I slowly open my eyes and try to make sense of my surroundings, but the only thing I see is darkness. Is this true darkness, or am I blind? I try to look at my hand, but I can't see anything. I can feel it, though—my hand is there. But is it really possible to feel anything, given that I'm dead?
I don't know how much time has passed. I was just a regular office worker, living with my family. There wasn't much to my life worth mentioning. On one particularly beautiful night, I was on a crowded bus, heading home. As I stood near the door, someone shoved me. My grip slipped, and I lost my balance. I fell out of the bus, and as I was plummeting, a car coming from behind struck me, sending me hurtling toward the roadside.
Everything happened so quickly. One moment I was being jostled on the bus, and the next, I was lying on the road. I could hear people shouting, but my focus was on the blood streaming from my head. It seemed my brain had taken quite a hit. I knew it was time for me to leave this world.
But what about my parents? My little brother might be able to take care of them. He's a bit of an idiot, but he's responsible. What more could I have done for them? It seems my journey has come to an end. Tears streamed down my face as I closed my eyes for the last time.
When I opened them again, I found myself in an unfamiliar place.
"Where am I? What is this place?" I mutter to myself, struggling to make sense of my surroundings. I was supposed to be standing in front of Yamraj, waiting for judgment. So why am I here, in this oppressive darkness? Did God really not exist? Are all my beliefs wrong?
I let out a heavy sigh, feeling the weight of confusion and despair. As I grapple with these thoughts, a sudden burst of playful laughter echoes through the void. Startled, I look around, but I see nothing. My sigh escapes again, this time tinged with resignation. "Am I starting to hallucinate?" I say aloud, trying to convince myself of some rational explanation.
Just then, the laughter returns, more distinct this time. A voice, laced with amusement, floats through the darkness. "Hahaha, you're not hallucinating, kid."
The unexpected response leaves me stunned, my mind racing to comprehend this strange development. Hearing the voice, I was taken aback. "What the—" I started to say, but before I could finish my sentence, the darkness around me began to shift. Suddenly, I found myself standing on a cloud.
This transformation left me utterly bewildered. I glanced around, trying to understand what was happening, when my eyes fell upon an unexpected sight—a luxurious sofa set amidst the clouds.
"Wait, a sofa? What on earth is going on?" I thought, my mind racing. I moved towards the sofa, driven by a mix of curiosity and confusion.
As I approached, I saw a young man lounging gracefully on the sofa. He wore a striking suit and held a delicate flute in his hand. With an air of casual elegance, he slowly sat up and regarded me with a playful smile.
"Welcome to the new universe, kid," he said with a hint of amusement.
Stunned, I could only stammer in shock, "Wait, what do you mean, 'new universe'? And first, tell me who you are and what this place is."
The unexpected turn of events and the enigmatic figure before me only deepened my confusion and intrigue. Hearing my question, the man smiled warmly and said, "What's the hurry, kid? First, take a seat." With a casual snap of his fingers, a chair materialized beside me. I couldn't help but wonder, Is this magic? But I shrugged off my skepticism and took the seat, feeling a strange mix of curiosity and unease.
The man, still smiling enigmatically, continued to watch me with an almost playful glint in his eyes. "Now, let me introduce myself. I have many names—Govinda, Gopala, Madhusudhana, Vishnu, Keshava, Hari, Yadava, Murari, Vasudeva, Jagannatha, Janardana, Shyam, Murlidhar, Madhava, Manohar, Makhanchor, Ranchhod, and many more. But most people know me as Krishna."
As he spoke, I stared at him, trying to process his words. He seemed almost like a character from a legend, and I couldn't help but look at him as if he were joking.
Seeing my incredulous expression, he grinned and asked, "What?"
With a mixture of disbelief and apprehension, I asked, "So you're saying that you are Krishna—the god Krishna?"
His serene smile remained, and his gaze held a depth that seemed to transcend the ordinary, making me question everything I had ever known about reality.
Hearing my disbelief, Krishna nodded with a grin. "Of course, I am Krishna. Don't you believe me?"
I shook my head, incredulous. "No way. What kind of god wears a suit? And you say you're Krishna? Come on, that's just laughable."
Krishna chuckled. "Have you seen the movie OMG? I change my style with the times. I figured this would be more comfortable for you. But if you really prefer, I can switch to my old look."
I raised an eyebrow. "If you're really Krishna, the most handsome guy ever, then why am I not affected by your charm?"
Krishna smiled knowingly. "It's simple. I don't want you to freak out. I'm controlling your emotions so you stay calm."
I considered this and nodded. "Okay, fair enough. So, what do I do now? Do I need to pray or something?"
Krishna waved his hand. "No need for that. You've already prayed to me while you were alive. Just think of me as a friend."
I smiled, feeling a bit more at ease. "Alright, that works for me. So, what's going on here? Can you explain?"
