The apartment was small, a modest space that felt even tighter now with Ayaan's massive frame occupying it. On the wall hung a few fading frames. One showed a younger Ayaan perched on Sunidhi's back—small, frail, and grinning—a kid who relied on his sister for everything.
Sunidhi caught Ayaan staring at the photo. "Eh, if I tried to carry you like that now, I'd probably snap my spine in half," she said, leaning against the doorframe.
"What do you mean? I'm insulted," Ayaan replied, trying to look hurt. "Are you calling me fat?"
"Oh, shut up. Look at that photo and look at you now. You're a big-ass mountain," she joked. "Wait here, let me change so we can talk properly."
She disappeared into the single bedroom. In their old life, Sunidhi took the room and Ayaan took the couch; despite his transformation, the arrangement stayed the same. Ayaan sank into the sofa, the cushions groaning under his weight. He rested his head back, closing his eyes.
Hey... are you still there? he thought, reaching out to the consciousness in his mind.
"Of course I'm still here. Where do you think I'd go? Out for a stroll?" the voice snapped, sounding as annoyed as ever.
Calm down. Why are you always so angry? Ayaan countered. Tell me more about this world. I heard someone call me a 'Sadhaka.' What does that actually mean? How do I get stronger?
"A Sadhaka is the bottom of the pit," the voice explained, its tone shifting to something more instructional. "In the cultivation world, you are merely an egg—not even a chick yet. You are powerful compared to a mortal, yes, but in the true realm of power, you are a brat."
The voice continued, the information flowing into Ayaan's mind like ink on paper. "There are seven ranks. You are at the first: Sadhaka. Next is Yoddha. The gap between them is like a pond versus a lake."
"After that is Acharya. They have absolute control over Prana. A peak Acharya can manifest indestructible walls of energy, breathe life into dying plants, or focus their power into their bare hands to shatter steel."
"Then comes the Maharathi—absolute masters of Prana and form. They can reshape their own bodies with their will. Their strength is so immense that if they released their full power, a tremor would be felt across an entire region."
"And above them? The Atirathi. They are once-in-a-lifetime phenomena. They aren't found in places like this. Their power is so volatile that if they stayed on this plane for too long, the very earth would be at risk of tearing apart."
Ayaan was dazed, trying to imagine a person so powerful their presence threatened the planet.
What about the other two ranks? he began to ask, but the bedroom door swung open.
"Oi, idiot! What are you staring at?" Sunidhi asked, emerging in fresh clothes. She caught him staring blankly at the ceiling. "Did the ceiling steal your cat? You're looking at it like you're trying to burn a hole through the plaster."
"I was thinking, okay?"
"Thinking? Let me guess..." She began to mimic him in a deep, goofy voice. "Oh, if only I could find a girl who likes giant bearded idiots."
"Shut up, I'm not a pervert!"
"Really? My friends think otherwise."
"Give me their numbers then, let me ask them myself," Ayaan shot back.
"When pigs start flying, dipshit. Now, go boil the rice. I'm making the chicken," she said, shooing him off the sofa.
"I HATE YOU!" Ayaan yelled from the kitchen, already reaching for the rice pot.
"YEAH, YEAH, LOVE YOU TOO! NOW BOIL THAT RICE BEFORE I BOIL YOU!" Sunidhi screamed back.
The bickering died down as they settled into a rhythm. Soon, they were sitting on the floor with plates in hand. Sunidhi's plate held a bird-like portion, while Ayaan's was a literal mountain of rice and spicy chicken curry.
"Damn... how am I going to feed you?" Sunidhi muttered, gobbling her food. "If you eat like this, we'll be broke in a week."
"Let me eat in peace," Ayaan grumbled, though he was already wondering where his next meal would come from. His body needed an immense amount of fuel to maintain his new strength.
Two days later, Ayaan prepared for his return to the University. It was his final year; he needed that degree to secure a job and finally take the burden off Sunidhi's shoulders. He decided to walk to save their limited cash.
As he neared the campus, he found himself standing in front of the same small tea stall where he had met Rudra. Even today, the shop was empty, yet the old man behind the counter looked perfectly content.
Against his better judgment, Ayaan felt pulled toward the stall. It was as if the shop itself possessed a magnetic frequency that matched his own.
The moment he stepped into the shade of the stall, the old man looked up and beamed. "Welcome back, kid. A cup of tea for you?"
Before Ayaan could answer, the voice in his head hissed with a sudden, sharp intensity.
"This man, kid... don't be fooled by the smile. He is the key to everything."