[Within the Third memory]
The morning sun filtered through the clouds, basking the world in its golden hue.
Birds could be seen flying far away in search of food.
The city was bustling with people heading to their respective workplaces.
School Buses are travelling from street to street to pick up the students.
A boy is chasing after a bright-coloured bus, the backpack slamming on his back.
A young man is screaming at the top of his lungs, invisible to everyone.
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"Ahhhh !" A raspy scream tore through my throat,as I collapsed on the ground.
Thud!
My vision blurs as I scream clutching my head.
' I still don't know why I'm even re-living my own memories? '
The more I think the more my head aches.
Realising that panicking and screaming won't solve anything. I take few deep breaths to calm down.
Pinching my forehead, to suppress the growing headache. I started shorting out of my situation:
──"Tonight, I was lazily chatting with Miss Lóng niǎo. She said something about meeting me in the morning, before wishing me goodnight."
Hmm…
After washing my face, as I was going to sleep, my eyes fell on the mirror and— "I can't recall exactly what happened, but a few minutes later there was blood and broken shards of mirror."
"Yes!!. This is all happening because of that damn mirror".
I couldn't help but curse the mirror.
At that time, I thought I was hallucinating when I saw the fragments of my life events floating inside those broken Shards.
"I'm sure no one's gonna believe me if I say that I saw my own life being played like a movie inside a mirror"
Everyone will think of me as if I'm suffering from 'Schizophrenia'…
I wonder what Sir Lao Shan would think.
I also wonder how Miss Long Niǎo would react?.
She might start reprimanding me "Mr... Shi ren! Are you skipping your meds again!?".
Sigh…
When I was doing my best to recall how the mirror had broken and why there was blood, I was dragged into this mirror world…memory world?
"I had already witnessed the two memories and this is third one…how many more to go?"
"Aghh" I let out a frustrated groan.
So in short, for some reason I'm witnessing my own memories and the only way to leave the world of memories is to stay untill the end?.
I can't help but shiver as I recall the world-ending catastrophic event at the end of my previous memories.
"I'm once again inside the memory"
This is my…third memory.
Taking a trembling breath I continue to ponder.
"It seems to leave this place I have to relive my own memory and go through the apocalypse once again."
"Damn…"
Steeling my heart, I started taking in my surroundings.
The first thing to catch my attention was…my house. The same house from which I ran away Eight years ago, abandoning everything.
Ironically I'm here once again.
However. I don't feel anything like nostalgia while looking at what was once my home.
After sizing up my old house for a moment, my gaze landed on a boy who was chasing after a school bus.
That was Karan—my younger self.
Light flickered through my eyes as I got flashbacks.
"Ohhh…"
Knowing what's going to happen today, my lips curled up into a sly smile.
•
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"Nooo…I don't want to be late today, either."
Huff Huff!!~
Stopping abruptly, the boy gasped for breath as he complained "All this running hurt my lungs badly, yet I missed the damn bus."
"Ahh ! I will be late to school again" He spat before cursing the bus driver loudly.
Being late to school meant standing outside of the classroom as a punishment and he…He hated punishments.
Taking a deep breath, Karan headed back toward his home.
Reaching home karan was met with the puzzled gaze of his cousin brother and other family members.
"Uhh…I missed the bus" He spoke ruffling his hair.
"That's why we say to wake up early but when have you ever listened to us?" Someone shouted from the kitchen.
Soon, everyone started saying few 'nice' things to karan.
His elder Brother signalled him with his eyes to get the bike keys.
Catching his brother's signal, Karan hurriedly entered the room and soon came out holding the bike keys.
To avoid getting scolded any further, Karan descended the stairs as soon as he retrieved the keys.
His 22-year-old brother quietly follows him.
Soon both brothers reached the ground floor where stood a bike, bathing in the sunlight.
It was a plain and simple-looking bike.
As usual, his elder brother extended his arm.
There was no exchange of words between them yet Karan understood.
After all, his brother spoke very little. So he just learned how to converse with him more efficiently.
Karan unwillingly hands him the keys.
But the desire to ride bike, overwhelmed him today.
So, Karan hesitantly requested his cousin "Big bro! Listen, can I ride the bike…please!?"
"Huh? No..."
Hearing a sharp reply the young boy looked at his own feet.
After a while, mustering courage he asks again, "Big bro! Pretty…Please!.
Looking at my younger self who had plump cheeks and big puppy eyes moved my brother's heart.
His gaze softened as he handed the bikes to the pleading youth before warning:
"Just don't smash anything and be careful "
Frantically nodding Karan grabs the bike keys happily.
