what's behind that door everyone talks about."
She smiled."Of course you are."
The bus started moving.
Outside the window, the city slowly faded.
after some time we arrived at our destination
The bus stopped.
We all stepped down.
And then Aayu froze.
"…What is this?"
In front of us stood a massive structure, ancient yet alive.Sacred symbols glowed faintly across its surface.
"So this is the Chamber of Dharma?" Aayu whispered.
I shook my head.
"No no no no. The Chamber is inside."
I looked at the structure with shining eyes.
"This is Dharmodaya."
"The Beginning of Dharma."
From above, golden light descended from the sky and landed before us.
The air became heavy.Everyone fell silent.
A figure stood within the light.
"Everyone is present," the voice echoed."Then let us begin…"
"…your path of Dharma."