Where everyone in life is thinking about themselves, he is with me, and he will stay with me because I didn't find him; I embraced him.
(July 16, 2007):
I lived in Nirala Nagar, Lucknow, with my parents and younger sister. I was 15 years old, and life was going smoothly. What more could a middle-class family want? My father had a government job, and my mother was a housewife. She rarely went out, mostly managing the household while my father took care of everything else.
I was doing okay in my studies—average, or perhaps a bit below average. Then came a day that changed every moment of my life.
(November 18, 2007):
It was evening, and as usual, I was at Yadav Park playing cricket. After all, I was the team captain. But today, my captaincy didn't seem to work its magic. We played three matches, and my team won only one. That was unusual. The evening usually wrapped up by 5 PM, and I'd be home by 7 PM, but today was different. I stayed until 8:30 PM to discuss the matches with my team, telling them, "Let's enjoy our defeat today. This should become a moment we remember, so we don't forget our losses." It was already 10 PM, and I had received calls from home. I assured them I was on my way and would be home soon.
(10:30 PM):
A strange voice called out, "First time losing, aren't you, Aarav?"
I thought to myself, "Who is this, and how does he know my name?"
A man stood behind me.
"Hello, uncle! Do I know you?" I asked.
In his peculiar voice, he replied, "Perhaps you don't, but I know you, son. You want to win tomorrow's match, don't you?"
I responded, "I'll win it, uncle."
"If you give me your body, you'll never lose a match again," he said.
I thought, "Ah, now I remember where I've seen him. Damn, he's crazy, trying to fool me. I should just head home, eat, and finish my homework. No point wasting time on him."
I told him, "Not today, maybe tomorrow. I need to go now. Bye, you should head home too."
The man insisted, "Son, think about it. If you do this, you'll never face any problems, and you'll top your school too."
I retorted, "Just leave me alone. Stop messing with my head."
I started walking home, glancing back to see if he was following. He wasn't there. But as soon as I turned around, he appeared in front of me again, repeating his bizarre offer. Half of what he said didn't even register. I just wanted to get away from him. In a fit of anger, I shouted, "Fine, take my body! Happy now? Let me go."
He said nothing more and walked away, leaving me to my thoughts. It was strange, but I'd dealt with crazies before. They just like to spin tales, nothing more.
I went home, ate, and fell asleep. The next morning, I woke up, having eaten and slept well. I needed to finish my homework and get to school.
Suddenly, I heard my mother scream from downstairs. I rushed down to find her staring at my shirt—the one I wore while playing yesterday. Both sleeves were stained with blood. She was terrified because the blood hadn't been there when I came home last night. Where had it come from?
My mother asked, "Aarav, did you get into a fight last night? Whose blood is this? Whatever happened, tell me."
I was at a loss. I had come straight home, so how did the blood get on my shirt? And so much of it?
Then my mother noticed my hands. Blood was oozing from them, yet there were no wounds, no marks—just blood seeping directly from my skin...
To be continued...