Bullies

"Now that I possess it, what am I to do with it? Well, let's bide our time until evening when that old man elucidates everything." 

Aditya mused, his thoughts consumed by the pendant as he settled into his desk in the classroom.

As the classes progressed, Aditya found himself engulfed by anticipation and eagerness regarding the pendant. When the bell marking the end of the school day chimed, he hastily rose from his seat and hastened towards the garden, eager to unravel its mystery.

In the midst of his hurried journey, a ball struck the back of his shoulder, bringing him to an abrupt halt. Startled, he turned to face Vinay, whose irritated expression bore down on him.

"Where do you think you're rushing off to, you orphan?" 

Vinay's words cut through the air, confronting Aditya as he stood before him.

"Where else? Must be that rundown building. I can't believe people live in that dump" 

To the left of Vinay, a boy exclaimed, his face contorted in disgust.

Aditya, however, remained stoic, offering no visible reaction to Vinay's remarks.

"This guy's weird as hell. Can't you at least respond or get angry, you trash?" 

Vinay spat, advancing with clenched fists.

"I don't have time for your ramblings. I have more important matters to attend to." 

Aditya stated calmly, his gaze fixed on the sun sinking toward the horizon, his eyes indifferent and icy.

"Look at this rubbish. Fine, I'll give him a solid punch to make him realize what truly matters" 

Vinay declared, menacingly raising his hand toward Aditya. Yet, Aditya stood unwavering, as if inviting the impending blow, his eyes meeting Vinay's with a calm and chilling stare.

"Hey! What's going on here?"

 An adult voice intervened, halting Vinay's hand mid-air. 

"Vinay, P.E.T sir! Let's leave for now. We can deal with him tomorrow!" 

A member of the group advised Vinay, prompting a quick retreat.

"Tsk! You've dodged it for today. Let's see how you manage to escape tomorrow, you freaky orphan." 

Vinay muttered in disappointment and annoyance. In the midst of their retreat, the teacher approached Aditya, who stood motionless, resembling a character frozen in a video game. 

"Are you okay? Are they bullying you?" 

He inquired, observing Aditya with a mix of surprise and concern at his calm, cold stare. While bullying isn't prevalent in the school, the PE teacher noticed several students targeting the weaker ones. When he observed the victims, fear and insecurity were evident in their eyes. However, Aditya's eyes seemed as if he were looking down on them like mere insects, as though he were the bully here.

"Nothing, sir. No problem! We were just chatting" 

Aditya replied to PET sir, his attitude carefree as if his stiff arms and legs had loosened, and his cold eyes melted.

"Okay! Go home" 

The teacher signaled with a wave of his hand. Aditya nodded and hurried towards the garden.

Aditya made his way to the garden, his eyes scanning for the old man. 

"Where could that old man have disappeared to?" 

He muttered to himself, combing through every corner of the campus. As he cautiously pushed open each door of the empty classrooms, storage closets, and club meeting spaces, he scanned the dim interiors, searching for the old man, but to no avail.

"I must seek help from those who work here!" 

As dusk settled, he decided, and set off to find the laborers tending to the school. Aditya's search for the old man lasted until nightfall, and he wearily made his way back to the familiar gates of the orphanage. As he entered, a sweet voice greeted him, wrapping him in a warm embrace.

"Adi, you're back! Where were you? I was so worried!" 

Maya exclaimed, her cute face adorned with rugged clothes, arms encircling him tightly. She, an orphan since birth due to her parents' tragic accident, found solace in Aditya's caring presence at the orphanage. Aditya, treating her like a beloved sister, created a sense of belonging within their makeshift family.

"I was at school, Maya. Did you have dinner?" 

Aditya asked, gently patting her hair with affection.

"Yeah, I did! Hurry and grab something to eat, or it'll be gone," 

Maya insisted, nudging Aditya forward with her cute little hands.

"Okay, okay! I hear you. Just take it easy" 

Aditya chuckled, halting Maya's playful shove with a warm smile. Both enjoyed a warm dinner. Aditya's mind was full of thoughts about the pendant and the old man.

"Where did the old man disappear to when he summoned me for an evening meeting? And what secrets were hidden within that mysterious scroll?"

"Adi, focus on the food"

Maya reminded Aditya as he started zoning out while eating. Aditya gently nodded with a smile.

"Is everything alright at school?"

Aditya inquired, glancing at Maya, who was enthusiastically grabbing the chapati with both hands.

"Mmm..."

Maya nodded, but Aditya noticed her enthusiasm had waned.

"What happened? Tell your brother honestly"

Aditya insisted, a small worry flooding his heart. He was anxious, wondering if she was also being bullied at school like he had been.

"Nothing..."

Maya shook her head.

Post-dinner, Aditya retreated to a room housing ten worn-out beds on the ground floor. The medium-sized space felt cramped with 10 kids, including Aditya, each claiming a bed. Lying down, he contemplated, allowing his thoughts to wander while the broken ceiling fan hummed rhythmically above.

"What shall I do with this? Swept up in the heat of the moment. Does magic truly exist? I once dreamed of being the protagonist in a fantasy world – has it become a reality now?"

Aditya pondered the pendant he impulsively obtained, retrieving it from his pocket and holding it aloft, lost in contemplation. Aditya eyed the pendant for several minutes, his expression betraying no hint of reaction. 

"Haa...how do I activate this? There's no switch or anything. It reacted when that old man tried to take it away from me. But, I didn't feel connected or sense any power from it"

 Aditya mused, his hand swinging the pendant above his head absentmindedly.

"Well, it's a pendant...so, how about wearing it to see its reaction?" 

Aditya pondered aloud before deciding to put it on. He lifted his head from the pillow and carefully placed the pendant around his neck.

Aditya stole a quick glance at it as he fastened it, curiosity driving him to observe its response. Yet, there was no reaction; it appeared to be just an ordinary pendant. 

"Doesn't it look like a regular pendant? And what's with its weight? It's pressing hard against my chest, and if I walk with this, I might as well bid farewell to my neck." 

Aditya thought, his disappointment palpable.

 "Ugh, I think the answer to activating this pendant lies within that scroll the old man mentioned"

He mused, his curiosity burning within him.Aditya sighed heavily, frustration evident on his face.

 "But where on earth did he disappear to?" 

Aditya pondered angrily.

"Hehehe..." 

Aditya grinned, his mind swirling with ideas. 

"Well, I've always been a big fan of the fantasy genre. I've watched so many movies and anime in that genre, so let's try drawing inspiration from all of that and see if I can activate it"

 Aditya contemplated, clutching the pendant firmly within his grasp.