India's capital — Delhi. A city where theft, assault, rape, and kidnappings had become part of the daily news. People had learned to live in fear...
But then, amidst that darkness, a ray of light appeared.
A superhero was born.
This man could fly through the air and possessed strength far beyond that of any ordinary human. Whenever a robbery occurred, he'd appear at the scene like lightning. Whenever a woman was in danger, he'd be there before she could scream. Wherever children were in trouble, their hero would already be standing beside them.
People worshipped him like a god. Children idolized him. And women? They were smitten.
His name—Super Ayaan.
Once just an ordinary man working at the Trinity Foundation, he had become nothing less than an angel in the eyes of the world. Always ready. Always there. Always protecting. News channels across the globe aired his interviews. Comic books were written in his name. Children in schools dreamt of becoming like him.
Now 30 years old, Super Ayaan was the epitome of strength—tall, powerful, and awe-inspiring.
He wore a bold red costume, with a shimmering cape flowing behind him. Standing nearly 6 feet 8 inches tall, his long windswept hair only added to his charm.
To the world, he was a guardian. A celestial being. A hero from dreams made real.
He was living a picture-perfect life. His sister, Anya, had become a successful doctor, now serving as the head of a major hospital.
And Ayaan? He was the hero of a perfect family.
A proud husband. Father to two beautiful children—a boy and a girl and married to a smiling, graceful woman named Priyanshi.
They lived on the top floor of the tallest glass tower in the city—high above the chaos he had once fought to protect.
That day, Ayaan soared through the sky and gently landed on the balcony of his home.
"Papa!"
"Papa's home!!"
Both kids came running and leapt into his arms. Ayaan smiled warmly and, without a word, lifted them onto his shoulders.
His smile—pure, radiant—was the very image of a dream come true.
Just then, Priyanshi emerged from inside. She was wearing a soft apron, her hair tied up in a messy bun, yet her eyes sparkled with the unmistakable light of a loving wife.
She wrapped her arms around Ayaan. "Welcome home," she said with affection.
Ayaan brushed a lock of her hair gently. "Wow… you're looking even more beautiful than usual today," he teased.
"Oh please, it's just a new hairstyle—didn't even bother with makeup," Priyanshi replied, blushing.
That's when their younger daughter, Anjali, jumped in. "Papa, papa! Did you know? Yesterday bhaiya got a zero on his test, so mummy smacked his butt!"
"Heh? Really?" Ayaan turned to look at Surya, who now looked slightly embarrassed.
"No papa! Not zero—I got five marks! She's lying!" Surya quickly defended himself.
"Son… five isn't exactly a huge improvement either. Why are you slacking in your studies lately?" Ayaan asked.
"It's not my fault! The teacher has a personal grudge against me!" Surya answered flatly.
"Well, if you keep skipping class, of course the teacher will be angry," Priyanshi chimed in, her tone strict.
Ayaan rested his hand on Surya's shoulder. "Listen, beta—if you want to become a superhero like me, then never skip your classes."
"But papa… what does studying have to do with being a superhero?"
"Haha! You can't become anything—not even a superhero—without studying. Always remember that."
Surya pouted at that.
"Okay, how about this—if you score well on your next test, I'll teach you how to fly."
"WHAT?! Really?!"
"Of course."
"Papa! My marks are already good! You have to teach me too!" Anjali said, her eyes lighting up with excitement.
Ayaan set them both down and pointed playfully. "Alright then—whoever scores the highest gets to learn flying first!"
Their eyes gleamed with determination. A spark of healthy competition flared between them.
"Just wait and watch—I'm going to beat you so bad!" Surya declared.
"I'm way smarter than you! Don't think you can win!" Anjali shot back.
"Okay okay, enough of that," Ayaan laughed. "Now tell me—who's ready to wrestle with me on the bed?"
"Me! Me!" both kids shouted, raising their hands into the air.
From the kitchen, Priyanshi called out, "What? You're going already? Dinner's almost ready!"
Ayaan smiled softly and replied, "I want to spend some time with them today. It's been a while since we played together."
