THE CURSE AWAKENS
Date: 1 AUG 2022
It was night time. In a dark alley, a 20-year-old boy was walking — exhausted, hungry, and dressed in torn clothes. His steps were heavy, his eyes carried sadness, and in his heart there was only one tiny hope — the hope to survive.
At one corner of the alley, he found half a piece of roti lying on the ground. He picked it up and began eating without a second thought.
Just then, a little boy was silently watching him. The young man went to him and softly asked:
"Child… what's your name?"
But in that moment, everything changed for him. Some people in the alley saw this and assumed the beggar was trying to kidnap the child. Without thinking, they shouted and attacked him.
The poor boy couldn't even understand what was happening — he just kept getting beaten. Drops of his blood began staining the dirt of the alley. After a while, when their anger cooled down, they left him there.
The boy was unconscious, and soon heavy rain started pouring. The raindrops mixed with his blood on the ground. He lay there all night — alone, lifeless.
In the morning, when he regained a bit of consciousness, he somehow staggered back to his feet. His legs trembled, but he kept moving. The bright sunlight pierced his weak eyes. Hungry, thirsty, helpless — but still alive.
At a street corner, some children were playing cricket. One boy hit the ball hard, and it struck the young man's head and blood started flowing.
As he collapsed to the ground, he saw the frightened children run away. His eyes carried no anger, no complaints… only silence. Slowly, his eyelids closed, as if telling the world:
"Is this the end for me?"
---
Flashback – 26 Oct 2016
There was once a little boy named Rex. His life had barely begun, yet his innocent shoulders were already burdened with weight. That day, at school, his teacher was scolding him because his family hadn't paid the fees.
Rex stood silently with his head bowed, but he didn't utter a word. In his heart, only one question kept echoing: "Why is it my fault?"
During recess, his best friend Jeff came over. Jeff made him laugh with little jokes. Slowly, Rex too began smiling. Their friendship was deeper than blood itself.
But at home, real darkness awaited Rex. His household was toxic. Every two or three days, his father returned drunk — shouting, abusing, creating chaos. His mother was breaking under the weight of daily torment, sinking into depression. Rex only knew that his house was never peaceful — unaware that his family was drowning in debt.
Days later, during vacation, Rex, Jeff, and some friends were playing cricket on the street. Their innocent laughter filled the air.
At that moment, a beggar passed by — frail, in tattered clothes, He hadn't eaten in days.
Rex hit a shot, and the ball struck the beggar's head. He staggered and fell onto the road. The next moment, a speeding car ran over him.
Everything happened so fast the children couldn't process it. In fear, they all ran away. Rex too wanted to run, but before leaving he saw the beggar staring at him in his last moments. With trembling lips, the beggar whispered:
"Stop…"
And then he died.
Rex didn't realize he had just inherited a terrible curse.
Since there were no CCTVs, no child was caught. Everyone went back to their lives, but Rex and Jeff carried that scene in their hearts — like poison.
Both scared, both trembled, but they were forced to stay silent. Later they parted ways and went home.
At home, Rex tried to feel normal watching cartoons with his younger brother. But the household chaos continued. His father came back drunk again, fighting with his mother, hitting her. Depression was consuming her.
Days later, Jeff's father got promoted, and his family had to move to the USA. For Rex, it was like a storm. Though broken inside, he never showed sadness on his friend's face.
When they met one last time, Jeff took off his bracelet and gave it to Rex:
"When we meet again, return this bracelet to me… don't forget."
That moment became an eternal memory of their friendship.
That night, Rex saw breaking news on TV: the airplane to the USA had crashed. Rex panicked, rushed to check the list of the dead… and his world collapsed.
Jeff and his parents' names were on the list. Rex fainted.
After he woke up
He wept uncontrollably. Later he visited the graveyard where victims were buried. He sat silently at Jeff's grave, whispering:
"Jeff…whyy?"
Drenched in rain, he begged the heavens:
"Bring my friend back… just once."
But Jeff was gone forever. All Rex had was Jeff's bracelet. He clenched his fist around it and vowed: "I didn't know I would have to give this bracelet away like this. There were tears in Rex's eyes, and he burst into loud sobs."
Yet inside, his heart broke further. Already traumatized, Rex now sank into deeper depression.
-----
15 November 2019
Years passed. Rex was now in 10th grade. The innocent boy from childhood was gone. He still talked to people, but inside, he was hollow. Laughter and tears had become strangers to him. His eyes were empty, drained of all emotion.
