Chapter 3: The Loop

Shekar opened his eyes. The same police coach in civil clothes was standing in front of him again.

He repeated the same words he had shouted before: "What's wrong with you? You come for a police selection and you faint like this. Where is your medical form?"

Shekar looked around. Everything was happening exactly as it had before. Shekar couldn't understand why things were repeating. He was left wondering if he had time-traveled or if something else had happened.

The police coach called out to Shekar. "Hello, what are you looking at? Give me your medical form."

Shekar handed the form in his hand to the coach. The coach looked at it and repeated the same words: "It's fine, you're on the borderline. If you really want to pass, give me some money and I'll pass you. Look, because you're on the borderline..."

Shekar interrupted the police coach and said, "I'll give it, sir. I just want to pass."

Shekar secretly took out the money and handed it over. As he did, he whispered, "Sir, in that corner on the left, there's a high-tech medical lab. It looks like illegal things are happening there. Please..." The coach interrupted Shekar and shouted at him, "Hey, just because you're giving me a bribe doesn't mean I'll listen to whatever you say. I passed you, right? Now get out of here!"

Even though he had changed some things, the events still happened.

This time, when he got out of the police selection ground, he bought a fruit juice, drank it, and sat somewhere comfortably. He remembered everything.

Shekar's inner voice: I died. That's why things are repeating. That means I've entered a time loop. The MEDS and that high-tech chamber gave me this power. But why? Are there others like me with the same powers? I should wait and ask them. But how will I know who went through the same thing I did?

So Shekar began to ask everyone: "Bro, bro, did they give you a box?"

"Bro, did the MEDS people do a medical test on you?"

"Brother, did they take you into a high-tech chamber?"

No matter how many people Shekar asked, no one gave him a proper answer. They all claimed they didn't know anything. It felt as if many of them were hiding something.

Shekar became hopeless because he got no information from anyone. With nothing else to do, he sat down on the steps in front of a closed shop.

It was getting late. Shekar's phone rang. It was his mother.

He picked up the call. "Where are you, son? How many times do I have to call you? What about the selection? Did you pass?"

After all the weird experiences, hearing his mother's voice brought thoughts of home. He wanted to put everything that had happened that day aside and just go home.

Shekar: "Yeah... I passed."

His mother: giddy with happiness "You've given me good news! Your dad wants to talk to you."

Shekar: "Okay, sure."

His father: "Hello, son. How did it go? I heard you got selected."

Shekar: "Yes, Dad. The selection is over."

His father: "That's good. When are you coming home?"

Shekar: "I'll be there. It got a little late. I just came out. I'll be home by evening."

His father: "Okay, did you eat anything?"

Shekar: "Yes, Dad, I ate."

His father: "Alright, your mother wants to talk to you."

His mother: "Oh, honey. Did you eat?"

Shekar: "Yes, Mom, I ate."

His mother: "Come home quickly. I'll cook something you like. Don't eat any of that junk food outside, okay?"

Shekar: "Okay, Mom."

Shekar: "Mom..."

His mother: "What is it, son? Tell me."

Shekar was thinking about everything that had happened to him and wanted to talk to his mother about it.

Shekar: "Mom, it's just..."

His mother: "I'm listening, tell me."

But he couldn't.

Shekar: "It's nothing, Mom. I'll tell you when I get home."

His mother: "Okay. Come home soon."

The call ended.

Shekar's mother was a little anxious about what Shekar was trying to tell her. She didn't know anything, but she was a little worried because she was a mother.

Shekar's inner voice: I can only be open with my mom at home. If I want to confide in anyone, it's my mom. Because Dad is very strict; whenever I have to tell him something, it's all rules and regulations. Don't do this, don't do that. You should be like this, you should be like that. I've even forgotten what I want. When I'm at home, it's always his rules. I've often wanted to be as open with Dad as I am with Mom, but it never happens. Dad has stopped talking to me casually. Whenever he talks to me, it's always 'What are you doing?' or 'You should do this, you should do that.' It feels like I'm not with a father, but with a teacher or a drill sergeant.

Shekar's inner voice: Now I want to reset everything that happened to me and start fresh. And I also want to know the limitations of these powers I have.

So…

There's only one way for that to happen.

Death...

If I die again, the time will repeat, and I'll get a chance to start fresh.

Shekar slowly walked toward the main road. The traffic hadn't lessened. The vehicles were going very fast, like they were on a highway. And this was the same road where the accident happened in the previous time loop.

But this time, Shekar was scared because he was doing this intentionally.

Shekar stood at the edge of the footpath next to the main road. His hands and legs were shaking. Even though he was very scared, he decided to go and face death.

Shekar closed his eyes. The sound of the traffic went silent for a moment. Shekar could only hear his own heartbeat. He took a deep breath. He leaned forward to look at the main road from left to right. Just as he was about to jump suddenly onto the main road...

A voice called out, "What are you doing?"

Shekar was shocked and opened his eyes. He turned to look in the direction the voice came from. It was Meera's voice.

Meera started questioning Shekar, non-stop. 

Meera said, "What were you even trying to do? Were you trying to die? Why? Did you get the death wish that everyone wants? (in a serious, sarcastic way). If you fail an exam, does that mean you have to die? Should I tell your family that you have wishes like this?"

To her questions, Shekar's mind went, Oh, shut! How did Meera see me in this situation? How should I manage this now? What should I say to convince her? She's very suspicious. She's a police officer's daughter, after all.

Who is Meera?

Meera is Shekar's mother's younger brother's daughter. She is five years younger than him, but she is much smarter, just like her father. And her father is a police officer, a head officer.

Meera's father have a huge influence my parents to make me same as him. 

