2 2. Preparation to enter the portal

Ajay quickly removed the phone from the stick holder. He quickly inspected the front and the back of the phone.

"Nothing seems to be different. Let's check the video." Ajay quickly opened the Video Player and found the video and tap the play button.

The video started to play. The video first showed the view of the room and suddenly the view changed to bright yellow sand everywhere.

Ajay inspected the video a few more times to find whether there is any abnormality.

"Well, it looks like there is no problem. but let's not enter it now." Ajay didn't enter the portal for two reasons. The first is that his parents were still at home. The second was to check radiation level whether it was acceptable or not. But it looked fine as he didn't feel any change or uncomfortable.

His mother was a math teacher in a government high school and she leaves for school at around 7:30. His father was a farmer and he will also leave soon after breakfast.

Ajay's family had around 16 acres of ancestral land to farm. In Punjab, as most of the land is fertile, therefore most of the population depend upon farming and there are very few industries or factories. But even then Punjab is still one of the most prosperous state and least poverty. But on contrary, there are not many billionaires.

"So let's check it after breakfast. I also have to buy some necessary things. Well, it's good to be cautious. And yes I also have to clean the room. Well, let's go and eat breakfast."

Ajay opened the door and was about to go downstairs. When he looked at his clothes. They were covered with sand. and there was dirt all over his body.

"Let's quickly wash up."

Ajay quickly went back into the room and picked towel and clothes and ran towards the bathroom.

After bathing, he went downstairs to eat.

What came into his view was a man around 45 years old sitting on a dining table watching the news on TV. He looked slightly handsome and had a fair complexion but a bit tanned due to working in the field. His face looked slightly rough but not scary. He had a slightly muscular body just enough that it could be seen even with clothes. His height was around 5ft 8 or 9 inches. He was Ajay's father Amardeep Singh. Everyone calls him Amar in short.

"Good morning dad." Ajay greeted his father.

"Good morning. Are you ok? You screamed quite loudly." His dad asked.

"I am fine dad. It was just a nightmare." Ajay gently replied.

Suddenly a voice came from the kitchen. "Well, it's ok if you are fine. Now quickly sit down and eat your breakfast. I have made your favourite aloo paranthas."

It was his mother. She had a slight smile. She was more beautiful than the average woman. But she had a kind face that one will not feel slight discomfort. She was 42 years old but looked 4 to 5 years young. She was around 5ft 3 inches tall.

"Ok, mom."

Ajay pulled a chair and sat on it and started to eat his breakfast. It was Aloo paranthas with curd and tea.

"It's delicious mom." Ajay praised his mom's cooking. It's been around 20 years since her mom is cooking.

"Then eat more." His mom told Ajay with a slight smile.

"Eat less and start exercising. Your belly has turned into family pac. It can be seen even with clothes on." His father nagged Ajay from side.

"Hey, don't he is still so thin. Ajay, eat more." Ajay's mom rebuked his father.

Ajay's father closed his mouth and slightly shooked his head.

' Well, no one can object to high command's order.' Ajay thought in his mind. He unconsciously raised the corners of his mouth and continued to eat.

It was a warm atmosphere during breakfast. After eating breakfast Ajay's father and mother went to their jobs respectively.

Ajay picked up his wallet and went to the supermarket on his bicycle. He had around 2500 Rs (33 US dollars) in cash and around 10,000 Rs (around 130 US dollars)in debit card. He lives in Mansa city which is in the malwa region of Punjab.

The supermarket was just 2 or 3 kilometres away from his house. He brought some food supplies, a sharp knife with its scabbard to protect himself, a big backpack, a compass, sunglasses to protect his eyes from sand, a binocular, solar-powered charger and a flashlight. He went to an electronic instrument shop and brought a radiation detector device. (1 US dollar= 76 Indian rupees).

After that, he went to buy hiking shoes and a windbreaker to travel in the desert.

He returned to his house and went upstairs. Firstly, He checked how to use a radiation detector. He also checked the normal and maximum acceptable range of radiation.

'Well nobody knows these things unless required and on top of that I am civil engineering graduate where they even barely teach their own syllabus.' Ajay thought in his mind.

He used the radiation detector device to detect the radiation level inside the portal.

'It is slightly higher than the normal range. Let's check what is in the portal. Will I find another human or any intelligent species? I won't meet any hostile beast right?' he murmured.

"Well, Let's see." He tried to cheer himself.

He wore the windbreaker and put on sunglasses. He wore a mask to prevent the sand from entering his mouth. He put food supplies, flashlight and other things required for his survival. He packed a few more bottles of water as he maybe travelling in desert for a long time. He tied the knife on his waist and hold the radiation detector in his hand and an aluminium baseball bat in his other hand. Suddenly he thought of a problem.

'If it takes me some time to return and his mom or dad came early and they didn't find him at home. Let's send a message that I am going outside."

He sent a message to his mom that he was going outside with his friend so He may be late to come.

He checked again his backpack so that he didn't forget anything. After confirming he took a step into the portal.