At home, things were worse. His mother was broken, dissolving into despair.
During Diwali, houses glowed with lights. Rex lit four diyas outside his house. For a moment, he felt maybe life could shine again.
He went out to buy sweets. When he returned two hours later, two of the diyas had gone out. He tried to relight them, but failed. With a deep sigh, he entered the house with sweets.
What he saw shattered his life forever.
His mother and little brother were hanging from the ceiling fan — lifeless bodies swaying in the air. Rex screamed:
"Mummyyy!!!"
He tried to cut the rope, but the shock and pain were too much — he fainted.
Neighbors rushed in, pulled the bodies down, and called the police. They also informed Rex's father.
For the first time, his father seemed sober, with real fear and tears in his eyes. He rushed on his bike to get home — but fate struck again. His brakes failed, and he went under a truck. He died instantly.
In just a few hours, Rex had lost his entire family.
When he regained consciousness, he was told his father too had died. No tears came out. He had become a living corpse.
"Rex only had the last memories of his family left with him—his parents' wedding rings, his brother's watch, and a family photograph. Now he has neither friends nor family. Rex sold his house to pay off the debt."
One night, in a dark alley, some thugs surrounded him with knives. They demanded money. He had nothing. Their eyes fell on his keepsakes. They snatched everything..
Rex fought back, but they beat him mercilessly. Kicks, punches, blows — until blood poured from his face. They laughed and left with his treasures. Rex lay broken, alone, lifeless on the cold ground.
In the morning, he went to the police seeking justice. The policemen were drunk and decided to take out all their frustration on the helpless Rex. Rex was crying and begging for help, but those ruthless policemen kept beating him mercilessly, like a dog. Rex kept saying, 'It hurts, please don't hit me,' as he begged for mercy.
Rex said, 'My belongings were stolen.' The moment he said that, a blow struck his head. His vision blurred, and he began to see his family and friends in front of him—but it was all just imagination. Soon after, Rex slipped into a coma.
30 July 2022
Three years later, his eyes slowly opened. He found himself in a government hospital ward. Cracked walls, dim light, the smell of medicine — everything felt strange.
He looked at a calendar. It said 2022.
Rex was shocked.
"I… was in coma for three years?!"
Now he was 20 years old. Three years of his life wasted in nothingness. He begged to be discharged. The doctor replied coldly:
"First pay your bill. This isn't charity."
Rex had nothing. So one night, he quietly escaped.
Outside, everything had changed — new shops, new boards, new faces. It felt like another world. His first steps led him to the graveyard. After searching day and night, he finally found the graves of his parents, little brother, and Jeff.
He fell to his knees and vowed:
"I'll come to you soon… but first, I must finish what's left."
But hunger forced him to eat from garbage bins. A boy who once had a home, a family, a friend — was now nothing but a shadow on the street.
He searched for work, but nobody hired him. His torn clothes and weary eyes made everyone push him away. His heart carried only one question:
"How much longer will life keep punishing me?"
---
Current Timeline
The 20-year-old boy we saw in the beginning… was Rex himself. When the ball struck his head and he fainted, he saw both himself and the beggar he once left to die.
When he woke up, he was back in the same government hospital bed. The year 2022 stood mocking him again.
The doctor came and sneered:
"Hi Rex… last time you ran away. But this time you won't. Just stay and get treated."
Rex closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and nodded.
For a month, he underwent treatment. Slowly, strength and energy returned to his body. A faint light of hope glimmered in his eyes.
Then came discharge day.
The doctor also felt pity after seeing Rex's condition, but he was helpless. Even so, without telling Rex, the doctor had the hospital reduce his bills."
The doctor said:
"Rex, your total bill is 1 lakh — including all three years. Being a government hospital, it's less. Otherwise, it would be higher."
Rex looked at his empty hands. He had nothing. His heart sank.
There was a patient beside him who noticed that the boy was an orphan, so he decided to help Rex."
"Doctor, I'll pay his bill."
Rex's eyes filled with happiness. He asked:
"Why… would you do this for me?"
The man smiled gently:
"I own a shop. You'll work for me for two years. No salary — this will repay the money. But I'll give you food, shelter, clothes. After two years, you'll be free to live your life."
Rex nodded.
"I agree… I'll work for you."
For the first time in years, he felt a little peace. After so long, someone had come not to break him… but to help him stand again.
Next chapter coming soon...