Destiny or Accident?

Episode: 5 || Bridging Worlds

"The world breaks everyone,
and afterwards,
some are strong at broken places"

It was 7:45 am on a Monday, the time when most of the city was already swarming with people bustling to work, clutching their coffee cups like lifelines. But in a certain small apartment, Advika was living her best life—completely oblivious to the morning hustle. Sprawled upside down on her bed like a starfish, her limbs were tangled in the sheets, and her hair was a spectacular mess that could rival a bird's nest. The chaos of yesterday—rescuing a mythical hero and dealing with her enemy's brother—was apparently filed away in her mind under "Weird Dreams," and today was for sleeping in.

The doorbell rang. Advika didn't flinch. Another ring, still nothing. But then, the doorbell turned into an annoying, persistent buzz, like a mosquito on a mission. Finally, she jolted up with a scowl that could make a baby cry and shuffled to the door like a zombie, muttering some creative curses under her breath.

Dragging herself to the door, her hair sticking out in every possible direction like a wild crow's nest, she squinted at the bright light flooding in as she opened it. It was the delivery guy with her daily dose of cow-milk and vegetables. He stood there, looking as cheerful as a Monday morning allowed, but Advika was in no mood for pleasantries. Wordlessly, she extended her hand and took the three heavy packages, then slammed the door shut with a loud thud that echoed through the hallway. She dumped the packages onto the kitchen island—the same spot she used for everything except dining—and grabbed a glass, filling it with water from the filter. She collapsed into a dining chair, gulping down the water like she'd just crossed a desert. But when she finally lowered the glass, she nearly dropped it in shock.

Sitting on the sofa, legs crossed with an elegance that would put a swan to shame, was Karna, the mythical hero she had brought home. He looked like a statue that had been too handsome to stay confined to a museum—his posture perfect, his eyes fixed on her with a mixture of confusion and quiet dignity combined with the fluctuation between shock and disbelief. His band-aid was still intact from the first aid she'd administered the previous night, but the rest of his bandages had been removed. He eyed her from head to toe, taking in her rumpled shirt and pajama pants with a mixture of confusion and cautious acceptance; such attire was completely foreign to him, and never had he seen a woman dressed like this in his era.

Advika stood there, frozen, one foot still half-asleep on the cool tile, utterly unprepared for the bizarre sight of a legendary figure sitting in her modern-day living room. She shuffled towards the sofa, trying to act casual, though the reality of her pajama-clad self seemed to turn her legs to jelly. Karna, ever the gentleman, stood up the moment she approached, his formality at odds with her disheveled state. Before she could even muster a greeting, he said, "Suprabhat."

Blinking, Advika took a second to process the word before realizing he was wishing her good morning. She echoed the greeting, though it sounded more like a question coming from her. They exchanged awkward smiles, and an uncomfortable silence settled between them, thick as the morning fog. Karna's mind was a whirl of emotions—embarrassment, confusion, and a lingering sense of inadequacy. He was a trained warrior, educated by one of the best, yet here he was, in need of rescue. Advika, on the other hand, was wracked with guilt for not believing his story initially and for his injuries, which were indirectly her fault.

Breaking the tension, she asked softly, "How are your injuries?"

"They are fine," he replied, his voice calm but tinged with discomfort. "I removed the other bandages; they were... bothersome." He gestured to the bandage on his head, the one tied with a knot. "This one, I kept."