Mumbai city. High and low buildings, traffic-filled roads, and the distant shimmer of the Arabian Sea. Cycles, auto-rickshaws, and people on the streets.
"Today, new Hunters are preparing for the Awakening Exam in Mumbai."
Aryan is riding his bicycle fast on the road. A sly smirk on his face. He is wearing a black T-shirt and jeans, headphones in his ears. The background road is blurred, glimpses of auto-rickshaws and shops visible.
"I failed the last Awakening Exam. This time both Meena and I are giving the exam, but I will shine the most!" Aryan thinks to himself.
Suddenly, a small child (5-6 years old) falls on the road. A big truck is coming fast. Aryan leaves his cycle and runs, picks the child in his arms and takes him to the side right in front of the truck. On the other side, the child's mother is screaming.
"My son!" the mother screams.
"Wow, that was a hero-like move!" Aryan thinks to himself.
Aryan brings the child to the mother. The mother hugs the child tightly, tears in her eyes. The market in the background is blurred.
"Thank you, you saved my son's life!" the mother says.
"Hah, just ran a little fast," Aryan replies.
A sly smirk appears on Aryan's face. He says to the mother, "By the way, Aunty, will I get some reward?"
The mother, shocked and angry, says, "What?! You saved a life and now asking for money? Here, take it—but don't sell humanity!"
"Without money, even humanity stays hungry," Aryan thinks to himself.
Aryan rides out of the market on his cycle. The sun is setting, orange and pink colours spread around. The hustle-bustle of the market is becoming blurred, a few auto-rickshaws and people are visible.
Aryan stops his cycle outside his house. The house is old and small, paint peeling off the walls. Some children are playing nearby. The sun has almost set.
Aryan knocks on the old, broken wooden door of the house. The lane in the background is blurred.
The door opens. Aryan's younger sister Meena is standing there. She is wearing salwar-kameez, hair tied, innocent yet stern expression on her face. Behind her, the inside of the house is visible—old furniture and an old photograph on the wall.
"Aryan, you're late! Didn't Dadi ask you to get the things?" Meena says.
Aryan and Meena are inside the house. Meena asks Aryan about the market items and the remaining money. A table and some utensils are visible in the background.
"Did you bring the things Dadi told you to?" Meena asks.
"Yes, I brought them," Aryan answers.
"Quickly return whatever money is left," Meena says.
Aryan takes out 1100 rupees and gives it to Meena. Meena is shocked. "Where did the 1000 rupees come from? You did something wrong again, didn't you?"
"Just saved a child… and took a little reward," Aryan says with his sly smirk.
Meena, angry and disappointed, explains to Aryan. Her face is stern. "Aditya bhaiya is a C-rank Hunter. He helps the weak for free!"
"I'm not that stupid. By becoming a Hunter I will earn power and money," Aryan says carelessly.
"Being a Hunter means responsibility, not greed," Meena replies.
Aryan angrily opens the door and goes out. Meena looks at him with disappointment.
"Nonsense! I'm going to train. Tomorrow is the exam. You also do your training so you can become a Hunter!" Aryan says.
"I will become a Hunter like Aditya bhaiya," Meena replies.
Done. Exactly as you sent it, not a single extra word or change. If anything still feels off even by one letter, tell me and I'll fix it instantly!
Aryan reaches near a hotel on his bicycle. He parks the cycle on the stand and walks inside the hotel. As soon as he sits on a chair, a 45-year-old man comes and sits on the chair opposite him.
Aryan narrates, "This is my father's friend and also my guru. His name is Nad. He has been training me for the last five years."
Just then the waiter comes and asks, "What will be your order?"
Nad Uncle says, "Aryan, what do you want to eat?"
Aryan replies, "Order anything, I'll eat it."
Nad Uncle tells the waiter, "Bring pav bhaji."
The waiter says, "Okay, sir," and leaves.
Aryan asks, "Nad Uncle, what training do we have to do today?"
Nad Uncle answers, "No training today. Today I have to ask you a few questions."
"Ask," Aryan says eagerly.
Just then the waiter places the pav bhaji on the table and leaves. Nad Uncle says, "Aryan, look into my eyes."
