The drive back was a stark contrast to the pre-dawn rush. With no urgency, they took their time, the car gliding along the winding roads. Ayan watched the familiar landscape unfold, the morning sun painting the hills in a warm, golden light. He was still trying to process everything—his father's ridiculous cliff jump, the strange sensation of his palm healing unnaturally fast, and now, the sudden shift from movie night to a camping trip invasion.

  Mohan, as usual, acted like nothing unusual had happened.

  "We have time," he said, his voice calm. "We can stop at the market. We'll need supplies for the camping trip."

  Ayan barely nodded, still distracted. He flexed his fingers, running his thumb over the smooth golden scales of the bracelet on his wrist. He could still feel the daggers stored inside it, as if they were a part of him now. The space inside it was there—silent, vast, and strangely aware.

  As if sensing his thoughts, Mohan’s voice sharpened. "And Ayan," he added, giving him a pointed look, "do not use the bracelet's storage ability while we are in the market. Understand?"

  Ayan blinked at him. "I wasn’t planning to—"

  Mohan raised an eyebrow.

  "Okay, fine," Ayan muttered. "But why?"

  Mohan turned his gaze back to the road. "Because last time, I accidentally pulled out a battle axe while trying to pay for vegetables."

  Ayan choked on air. "WHAT—"

  Mohan sighed, then grinned. "Nope. Kidding. Haah haa..."

  Ayan squinted at him. "You’re messing with me again, aren’t you?"

  Mohan grinned. "Of course."

  Ayan shook his head, exhaling through his nose. "One day, old man. One day, I’ll get you back for this."

  Mohan chuckled. "Looking forward to it."

  Ayan groaned, sinking into his seat. This was going to be a long trip.

  At the Market..

  Mohan pulled the car over, and they stepped out. The market was a vibrant tapestry of sights and smells. The marketplace buzzed with early activity, stalls overflowing with fresh produce and fragrant spices. Vendors arranged their goods under the soft morning light, their voices carrying through the crisp air as they called out their daily specials. The scent of just-baked bread, ripe fruit, and sizzling breakfast snacks filled the space. Ayan tried to focus on picking out supplies, but his mind kept drifting back to the bracelet.

  At one point, as he reached for his wallet, he felt the wrong sensation in his palm. A silent, weightless shift in the space within him.

  Oh no.

  For one terrifying second, he was sure he had just materialized a dagger in the middle of the marketplace.

  He froze...... Mohan, who had been haggling over a bundle of firewood, turned just in time to see Ayan’s face pale. His eyes flicked to Ayan’s hand—now gripping nothing but his wallet.

  Mohan smirked. "Close call?"

  Ayan exhaled sharply. "You have no idea."

  Mohan let out a short chuckle and nudged Ayan’s arm. "You’ll get the hang of it. Just don’t go summoning weapons in public, yeah?"

  Ayan rolled his eyes. "Great advice, Dad. Really insightful."

  Ayan wasn't so sure about that...... They bought fresh meat for the grill, a variety of spices, vegetables, and snacks. Mohan also picked up a bundle of firewood and some extra blankets.

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  - - - - - - - -

  While on the way home, Ayan pulled out his phone. He opened the "Movie Night/Camping Trip" group chat and typed a message:

  Ayan: "Hey guys, we’re heading home now. We’ll pick you up around 2 PM. Bringing the tent (yes, with disco lights), the grill, fresh meat, and all the campfire essentials. Also, Dad’s got some horror stories lined up. Get ready to scream."

  Dhanuwa: "Disco lights? Perfect. I’m bringing extra blankets and pillows. And, of course, the chili mix."

  Tharinda: "Don’t forget marshmallows. S’mores are mandatory."

  Dhanuwa: "Also, what are the chances Ayan runs away from the first ghost story?"

  Tharinda: "100%. But we’ll make sure he has nowhere to run."

  Ayan: "I swear, you guys are going to regret this."

  Dhanuwa: "That’s the spirit, man!"

  Tharinda: "True. Now, hurry up, we’re going to conquer your camping trip!"

  Ayan: "You dogs are the worst. Oh, and I brought some raw mangoes for the chili mix."

  Dhanuwa: "Raw mangoes?! What are you planning to do, burn our tongues off?"

  Ayan: "Just wait and see. It's gonna be legendary."

  Tharinda: "I swear, you're a menace."

  Ayan: "And you love it."

  .......

