Chapter 3 – The Soul in the Mirror
Part 7
The morning sun pierced through thin curtains like molten gold, scattering its warmth across the small, modest room. Dust motes danced lazily in the air as Veer sat up on the edge of the bed, his breathing steady but his mind restless.
Veer (inner monologue):
Today’s the day… Dad said from Monday I can start school again. A fresh life, a clean slate. But—
Isn’t this cheating? I’m 20 years old inside. In this body… I’m barely 15, maybe 16. How do I even blend in?
He let out a faint chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. But before the thought could settle, a sharp, searing pain exploded in his skull. His eyes widened as his hands clutched his temples, a strangled gasp escaping his throat.
> “—Tchhh—aaaahhhh!”
The room blurred. A deep, echoing voice thundered in his head like a hammer striking an anvil.
Unknown Voice (echoing, distorted):
> “Hey, you bastard! What have you done to my body?! Why can’t I feel… or control anything?!”
Veer’s eyes rolled back as his consciousness slipped, falling, tumbling through a void darker than pitch.
---
Blackness. Cold. Endless. Veer found himself standing on a cracked, narrow pathway suspended in nothingness. A low hum vibrated in the air. Far ahead, a faint glow flickered—like the heart of a dying star.
Veer (panting):
> “What… is this place? Where am I…? And that kid…”
There—on the other side—stood a boy. Pale, furious, fists clenched tight. His eyes burned with defiance, like a trapped animal. Veer’s chest tightened; the resemblance was undeniable.
Veer (inner monologue):
Wait… no way. He looks exactly like me. The original soul of this body…
Unknown Boy (snarling):
> “Hey, you little brat! Didn’t you hear me? Who the hell are you—and what have you done to me?!”
His voice cracked like a whip across the void. The darkness rippled around them, reacting to his rage. Veer blinked, steadying himself, then scoffed.
Veer (smirking):
> “Little brat? For your kind information, kid, I’m much older than you. So watch your tone, soul brat.”
He crossed his arms, trying to stay calm. A strange weight pressed against his chest—the kind only a soul confrontation could bring. His voice softened slightly, but his eyes stayed sharp.
> “First thing’s first. Let’s introduce ourselves. I’m Veer.” He sighed, a small wry smile tugging at his lips.
“And you are…?”
Unknown Boy (stunned, then angry):
> “What the hell? My name’s Veer too. And I’m fifteen years old!”
The two stared at each other—mirror images separated by a cosmic rift. Time felt frozen. But before either could speak again, a muffled sound echoed from beyond the void. A familiar voice. Warm. Soft.
Voice from Reality (gentle, calling):
> “Veer? Beta, are you awake? Breakfast is ready…”
The darkness cracked. Light spilled in, breaking the confrontation. Veer turned sharply toward the sound as everything dissolved around him. His chest lurched—his mom’s voice…
The scene shattered. Veer’s eyelids fluttered open. His mother stood at the doorway, sunlight framing her silhouette. Her expression was soft but puzzled, watching her son as if he’d been talking in his sleep.
Behind his eyes, the echo of the boy’s voice still lingered.
Veer (inner monologue):
This… just got complicated.
______
Part 8 –
(A soft creak of a door. The dim yellow light of the hallway spills faintly into Veer’s room. His mother peeks in, her eyes laced with concern.)
Veer’s Mom (gently): Veer… are you okay? I’m just checking. You seem… off tonight.
Veer (forcing a small smile): Yes, Mom. Don’t worry. I’m fine.
(She lingers for a moment, reading his expression like a book she can’t quite finish, then quietly closes the door and disappears back to her room. The silence returns, heavier than before. Veer exhales, staring at the shadow of his own reflection in the window.)
Veer (inner monologue): Enough hiding. I need to clear this up. This… double life inside my own head.
(He sits cross-legged on the bed, fingers tightening into fists. His voice hardens, addressing the invisible presence.)