"Hm… fair enough," Priyanshi smiled gently in return.
The kids tugged at Ayaan's hands and pulled him along. "Bye, mummy!!"
Ayaan looked back, smiling at them. Their faces were glowing with joy and excitement.
It was a moment so pure, so warm—it felt more real than any dream.
But suddenly—
As both kids were pulling at Ayaan playfully, he felt a strange stinging sensation in his leg. Something unusual. Something unfamiliar. Pain—an emotion long forgotten in his perfect life—had crept back in… quietly threading itself through his happiness.
The three of them laid out soft bedding on the floor, laughing and tumbling over one another, ready to start their favorite family game—wrestling.
"You two are a team," Ayaan said with a playful smirk. "If you manage to bring me down, I'll treat you both to ice cream. But if I win… you'll have to massage my feet, deal?"
"Deal, papa! Get ready to lose!" Surya shouted with enthusiasm and leapt toward Ayaan with full force.
He tried to push his father down… but Ayaan didn't budge an inch. The smile on Ayaan's face deepened, unwavering.
Then Anjali joined her brother. Together, they struggled with all their might to topple him, but Ayaan stood there like a rock.
He laughed heartily… and then, deliberately, he let himself fall—just to make his children feel like they had truly defeated their superhero dad.
The kids burst into cheers. Anjali clutched his foot and gave it a gentle, playful bite.
"Aahh! That tickles!" Ayaan laughed aloud.
But—
Just then, something else bit down on his leg.
It wasn't Anjali.
Another set of teeth—long, jagged, monstrous—sank into his flesh. These were not the teeth of a child… they were unnatural, serrated, built to pierce flesh and crack bone.
The laughter of dream-Ayaan twisted violently into a real-life scream.
"Stop! That tickles—hahaha!" he shouted out again.
But his laughter echoed not through a home full of warmth and love… but through a dark, cold, horrifying cave.
Brahmarakshas stared at him, eyes glinting with lifeless calm, his blood-soaked lips curling into a lizard-like grin. There was no rage on his face—just cruel contentment.
He sneered, "Fool…"
And in the dream—Anjali's voice echoed the same words: "Fool, papa…"
But her eyes, once filled with innocence, now held only darkness.
Then, in the dream, Surya pounced on his father's chest.
But in reality, Brahmarakshas was feasting—tearing into Ayaan's abdomen, consuming his organs.
Ayaan's voice became a strange hybrid of agony and hollow laughter.
In the dream, he embraced his children lovingly.
In reality, he was embracing Brahmarakshas like a deranged parent—laughing softly as the beast gorged itself on his body.
At the dinner table, dream-Ayaan was sipping apple juice with his smiling wife and children.
But in the cave…
That was not apple juice.
It was his own warm blood.
Brahmarakshas was forcefully pouring it into his mouth. And yet—Ayaan smiled.
A smile that masked his pain. A smile that defied death.
When a human experiences pain beyond their body's capacity, the body begins to shut down. It trembles. It sweats. The heart races. Eyes bulge. Breath burns like fire.
That's what was happening to Ayaan.
His eyes had turned deep red, blood pooling into his sockets. His pupils, no longer round, had elongated into thin lines. His heart was racing at ten beats a second. Sweat fell like rain from his skin, as though he'd been thrown into boiling water. His limbs shook violently, each nerve spasming.
And yet…
He laughed.
No human could laugh in such pain. But he wasn't laughing from joy. It was as though his brain had flipped the switch—choosing to enjoy agony rather than scream from it.
Brahmarakshas stood up and slowly walked toward him, still sniffing the scent of fresh blood.
He spoke coldly, "I've devoured both his legs… both his arms… even his liver is gone."
He spat on the ground.
"And still… you're alive."
There was no anger in his voice—only confusion. He leaned closer, staring directly into Ayaan's eyes.
"I've never seen someone like you before…"
Ayaan lay there silently, smiling and crying at the same time.
Brahmarakshas finally turned away and walked out of the cave.
