"Ah…"
Om suddenly woke up on his bed with a sharp gasp.
His head felt unbearably heavy. Half-lying against the bed, he held his forehead tightly while groaning in pain.
And then—
the memories hit him.
Just moments ago… he had been standing in a battlefield beside his grandfather, fighting terrifying creatures alongside strange people with unbelievable powers.
The realization made him instantly look around in confusion.
But when he saw himself safely lying in his room, he froze.
Slowly looking at his own hands, he muttered in disbelief,
"So… was all of that just a dream? Grandpa… those monsters… that battle…"
Then after staring blankly ahead for a few seconds, he let out a relieved breath.
"Good… if it was just a nightmare…"
But even while saying it, confusion still lingered in his eyes.
"It felt completely real… every single thing… but at least now I still have hope of finding Grandpa."
Just then—
voices echoed through the house.
Om frowned in confusion before getting up from his bed and stepping out of his room. Standing on the second floor, he looked down toward the hall below—
—and instantly froze.
His entire family was there.
His mother and father were alive.
His grandfather was alive.
Manoj and Savita were happily together.
Vijay, Sharda, his brothers, sisters…
everyone was laughing together like one big happy family.
Om stared silently at the scene.
His chest tightened.
He didn't know whether he wanted to cry… or smile.
At that moment, his father noticed him standing upstairs.
Vipul smiled warmly and called out,
"Hey champ, you're awake! Come down, let's have breakfast together."
Before Om could even react, Riya jumped excitedly and shouted,
"Come on, Om brother! It's Sunday! We're all going out today and having fun!"
Om slowly walked down the stairs, still unable to process what he was seeing.
Then he looked at his father again.
Alive.
Standing right in front of him.
The next second, Om rushed forward and hugged him tightly before breaking down into tears.
Seeing Om suddenly cling to him crying like that, Vipul looked confused.
"Hey, Om… what happened, son? Did you have a bad dream or something? You're hugging me first thing in the morning… what's wrong?"
Om just held him tighter and cried.
"I missed you, Papa…"
Just then, his elder aunt Savita walked over lovingly and said,
"Looks like our dear Om had a terrible nightmare today. Tell me, son, what happened?"
Om looked at her in disbelief.
She was smiling.
Talking sweetly.
Everyone was together.
Happy.
Wasn't this exactly what he had always wanted?
A complete family.
A peaceful home.
Then another familiar voice echoed behind him.
"My lion grandson doesn't get scared of dreams!"
The moment Om heard that voice, he quickly pulled away from his father and looked behind him.
Standing proudly there in formal clothes…
was Dhoomketu.
Om immediately ran to him and hugged him tightly as well.
"Yes, Grandpa… your lion grandson finally saw a terrifying dream today… or maybe I was trapped inside a dream all along."
Dhoomketu softly patted Om's back and smiled.
"Dreams are meant to be seen, son… not feared. Your grandfather is still alive to protect you."
Hearing that, Om's eyes filled again.
"Yes, Grandpa… but I thought I lost you…"
But before Dhoomketu could answer—
Om suddenly heard another voice.
A soft… loving woman's voice.
The moment it reached his ears, Om completely froze.
His face turned emotional instantly.
Tears started pouring uncontrollably from his eyes as he slowly stepped forward.
At the same moment, a woman walked out from the kitchen wearing a simple red saree like a newly married bride. She held a glass of juice in her hands while smiling warmly at Om.
She looked beautiful.
A little sindoor rested in her hairline.
A tiny bindi shined on her forehead.
For a moment, it felt as if a goddess herself had stepped onto Earth.
It was Om's mother.
Veena.
Still smiling gently, she first handed the juice glass to Vipul before walking up to Om and lovingly placing her hand on his cheek.
"Om… what happened, son? Why are you crying?"
Om could actually feel her touch.
That warmth.
Those soft hands.
His tears refused to stop.
Without saying another word, Om hugged his mother tightly and completely broke down.
"I missed you… Mom… Dad… why did you leave me? I missed you so much…"
He cried against her shoulder like a lost child finally finding home again.
Even the rest of the family grew emotional watching him like that.
Veena slowly pulled him back, held both his cheeks gently in her hands, and said lovingly,
"My poor son must've had a terrible dream. Listen to me carefully… your mother and father will never leave you and go anywhere. We're right here, son… with you… beside you."
Then smiling softly, she said,
"Come on, today I'll cook all your favorite food myself… and feed you with my own hands. Okay, son?"
Om smiled through his tears and nodded while holding both her hands tightly.
Then Dhoomketu laughed proudly.
"That's more like it!"
But suddenly, Veena turned toward Om and said,
"First go call the guard outside. I've been shouting for so long, but he's not answering at all."
Om immediately nodded.
Still smiling after seeing his family together and happy, he quickly ran outside the house while shouting,
"Kaka! Mom's calling you! Where are you?"
But the second Om stepped outside—
his eyes widened in pure horror.
And all the color disappeared from his face.