Happy reading....

As Abhimanyu and Raina arrived at the ancient villa for the photoshoot, Abhimanyu marveled at the grandeur of the place. The villa's architecture reminded him of the palaces from his own time, albeit with a modern twist. They were there to shoot a new perfume ad, and the opulent surroundings provided the perfect backdrop.

Abhimanyu's naivety about the perfume was evident. "Perfume from a bottle?" he muttered under his breath. "In my time, perfumes were crafted by hand, using fresh flowers, herbs, and essential oils. They were mixed and aged in small vials to create unique, natural fragrances."

Raina noticed his confusion and stepped in to help. "Hey, you seem a bit nervous about this shoot. Let me show you some international ad shoots to help you get a feel for it."

He pulled out his phone and showed Abhimanyu a series of high-end perfume commercials. Abhimanyu watched intently, noting the fluid movements of the models, their expressions, and the way they held the perfume bottles. Despite the initial unfamiliarity, his quick learning ability kicked in, just as it had with archery and swordsmanship.

Soon, he was ready. The director walked him through the scene: Abhimanyu would be standing in the lush garden, holding the perfume bottle and spraying it lightly, with the camera capturing his every move.

"Remember, it's all about elegance and allure," the director said.

As the rehearsal shoot began, Raina stood nearby, offering encouragement. Abhimanyu moved gracefully, his expressions natural and captivating. The director called for a short break, and told Abhimanyu to get ready .

He noticed the staff setting up a makeup station.

"What's all this for?" he asked Raina.

"It's your makeup and hairstyling. They're here to make sure you look perfect on camera."

Abhimanyu watched in bewilderment as the hairstylists and makeup artists fussed over him. They handled him with the utmost care, as if he were a precious artifact. He sat patiently, though he didn't understand why they were so meticulous.

"Just relax, Abhi," Raina said with a reassuring smile. "They're professionals. You'll look amazing."

The shoot went exceptionally well. The director, a middle-aged man with a keen eye for detail, approached Abhimanyu with a wide smile.

"Abhi, that was fantastic! Your screen presence and charisma are off the charts."

Abhimanyu smiled, bowing his head slightly. "Thank you. I'm glad it went well."

The director continued, "You have a natural talent. It's no wonder you're such a big star. We got some incredible shots today."

Raina patted Abhimanyu on the back. "See? I told you it would be fine. You're a natural."

Abhimanyu felt a sense of relief and pride. He had managed to navigate this strange new world and perform well in a completely foreign setting.

As they were about to wrap up, Abhimanyu's phone rang. He looked at it, feeling a wave of panic. He had no idea how to use the device or who could be calling.

"Raina," he said, trying to keep his voice steady, "could you check who's calling? I need to get my makeup removed."

Raina picked up the phone and glanced at the screen. "It's your younger brother, Shourya Mehrotra."

Abhimanyu's heart skipped a beat. He had a brother in this era too, with the same name? The revelation shook him to his core.

Suddenly, everything around him froze. Raina stood still, mid-sentence, and the bustling activity of the photoshoot came to an abrupt halt. Abhimanyu's pulse quickened as he looked around in confusion.

"What's happening?" he whispered, panic creeping into his voice. He turned to Raina, but he too was frozen.

A strange, magical aura surrounded Abhimanyu. He felt a tingling sensation, like something powerful and otherworldly was enveloping him. Just as suddenly as it had begun, the spell broke, and time resumed its normal flow.

Raina's voice cut through the confusion. "Abhi, you should pick up. It might be important."

But Abhimanyu's head throbbed with intense pain. He clutched his temples, the world spinning around him. The last thing he heard before everything went black was Raina's concerned voice calling his name. He collapsed, plunging into darkness, as the mysteries of this new world continued to unfold around him.

Abhimanyu slowly opened his eyes, the bright lights of the hospital room stinging his eyes. He blinked several times, trying to adjust to the sterile environment. The beeping of medical equipment and the soft murmur of voices brought him fully awake. His head still ached, but the pain was now a dull throb rather than the intense agony that had caused him to collapse.

"Abhi, you're awake!" Raina's relieved voice broke through his thoughts. He was sitting beside the bed, looking worried but visibly relieved.

