By 1987, Adil Ali had turned fifteen.
Life had become busier than ever, yet strangely, he had never felt more alive.
The shy child who had once practiced dialogues in front of a mirror had grown into a confident young man. Years of discipline had shaped his body, and his features had become sharper with age. Standing nearly six feet tall already, with expressive eyes and an easy smile, Adil often attracted attention wherever he went.
But none of that mattered to him.
His focus remained unchanged.
Every morning began before sunrise. By five o'clock, he was already outside running through the quiet streets. The cool morning air, the sound of birds awakening, and the peaceful silence had become companions he cherished. After finishing his run, he returned home to practice martial arts and stretching.
When he entered the kitchen, he was always greeted by familiar sights.
His mother, Meera, preparing breakfast.
His father, Arif Ali, reading the newspaper.
And the smell of tea filling the room.
One morning, Meera looked at him carefully and sighed.
"You're becoming too handsome."
Adil almost laughed.
"Ma, why do you say that every week?"
"Because it's true."
Arif lowered his newspaper.
"Your mother is worried."
"Worried about what?"
"That some girl will kidnap you."
All three burst into laughter.
"No one is kidnapping me, Papa."
Arif chuckled.
"Good. Because I still need someone to carry groceries."
Those moments always brought peace to Adil's heart.
No amount of fame or wealth could replace these simple mornings.
School life had also changed.
He had become one of the senior students now. Teachers relied on him, and juniors admired him. His classmates often sought his advice, whether regarding studies or personal problems.
Yet despite being popular, Adil never let it affect him.
His schedule remained strict.
School.
Exercise.
Dance.
Martial arts.
Languages.
Voice training.
Singing practice.
Acting.
Study.
Sleep.
And repeat.
Sometimes even he wondered if he was pushing himself too hard.
But whenever fatigue threatened to overwhelm him, memories of his previous life appeared.
The lonely orphan.
The dreams left unfinished.
The regrets.
And suddenly, exhaustion disappeared.
Because he had promised himself.
Not this time.
One evening, while practicing a song, he made a mistake and hit a terrible note.
Meera immediately burst out laughing.
"Oh, God! What was that?"
Adil covered his face.
"Ma!"
Arif, sitting nearby, joined in.
"If you become an actor, please don't sing for your own films."
Both parents laughed uncontrollably.
Adil simply shook his head.
"You'll see. I'll improve."
And improve he did.
Though he wasn't trying to become a professional singer, years of practice gradually gave him a pleasant and steady voice.
One Sunday, his school organized an inter-school debate competition.
The topic was simple.
"Success depends on hard work rather than luck."
Most students memorized speeches.
Adil spoke from the heart.
He spoke about dreams.
About discipline.
About effort.
About failure.
And about standing up after falling.
His words carried such conviction that even the judges listened attentively.
When the results were announced, he won first place.
Returning home with the trophy, he was greeted by Meera's excited voice.
"Arif! He's back!"
His mother practically ran to the door.
"You won again?"
Adil smiled.
"Yes."
She hugged him proudly.
"My son is the best."
Arif laughed.
"Don't praise him too much, or he'll become arrogant."
Adil grinned.
"Too late."
The old man threw a cushion at him.
"Brat."
Their laughter filled the room.
That evening, while drinking tea together, Arif became unusually serious.
"Adil."
"Yes, Papa?"
"You're fifteen now."
Adil nodded.
"I know."
"What do you want to do after school?"
The answer came without hesitation.
"I want to become an actor."
"And if it takes years?"
"I'll wait."
"And if people reject you?"
"I'll improve."
"And if success doesn't come?"
Adil smiled softly.
"I'll keep trying."
Arif stared at him quietly.
Then he nodded.
"Good."
"What?"
"That's the answer I wanted to hear."
He leaned back and smiled.
"Dreams are beautiful, son. But dreams test people. Most people give up halfway."
His eyes softened.
"I don't think you will."
Adil smiled.
"No."
"I won't."
That night, unable to sleep, Adil climbed to the roof of their house.
The city lights stretched into the distance.
Above him, countless stars illuminated the sky.
The world around him seemed peaceful.
He remembered the year 2027.
He remembered dying alone.
He remembered thinking that perhaps life had been unfair.
Yet now, standing beneath the same stars, he realized something.
Perhaps fate had simply been preparing him for this second chance.
He wasn't angry anymore.
He wasn't lonely anymore.
He had parents who loved him.
He had dreams worth chasing.
And he had time.
Time to become stronger.
Time to improve.
Time to build himself.
He smiled softly.
Television.
Films.
Business.
The world.
Everything could wait.
There was no need to rush.
Great things weren't built in a day.
They were built through thousands of ordinary days.
Days like this.
As the cool night breeze brushed against his face, Adil looked at the stars and whispered quietly.
"Just wait."
"I'm coming."
And somewhere far ahead, beyond the years yet to come, destiny patiently prepared the stage for the young man whose name millions would one day remember.
But for now, he was simply Adil Ali.
A boy with a dream.
And dreams, he had learned, were worth every sacrifice.