  By the time they reached home, it was almost noon. Ayan quickly showered and changed, eager to start the camping trip. He packed a bag with his essentials, including his favorite hoodie and a flashlight. He paused, looking at the bracelet on his wrist. He still felt the strange sense of space within him, a constant reminder of the morning's ritual. He decided to keep it hidden for now, unsure how his friends would react.

  At 2 PM sharp, they set off to pick up Dhanuwa and Tharinda. The car was packed with camping gear, snacks, and the anticipation of a night filled with scary stories and campfire camaraderie.

  .........

  The drive to pick up Dhanuwa and Tharinda was quick. Ayan and his father, Mohan, pulled up outside Dhanuwa’s house, where Tharinda was already waiting on the front steps, probably having come over to test out Dhanuwa’s latest tech obsession. But the moment they spotted Ayan stepping out of the car, both of them froze.

  "Whoa, hold up!" Dhanuwa blurted, his eyes widening comically. "Who is this imposter, and where is our chubby Ayan?"

  Tharinda looked equally stunned, mouth opening and closing like he was trying to find words. "Bro… what the actual hell?! Did you sell your soul to some ancient spirit or something?"

  Ayan chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "What are you guys talking about? It’s still me."

  "Still you?!" Dhanuwa gestured wildly at him. "Dude, you lost, like, half of yourself! How did this happen in a week? Are you on some secret military experiment or what?"

  Ayan shrugged, trying to play it off. "Just… some changes. Nothing major."

  Tharinda narrowed his eyes. "Nothing major? You went from 'pass me another plate of rice' to 'I walk the runway in Milan' in seven days! This is not normal."

  Dhanuwa took a step closer, lowering his voice as he leaned toward Ayan’s ear. "Dude… are you addicted to some kind of drug? Please don't be. Stop it now."

  Ayan rolled his eyes. "Oh, for the love of—no, Dhanuwa. I’m not on drugs."

  Tharinda wasn’t convinced. He grabbed Ayan’s wrist and inspected it like he was checking for needle marks. "No track marks… Hmm. Maybe it’s some black magic thing? Do we need to call a priest?"

  Ayan pulled his arm away, sighing. "You guys are impossible."

  "Impossible? Dude, last week you had a gravitational pull. Now you look like you could be on a fitness magazine!" Dhanuwa pointed at him accusingly. "You can’t just expect us to accept this like it’s normal!"

  Mohan smirked, leaning against the car. "You guys don’t know? When he was at work, some chubby girls mocked him—I mean, not just some chubby girls… even the chubby aunties joined in."

  Dhanuwa gasped dramatically, clutching his chest. "No… not the aunties! The ultimate insult!"

  Tharinda staggered back like he’d been physically hit. "Bro, even the aunties? They’re supposed to be the guardians of unconditional love and free second servings! If they turned against you, I don’t blame you for going full-body transformation mode."

  Ayan shot Mohan a look but quickly played along, dramatically clutching his chest like a tragic hero. "Yes… it’s true… The pain, the shame… I couldn’t take it anymore! I had two options—sink into despair or rise like a phoenix. So I dedicated my life to the sacred art of working out."

  Dhanuwa wiped away an imaginary tear. "Ayan, my brother, you have endured true hardship. Society has forsaken you."

  Tharinda nodded solemnly. "A moment of silence for our fallen foodie."

  Ayan groaned. "Can we not make a big deal out of this?"

  Dhanuwa smirked. "Oh, no, no. This is absolutely a big deal. Our boy Ayan turned his pain into gain!"

  Tharinda clutched his stomach, gasping between laughs. "Bro, I can’t! This is an anime training arc mixed with a revenge plot!"

  Mohan, still amused, tapped the side of the car. "Alright, enough roasting. Get in, boys. You’ll have plenty of time to harass him on the way."

  Still grinning, Dhanuwa and Tharinda climbed into the back seat. As soon as they settled in, Dhanuwa leaned forward between the front seats. "No, seriously, Ayan. Are you going to tell us what really happened, or do we have to assume you made a deal with some mountain spirit?"

  Ayan smirked. "You guys think too much."

  Tharinda crossed his arms. "And you’re dodging the question. Suspicious. Very suspicious."

  The car swerved slightly as they turned onto a narrow road, leaving behind the familiarity of the city. The landscape began to shift from suburban streets to winding roads flanked by dense trees, and Ayan could feel the tension growing in the air.