Abhimanyu tried to sit up, and Raina quickly helped him, adjusting the pillows behind his back. "What happened? Where am I?"

"You're in the hospital," Raina explained. "You collapsed during the photoshoot. The doctors said it's just stress. You need to take it easy, Abhi. You're pushing yourself too hard."

A doctor entered the room, a middle-aged man with a kind face. "Mr. Mehrotra, how are you feeling?"

"Better, I think," Abhimanyu replied, still disoriented.

The doctor nodded. "Good to hear. You experienced a stress-induced episode. Your body is telling you it needs rest. I've cleared you for discharge, but please take it easy for the next few days. Avoid any strenuous activity."

Raina chimed in, "I've got everything under control. We'll make sure he gets plenty of rest."

As the doctor left, Raina turned back to Abhimanyu. "Your younger brother, Shourya, kept calling while you were out. I told him you were busy, but he said it's urgent and you need to go home as soon as possible after your schedule is clear."

Abhimanyu felt a wave of unease. "Did he say what it was about?"

Raina shook his head. "No, just that it's urgent. Here, your phone." He handed Abhimanyu the device.

"You're all set to be discharged."

Abhimanyu took the phone, feeling a mix of curiosity and apprehension.

"Thank you, Raina. For everything."

Raina smiled warmly. "What are friends for? Let's get you home."

Raina drove Abhimanyu back to his apartment, the car ride filled with a comfortable silence. Abhimanyu stared out the window, lost in thought. As they pulled up to the building, Raina spoke up.

"Abhi, you should go and rest for the day. You need it. You can see your parents tomorrow."

Abhimanyu nodded, still feeling the residual fatigue from his collapse.

"You're right. I need to rest."

"And," Raina added, "you should go see them. Shourya seemed really anxious. It must be important."

"I will," Abhimanyu promised, staring at his phone. He was still trying to wrap his mind around everything that had happened.

"Thank you, Raina."

As he got out of the car and made his way to his apartment, something strange happened. Abhimanyu's fingers moved over the phone's screen automatically, unlocking it with ease. He paused, staring at the device in awe. Somehow, he now knew how to use it perfectly, as if the knowledge had been implanted in his mind.

"How did this happen?" he murmured to himself, bewildered by this sudden mastery of modern technology.

Once inside his apartment, Abhimanyu sat down, the phone still in his hand. He began to explore its functions, moving through apps and settings with an ease that astonished him. It was as if he had been using such devices all his life. The familiarity was eerie and unsettling, but he couldn't deny how natural it felt.

As he navigated through the phone, he realized that he was now fully aware of this modern era's technology. It was as if the mysterious aura that had surrounded him earlier had imparted this knowledge to him. He sat back, trying to make sense of it all.

"What's happening to me?" he whispered, feeling a mix of fear and fascination.

Suddenly, it struck him to search about his family in this era. If Raina and Shourya were here, could his parents be the same too? With a mixture of hope and anxiety, he opened the search engine on his phone and typed in "Abhimanyu Mehrotra family."

The search results started appearing, and his heart began to race. He clicked on a few links, and to his shock, the information revealed was strikingly familiar. His father, a powerful and wealthy businessman, was there. His stepmother, who played a prominent role in the family, and his younger stepbrother, Shourya, were all mentioned.

Abhimanyu's breath caught in his throat as he read through the articles. The names, the relationships, the family dynamics, it all mirrored his royal family from his own time. It was as if his family had been transported into this modern era, maintaining the same roles and connections.

His mind swirled with questions. How could this be possible? Was it some sort of reincarnation, or was there a deeper, more mystical explanation? The resemblance was too uncanny to be a mere coincidence.

Sheeh!

Abhimanyu sat back, staring at his phone in disbelief. The revelation was overwhelming, but it also brought a strange sense of comfort. Despite the unfamiliarity of this new world, some things remained constant. His family, with all its complexities, was still a part of his life.

Determined to uncover more, Abhimanyu decided he needed to see them. He had to understand what was happening and why. As the realization settled in, he felt a renewed sense of purpose. This journey, though confusing and disorienting, was also a path to discovering the deeper connections that spanned across time.

*****

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Allah Hafiz ✨