Veer: Okay… let’s clear everything that’s happened till now. But from today—listen to me—from today I’ll call myself Kesari. Because you’re Veer… and I’m Veer too.
(A faint echo answers inside his skull, like a second voice rippling through a still pond.)
Kesari (voice within): …Alright. Kesari.
(A long pause. The air feels colder. Then, with a deep breath, Kesari begins recounting everything—the accident, the moment of death, the black void, and the sudden awakening in this body.)
Veer: According to my theory… the doctors experimented on us. They must’ve put some organs in your body—like a heart on the right side—because you already had a heart on the left. And I can feel another heartbeat on the right. They even used my dead brain… a lot of my blood.
(Kesari’s voice cuts in, skeptical but not dismissive.)
Kesari: Wait. I have a question about your theory. Look, my heart is on the full left side. It’s rare but not impossible for someone to have it on the right. But your “half-brain” idea? In the medical world, it doesn’t seem possible to transplant half a brain. No one’s ever done it.
Veer: Yeah, I know it sounds insane. But it’s just my theory. Don’t forget… this is modern India. 2026.
(A heavy silence. Kesari exhales slowly, considering the words.)
Kesari: …Hmm. You have a point.
(Veer’s tone shifts, irritation rising like a spark.)
Veer: But why the hell am I even talking about this? Some child—an annoying face keeps flashing in my mind.
Kesari (snapping): How the hell would I know? I’m looking at the same annoying face!
(And just like that, the fragile truce breaks. Their voices overlap, clashing inside the same skull, like two storms colliding in a single sky.)
(Sound: an echoing rush, like static and thunder as they begin fighting again in their shared consciousness.)
---
Part 9
Inside the school’s dark office…
The heavy curtains were drawn, letting only slivers of pale light cut through the gloom. A tall, broad figure with flowing white hair sat in silence, his massive presence filling the room. Despite his aged face, there was an aura around him — sharp, commanding, ageless.
The door creaked open.
Anand Kesari: “Good morning, Principal sir. It’s been a while.”
From behind the desk, a low chuckle echoed.
Principal Shiv: “Hahaha… Anand Kesari. After so long, you finally call on me. Tell me, how is your child now? Is he alright? The tension surrounding his… background has been unsettling.”
Shadows stretched across the walls, swallowing their words into silence.
Anand Kesari: firmly “He’s okay. Safe now.”
A sudden change — Principal Shiv leaned forward, his voice breaking the heaviness with rare cheer.
Principal Shiv: “What? Truly? That’s wonderful! Is he… is he finally going to return to school?”
Anand Kesari: “Yes. From next week, once the gates reopen… he’ll join again.”
Principal Shiv: smiling faintly “Good… good. Thank you for telling me.”
The two men exchanged a long look — one filled with relief, the other with secrets buried deeper than the darkness of that room.
---
Meanwhile… in the hospital.
The scene shifted sharply — cold white lights buzzing overhead, metallic instruments gleaming under their glare. Inside the operation room, a group of doctors stood still, their faces grave. On the table lay a lifeless body, draped in sterile sheets.
One of the doctors let out a long, defeated breath.
Doctor (muttering): “Another failure…”
The silence that followed was heavier than the machines that had just gone still.
_____
Part 10
On the other side…
A heavy, iron-bound door stood silently, its surface etched with strange symbols that seemed to shift under the dim light. A lone figure stood before it, tall and calm, his eyes scanning the lock as if reading some hidden code.
He reached into his coat and retrieved a small device — a keypad with glowing runes instead of numbers. Fingers hovered for a moment, then pressed a sequence with precision. Each keystroke echoed in the quiet corridor, a soft click that sounded almost like a heartbeat.
The final key pressed… and with a deep, resonant thud, the door
shuddered open, revealing darkness beyond — a darkness that seemed alive, waiting.
The figure paused, a faint smirk curling on his lips, as he stepped forward.
To be continued…
