Veer headed back home with no real destination in mind.
For once, there was nothing scheduled—no tuition, no karate class, no secret meeting, no Suhana to sneak time with. The city passed by him in fragments: bus windows rattling, vendors shouting, distant horns blending into a dull rhythm.
He looked irritated.
Not angry.
Just… sour. Like someone who had bitten into a lemon and decided to keep chewing out of pure stubbornness.
Inside his head, Shadow was laughing uncontrollably.
"Hahahaha—man, I still can't believe it," Shadow said, voice echoing with amusement. "You were literally heading toward that island."
Veer sighed deeply, rubbing his temple.
"That's not funny," Veer muttered. "You know I almost died."
"Almost," Shadow replied instantly. "Keyword: almost. You're still breathing. Technically. and you could have been in great hands of very kind middle age people.hah...you missed the great opportuninty."
Veer clicked his tongue. "Real comforting."
Shadow continued, clearly enjoying himself now.
"Think about it. You've met Kamal Haasan, Salman Khan, that Monkey Man guy… you're dating Shah Rukh Khan's daughter—"
Veer interrupted sharply, "yep."
Shadow ignored him.
"—and there is actor who looks like Salman Khan but isn't related at all. Bollywood multiverse confirmed."
Veer exhaled through his nose. "Yeah. Everything's mixed. Movies overlapping, stories bleeding into each other. It's messy."
He paused, then added more quietly, "But one thing still bothers me."
Shadow hummed. "Sonia's father?"
Veer nodded slightly as he walked. "Yeah. He's a scientist. Important. But I can't find much about him. No present. No information concrete one. Just achievements, degrees, PhDs. That kind of clean profile makes me uneasy."
Veer spoke again"you were gonna merg space with my soul why am i not feeling anything.but smooth comforting feeling?"
Shadow's tone shifted—less playful now.
"That's because I'm merging with your soul properly now," he said. "We're the same, but separated. Adaptation is smooth, which is why you don't feel uncomfortable."
Veer frowned slightly. "And?"
"And that means your instincts are sharper," Shadow continued. "But don't get cocky. You still need to take care of your physical body. This world might have some supernatural's."
Soon, Veer reached home.
The familiar smell of food hit him the moment he stepped inside—warm, comforting, grounding. He ate properly, joked lightly with Sonia and Sheena, and for a short while, everything felt… normal.
After dinner, he retreated to his room.
He lay back for a bit, letting the day sink in, then reached for a book—something philosophical. Old, dense, filled with questions about existence, morality, and the weight of choice.
As he flipped a few pages, a thought crossed his mind.
"How much can you actually memorize?" Veer asked silently.
Shadow responded immediately. "I know where this is going. I can remember anything. I'm not bound by physical limits."
Veer's eyes lit up. "Yes!"
"But," Shadow added calmly, "I can only see what you see. I experience the world through you."
Veer grinned. "That's more than enough."
He sat up and grabbed his textbooks.
"Well, I've got tests coming up," Veer said. "And I suck at history and science. So help me out."
Shadow didn't even hesitate.
"That's cheating."
Veer snorted and kept flipping the pages slowly so Shadow could read properly.
"Fuck your honesty," Veer muttered. "You're my cheat. My golden finger. So do your job and help me."
Shadow went silent for a second… then replied in a mock-serious tone.
"Mission issued."
"Objective: acquire help."
"Requirement: [FUCK — 10/10 baddie]."
Veer burst out laughing.
"You're an asshole."
Shadow laughed too, the sound lighter now.
"You're the one who said it. I'm just logging the quest."
Veer shook his head, still smiling. "I really need to get that baddie… and I already know where she is."
Shadow's tone turned mischievous again.
"Well, well," he said. "Looks like our buddy Radhe is gonna get ntr's without knowing it"
Veer raised an eyebrow. "Don't start."
Shadow chuckled. "its fine He not even met her yet.but are you sure you want to make harem"
Veer leaned back, staring at the ceiling, book resting on his chest.
For the first time that day, he felt… relaxed.
The storm wasn't over.
But tonight, at least, he could breathe.