Although, he smiled happily, deep down karan was very nervous.
He couldn't help but think about his own lack of driving experience.
'I knew a few basics about how to ride a motorcycle, but that's there is to it.'
On the paper, it was very Easy—
[Start the bike, hold the clutch, shift the gears, and throttle a little as you relax the clutch slowly.]
There you go…
Karan blurted out as he walked towards the bike, "Big bro! Help me if something goes wrong…okie!?"
He starts the bike after receiving a nod from his cousin brother as confirmation.
But no matter what Karan does, the bike won't move at all.
There's definitely something wrong with the bike, surely he knows how to drive.
•
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A figure was floating in the air defying all laws of physics. If Sir Newton were to see this they might scream from their grave.
Right at this moment the figure was facepalming.
I watched with second-hand embarrassment as my former self struggled with moving the bike forward.
"Sigh…"
Since the last five minutes, the bike hasn't even moved a meter.
Hell. It was on the same spot as it was before.
Once again karan turned the keys. Then instead of little he gave a full throttle making the bike scream.
"Vrooommm—"
The vibration made Karan's hand tremble and he unknowingly let go of the handlebars.
"Screech—"
"Yelp…" He shrieked unknowingly.
The bike disappeared from Karan's grip and climbed up the stairs of the neighbour's.
Everything happened so fast that Karan still had his hand stuck outwards holding an imaginary bike.
He dumbly stared at the spot from where the bike disappeared.
"Bwahahaha!…" my cousin burst out laughing loudly.
I too couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle.
Meanwhile, karan had this worried look on his face that screamed *What am going to do now*.
Reading his crestfallen expression.
My elder brother pointed at the fallen bike and spoke, "Bring it down before anyone sees it".
Karan sprinted towards the bike, bent down to pick the bars, and instead of lifting, he throttled the bike, making it scream some more.
"Bwahahah!…" Another burst of laughing resounded in Karan's ears.
Despair flickered through his eyes.
After wiping the tears in his eyes, my cousin walked toward the bike shifted the gears to neutral, and lifted it off the stairs easily.
Then both brothers drove towards the Sunshine School.
From time to time the older one was chuckling while the youth was grimacing.
Unbeknownst to these two boys, a man was looking down on them from a building's window with his lips curled up.
Unbeknownst to that man, I was also looking at him with complex emotions.
'Father,' I inwardly greet him.
For a second I almost regretted my choice to run away.
Almost…
Turning away, I fly towards the departing bike.
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My cousin drove towards the school.The speed at which the bike was moving soon crossed 80km/h.
Inside my own memory I am like a god.
Snapping my finger I instantly teleported at the school gate.
A few minutes later, I saw my brother dropping karan at the school.
He chuckled to himself before leaving as if remembering the earlier incident.
My younger self looked around to make sure no one was paying any attention to him.
Confirming, He secretly blended into the crowd of students who were praying.
As this was the time of morning prayer even the teachers had their eyes closed except the watchman.
For obvious reason, ofcourse.
Tannn!! Tannn!! Tannn!!
A loud chime forced students to open their eyes.
"How boring" I complained to no one in particular.
Witnessing my own life is sure…great,but not being able to intervene loses all its greatness.
I'm merely a spectator of my own memories.
I didn't even realise that I was talking to myself.
"I mean who would want to relive their life?"
They might be insane if they chooses this.
"And on top of that I even have to take these boring lectures again. Thanks, but no thanks."
But what can I even do?. It's not like I can fast forward my memories… can I?.
Curses started flowing out from my mouth.
Wish I could skip the boring stuff.
But no matter what I try, the skip button won't appear at all, even though this memory is mine.
"Ahhhh…" A frustrating groan escape from my lips.
I tediously endured the classes until the last school bell.
From morning prayer to the evening bus.
"What a hellish day it was"
Without having even a shred of energy to curse more, I fly above the karan.
After walking for a long 18 heartbeats, karan finally entered the bright colour school bus.
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Inside the bus, my younger self met the new faces with whom he got along.
simultaneously, two girl's face lit up the moment my split image entered the bus.
They were my super senior.
I know these two ladies very well. I was very fond of them.
"Still I don't know who they are"
My memories are vague and blurry.
However…
Silver basket in this iron situation is that their faces were somewhat clearer than any of my classmates.
"but not clear enough for me to recognise them"
Looking at these two senior girls my heart sank.
One was healthy in build while the other was somewhat malnourished. The healthy one had soft hair which she tied up in a ponytail while the malnourished had styled her hair in braids.
