Bab 10: CHAPTER 10 - Vikram
Vikram sat up groggily on his bed, rubbing his eyes as he heard his mother Anu yell from the kitchen.
"Hurry up, Vikram! You're going to be late for college!"
Still half-asleep, Vikram groaned. "Ahhh, I don't want to go..." He sighed but reluctantly got up and headed to the bathroom to freshen up.
In the kitchen, Anu was busy making breakfast. His father, Aditya, sat at the dining table, reading the newspaper and sipping tea. Near the table, his grandmother was praying in front of a framed photo of the gods. Beside it, a garlanded picture of his late grandfather hung on the wall.
"Hurry up, Mom! I'm going to be late!" Vikram called out as he rushed to get ready.
Hearing him, Anu came out of the kitchen, holding a pan. "Didn't I tell you not to sleep so much? And now you're rushing me?" she scolded.
Vikram, sensing trouble, quickly ran behind his father and whispered, "Dad, please do something!"
Aditya, without looking up from his paper, said, "Leave it to your dad."
Anu shot him a look. "What did you say?"
Aditya chuckled nervously. "Ah...nothing!" He quickly left the room.
"Dad!" Vikram groaned.
From the doorway, Aditya grinned. "Be a man, son!"
Anu didn't miss a beat and smacked the pan on Vikram's head.
"Well, that's my daily routine," Vikram muttered, rubbing the spot. "Never mind, Mom loves me... in her own way."
Later, on his way to college, Vikram saw a crowd gathered on a bridge. Curious, he approached and overheard someone say, "There's a cat stuck down there!"
Without a second thought, Vikram jumped into the river. "Hell no, this water is freezing!" he gasped but managed to save the kittens.
As he handed them over to the crowd, he heard a familiar voice.
"So, that's how you got wet?" Vinayak asked.
Vikram shrugged. "Yeah. Sounds wrong when you say it like that."
Vinayak smirked. "Not as wrong as your idiocy. You keep meddling in things you shouldn't. Learn to let go, man. You always help others, but who's going to help you?"
"No one," Vikram admitted, "but I just feel bad when I imagine myself in their place."
"Weirdo," Vinayak muttered.
On his way back from college, Vikram's mind wandered. Yeah, I know... but still, I'll keep helping others. Maybe then I'll see him again.
He recalled vivid dreams of someone—dreams that felt real. A girl with big, beautiful eyes, long lashes, and flowing black hair. She wore a traditional red dress, so stunning that words couldn't do her justice.
"I wish she were real," he whispered to himself.
A bike screeched to a halt in front of him. Aditya grinned from the seat.
"Want to drive?"
Vikram's eyes lit up. "Really? You'll let me?"
"Why not? In three days, you'll be old enough to get your PAN card photo taken. Who's going to see us anyway?"
Vikram's face broke into a wide smile as he climbed on. Riding through the streets, he felt a rush of joy.
"How is it?" Aditya asked.
"No words could describe it," Vikram said, grinning ear to ear.
They soon encountered a police checkpoint. A middle-aged officer stepped forward, signaling them to stop.
Aditya, quick on his feet, said, "Sir, he's driving, not me. I'm innocent!"
Vikram groaned. "Daaadddyyyy!"
The officer, Samradh, smirked and grabbed Vikram's cheek. "What's going on, huh?"
"Sorry, sir," Vikram muttered.
"It's dangerous, plus you don't have a license."
"Well, I'll turn 18 soon," Vikram argued.
"Age doesn't define talent," Samradh said thoughtfully. "I'll let you go this time."
Aditya seized the moment, starting the bike.
"Dad!" Vikram protested, chasing after him.
Samradh caught Vikram by the collar. "Wait! What now? Want money?"
"Who doesn't?" Vikram chuckled nervously.
Samradh handed him some cash. "Here. Consider it an early birthday gift. Pay me back when you grow up."
Vikram grinned. "Don't worry, I'll return it... without interest!"
Later at home, Vikram's grandmother reminded him to put things back in their place and join her in prayer.
"Ahh, let me rest!" Vikram groaned but followed her anyway.
As the day ended, he fell asleep quickly. Anu peeked into his room, smiling as she closed the door.
A sweet, playful voice whispered, "What a lovely family. I wonder if they'd treat me like a princess if I told them I'm his girlfriend."
A young maiden slipped into his bed, wrapping herself under the same blanket.
"Tomorrow, you'll get your birthday present from me," she whispered.
She undressed beneath the sheets, held Vikram close, and softly said, "Good night."
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone