"The Shrinking Chronicles"

It all Begin

A few days ago, it all began. We were filled with both excitement and fear, pondering the Earth's fate after a direct encounter with a spherical asteroid. Mintu, a youthful 15-year-old, watched the news report with eager curiosity while numerous rumors swirled around.

Dismissing it as nonsense, Mintu pondered, "How could radiation affect humans?" He pushed his phone aside, settling onto his bed, attempting to sleep. Yet, his own thoughts and predictions kept him awake.

The night passed, and dawn broke. A gentle knock echoed. "It's me, Ananya, Mintu," a sweet, feminine voice called. "Why do you sleep like the dead?"

Mintu remained asleep, prompting Ananya to improvise. "I brought some Samosas for you," she fibbed.

A thunder-like sound and a thud followed, then a short dash to the door. "Really?" Mintu inquired.

Ananya giggled, saying, "No, just to wake you up." Mintu was captivated by Ananya's charm.

Ananya, a 20-year-old lady, was Mintu's senior, fair-skinned with an impeccable figure. She often aided Mintu with his tasks, and in return, he helped her in her chores.

Mintu was a hardworking student, who was the topper of his class. He also had friends, however most of them were attracted because of his academic performance.

As time passed, the day's routine unfolded. Soon, the anticipated asteroid appeared in the sky, enormous as reported. The sky turned crimson, a terrifying sight, yet no significant radiation effects materialized. However, a few eccentric scientists continued to proclaim impending danger.

Days passed, and unsettling reports emerged, with many people mysteriously vanishing. The police remained tight-lipped, estimating one million missing out of a world population of twelve billion.

A week elapsed with no cataclysmic events. The once vocal news reporters fell silent, while many nations distanced themselves from the issue, resulting in an estimated thirteen million missing people.

One morning, amidst the usual routine, Mintu prepared breakfast and hurried to class. As the first period began, he took a stroll in the corridor, hearing a faint, feminine voice that triggered a memory. Peering down, he spotted something unusual—a tiny girl.

In a bold move, Mintu decided to pick her up, despite being pressed for time. "Please cooperate; you can trust me," he assured her. The tiny girl shrieked as he placed her in his pocket.

Upon entering class, he received a scolding from his teacher, all the while feeling the girl's futile attempts to escape his pocket's confines. Finally, he placed her on his desk, where she started to cry.

Mintu had numerous questions, but he hesitated. The period ended, and during the next one, curiosity got the better of him. "What caused you to shrink like this?" he inquired.

"I don't know," she replied, recounting how she ended up in front of a girl who had shrunk her and intended to eat her. Mintu's heart swelled with relief that he had saved her.

During the break, he decided to show his friend Bhakti the tiny girl, named Munita. Munita's reaction was one of sheer terror. She revealed that Bhakti was the one who had shrunk her. Suspense hung in the air.

Bhakti laughed at the sight, leaving Mintu bewildered and Munita screaming. Mintu, though mesmerized by Bhakti, couldn't ignore Munita's distress.

As the day progressed, Mintu's seriousness deepened. School ended, and he returned to his hostel room, placing Munita on his desk. However, Bhakti unexpectedly entered the room.

Realizing he had left the room unlocked, Mintu felt foolish. He hurriedly positioned Munita behind him, glaring at Bhakti, who seemingly cast a spell on him with a wink. Dizziness overcame Mintu as everything around him grew larger.

Panicking, Mintu blacked out, his world shrinking around him.