Chapter 1: The End and the Beginning
Raj was a nerd. He loved reading books, playing video games, and watching anime. He was not very popular at school or college, and he had few friends. He was often bullied by his classmates and ignored by girls. He felt lonely and miserable most of the time.
He had only one dream: to become a successful software engineer and work for a big company in Bangalore. He studied hard and got good grades, hoping to get a scholarship and a job offer. He wanted to escape his boring life in Sehore, a small town in Madhya Pradesh, and move to the city of his dreams.
But fate had other plans for him. On the day of his final exam, he received a call from his mother. She told him that his father had been injured in a communal riot and was rushed to the hospital. Raj panicked and ran to the bus station, forgetting his exam and his backpack. He boarded the first bus to Bhopal, where his father was admitted.
He reached the hospital after a one and a half-hour journey, only to find out that his father had succumbed to his wounds. He was devastated and broke down in tears. He hugged his mother and sister, who were also crying. He blamed himself for not being there for his father, who had worked hard as a shopkeeper to support his family.
He stayed with his mother and sister for a few days, helping them with the funeral arrangements and the paperwork. He also had to deal with his relatives, who came to offer their condolences and their advice. Some of them suggested that he should drop out of college and take over his father's shop. Others said that he should get married and settle down. Raj felt suffocated and angry. He wanted to pursue his dream, not theirs.
He decided to go back to Sehore and finish his college. He hoped that he could still get a scholarship and a job, despite missing his final exam. He packed his bags and said goodbye to his mother and sister. He promised to visit them often and send them money. He boarded the bus and left.
He reached Sehore in the evening and went to his rented room. He found his backpack on his bed, with a note from his landlord. It said that his roommate had brought it from the college and left. Raj opened his backpack and found his exam paper. He looked at it and felt a surge of despair. He had failed. He had scored only 10 out of 100. He had ruined his chances of getting a scholarship and a job.
He felt like his life was over. He had no future, no hope, no purpose. He wanted to end his pain and misery. He looked around his room and saw a bottle of whiskey on the table. It was a gift from his roommate, who had graduated and moved to Bangalore. He had left it for Raj, saying that he should celebrate his success.
Raj grabbed the bottle and opened it. He drank it in one gulp, without thinking. He felt a burning sensation in his throat and stomach. He coughed and gasped for air. He fell on the floor, clutching his chest. He felt dizzy and nauseous. He closed his eyes and lost consciousness.
He never woke up.
He died of alcohol poisoning.
He was 22 years old.
***
He opened his eyes and saw a bright light. He blinked and squinted. He felt a gentle breeze on his face and heard a soothing sound of water. He smelled a fragrance of flowers and grass. He felt a soft touch on his skin and a warm breath on his ear.
He turned his head and saw a woman. She was beautiful. She had long black hair, fair skin, and brown eyes. She was wearing a white dress and a gold necklace and many jewelleries. She was smiling and holding him in her arms.
She was his mother.
But not the mother he knew.
She was someone else.
He was the reincarnation of a nerd guy in India who died of alcohol poisoning after his father died of communal violence.
He was the reincarnated as someone rich in ancient times.
He was confused and shocked.
He did not know what was happening.
He did not know who he was.
He did not know where he was.
He did not know why he was.
He looked at his mother and opened his mouth.
He wanted to ask her.
He wanted to know.
He wanted to understand.
But he could not speak.
He could only cry.
He cried and cried.
He cried for his old life & new life.
He cried for his past & future.
He cried for his fate & destiny.
He cried and cried.
He cried until he fell asleep.
He slept and slept.
He slept and dreamed.
He dreamed until he woke up.
He woke up and saw his mother.
She was still holding him.
She was still smiling.
She kissed him on his forehead and said:
"Welcome to the world, my son. You are my miracle. You are my blessing. You are my joy. You are my Raj."
She said it with love, Pride, hope & faith.
She said it with a secret, name & word.
She said it with a life.
The End.
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I hope you like it. š