' I might not recognise them but one thing I know for sure is that healthy girl loves solving Rubik's Cube. As for the malnourished one, she loves art and she is an artist '.
My thoughts were confirmed by the girls holding a rubik cube and art book respectively.
They warmly patted the Seat beside them inviting Karan.
Karan walked toward the girls and sat beside them, of course, near the window seat which they had kindly reserved only for him.
Seeing this my lips curled into a soft smile.
The girls were making faces that screamed affection.
"Hey! Lil one, how were today classes?" Inquired the cube girl warmly.
"Ok-ok" Karan sighed in exhaustion.
"Say, kiddo! Do you like this art?" Happily asked the malnourished girl.
"Ohh? Its…wonderful big sis!" karan exclaimed in admiration.
Afterall, I draw worse than a toddler so in my eyes everyone is a great artist.
The students keep pouring inside the bus.
Right at this moment Cubby was teaching both Karan and Arty how to solve a 3×3 Rubik's Cube.
I felt proud of the nickname I gave to senior girls.
It certainly had a nice ring to it.
Meanwhile, cubby was pinching her forehead in frustration.
No matter how much she explained, both Karan and Arty still didn't understand anything at all.
She felt as if those two were dumber than sea rock.
The artist girl really wanted to learn how to solve a cube just like her friend.
whereas, Karan was learning Rubik's Cube just for the sake of learning and also to pass time.
Afterall, bus journey was somewhat long and boring.
Alas! He didn't know that not every day is the same as yesterday.
The doors of the bus closed as soon as the last student entered the bus—he was none other than roundish (round face).
Seeing him spoiled my mood.
That's why,I shifted my gaze towards where my naive self was.
"Ugh! Enough cubes for today big sis" karan couldn't help but complain.
The cube girl stared at Karan before giggling
" Okie okie then what should we do now?"
He started pondering seriously.
"How about playing hand cricket?" The art girl suggested.
"Let's do that " both Karan and Cubby replied to Arty who in turns smiled back at them.
During bus journey almost all of the student Played hand cricket.
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All kinds of conversations were taking place inside the bus.
On the last seat, a youngboy both with two senior girls was playing hand cricket.
They seemed to be in a serious showdown when a small and chubby hand reached for the shoulder of a young boy.
"Oiii ! that's my seat… get out" blurted, the kid with glasses.
…
"Whistle~"
My eyes sparkled with interest, as I whistled knowing what's about to happen.
Afterall, if I don't support myself who will?.
…
"Huh? Who said? Is your name written here"? Karan replied, swatting away roundish hand.
"I always sit here and it's my seat now get up immediately" roundish spat in annoyance.
"Ohh boy!! Get another seat, can't you see it's already occupied?" Cubby scolded him sternly.
Arty was also showing displeased expression.
"Why would I go to different seat when this one is mine"!? Roundish almost screamed out.
But why would karan back out?
"I won't move from here do whatever you want"
"I will call my big brother, he studies in 10th…better get up" roundish said in a triumphant smile.
The girls started laughing at his face
" So what? We are also in 10th now furr furr, don't disturb us"
Seeing girls shooing him made my heart grin.
Getting humiliated by the girls had been the last straw that broke the camel's back
He spoke in an angry tone before lacing out "Mr. Karan!!!"
I saw Roundish pushing the Karan against the window.
Things escalated quickly from pushing to throwing hands. Both girls tried intervened but were unable to seprate the fighting kids.
At one point they even had to get out of their brawl to not get dragged into a fight.
Karan's right fist connect to roundish left shoulder, while Roundish palm struck on karan chest.
Both yelped in pain.
"I will complain about you to class teacher" hissed Roundish.
"You can complain to your grandma for all I care" cursed Karan.
Instead of shouting back, roundish tried to choke my younger self.
Karan grabbed the hands that were trying to choke him.
Their brawl escalated and now they were scratching each others like stray cats.
In the process karan broke roundface glasses.
Enraging the already angered bull.
Still my naive self no matter how naive wasn't in disadvantage at all.
Although, karan was barely a 14-year-old kid. He was already one of the tallest in his class.
In close fight,height advantage is vital.
But…
"Alas! This was no professional fight but two kids throwing hands."
I leisurely started analyzing the fight.
"Even an amateur would be called an expert in front of them."
Startled !!
The driver entered the bus as it was already time to depart but the scene he witnessed left him in shock.
Roundish was grabbing Karan's collar.
However, what he saw next almost made his eyes pop out.
