Chapter 5 – A Place I Don't Belong

  Soft morning light slowly filled the room.

  Aarav’s eyes opened slowly.

  For a moment he didn’t move. His mind felt heavy, as if he had just woken from a very long dream.

  The wooden ceiling above him looked unfamiliar.

  “…Where…?”

  He turned his head slightly.

  The room was small but clean. Wooden walls surrounded him, and a window nearby allowed warm sunlight to enter the room. A shelf stood beside the wall, filled with small bottles and dried herbs.

  The air smelled like medicine.

  Aarav tried to sit up.

  The moment he moved—

  “Ah—!”

  Pain spread through his chest.

  He grabbed his ribs and leaned back against the bed.

  “Okay… that still hurts.”

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  A calm voice came from nearby.

  “You shouldn’t move too much.”

  Aarav turned his head.

  A girl was standing beside the table.

  She looked around his age. Long dark hair rested over her shoulders, and her expression was calm but slightly serious. In her hands she carried a small bowl filled with herbal medicine.

  “You woke up earlier,” she said quietly. “But you fainted again.”

  Aarav blinked slowly.

  “…Where am I?”

  “My house.”

  The girl placed the bowl beside the bed.

  Aarav stared at her.

  “That explains very little.”

  The girl crossed her arms slightly.

  “My name is Meera.”

  She paused.

  “And you are?”

  “…Aarav.”

  Meera repeated the name softly.

  “Aa-rav.”

  Then she asked something unexpected.

  “Which kingdom are you from?”

  Aarav frowned.

  “Kingdom?”

  Meera looked confused.

  “Yes. Kingdom.”

  Aarav rubbed his forehead slowly.

  “This might sound strange…”

  Meera waited silently.

  Aarav exhaled.

  “…I think I came from another world.”

  Silence filled the room.

  Meera stared at him without blinking.

  A few seconds passed.

  Then she spoke calmly.

  “You hit your head, didn’t you?”

  Aarav sighed.

  “Yeah… I expected that answer.”

  Before he could explain more, the door suddenly opened.

  An older woman walked inside carrying a basket filled with herbs.

  When she saw Aarav awake, her face brightened.

  “Oh! You’re awake!”

  Meera turned toward her.

  “Mother, he just woke up.”

  The woman placed the basket down and walked closer.

  “That’s good. When Meera brought you here, we were worried about you.”

  Aarav blinked.

  “…She brought me here?”

  Meera nodded.

  “I found you unconscious near the forest.”

  The woman smiled warmly.

  “My name is Lila. I’m Meera’s mother.”

  Aarav nodded politely.

  “…Nice to meet you.”

  Just then another voice came from outside.

  “Meera! Is the boy awake?”

  A tall man entered the house a moment later. He looked like someone used to working in the fields.

  His eyes quickly moved toward Aarav.

  “So you’re finally awake.”

  Meera spoke calmly.

  “Father, this is Aarav.”

  The man nodded once.

  “I’m Daren.”

  He studied Aarav carefully for a moment before speaking again.

  “Well, whoever you are, you’re safe here.”

  He gestured toward the window.

  “This is a small village near the western fields.”

  Aarav slowly turned his head toward the window.

  Outside he could see small wooden houses, open farmland, and villagers walking through the fields.

  Everything looked peaceful.

  Nothing like the ruined world he remembered.

  Aarav exhaled slowly.

  “…So it’s real.”

  Meera looked at him.

  “What is?”

  Aarav stared outside again.

  “…I’m really in another world.”