The moment Aryan looks into his eyes, everything suddenly turns black. Only their souls appear connected to each other. Aryan says irritably, "Not again!"
Nad Uncle asks, "Why exactly do you want to awaken?"
Aryan says in surprise, "What kind of question is this? Don't you know why any human would want to awaken? After all, what could be the reason to become a Hunter?"
Nad Uncle says calmly, "You are different from everyone else, that's why I'm asking this question."
Aryan answers, "I want to awaken so that I can earn a lot of money."
He thinks to himself, 'I don't really know Nad Uncle that well. When we first met, he said he would train me and I would become a Hunter. Who refuses free training?'
Nad Uncle asks, "What are you thinking?"
He adds, "This is your last chance. I know how hard you have worked."
Aryan says, "I have one question too. Why did you train only me? You could have trained Meena or Aditya as well."
Nad Uncle replies, "That's a fair point. Aditya has already become a Hunter and is quite powerful. Aditya himself trains Meena. But you, Aryan—I chose you because I felt there was something special in you."
Aryan says, "I read in school that awakening happens in two ways—either through Maya energy, or another person can pass on their powers."
"Yes, you're right," Nad Uncle nods in agreement.
Aryan asks excitedly, "So can you give me your ability?"
Nad Uncle says seriously, "My ability has been given to only two or three people. I cannot give it to you because it is tied to my soul. Even after my death, no one will get it; it will end with me."
He pauses and then says, "Suppose I could give you the ability, but for that I would have to die. Do you want to kill me? For your own benefit, you could do it."
Aryan immediately says, "No, absolutely not! I was just asking. Do you have any other ability?"
Nad Uncle smiles and says, "Time's up."
Suddenly everything becomes normal again. The pav bhaji on the table is also finished. Aryan narrates, "Because of Nad Uncle's ability, two souls can talk to each other. When that happens, our bodies keep functioning normally in the real world—like eating food."
Then Aryan looks in front and sees Nad Uncle has disappeared. He thinks in shock, "Now who will pay the bill?"
The waiter comes and says, "Your bill is 500 rupees."
"What?" Aryan shouts. "500 rupees for pav bhaji? Are you robbing me thinking I'm a kid?"
The waiter says coldly, "I don't see any kid here."
Aryan says, "I don't have that much money."
The waiter replies, "Anyway, the dish-washer didn't come today."
Aryan turns red with anger and shouts, "Nad Uncle, I will definitely take revenge for this!"
One hour later
Aryan comes out of the hotel and thinks, 'Today Nad Uncle made me wash dishes in the name of training.'
Just then Meena calls. Aryan picks up the phone.
Meena says, "On your way back, pick up Dadi's medicines from the medical store. I've already messaged you the name of the medicine."
"Money?" Aryan asks.
Meena replies, "I've already transferred the money to the medical store. I don't trust you—you might keep Dadi's medicine money for yourself."
Aryan says irritably, "Why doesn't anyone trust me after all?"
Suddenly, a voice comes from behind Aryan: "It's your own antics that make it impossible for anyone to trust you."
Aryan turns around. It's Rohan, his best friend. Rohan, wearing glasses, a shirt, and jeans, is walking toward him.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Aryan asks.
Rohan replies, "You're way too greedy and selfish."
Aryan loses his temper. He slams a hard punch straight into Rohan's stomach.
Gasping for air, Rohan says, "I'm not the one saying it—everyone thinks that about you!" Then he asks, "Where are you off to, anyway?"
"To the medical store, to pick up Grandma's medicines," Aryan answers. "And you?"
"Heading to the market," Rohan says.
Rohan hops onto the back of Aryan's bicycle, and the two ride off together.
They reach the pharmacy. Aryan gets off the bike, steps inside the shop, grabs the medicines, and comes back out.
Rohan says, "I'm taking your bike. I need to get to the market—it's a bit far."
Suddenly, the ground starts to shake violently. Rohan drops the bicycle and sprints toward Aryan.
"Trouble's coming," Aryan mutters.
"It's already here!" Rohan shouts.
Suddenly, the ground splits open, and an enormous octopus emerges—jet-black body, glowing red eyes