As the book appeared in Ayaan's hands, it felt impossible. It wasn't just heavy; it felt like he was holding a solid slab of lead that grew heavier with every passing second. The weight was so immense that the ground beneath Ayaan began to sink, the solid earth spider-webbing into deep cracks.
Ayaan gritted his teeth. He had never been this strong, yet somehow, he kept his grip. He refused to let it fall. Slowly, the crushing weight began to ebb away. The book became lighter and lighter until it felt as weightless as a feather in his palms.
Then came the sound.
At first, it was a soothing melody, but it quickly sharpened into a high-pitched scream. The frequency became so intense that it felt like needles piercing his brain. Ayaan cried out as thin trails of blood began to leak from his ears.
"You are not strong enough to open the book yet, Ayaan," the Sage said calmly. "This is the key to your destiny. It is an ocean of knowledge—medicine, music, asanas, and siddhis. Everything about the world is inside."
The Sage looked at the bleeding boy. "But you must be worthy to read even the first page. For now, it is locked."
"What should I do with it then?" Ayaan asked, panting. "Should I just leave it here?"
"No. Think of this book as a part of your own mind. Simply call it back."
Ayaan stared at the book. "Come here, book. Come to me," he commanded.
Smack!
Ayaan's head spun as the Sage hit him. "What are you doing? Calling it like it's a dog?" the Sage scolded. "This is a part of your body now. Do you tell your finger to move? You just move it."
Ayaan took a breath and closed his eyes. He stopped looking at the book as an object and started feeling it as an extension of himself. He channeled his thoughts inward. Suddenly, the book vanished from his hands. Ayaan felt a strange, solid sensation settle deep within his mind. It was tucked away, waiting.
"How do I become worthy, Master?"
"You will understand when the time comes," the Sage replied with a poker face.
Always with the half-answers, Ayaan thought, though he didn't dare say it out loud for fear of another smack. He turned to a more pressing worry. "Master, you said three years have passed. Did I really abandon my sister for that long?"
"No. Time moves differently here. It has been three years on this peak, but only three months in your world. There is nothing to worry about."
Ayaan felt a wave of relief, but then he noticed the weight of his own body. He felt broader, taller, and heavier. He rubbed his face and felt something thick and coarse. The Sage flicked his wrist, and a mirror appeared.
Ayaan stared at his reflection. The "baby face" was gone. His short hair was now a dense, flowing mane. A thick, sharp beard covered his jawline. His shoulders were like mountains, and his chest bulged beneath his ragged clothes.
"I actually like this look," Ayaan muttered, caressing his new beard. "I never thought I could grow one."
"It is the Prana," the Sage explained. "When you walk the path of a Sadhaka, your life force changes your physical form, regardless of your genetics."
Ayaan's eyes widened as reality hit him. "Master, even if it's only been three months... how do I explain this to Sunidhi? You can't get a body like this in twelve weeks."
He was a warrior who had faced the cosmic void, but he was still a brother who was terrified of his sister's reaction.
The Real World: Three Months Later
In the city, Sunidhi's life had become a quiet, painful routine. Her home, once filled with gossiping, fighting, and laughter, was now hauntingly silent. She worked at the boutique, she ate, and she slept. To her, Ayaan wasn't just a brother; he was the other half of her puzzle.
Jack Rivers had eventually given up his search, moving on to other interests. He assumed Ayaan was either dead or had fled the city in fear.
Ishani, however, had not forgotten. She continued her studies at the campus, but the spark in her eyes was dimmer. One afternoon, while walking across the courtyard, she overheard some of Ritesh's friends laughing.
"Remember that scholarship kid, Ayaan?" one said, snickering. "We gave him such a beating three months ago he probably didn't stop running until he hit the border. Haven't seen him since."
Ishani's blood boiled. The arrogance of it—to bully the weak just because they had power. She wanted to confront them, but she stopped herself. Her family and Ritesh's family were old friends, and there were already whispers of an arranged marriage between them.
She turned away, her heart heavy. She didn't know that the "weak" boy they were laughing at was currently standing on a mountain peak, carrying an ocean of knowledge in his head and the strength of a titan in his arms.
Ayaan was coming home. And the city was not ready for it.