"Is Not My Love"

Stranger's Threshold

Arjun's life was normal, so normal that he was bored with it.

Reading books, going to work, and chatting with friends

This was his world. But something happened that day that turned his life upside down.

On his way back home from work, Arjun took the same route as he always did. But today everything on the road was strange. The dampness in the air, the silence of the trees, and the surrounding silence made him restless. He picked up his pace, but as he walked, he felt as if time was slowing down.

The Street That Leads Nowhere

As Arjun turned into his street, he realized that this street was not the same as he saw every day. The atmosphere there had completely changed. There was fog on both sides of the street, and there was a strange coolness in the air.

"Is this the same road?" Arjun said to himself.

He slowed down his steps. He saw a shadow in the distance—a man whose figure was not clearly visible.

"Why are you here?" the man's voice echoed.

Arjuna was startled. He had never seen this man, and his voice sounded familiar.

"My house is on this street," Arjuna replied.

The man took a long pause and said, "Your house is not where you think it is."

Arjuna's hair stood on end as he heard this. He looked back, but the other end of the street had disappeared.

"What is this?" Arjuna muttered to himself.

The game of pages

The man extended an old book towards Arjuna. The pages of the book looked burnt, but there were some strange symbols drawn on them.

"What is this?" Arjuna asked fearfully.

"The answer to your questions," the man said. "But there is a price to pay for opening it."

Arjun did not understand what he was saying.

"Why should I open it? " I just want to leave from here," Arjun said.

The man replied with a cold laugh, "Want to leave? The way to leave this place is in your hands now. But remember, every page will take you deeper. And once you know something, you will not be able to forget it."

Arjun tried to touch the book, but as soon as he touched it, he felt a sharp shock. Suddenly, the first page of the book opened by itself.

An unknown story

Arjun saw his own picture on the page. He was standing in the same street, but there was fear and pain in his face.

"This...how can this be?" Arjun said in surprise.

The man said softly, "This is just the beginning. Your past, present and maybe even your future are written in this book. But every answer will trap you in a new confusion."

Arjun tried to close the book, but now it was stuck to his hand.

"This is part of you now," the man said. "And it will decide who you are."

The Road That Doesn't End

Arjun tried to run away from the alley, but the more he ran, the more he returned to the same place. The same alley, the same fog, and the same man each time.

"You can't change that," the man said. "You have to be a part of this story."

Arjun's head was spinning. He opened the book again and looked at another page. This time, his name was written there—but it was no ordinary name. Strange symbols were drawn around his name.

"What is all this?" Arjun yelled.

"This is the path you have chosen. " Or maybe this path has chosen you," the man said in a deep voice.

Arjun felt like he was about to fall. Darkness surrounded him. And then, he opened his eyes.

Dream or reality?

Arjun was now in his room. He had the same book in his hand. But this time, the man's voice was coming from nowhere.

He threw the book away in a panic. But as soon as the book fell on the ground, it returned to his bed again.

"What is this?" Arjuna said in panic.

Just then, the pages of the book started turning on their own. On the last page, there was just one word written:

"The beginning."

Arjuna couldn't understand if it was a dream, a trap, or reality. But he knew that his life would never be the same again.

End of Chapter 1

Now Arjuna was faced with the biggest question: where would this book take him? And who was the man who tied his life with mysterious threads?

And a mountain of questions stood in his mind. Will he be able to find the right answers to these questions, or will he lose himself forever?