The cave—soaked in darkness, loneliness, and the kind of silence that drives men insane.
Ayaan remained there, whisper-laughing, the echoes of his broken voice bouncing off the damp, blood-stained walls.
Chunks of torn flesh hung from his body. Blood continued to pour from his eyes. Worms and insects had already begun to feed on him.
And yet…
There was a smile on his lips. It wasn't the smile of victory. Nor was it defeat.
It was just… the smile of someone who had learned to live in darkness.
"…heh… heh…"
He kept smiling. And let the shadows consume him.
At forest
The bus was completely empty. The seats were spotless, the blankets folded neatly, the heater still gently warming the air. The lights were on... but in that peaceful space, there was no one.
Except for Rudra.
He stood just outside the bus gate, staring silently into the hollow interior. He took one step forward—then stopped.
His breath caught.
A watch.
A smart watch… Ayaan's smart watch. Lying on the floor.
"Ayaan…?" Rudra whispered, a deep chill running down his spine as his thoughts spiraled.
He had just arrived—hoping, believing that Ayaan would be safe inside. But fate had betrayed him.
Ayaan was gone. Kidnapped.
Rudra slowly sank to the floor. He gripped his head in both hands. His heart pounded with guilt.
"I should've come sooner..." he muttered to himself, voice thick with regret. "Why did I take so long?"
Suddenly, his wristwatch buzzed. It was a call from Oliver.
Rudra picked up. "Hello?"
Oliver's voice was strained, panicked. "Rudra?! Are you there yet? Is Ayaan with you?!"
Rudra nodded, though his voice was quiet. "Yeah… I'm here."
"Ayaan's not picking up any of our calls! Is he there? Is everything okay?!"
Rudra hesitated. The truth was heavy on his tongue.
Then, he finally forced the words out. "He's not here…"
"…What?" Oliver's voice dropped. Tension filled the silence.
"We've lost him," Rudra said slowly. "The Brahmarakshas… he's taken Ayaan."
"Shit!!" Oliver's voice exploded in panic.
"Call Nyra immediately. Gather the team—we have to find him, and fast. We don't have much time."
"Got it, boss!" Rudra ended the call and quickly dialed Nyra.
Oliver hung up and looked over at Luna.
She stood frozen—tears spilling silently from her eyes, while her fists clenched tightly and her teeth ground together in helpless rage.
"I told that idiot not to come with us!" she snapped, anger cracking through her voice like lightning.
Oliver didn't say anything—he just looked at her.
"If anything happens to him, I'll never forgive myself…" she said again, still angry—but her eyes were filled with pain.
"I'm sorry, Oliver…" she murmured, her voice breaking.
"I left him there… knowing full well he couldn't protect himself. I should have stayed with him."
"I'm sorry!!" she cried out again, chest trembling with guilt.
Oliver gently placed a hand on her shoulder. His voice was calm but urgent. "Now's not the time to blame ourselves. We need to find him. Whatever it takes."
Luna nodded fiercely. "I will find him. No matter what. Don't worry."
"Good," Oliver said. "Then let's move. Time's running out."
And with that—they ran.
The forest was still cloaked in darkness. There were about four hours left until sunrise. The night air was heavy, cold, and strangely silent. Not a single sound of animals… not even a birdcall.
It was as if no other living soul existed in that forest. Except for them.
The search had begun. They didn't know where Ayaan was—or even if he was still alive. But they weren't going to stop.
At cave
Inside the cave, the Brahmarakshas had just returned. His face was locked in shock, eyes fixed on the figure before him.
"This is impossible…" he muttered under his breath.
He had expected Ayaan to be dead by morning. That his body would be cold, lifeless—completely consumed.
But…
Ayaan's body was whole again. His arms and legs had returned. Even his hollowed-out torso had somehow healed. He sat there against the same stone wall, smiling... softly… as if nothing had happened.
Ayaan had spent the entire night trapped inside the cave.
The Brahmarakshas walked slowly toward him, crouched down, and examined his body carefully.
"Ayaan," he whispered into his ear.
