Chapter 12
Rey planned a way to keep his emotions in check. He thought it would be better if he made an action, like biting a finger, narrowing his eyes, touching his face reminding himself of his calm behaviour so that he could step out of his emotional bubble which decreases his productivity.
Rey slammed his head for deviating from his primary objective. He calmly started analysing all the data he had obtained. Although he seemed to know that this was the world which he was in, he didn't dare to reject the parallel universe theory without proof. Thus he couldn't deny the existence of him being in a parallel universe where Rey doesn't exist. The parallel universe theory could certainly explain why his name wouldn't be announced for the top student of the year. It could mean that Rey does not exist in the parallel world. The adverse effect i.e., the blackouts could mean a reaction with a wormhole from which he was brought in. If he could find experimental proof to determine that, he'd be the happiest toy ever. He could care less about his original body if it was a parallel world. He wouldn't worry about paying a price for absolute freedom and absolute superiority. But his instinct wasn't in line with his conjecture.
Thus Rey wanted to find out clues that would define his existence in this world i.e., a signature mark left by him on his bench and locker, his assignments and lastly to find out if any other individual in this world would know about his existence. After thinking things through, Rey got excited and started to look for experimental pieces of evidence for a parallel world.
Just as he was about to step out of the auditorium, two non-teaching staff members entered the auditorium.
"Did you hear that the top student of our school was harassed?" asked staff-member involved in the maintenance of the auditorium.
"I heard about him. Perverts like him should be expelled from our school. They tarnish our good reputation" said staff-member B
Rey wanted to walk past them. But some part of their conversation caught his attention which made him stick to his seat.
"There is a rumour going on telling that he was falsely framed. They say he didn't harass Reena" said staff member A
"Rumours are just rumours. We don't need to defend a sicko like that. They would have expelled him if it weren't for our goddess Reena defending him. Why would our merciful goddess try to frame him?" asked staff-member B
"It doesn't have to be Reena. There were two top students remember?" said staff-member A
"What would they achieve after framing him?" asked staff-member B
"They say that the accused scored top 1 in the school examinations. Thus they would have a reason to frame him in order to snatch that position" said staff-member A
"That's just a rumour. You better stop listening to those rumours. If he hadn't committed a crime, would he have a need to run away from school? He would have faced them head-on. He ran away because he was a criminal" said staff-member B
"He hasn't come to school after that event. They say he had an accident but the rumours circulating around the school states that it was suicide. Many eye-witnesses say that he was gravely injured and had less likelihood of survival. One of them also claimed that they didn't feel any pulse on examination. The school doesn't know if he's alive or dead. They say no one was allowed to see him. Many believe that he's already dead because he went missing and his family didn't even file a missing person report" said staff-member A
"Heavens punish the sinners. You can run away from men not from divine punishment" said staff-member B
"They say that the chief guest agreed after that student had an accident. They say the voluntary called the school after that incident. They say he doesn't ever agree but agreed because of that student's mistake" said staff-member A
"Enough of your rumours, let's start cleaning the auditorium," said staff-member B and continued.
Rey tried to control his overbearing emotions. "The top student of the school was falsely framed and is dead because of an accident? Why didn't they issue a missing person report? Did grandpa attend the ceremony when he found out his grandson was dead?" Rey was about to go to out of control with rage against the parallel world grandpa but he suddenly narrowed his eyes and touched his face in order to retain his rationality.
After narrowing his eyes, Rey could see that scenario in a different perspective. He calmly came out of his emotional bubble.
"It's just a rumour. "She didn't provide any proofs or evidence. More so, it might be some other grandson of the grandpa of parallel dimension. The grandpa in the parallel world may be different from the grandpa in my dimension. There's no need to panic at every false alarm and rumours." thought Rey
The teddy bear Rey slowly walked out of the auditorium cautiously to search for further proofs of his existence. He wanted to prove his presence in a parallel world. Therefore, in spite of hearing all the rumours of his existence, he prayed that it would all be a rumour. Rey walked past all the obstacles to come back to the place where he was falsely accused. There were small markings on the wall which were marked by him. But he couldn't be completely sure if it was done by him and not by others. He slowly moved along the edges of the corridor in order to not draw attention to himself. Slowly but conspicuously Rey had reached his destination. He reached his classroom and slowly moved towards his desk. He kept praying for every single step. There was a torn, rugged bag on the top of that desk. It looked exactly like a city surviving a flood.
Suddenly Rey's eyes dilated. He seemed to remember something about himself as he looked at the bag. "Let me check my name which I had written on the desk," thought Rey. He slowly climbed the chair with his round arms and his petite legs. As soon as he reached the top of the chair, he dropped the bag with a terrified expression.
Rey started laughing like a mad toy as soon as he saw the writing on the desk, "Looks like my grandpa really sold me out. Looks like I have nothing left now" thought Rey. Expelled on false accusation and exiled out of the family with no one to search for his true body
Rey's memory started to resurface again. He could remember an accident, pain and blood gushing out of his brain. He was completely scared.
"What happened to my body? Why is there so much blood?" cried out Rey. It took him some time to realize that it was just his memory fragment. Rey slowly snapped out of that bubble and started laughing with sadness.
"My real body is dead! No wonder I went missing. It was ironic that no one even bothered to find my body" thought Rey filled with pain.
Rey's mind was in pain but he forced himself to keep his mind steady. He didn't want to be led by his stupid emotions. He had also heard rumours of that in the auditorium which proved it. He had disproved the parallel world, so there was only another option left.
Rey kept looking at his toy hands, "I have become a ghost, more specifically, a vengeful spirit to avenge my death" drowned with incomparable sorrow Rey slowly walked back wearily towards Reena's bag. "He had become a toy, but had paid a lofty price for it"