And they never asked me what I really wanted. 

They just think that, they are giving me a respectable life like my uncle.

Shekar likes Meera a lot. They grew up together since childhood, so that much affection is natural. But the one problem with her is that she overthinks and asks too many questions. Sometimes, even Shekar doesn't have answers to her questions. And she likes him too, but maybe not as much as he likes her. But he feels like there's a normal kind of affection. He's waiting for her to express her feelings, but she is the kind of girl who only expresses something when she feels it.

Meera continued to question Shekar about his actions, about why he was trying to die.

Meera: "Talk to me. Why did you want to die?"

Shekar: "It's just... I was trying to go to the shop on the other side of the road. That's why."

Meera: "Then why were your eyes closed and why were you leaning forward like you were about to fall onto the road?"

Shekar: "The traffic just wouldn't stop, and I thought if I crossed the road, they would see me and stop."

Meera: "If you do that, you'll get into an accident. The traffic won't stop."

Shekar: "So what should I do? I need to go to that shop. I've been trying to cross the traffic for a while now."

Meera: "Why do you need to go to that shop?"

Shekar: "I'm very hungry. I want to buy a cream bun from the bakery."

Meera: "Hmm! Okay. I'll believe you since you said 'cream bun.' I want one too. By the way, how was the physical test?"

Shekar: "I passed."

Meera: "Oh, really..."

And she gave him a big smile for his success.

Meera: "Then it's my treat. I'll buy you a cream bun."

After saying that, Meera quickly came and held Shekar's hand to help him cross the road.

If you are careful, you can cross the road, but if you suddenly jump like Shekar was about to, no one can save you from an accident.

Shekar's mind: What is happening? I try to do one thing, and something else happens.

As Meera said, she bought a cream bun and whatever else Shekar wanted.

Shekar asked, "By the way, Meera, what are you doing here?"

Meera replied, "I came for you. I thought you would be late to come home, so I came myself. Now let's go home together."

Shekar smiled awkwardly at Meera and said, "Yes, yes, let's go together."

They traveled by bus. Shekar was looking out the window, deep in thought about the things that had happened to him. He turned to his side, where Meera was sleeping on his shoulder, holding his arm.

Shekar's thoughts: I can't tell anyone about these powers I have until I fully understand them. And I can't trouble Meera by telling her everything. I need to get a clear picture of who and what MEDS is.

They reached home. His uncle was waiting for them. He was there because Meera was with him.

As soon as his uncle saw him, he said, "So, I heard you got selected in the physical test. Now you just need to go for the next training, right?"

Shekar replied, "Yes, Uncle."

His uncle said, "Okay, I know an academy. I have a friend there. I'll tell him to take good care of you. He'll train you. I'll send you the address tomorrow."

Shekar said, "Okay, Uncle."

His uncle said, "Alright, I'll be leaving now," and he left with his daughter, Meera.

Shekar's father said, "Okay, you must be tired. Go and freshen up and eat something. You didn't eat any junk food outside, right?"

Shekar said to his dad, "No, Dad."

Time passed, and it was night.

Shekar was lying on his bed in his room, thinking.

His mother came into his room and talked to him.

His mother: "What's wrong, son? You didn't eat your favorite egg curry properly. You're not even talking to me properly."

Shekar: "It's nothing, Mom. I'm a little tense. I'm worried about satisfying Dad."

His mother: "If you're in a good position, your dad will also be very happy."

Shekar asked, "But are you happy, Mom?"

His mother: "What about me, son? It's all about your father's and your uncle's decision, right?"

Shekar asked, "Mom, what did you want to do? And what did you want me to do?"

His mother: "I never shared this to anyone. But, I wanted to be a dancer, son. I used to think Bharatnatyam was magical. But what's the use of thinking about it now? My father never listened to me. He just wanted me to get married on time. I didn't say anything and listened to my father and got married. we wore really used to obey our parents. We never had a chance to think about our dreams. But, I thought you would do something that your heart desired. You said you liked becoming a police officer. I thought that was what you liked, so I was happy for you."

"You like it, right?"

Shekar nodded his head, saying "Yes."

Even though Shekar's yes doesn't sounded like he meant it. His mother thought that Shekar was happy with what he was doing.

Shekar's mind: The only reason I said I liked being a police officer was because my uncle and dad pressured me. When I was a kid and didn't have any clarity, I said I liked being a police officer. They held on to that and decided for themselves that I liked being a police officer. They didn't even think that at that age, we don't know what's right for us. Maybe I didn't have clarity about what I wanted, so I listened to them.

Shekar's inner voice: To some extent, this is also good. When I become a police head, this should be the first case I deal with. I need to get a clear picture of MEDS.

Cut to: Shekar is working in a police registration department.

His job is to register the cases of everyone who comes there.

Shekar's thoughts in the back of his mind: You got this post through a recommendation. With your intelligence and skills, even a constable post is very difficult. That's why you need to slowly prove your worth and get to a higher position. Otherwise, this is all you'll have.

He is really tired of this job. There are no interesting cases. And he couldn't even think about solving the MEDS case. All paths are closed now.

Days passed. One night, he had to look after his police station. Shekar was taking a small nap, which he shouldn't do.

A person came in, drenched in rain. He was very anxious. He was an older person, between 35 and 40 years old. He was tall. His face looked like he had seen something horrible. He said in a nervous tone, "Sir, over there, over there. I found a body. The body was full of big holes. It was like there wasn't a drop of blood left in the body. There was no blood on the ground either. I don't know if this is a strange disease or if they were murdered."

The things the strange person was describing were very scary. This was the first weird case Shekar had ever gotten.

We'll look at the details of this case in the next chapter.