Chapter 1 : the change
Aarav was a simple boy who lived in Prayagraj, a religious city in Uttar Pradesh. He was quiet by nature—so quiet that most people hardly noticed him. There was something mysterious about him, something hidden behind his silence. Aarav rarely spoke to anyone at school. Oh, and yes—he was a school-going child, studying in the 8th grade at St. Francisco School.
Despite his silence, Aarav loved his parents deeply. They were his entire world. He especially enjoyed spending time with his father, finding comfort in his presence. Life, though simple, felt complete.
One day, everything changed.
Aarav's uncle fell seriously ill and was admitted to the City Hospital. His parents went to see him that evening. They never returned.
At Krishna Road, the police found their car abandoned—but there was no one inside. Aarav's parents were missing. When Aarav heard the news, his world collapsed. He was completely shocked. Tears wouldn't stop flowing, and his mind refused to accept what had happened. The police searched relentlessly, questioning people, checking every possible lead, but after two days, they announced the truth—his parents were lost, nowhere to be found.
They were declared missing.
Soon after, Aarav left Prayagraj. His maternal aunt, Akanksha Maasi, took him with her to her home in Mumbai. Days passed, but Aarav was no longer the same. He stopped talking to everyone. Even his cousin Rohan, his closest friend, couldn't reach him. Aarav sank into silence, carrying a grief far heavier than his age.
The boy who once lived quietly had now begun to disappear from the world—
and something darker was starting to take his place.