Rain wasn't just falling—it was absolutely going off, pelting Mumbai's jam-packed streets like the sky had a personal vendetta. Neon signs blurred into a rainbow mess, and every puddle on the road turned into a shaky, upside-down movie of the city. Arjun Mehra, completely soaked, was right in the middle of it, pedaling his bike like he was in the final lap of the Tour de France, parcels thumping against his spine. Honestly, the kid looked like a walking (well, biking) cliché for "struggling but stubborn." Lost his job at the café that morning—yep, that stung—and now this delivery run was the only thing between his mom and another round of bill collectors.
You ever get that feeling like the world's just toying with you? That was Arjun tonight. Every turn was a new headache. Thunder was rolling around up there, like the city's own applause track, and Arjun slipped into his go-to back alley shortcut. He'd taken it a hundred times, but tonight, it felt like walking into a haunted house—shadows lurking, walls shining slippery with rain, and that weird, gut-deep sense of "dude, just go the long way."
And, of course, the universe delivered: some guy in a jacket that had definitely seen better days stumbles out, shoves Arjun, and lets loose a string of curses that would've made a sailor blush. Arjun, being Arjun, just mumbled an apology and kept it moving. I mean, what else can you do? Start a fight? Not tonight, man. He had enough on his plate.
Right when he thought maybe he was in the clear—nope. Three dudes step out from the darkness like they'd been waiting for the dramatic reveal. Hoods up, faces down, giving off that classic "we mean trouble" posture.
"Thought you could dodge us, huh?" one sneers, and just like that, Arjun's stomach drops.
He's got nothing to defend himself—no stick, no pepper spray, not even a half-decent insult. Just his wits, his bike, and a backpack full of parcels that suddenly feel heavier than ever.
It all blurs together after that. One of the guys swings, and Arjun, running on pure instinct, ducks out of the way just in time. His brain's firing on all cylinders—he's noticing every little thing: the way the rain bounces off the bricks, the slick patch by his left foot, the weird, sour smell in the air. He doesn't have time to think, just react.
Then, out of nowhere, a fist catches him in the ribs. Pain flares white-hot. He slips, crashes into the wall, and for a split second, the world goes quiet. That's when his fingers close around something cold and hard in the gutter. He looks down—wait, is that jade? In Mumbai? In the gutter? I mean, talk about random.
But here's the wild part: the second he grabs it, he feels this heat, like he's plugged into an electrical socket. Not the "ow, I burned myself on the stove" kind of heat, either—this is something deeper, almost alive. His vision sharpens. Even his fear gets crisper, if that makes sense. And then—this is where it gets really bananas—a voice pops up in his head, not out loud, but just… there.
"Eternal Evolution System activated."
He's thinking, "Okay, I've finally snapped," but the guys who were about to pound him seem to sense something's changed too. They hesitate. Arjun's not sure what's happening, but he's not about to question it. He squeezes the jade, and suddenly it's like he's watching the fight from outside his body. He can see exactly where the next punch is coming from, where to duck, how to move.
He slips left, sweeps a leg, and sends one of them flying. Another's punch whizzes by harmlessly. He's not even thinking anymore—his body's just moving, like he's downloaded a black belt in street fighting. The jade in his hand glows with this eerie light, and the alley feels like it's moving in slow-mo just for him.
Spots an escape—tiny gap in the wall, barely big enough for a kid, let alone a guy with a backpack full of parcels. But hey, desperate times, right? He bolts for it, slipping through while the rain keeps coming down like a waterfall. He doesn't stop running until he's out of the alley, on a quieter street, lungs burning, heart thumping so loud he's surprised nobody comes out to yell at him for waking the neighbors.
He drops to the curb, clutching the jade. His mind's racing—half of him wants to panic, the other half is weirdly calm. He can still feel that energy buzzing in his fingertips, like the jade is waiting for instructions. He's never felt anything like this. And, yeah, he's terrified, but also… kind of curious? Like, what if this is the start of something bigger?
He glances back—still no sign of the thugs, but the city's never truly quiet. Somewhere in the distance, someone shouts. It could be them, or just Mumbai being Mumbai. But Arjun's got this new determination crystallizing inside him, as if the jade's given him a shot of courage.
So here's the thing—he doesn't know what the jade is, or what "Eternal Evolution System" even means. It sounds like something out of a video game, right? But whatever it is, it pulled him back from the edge, and that's good enough for now. He's not letting go. Not a chance.
He stands up, sore and shivering, but with a weird smile tugging at his lips. Maybe the city's still out to get him. Maybe tomorrow will be just as brutal. But he's got a secret now, something nobody else knows about. And for the first time in a long while, he doesn't feel quite so powerless.
If this is the beginning, well… bring it on.