In the heart of the village stood an ancient peepal tree. Tied to its trunk was a young man—bound by ropes, but his eyes held an unyielding spark. The villagers gathered around him were screaming, "Burn him! Finish this curse!" Their voices echoed, cutting through the winds.
At a short distance was another boy, Rudra, his hands and feet bound in chains. His eyes were red from crying, and his throat was raw from screaming—"Don't burn him! Let me go! Let me go, I will save him!" But no one listened to him.
Just then, a youth emerged from the crowd. In his hand was a burning torch. The boy in chains burst out upon seeing him—"Wait… you? He was the one who saved you! Remember? When you were at death's door, he risked his own life to pull you back! The one who gave you life… will you now snatch that very life away?" His voice was breaking, tears streaming down his cheeks. "Don't do this… at least you listen!"
But the eyes of the youth holding the torch were empty—as if dead inside. He hesitated for a moment, then hurled the torch at the bound young man.
"Aaaahhhh!" The young man's scream tore through the sky. Flames began to swallow his body.
The other boy, Rudra, bound in chains, fell to his knees on the ground, writhing in agony—"Are you even human? You call yourselves men? Those who attack the unarmed are not called men—this society is not of men, but of hungry vultures!"
The burning youth, Pratham, before turning to ashes, fixed his eyes on Rudra and gave a faint smile—"Not in this life… we will surely meet in the next life." Saying this, he vanished into the flames.
The boy in chains broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. His screams echoed—"Today you burned an innocent man alive! Your turn will come tomorrow… Yes, all of you will burn, all of you will turn to ashes!"
In a fit of rage and pain, he snatched a sword from a nearby guard—and without hesitation, slit his own throat. A silence fell all around. Only two pyres remained—one real, and one incomplete, waiting to be lit in some future time.
🌑 …And then, the boy jolted awake. His chest was heaving, beads of sweat on his forehead. The fire and screams from his dream still echoed in his eyes.
Niwan's Hostel Room
(His phone is ringing - the alarm for college) Niwan turned off the alarm and sat up on the bed, still reeling from the shock of the dream.
Trishala (Mom) on phone: (Video call comes in) "Niwan, beta? Are you up? Why does your face look so pale?"
Niwan: "Mom… that dream again…" (Voice trembling)
Trishala: "Oh beta, it's nothing. It was just a bad dream… it's over now. You're okay."
Niwan: "But Mom, why do I keep having this dream? Why do I keep seeing those same two boys? Why does this dream scare me so much?"
Trishala: "Beta, maybe you're stressed from your studies. You keep thinking about these things, that's why you have this dream every day. Come on, forget about it now, get ready after your bath. You have a lecture, don't you?"
Niwan: "Mom, I don't feel like going to college today."
Trishala: "Oh no, beta, everyone has bad dreams sometimes. It was just a dream. Get up, or you'll be late. And yes, have a proper breakfast."
Niwan: "Okay, Mom."
(Niwan gets out of bed and goes to take a shower. He comes out after bathing, wearing jeans and a t-shirt.)
Anvi (Sister, on phone): (Sends a meme) "Oy, Sleeping Beauty! Are you up or still snoring?"
Niwan: (Typing a message) "Yeah, yeah, I'm up. You take care of yourself. Don't lecture me."
Anvi: (Instant voice message) "Oh ho, acting like the big brother now! I was just asking. Mom said you seemed upset. Everything's fine, right?"
Niwan: "Yeah, just that same old dream. It's nothing. You focus on preparing for your office presentation."
Anvi: "Okay. You make sure to have milk and breakfast. Bye!"
(Niwan gets ready to head to the mess.)