The strange phenomenon on that day flipped the whole world. Those waves of white particles turned 2% of the world's population into superhumans.
These people were called Awakeners, and they awakened different kinds of godly powers, changing the entire power system of the world overnight.
The day when this phenomenon occurred was called The Day of Awakening.
Some of the particles were also absorbed into Raj's body and healed him completely.
However, despite his body being cured, he still didn't wake up.
Earlier, my mind was too chaotic to ask anything, but when the situation calmed down, I asked Jay about what had actually caused such injuries to them.
He told me about how they were attacked by some strange monster and how Raj sacrificed his life to save them. He mentioned that Raj's chest was clearly pierced by the sword, but suddenly a bright light emerged from his body, and the next moment, Raj was the only one lying at the ledge.
None of his statements made any sense. The police conducted an investigation as well, but ultimately closed the case, ruling it an accident due to insufficient evidence to support the claims made by Jay's group.
Raj's friends regularly came to check on his condition. I had told the doctors to allow visitors only on the weekends and only at a specific time—the time when Maa or I were present in the hospital. I didn't want to suspect Raj's friends, but it was a necessary precaution since they were the only people present when this accident happened.
The first friend who visited him was surprisingly not Jay or Leena, but the other girl who was also present in the hospital on The Day of Awakening.
Her name was Saya, and from what I found, she was the girl that Raj secretly had a crush on.
She had a kind nature and was a very well-mannered girl. Apart from visiting Raj, she would also have long talks about him with Maa, which made Maa feel slightly better.
"Good evening, Mr. Aryan," Saya said, slightly bowing in respect before entering the hospital room where Raj lay unconscious.
She placed a bouquet of flowers on the side table beside the bed and sat on the chair in front.
"You know, Aunt Siya told me that you always put others above yourself. She says that you have the purest heart and the kindest soul. And I also believe that's the truth. So please… don't give up, because we haven't given up on you yet," she murmured softly, her eyes shimmering.
After a brief pause, she rose to a standing position and stepped outside.
"Thanks for visiting him, and also thanks for talking with Maa," I said. "Maa was the worst affected by this accident, and your visit is like therapy for her. The only time life returns to her eyes is when she talks about Raj with you."
"Raj saved my life, so it's the least I could do for him," Saya replied. "Besides, I really enjoy learning more about Raj. But forgive me, as I can't talk to aunty today because I have the awakening exam."
"Oh! They have already launched the awakening exams?" I asked. "Well, given the mana you exude, I'm sure you will definitely receive a high rank."
"Thanks for the kind words, Mr. Aryan," Saya replied with a soft smile. "It really means a lot when someone of your status says it."
With a slight bow, she turned and left the hospital. And it was also the last time she visited Raj, as the awakening exam she took caused an uproar throughout the entire country.
Apart from her, Jay and Leena also came for brief visits from time to time.
Just like that, a year had already passed, and surprisingly, I—whom Raj used to call a forever loner—also fell in love with a woman, and eventually, our marriage date was finalized.
After Maa, the first person I shared this exciting news with was obviously Raj.
I sat on the bed beside him and began with a smug look on my face.
"Raj, you remember how you used to mock me by saying no girl was ever going to like me because I behaved too much like an old man? Well, I've got bad news for you. A girl actually fell for me. She is very pretty and kind. Yesterday, I proposed to her for marriage, and you're not going to believe it, but she actually said yes.
My marriage is set for next month. The house is once again filled with joy and laughter. A smile, though small, has returned to Maa's face as well. I have never been this happy before. She filled my heart with a pleasure that even the entire world couldn't offer.
But still…
Sniff… She couldn't fill the void left by you. I—I want to see that hilarious expression on your face—sniff…—when I take the marriage vows. I want to brag to you about it for the rest of my life.
So please—sniff… sniff—wake up, Raj."
Before I even realized it, I broke into tears and embarrassingly cried for several minutes.
---
Now that so much time had passed, technological development made a revolutionary leap due to the Awakeners and the phenomenon caused by them.
According to the doctors' research, Raj was suffering from Mana Overload—a disease that sent several people into a coma on the Day of Awakening.
The doctors were not sure whether the disease was communicable, so they isolated Raj in a closed glass room, allowing us to see him only from afar.
Slowly, days turned into months, and months into years, and five years passed since Raj had fallen unconscious.
Even after so many years and such tremendous technological advancement, the researchers and doctors couldn't cure this Mana Overload. The only conclusion they reached was that the disease was not communicable, so we were finally allowed to meet Raj inside the room again.
---
"Uncle Raj, I heard you made Inayat cry," I scolded, carrying my sobbing daughter in my arms as I stood in front of Raj's bed.
"It was the first time she came to meet you, so how could you make her cry?"
"Bwaa… Uncle Raj won't talk to Inayat even when—sob-sob—Inayat offered to play with him," Inayat cried in my arms. "Inayat wasn't being a bad girl, but still Uncle Raj hates her."
"Inayat, Uncle Raj does not hate you," I said, gently patting her head. "Uncle Raj is sick, so he cannot speak with anyone. But once he gets better, he will play with you all day."
"Sniff… sniff… Really?"
"Really."
Only then did Inayat finally stop crying. She pulled away from my arms, moved toward Raj, and slowly crawled onto his bed, soft groans escaping her as she struggled to climb.
She softly touched Raj's forehead and murmured, "Uncle Raj, get well soon and play lots of games with Inayat."
I moved forward and was about to pick up Inayat when a voice suddenly came—a voice I had been longing to hear for the past five years.
"Sure, we will… play a lot…" Raj murmured under his breath, his eyes half-opened and his face carrying a faint smile.
If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.