Feeling his collar grabbed.
Karan instinctively clutches his enemy's neck, and with sheer brute force lifting him off the floor.
The entire bus was in uproar....
The face of roundish at first was red tomato, than onion and now it was almost purple potato.
He was struggling to breath.
His broken glasses hanging awkwardly.
Then…
A firm hand removed the grip of Karan.
Roundish big brother has come to his rescue.
As soon as the grip was removed from the neck, roundish desperately gasped for air, his broken spectacles falling towards the floor.
Two senior girls who followed roundish brother tried to lash out at the karan.
But…
Cubby and Arty came forward to defend him.
It was a thrilling sight to see four girls arguing with each other over their respective junior friend.
Meanwhile, roundish brother,another faceless to me, asked Karan "what's going on."
He listened to everything what karan had to say and then smiled "chill it happens" and left, dragging roundish along with him.
Unbeknownst to everyone I can tell how much roundface is suppressing his hatred and I also know how many times we will be cross at each other in future.
After the raging girls calmed down, the matter was solved.
Returning, one pinched Karan cheeks while another patted his back.
"Good job little one…"
"seems like someone is becoming man"
My younger self puffed his chest in pride as he heard praises from girls.
Even I was slightly affected by their praises! unknowingly my ears turned red.
Driver muttered something under his breath.
Soon, the bus embarked on its way and everyone was talking about the earlier incident.
Than it happened…
"Kboommm—"
The bus exploded into countless pieces along with the humans it was carrying.
Indicating the fact that this memory was over.
Blood mixing along with bus oil splattered on the ground, surrounding me.
Somehow, I was not hurt at all.
There was an immense blinding light and I felt it was calling me… towards its heart.
I resisted with all my willpower and the more I resisted the more unstable the entire world became.
As if the heavens were enraged, mountains thick bolte started hammering the world.
The desert had turned into glass hell.
The glaciers had melted and were now flowing like an angry river.
Dormant volcanoes were erupting the lava towards the sky.
And…
The mountains were rising from the dust and being destroyed next moment.
The stars were shattering and falling down like a blazing comet.
The pull was so great that my bones were literally being destroyed at molecular level.
Though, to my naked eyes all I saw was my entire body vanishing into the thin air.
I held on stubbornly, even though I know that if if I stop resisting I will return to the "real world".
Yet…
"I don't want to… I never wanted to!!"
I was also very curious.
why was I dragged into this world of memories?.
"Why…?"
How long can I resist?
How long have I been resisting ?
The sun has long ago vanished along with the moon, the blazing stars have exhausted their brightness.
The world had gone silent.
Everything was dark. Nothing could be seen or felt. Even the immense light itself had disappeared.
In that dead world only I was alive.
Next—
The planet started trembling…
The entire world was compressing into a single point. All existence warped inwardly with each moment that passed.
Chaos became unstable and there was an explosion, a terrifying world ending explosion.
"kaboom…!!!"
Everything exploded outward erasing the sign of existence itself.
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A pale light illuminated the dull room, consisting shards of broken mirrors.
Moonlight dancing on the surface of broken shards.
Soon a man appeared from a piece and with his appearance the mirror lost its vitality and glimmer.
The event unfolding in that shard was over.
* * *
A moment ago I was getting swept inside a apocalyptic explosion, another puking my guts out.
After calming my chaotic mind.
I started checking all the remaining shards of mirrors, yet I couldn't find anything that led me into the world of memories.
Too tired to think further I slept on the floor consisting of several scattered pieces of mirror. The moonlight embraced both me and broken shards.
A peaceful sleep soon enveloped me completely.
***
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Author suggestion: I highly recommend playing hand cricket with your friends. There is no limit to how many people could play together but the ideal number is "two".
I will explain the rules below to make it easy for you all.
Hand cricket rules:
[One fingers means…one run.
Two fingers mean…two runs.
Three fingers…three runs.
Four fingers… four runs.
Five finger…five runs.
Thumb represents six runs.
Thumb and index finger together…seven runs.
Thumb, index and middle finger…Eight runs.
All fingers opened except one closed…nine runs.
A closed fist is…ten runs.
Thumb, index and pinky finger opened…11 runs.
Thumb, ring and middle finger… 12 runs.
Thumb and middle finger…15 runs.
Thumb and pinky…20 runs.
Both hands could be used to play hand cricket.
Only upto "5" would be counted as double rune if used both hands.
If the opponent throw the same finger as the player.Then, the batsman is bowled out.
There is no limit to the score but one must not use calculator]