Divyastra (eng)

DIVYASTRA

Chapter 1 — Kartikey: Story Begins

It was morning.

The voices of students echoed through the school corridors. Some were talking with their friends, some were finishing their homework, while others were waiting for their classes to begin.

But in one corner of the classroom, Kartikey sat completely silent.

He had opened his notebook and was trying to write something.

Suddenly, a voice came from behind him.

“Oi, Kartikey.”

Kartikey turned around.

Three boys were standing beside him.

“Did you do your homework?”

Kartikey quietly replied,

“Yes.”

“Then show me.”

Kartikey handed over his notebook.

The boy looked at it and laughed.

“You call this homework?”

The other two boys started laughing as well.

Kartikey said nothing.

He was used to it.

He was often bullied at school.

Sometimes his books were hidden.

Sometimes his lunch was taken.

And sometimes, he was pushed for no reason at all.

Kartikey usually stayed quiet.

He didn't know how to fight back.

Or maybe...

He felt that fighting back wouldn't change anything.

That day, someone took his lunch during the lunch break too.

Kartikey simply left the classroom and walked outside.

He went to a bench on the road behind the school and sat there.

Looking up at the sky, he quietly said,

“Why is every day always the same?”

There was no answer.

After a while, he started walking home.

On the way, he heard the sound of a small cat.

“Meow...”

Kartikey stopped.

The sound was coming from near the road.

He saw a small kitten trying to cross to the other side.

Kartikey looked around.

“Hey, wait...”

He moved toward the kitten.

But suddenly, a car passed by at high speed.

Kartikey panicked.

“Watch out!”

The kitten got scared and ran.

Kartikey ran after it.

But the kitten reached an open drain.

Kartikey tried to stop it.

“Don't go there!”

But the kitten slipped.

Kartikey reached out his hand.

“Wait!”

Right before his eyes, the kitten fell into the drain.

Kartikey immediately bent down.

“Wait... wait...”

He tried his best to pull it out.

But he couldn't save it.

Kartikey remained sitting there.

For a few seconds, he said nothing.

Tears filled his eyes.

“I...”

His voice stopped.

“I couldn't save you.”

He stayed there for a long time.

On his way home that day, the same scene kept replaying in his mind.

He felt like he couldn't save anyone.

Not himself.

Not anyone else.

Over the next few days, Kartikey became even quieter.

The bullying at school continued.

But now, he didn't even respond.

Classes ended.

He went home.

Stayed quiet.

And the next day, the same routine started again.

School.

Tuition.

Home.

Sleep.

And then the same thing all over again.

Kartikey's world had become very small.

One day, while returning home from school, he was walking alone along the road.

There were clouds in the sky.

The wind was cold.

Kartikey was lost in his thoughts.

Suddenly, he bumped into someone.

“Sorry!”

Kartikey immediately stepped back.

“Sorry, I should have been watching where I was going.”

A girl was standing in front of him.

Kartikey remained silent for a few seconds.

He hadn't seen her at school before.

The girl looked at him.

“Are you okay?”

Kartikey nodded.

“Yeah.”

The girl gave him a small smile.

“Good.”

She started walking away.

Kartikey looked at her for a moment.

He didn't know why...

But his attention stayed on her.

Maybe it was because of her smile.

Or maybe because, after so many days, someone had genuinely asked him—

“Are you okay?”

The girl had already walked a few steps ahead.

Then she suddenly stopped.

She turned around and looked at Kartikey.

“By the way...”

Kartikey looked at her.

“My name is Anshika.”

Kartikey was slightly surprised.

“I'm Kartikey.”

Anshika smiled.

“Nice to meet you, Kartikey.”

Kartikey quietly replied,

“Nice to meet you too.”

For a few seconds, they simply looked at each other.

Then Anshika asked,

“Are you always this serious?”

Kartikey tried to smile slightly.

“No.”

Anshika raised an eyebrow.

“Liar.”

For the first time, a genuine smile appeared on Kartikey's face.

“You don't even know me.”

“I just learned your name.”

“Then?”

“We'll get to know the rest.”

Kartikey couldn't think of anything to say.

Anshika moved her hair back and said,

“See you tomorrow.”

Kartikey nodded.

“Tomorrow.”

Anshika walked away.

Kartikey remained standing there.

He didn't know why...

But on his way home that day, his heart felt a little lighter than before.

He had no idea what role Anshika would play in his life.

He also didn't know that this small meeting would eventually change his entire world.

For now...

To Kartikey, Anshika was just a girl.

A girl...

Who was the first person to genuinely ask him—

“Are you okay?”

And perhaps...

Sometimes, that's all it takes to change someone's life.

To be continued...