1: The Office
The sound of a keyboard clacking fills the air, creating a constant background noise in the office. Among this clamor sits our protagonist, Rishi, typing away at his laptop. He pauses for a moment, lost in thought. "What if I had another chance? What if I could turn my life around?" These thoughts plague his mind every day. He wishes for a time machine to undo his mistakes and fix his past. His mind often drifts to the peaceful world outside the office, thinking how different life could be if he weren't trapped in this monotonous cycle of work
2: The Boss's Reprimand
Suddenly, Rishi's boss approaches, disrupting his thoughts. The boss demands, "Has the new project been done yet?" His tone is sharp. Rishi, feeling undervalued and frustrated, mutters under his breath, "You don't even pay me enough to cover my expenses. What salary do you give anyway? A pittance!" He imagines what would happen if he were to say these things out loud to his boss — it would probably cost him his job, and the boss would end up broke.
In a fit of irritation, Rishi slams his hands on his desk, snapping back, "I'm doing my job. I don't need your lectures." The tension is palpable. The boss, unimpressed, orders him to finish the new project on time. Rishi knows that his boss keeps dumping the most difficult projects on him, hoping he'll quit. But Rishi refuses to let go; he knows that his past experience is what keeps him in this job, even if he's stuck in a rut.
3: Rishi's Struggles at Home
Back home, Rishi sits in solitude. As an orphan, he learned to take care of himself from an early age. His monthly salary of ₹20,000 feels meager — half of it goes toward paying rent, and the rest barely covers his basic needs. He's also burdened by a massive ₹12 lakh debt, which hangs over his head like a dark cloud. He wonders, "What if I could go back in time and study harder? Maybe I'd be in a better place today." But despite his regrets, Rishi always dreams of a better future. He thinks about how he could make his life better if only he had enough money.
On the toughest days, he feels like giving up, thinking that death might be easier than the struggle. But he shakes off these dark thoughts and reminds himself that life goes on, no matter how difficult it may seem. Rishi keeps telling himself that someday, somehow, things will change.
4: The Mysterious Book
One evening, Rishi returns home from work, exhausted and defeated. While walking, he trips and falls. As he looks around to get up, he notices a strange, heavy book lying on the ground. He picks it up, but the book seems unusually weighty, as though it's resisting his touch. To his surprise, the book speaks in a robotic, almost eerie voice: "If you want your wish to come true, you must lift me."
Intrigued but skeptical, Rishi tries to lift the book with all his strength, but it remains stubbornly heavy. Finally, as he wishes silently in his mind, "I wish this book would become lighter so I can carry it." Miraculously, the book lightens, and Rishi manages to lift it with ease. He opens it, and the book reveals a message: "Tell me your wish, Rishi. Your wish is important."
Confused and slightly alarmed, Rishi wonders if he's hallucinating. Is this a dream? He takes the book home and tries to ignore it, but the voice inside keeps calling his name. The voice insists, "What is your wish, Rishi? Tell me now."
5: A Costly Decision
At first, Rishi hesitates, unsure if this is some sort of joke or a cruel trick. But the voice continues, urging him to make a wish. In the end, Rishi wishes for one thing — financial freedom. "I wish to be free of my debt," he says aloud.
The voice responds, "To fulfill your wish, you must pay ₹20,000."
Rishi is taken aback. "₹20,000?" he thinks. "That's my entire salary! How can I pay for a wish like this?" Yet, the voice assures him that if he wants his wish fulfilled, this is the price he must pay.
After some contemplation, Rishi reluctantly agrees, fearing what could happen if he refuses. He gives the book his bank details, but before he can even process what's happening, he gets a notification: "₹20,000 has been debited from your account." Shocked, he rushes to check his bank account, but finds that the money is indeed gone. "How did it take my money? I didn't even give the book my PIN or any details!" he thinks in panic.
However, just as he's about to question everything, he receives another message — "Your wish has been granted. ₹20,000 has been credited back to your account."
6: The Truth Revealed
The book seems to be working, but Rishi can't shake off his fear. What if the book's power is too much to handle? He tries to open the book again, but this time, it's shut tightly. The voice, now mocking, says, "You should have read the description first. The price of this book will double each month. If you don't pay, your wish won't be granted."
Rishi's mind races. If the price is ₹20,000 this month, how much will it be next month? ₹40,000? More? He realizes that the book's power is both a gift and a curse. He wonders how he can afford this cycle of wishes, especially when he is already buried in debt.
As Rishi sits back, pondering his next move, the weight of his choices presses heavily on him. Will he be able to fulfill his wishes and break free from his financial struggles? Or will he get caught in a dangerous trap, one that he can't escape?
Stay tuned for the next chapter to find out what happens to Rishi and how his quest for a better life unfolds!