Scene 1 — Normal Chaos
Evening.
The TV volume was slightly too high.
Vaibhav's mother sat fully absorbed in a crime-detective show. On screen, dramatic music swelled — a house servant had secretly married the owner's daughter and run away.
Zoomed faces. Shocked reactions. Suspense.
A few minutes later, she walked into Vaibhav's room.
"Good thing we have a son," she said casually.
"But imagine… if instead of a servant… a maid came here…"
Vaibhav slowly turned, completely deadpan.
"Maa… please stop watching these shows. The things you start imagining…"
The next day at school, he narrated the entire incident.
Shourya burst out laughing first.
"So you were planning to elope with the maid?"
Shlokh corrected him instantly.
"Not help. Maid. Accuracy matters."
They both laughed harder.
Vaibhav pressed his chest lightly, half in embarrassment, half in regret.
"I shouldn't tell you guys anything."
After calming down, Vaibhav spoke again.
"Did you check the notice board? Physics practical in two days."
Shlokh froze.
Shourya shrugged.
Vaibhav, however, was prepared. Notes done. Concepts revised.
Shlokh narrowed his eyes dramatically.
"You cheat. You always study secretly."
Vaibhav smirked.
Normal chaos.
Normal friendship.
But the truth was quieter.
Vaibhav needed these moments.
He didn't like being alone.
Silence unsettled him. When he was alone, things happened — distortions, reactions, pulses from the stone. Thoughts grew louder in isolation.
So he filled space with noise.
Jokes. Complaints. Random talk.
Company meant safety.
Scene 2 — Honey Rain
School gate.
The sky felt heavy. Wind slow.
Then—
Rain.
Not drops.
Not drizzle.
Sheets.
The first monsoon rain crashed down.
Students shouted, ran, laughed.
Raincoats were distributed.
Vaibhav and Shourya stepped out together. Shourya was staying at Vaibhav's house for a few days — his parents were out of town.
Wet road.
Splash. Splash.
Vaibhav turned into a narrow street.
He paused.
A merchant shop.
Golden human statues displayed outside.
Too realistic.
He stared longer than he meant to.
For a second, his head felt light.
The gold shifted.
Not physically — but in pattern.
Something moved beneath the surface.
Breathing.
Watching.
He blinked.
Normal again.
He looked away.
But Shourya slowed.
His left eye tightened — controlled this time.
Fragments. Not full visions.
One glimpse — a city blast. Smoke. Sirens.
Another — bodies. Half gold. Half blood.
Far away — Veere standing still.
Not stopping it.
Not causing it.
Just present.
Shourya swallowed.
He pointed slightly.
"Bro… there…"
Vaibhav immediately pushed his hand down.
"Are you crazy? Don't point at random shops."
They kept walking.
Splash.
Splash.
Shourya focused harder.
Breathing steady. Slowing the surge.
Beside him, Vaibhav kept talking — random nonsense, minor complaints about school, practical exams, the weather.
It sounded meaningless.
But it anchored him.
Pulled him back.
Held him steady.
The rain continued falling, thick and heavy.
Streetlights reflected golden across the wet road — like honey pouring from the sky.
And somewhere nearby—
Something was already watching.
Preparing.
Because this time—
The trainee would step forward.
Before the trainer.
__
Character File — Vaibhav
Age: 17 years, 8 months
Height: 5'12"
Strength: Adaptability
Weakness: Isolation
Favorite Food: Masala Dosa
Crush: Nishi
Most Hated: Dhusyant Sir
FATUITY: Chapter 21:Alive_here0806