Ashvael didn't bolt upright. He didn't gasp for breath.
He just opened his eyes.
And for the first time since the vision, he felt it.
A strange clam not peace but something else like clarity, sharp and painful like standing barefoot on glass, his mind wasn't screaming anymore.
Ashvael rose, steady this time. No stumbling to mirrors. No muttering in fear. He walked to the bathroom, turned on the tap, and splashed the cold water on his face.
Ashvael dried his face, put on his school uniform slightly wrinkled and faded he was ready for school and slipped out the door. The old metal gate creaked as he shut it behind him. Mumbai's morning haze hung heavy. Smog. Horns. The mix of incense and sewage.
His house was his, but barely. The walls peeled. The roof leaked during monsoons. But it stood. That was more than some could say. He started his bike and ready to go, as he was on his way to school
As he rode the bike on the cracked pavement, avoiding dogs and open drains, he passed shops opening, chaiwalas setting up, schoolkids in clean ties stepping out of better buildings.
Then came the black BMW.
Parked right outside the school gates.
Ashvael's stomach knotted.
He didn't need to look. He knew. They were there.
Ahaan, Reyan, and Sahil. Sons of rich men. Privileged. Cruel. Powerful in the way boys are when no one dares to stop them.
Ashvael parked his bike and started moving for his class .
Ahaan smiled the moment he saw Ashvael.
"Well, look who crawled back from the grave," he said, stepping forward. Ahaan said to ashvael , ash didn't say anything.
Reyan chuckled. "Still wearing those dirty charity shoes, bro?"
Ashvael said nothing. Eyes down. Hands gripping the straps of his bag even tighter.
Ashvael moved quickly for his class because he knew if stop now something will happen.
Ash reached his class attending the lectures , first four lectures are gone with ease then came the
Recess break.
There was spot where ashvael always go to eat alone no one came there , but today there was a group of three boys. Ashvael looking at them while eating his food.
Sahil moved in close, whispering, "You got a death wish, showing your face here again?"
Ashvael thinked to himself " You are the guys who came here, i was here before you"
Then suddenly
a punch to the gut.
All the food ash had eaten came out.
Ashvael stumbled, breath gone, then laughter . They dragged him into the near gym room tho the room was never used for anything .
Then came a slap on the face, ashvael screamed which angered the boys more then
Another slap. A knee to the ribs.
And then—the envelope.
Ahaan shoved it into Ashvael's pocket.
"For the silence," he said like always. "Be smart, slumdog."
They walked away, high-fiving each other like they just scored a goal.
Ashvael didn't cry.
Didn't groan.
He just stood there, staring down at the envelope. Fat with currency.
He picked up the envelope.
The bell rang overhead means the recess is over, ashvael cleaned his clothes and his face and come back to class, a sudden laughter came, ashvael looked it was the boys Ahaan, Reyan and Sahil
Ashvael completed his rest of day at school and now he was going home
Suddenly, Lux voice came
"Do you feel it now?
The difference between power and permission?"
Ashvael didn't answer.
Ashvael reached his house, He stepped inside, dropped his bag, and locked the door. The silence that followed wasn't peace. It was waiting.
Lux's voice came again. Soft, like breath brushing the edge of thought.
"You were humiliated today."
Ashvael didn't respond.
lux said
"And yet… you still have not acted."
"I'm not like them," Ashvael muttered.
"No," Lux said, almost fondly. "You're worse."
After Lux said, "You're worse,"Ashvael didn't argue.Didn't even bother changing clothes or grabbing his delivery bag.The sun dipped lower outside, but he just sat there — on the cracked floor of his house, staring at nothing.
Hours passed.The city roared outside: horns, shouts, life.Ashvael didn't move.
He wasn't tired.He wasn't sad.
He was thinking.About power.About permission.
About what it would cost... to finally stop waiting.
And start living.