As Agastya turned ten, the world around him seemed to grow larger.
The same school now felt unfamiliar.
The middle school building stood tall and imposing, its long corridors stretching endlessly, filled with echoes of footsteps and voices. Classrooms were bigger, students were older, louder, more expressive.
Everything felt… overwhelming.
But Agastya had changed too.
Not loudly.
Not visibly.
But deeply.
That morning didn't begin like others.
Agastya woke up late.
Sunlight had already filled the room, brighter than usual, almost harsh against his eyes. He blinked, confused at first—then suddenly realized.
"I'm late!"
He jumped out of bed, his movements rushed and uncoordinated. His bag lay half-open, books scattered. He quickly grabbed his uniform shirt, struggling to button it properly.
"Maa! I'm late… please fast!" he called out, his voice slightly panicked.
Indu rushed in from the kitchen, holding his tiffin and a glass of milk.
"At least drink this—" she started.
"No time!" Agastya replied quickly, picking up his bag.
She sighed softly but didn't stop him. She knew that urgency mattered to him more today.
As he ran out, she watched from the door.
Something about this day felt different.
Agastya reached the school gate, slightly out of breath.
He stopped.
For a moment.
His eyes moved slowly across the building.
Students walked in groups, laughing, calling out to each other, sharing stories.
He stood alone.
"What if nothing changes…?" he thought quietly.
He took a deep breath.
And walked in.
The corridor was alive.
Voices bounced off the walls, laughter mixed with footsteps, lockers closing, shoes scraping against the floor. The energy was chaotic—but natural.
Agastya walked through it silently.
Like a shadow.
When he reached his classroom, he stopped again.
Inside, students had already formed groups. Some sat on desks, others leaned against walls, some laughed loudly without a care.
It felt like a world—
Where he didn't belong.
He held his breath for a second.
Then stepped inside.
The moment he entered—
Something changed.
It wasn't loud.
But it was noticeable.
One student looked at him.
Then another.
Then more.
Soon—
Half the class was staring.
Agastya felt it immediately.
That attention.
Heavy.
Focused.
Unavoidable.
He wasn't invisible anymore.
A strange feeling rose inside him.
A small, unfamiliar warmth.
"Maybe… this is good?" he thought.
But then—
The staring didn't stop.
It stretched longer than comfort allowed.
Longer than normal curiosity.
It started to feel like pressure.
Like being watched under a microscope.
Agastya's chest tightened slightly.
He lowered his gaze and walked toward the corner, sitting quietly.
Even after sitting—
He could feel their eyes on him.
Whenever he accidentally looked up—
They quickly turned away.
"This isn't attention…" he thought.
"This is something else."
After a few minutes, the teacher entered.
The class settled, though whispers still lingered.
"Alright," the teacher said, placing his books on the table. "Let's begin with introductions."
Students stood one by one.
Some spoke confidently, others nervously, but laughter and reactions followed each introduction.
Connections formed instantly.
Agastya watched everything.
Carefully.
Quietly.
When his turn came, his fingers tightened slightly.
He stood up slowly.
The room went quieter.
Again.
He cleared his throat, trying to steady his voice.
"Myself Agastya Valle… My father is a doctor… My hobby is to play with cars… Thank you."
It was short.
Controlled.
Safe.
But the teacher paused.
His eyes lingered on Agastya.
Just for a second too long.
Then he adjusted his expression.
"Good," he said. "Students, make friends. Sit together. It's important."
Chairs moved.
Students shifted.
Groups formed quickly.
Agastya remained where he was.
Alone.
But this time—
It didn't hurt.
It was expected.
As the period ended, the teacher walked out, muttering quietly under his breath—
"Is that boy… cursed?"
Agastya heard it.
Clearly.
But he didn't react.
The classroom exploded into noise again.
Laughter, conversations, movement.
Then—
A group of boys approached him.
Agastya felt it immediately.
Tension.
One of them leaned forward slightly.
"Hey," he said. "I heard something about you."
Agastya looked up slowly.
"They say you're cursed," the boy continued. "Is that true?"
Agastya's mind went blank.
He didn't know what to say.
Another boy laughed lightly. "What? Can't speak? Are you mute?"
Agastya finally spoke, his voice faint.
"No… I don't know…"
Before things escalated—
The teacher entered.
"Back to your seats!"
The boys moved away quickly.
Agastya exhaled.
But his thoughts didn't settle.
"So this is different…" he thought.
Recess came.
Students gathered in groups, sharing food, laughing loudly.
Agastya sat alone.
Opening his tiffin slowly.
Then—
A tap.
He turned sharply.
A boy stood there.
Calm.
Normal.
"Can I sit with you?" he asked.
Agastya froze.
No one had ever asked him that before.
For a second—
He couldn't process it.
"Y-yes…" he replied quickly.
The boy smiled and sat down.
"Hi, myself Vevan."
Agastya looked at him.
Then replied softly, "Hi… myself Agastya."
Vevan opened his lunch.
"Thanks," he said. "I didn't like sitting alone."
Agastya blinked slightly.
"You… were alone?" he asked.
Vevan shrugged. "Yeah. Not everyone fits in immediately."
Agastya felt something shift inside him.
They started talking.
Slowly at first.
Then more naturally.
For the first time—
Agastya wasn't observing.
He was participating.
He felt light.
After the break, Vevan brought his bag and sat beside him again.
Agastya couldn't stop the small smile on his face.
Later, Vevan leaned slightly closer.
"I was curious about your eyes," he said. "Are they colored?"
Agastya shook his head. "No… natural."
Vevan paused.
Then asked carefully,
"Are they… cursed?"
Agastya looked ahead.
Silent.
Then said quietly,
"Maybe… or maybe not."
The day passed without trouble.
When school ended—
Agastya walked out with something new.
A friend.
He ran home.
Faster than usual.
"Maa!" he called out. "I made a friend!"
Indu turned, surprised—then smiled warmly.
"That's wonderful!"
That evening, when Lucian returned, Agastya rushed to him.
"Papa! I made a friend!"
Lucian raised an eyebrow slightly. "What's his name?"
"Vevan."
Lucian nodded. "Good. Be kind to him."
Then after a pause, he added quietly,
"And be careful who you trust."
Agastya didn't fully understand.
But he nodded.
That night—
Agastya slept peacefully.
But deep in the night—
Something changed.
His eyes opened.
But not in his room.
He stood in a dark, unfamiliar place.
No walls.
No sound.
No warmth.
Only emptiness.
"…Where am I?" he whispered.
His voice echoed strangely.
Not outward.
But inward.
A faint red glow flickered in the distance.
Agastya's heart began to beat faster.
The ground beneath him felt… alive.
And then—
A voice.
Not heard.
But felt.
Agastya froze.
The red glow intensified.
And his right eye—
Began to burn.
TO BE CONTINUED...