"Tell me the truth—how did you do this?" he asked, wrapping an arm around him.
Ayaan's eyes turned toward him. But he didn't speak.
He just smiled and cried.
The Brahmarakshas stared into his eyes, leaned in closer. "Come on, son. Don't be afraid. Just tell me."
Still nothing.
No words.
Just that same, eerie, broken smile on Ayaan's face.
The Brahmarakshas' patience finally snapped.
With one violent strike, he plunged his clawed hand into Ayaan's chest—ripping out his heart. Blood splattered across the cave floor as the heart throbbed faintly in his grip.
He took a bite—smiling at Ayaan as if sharing a meal.
Ayaan's body convulsed. He trembled uncontrollably.
But… He didn't die.
The Brahmarakshas devoured the entire heart and muttered with disbelief, "How are you still alive?"
Still no answer.
Not even a whisper.
Frustrated, the Brahmarakshas turned toward the cave wall, then grabbed Ayaan's body and hurled him violently across the space.
Ayaan's back slammed into the stone wall with a sickening thud, then collapsed onto the ground.
The Brahmarakshas ran at him—lunged—and sank his sharp fangs into Ayaan's throat.
Blood poured like a fountain…
And Ayaan?
He was laughing.
Even with his throat torn open, he laughed.
The Brahmarakshas chewed the flesh gleefully and roared with delight.
"HA! HA! HA! If you can't die, then this is good news for me!" he shouted.
"That means I can eat you every single day… and feed this hunger that never ends!"
Ayaan shook violently, tears of pain and laughter spilling from his half-dead face.
The Brahmarakshas simply smiled in return.
Then, without a word, he bit off both of Ayaan's legs—gripped them in his monstrous hands, and casually walked out of the cave.
Ayaan was left behind once again.
Alone.
Torn apart.
Still smiling.
Next day
The next day had arrived.
Ayaan was still lying in that very same pit of agony.
His arms and legs were gone. His kidneys, liver, and even his heart were missing. One of his eyes had vanished. One ear too. He was nothing more than a mutilated shell—yet he was still breathing. Laughing. Smiling. Crying. All at once.
Beside him sat the Brahmarakshas, calmly chewing on his limbs, smiling as if he were savoring a delicacy.
Ayaan's mind was still trapped inside the false dream crafted by the monster.
In that illusion, Super Ayaan was sitting peacefully with his children, watching TV. Priyanshi was in the kitchen, washing dishes. The cheerful tune of "Shinchan" echoed from the television.
While watching, his daughter Anjali suddenly turned toward him.
"Papa! Papa!" she called out.
"Yes, sweetheart?" Ayaan replied, still smiling.
"If it's okay with you… can my friend come over for dinner today?"
"Of course! Why would that be a problem?"
"Well… she's already on the way. That's why I asked!"
"No issue at all. Let her come—we'll all play something fun together."
"Thank you, Papa!" Anjali giggled and hugged him tight.
Ding... dong...
The doorbell rang.
"Oh! That must be her!" Anjali exclaimed and rushed toward the door.
Suddenly, back in the real world, the Brahmarakshas froze. He had heard something. He slowly placed his food down and stood up.
At the same moment, in the illusion, the door to Super Ayaan's house opened slightly. A shadow appeared at the entrance.
The Brahmarakshas turned, his monstrous frame twisting toward the direction of the sound.
Super Ayaan narrowed his eyes, staring at the silhouette. "What's that on her head? Are those... cat ears?"
In the real world, the Brahmarakshas remained completely silent, his attention fixed on the cave's entrance.
And then…
Ayaan, still lying broken against the stone floor, lifted his head slightly. He was still smiling.
Someone stepped into the cave's dim light from the shadows outside.
She wore combat sneakers, gloves tight on her fists. Her hair was a vivid orange, wild and untamed. From her head, two feline ears stood upright. A long tiger-striped tail swayed behind her, and matching stripes marked her cheeks like a fierce warrior.
Her voice trembled softly with guilt.
"I'm sorry, Ayaan. I came too late…"
Luna had arrived.
The End