Hearing my question, Krishna replied, "Well, you see, kid, you weren't supposed to be here."
I blinked in confusion. "What do you mean by that?"
Krishna continued, "When you die, your soul is supposed to travel to Yamlok for judgment. But instead, your soul crossed the boundary between your reality and this one, and now you're here. I'm not sure why the Trimurti of your universe didn't stop your soul from crossing over."
As Krishna explained, I raised my hand and interjected, "Hold on, hold on. Are you saying that I've ended up in your universe? Does that mean the multiverse is real?"
Krishna's smile widened. "Of course, it's real. Haven't you heard of my form as Mahavishnu, the one who sleeps in the Cosmic Ocean? You've simply crossed the border between realities and ended up here."
"Then what about my universe?" I asked, my voice tinged with desperation. "Can I go back?"
Krishna's smile softened. "That's the thing, kid. Your universe no longer exists. It's gone, and a new universe has taken its place. You've been floating in the void for who knows how many years. It's purely by chance that I happened to find you today. We gods can't break the laws or interfere with the problems of other universes."
I struggled to grasp the magnitude of what he was saying. "I don't think I quite understand."
Krishna's smile was reassuring. "It's okay. Don't overthink it."
I took a deep breath. "So, what do I do now?"
Krishna said smiling. "Because you crossed the boundary between realities, your karma has been erased. I can't send you to Narka or Swarga. The only option left for you is reincarnation."
Hearing this, I felt a surge of excitement. "Really? So I'm going to be reincarnated in a world like those in anime or movies? And what about my powers?"
Krishna's smile remained, but it carried a hint of regret. "Sorry to disappoint you, kid, but those worlds don't exist, and you won't be receiving any special powers."
The weight of his words crushed my excitement. I looked at Krishna, my voice trembling with hesitation. "Then where will I be reincarnated?"
Krishna's smile was gentle. "You'll be reincarnated in this universe, in the 21st century. It will be similar to your past life, but in this version of the universe, you won't retain your memories."
The realization hit me hard. "No, no, no. What do you mean 'without my memories'? What's the point of reincarnation if I don't remember anything? I'd rather not go anywhere than lose everything I've ever known. If I can't keep my memories and if I'm not getting any powers, then I don't want this!"
Krishna began to laugh heartily. "Hahaha, well, kid, I'll make an exception for you. I'll let you keep your memories, but I'll erase those specifically about your past life and family. It won't affect you much, so don't worry. As for powers, I'm afraid I can't grant you any. You'll be reincarnated in the 21st century, and you won't need magical abilities. However, I can give you knowledge. What do you think?"
I took a moment to ponder his offer. After a while, I smiled and said, "I'm fine with the memories. As for the powers, I understand. I admire your character and really want to be like you, but I know it's impossible since you're a god. Still, I'm asking if there's even a chance to be like you, even just one percent."
Krishna's smile remained, but it was tinged with a touch of sadness. "You see, kid, even if you want just one percent, it's impossible. The nature of divinity is beyond what any mortal can achieve."
Hearing Krishna's words, my joy began to fade. I felt a mix of disappointment and acceptance. Noticing my reaction, Krishna's smile remained reassuring. "But don't worry, kid. I can grant you a drop of my character, though it will be within human capabilities—no superpowers."
I smiled, feeling a bit more at ease. "That's okay, I accept. But there's one more thing. Could you transfer aspects of Maya and love into luck?"
Krishna's smile widened, but his eyes showed a hint of amusement. "You're asking for a lot, kid. Still, it's not too much to ask. I understand about Maya. But why are you asking me to take away the love element from you, especially when I'm the god of love?"
I smiled back, a hint of wistfulness in my expression. "You already know everything, but you're asking me anyway. Let me explain: I never had a girlfriend or wife in my past life. I always felt that love was too complicated and hard to understand. True love in the 21st century feels like a distant dream to me. So, I'd rather avoid it and focus on other aspects of life."
Krishna looked at me thoughtfully for a moment, then a playful smile appeared on his face. "I see, I see. You want to be like me without the element of love, huh? Alright then. Your journey is about to begin."
Seeing his playful smile, I felt a sudden pang of anxiety. "Wait, wait! What did you do? Why are you smiling like that?"
Before I could get an answer, a wave of dizziness washed over me, and I started to lose consciousness. As the world around me began to fade, I heard Krishna's voice one last time, carrying a tone of gentle warning. "Remember, kid, this is a different universe. Things might be different from what you're used to."
With his words echoing in my fading senses, I slipped into darkness, my mind brimming with uncertainty and anticipation for the new life that awaited me.
(A/N: I didn't think about romance. Should I make it a single female lead or multiple female leads? Also, should I use real-life characters, and if so, suggest some names, or should I create original characters?)
(Word's Count:-1977)