✧| Prologue |✧

9 years ago

"I wonder if I was born from the cracks in something much older, something that still watches from the dark."

13 year old, Samiksha mumbled almost to herself, lost in thoughts. Maybe annoyed or thinking about- somethings....

The school courtyard was bathed in the golden afternoon light as the sun hung lazily above the school courtyard, the chatter of students blending into a soft hum. Beneath the banyan tree, the 13-year-old Samiksha and bestie; Arya sat cross-legged on the dry grass, their school bags tossed carelessly to the side.

A group of students chatted animatedly, the hum of their voices blending with the distant sound of a ball being kicked in the playground. The air was thick with the scent of fresh grass and the subtle murmur of teenage gossip.

Arya tossed a bag of chips between them, the crisp sounds of opening the bag echoing in the quiet space they'd carved out for themselves.

"I mean, come on, Sam," Arya said, gesturing dramatically toward a group of boys playing football nearby. "If I ever date someone, it's definitely not going to be one of them. And if I did, with any of those so-called 'handsome' boys from our school, I swear I'll puke." She waved her hand dramatically, as if the very sight of them was making her gag.

Samiksha chuckled, her lips curling in amusement. "I get what you mean," she replied. "No offense, but most of the boys at our school look like boiled frogs."

Arya burst out laughing, clutching her mouth as if she might burst. "Boiled frogs? Sam, you're savage. But tell me I'm wrong. Ashay looks like a frog who got caught in the middle of metamorphosis."

"Right?" Samiksha agreed, her voice laced with mock seriousness.

Arya smirked, unbothered by the teasing. "I'm just saying, I've got standards, okay? I want someone who's not... what's the word? Basic. Definitely someone who doesn't spend half his life quoting memes or obsessing over his biceps."

"Fair enough," Samiksha replied, still grinning. "So, what kind of guy would make the cut for you?"

Arya leaned back on her hands, tilting her face toward the sun as if deep in thought. "Someone who's fun but not a total idiot. Smart, but not the kind who'll bore me to death talking about calculus. Someone confident, but not arrogant. You know, and the one who would do some or- anything for me. Is that too much to ask?"

Samiksha raised an eyebrow. "I don't know why but sounds like a unicorn, honestly."

Arya laughed. "Well, it's not my fault the bar's high. Anyway, what about you? What's your type, Sam?"

Samiksha hesitated, caught off guard by the question. She looked away, fidgeting with a blade of grass. "I don't know if I have a 'type-'."

"Oh, come on!" Arya said, nudging her shoulder. "You must've thought about it. What kind of guy would you actually like?"

Samiksha opened her mouth to reply, but before she could, Arya snapped her fingers. "Wait, let me guess! He has to be tall, cool, Bad-boy maybe a little Morally grey? Or are you into the bookish, soft-spoken type?"

"Neither," Samiksha said, shaking her head. "Honestly, I've never thought about it like that. But I guess... I'd want someone who gets me. Like, really understands me."

Arya gave her a skeptical look. "Understands you... That's actually pretty deep for someone who roasts everyone like they're on fire. But, really? Never? Not even a crush on some random cartoon character as a kid?"

That made Samiksha pause. She stared at Arya, her mind suddenly flipping through a reel of memories from her childhood.

"Okey..." she began slowly, Arya leaned in, intrigued her voice full of curiosity and excitement, "Go on, tell me about all of them, till now."

Samiksha's lips twitched into a small smile, her mind drifting back. she murmured. "Well... now that you mention it..."

The world around Samiksha seemed to blur as memories flooded her mind.

When Samiksha was just two years old, the world to her was a kaleidoscope of colors, shapes, and stories. Her tiny hands would clutch her favorite blanket as she sat in front of the television, eyes wide with wonder. One day, she found herself captivated by a character on the screen in the animation of Vikram and Betal stories. She didn't know his name, but something about him resonated with her casually.

It was a fleeting pull, a brief sense of connection, something her young mind couldn't quite understand.

As time flowed, the characters she admired grew in number. From the brave protagonists of storybooks to the charming heroes of animated shows, Samiksha's little heart fluttered often, though only faintly. She was a child exploring stories, curious and free, drawn to personalities that exuded strength, wit, and charisma.

Yet, unknowingly, a pattern began to form. Whenever she would eventually learn the names of the characters who had caught her attention, one name seemed to surface again and again: Vikram.

It started innocently enough. Then came the TV serials and animated series, where the heroes who intrigued her bore the same name. At first, she didn't notice it. After all, she was just a child, too engrossed in the worlds of her favorite stories to see the thread weaving through them.

By the time she was eight, her bookshelf boasted tales like Ponniyin Selvan. Among the many characters, she found herself momentarily drawn to Aditya Karikalan-only to later discover that his full title included the name Vikramaditya. It was almost as though the universe was playing a subtle game with her.

In her preteen years, Samiksha's attention shifted to movies and TV dramas. In Radhe Shyam Movie, Prabhas's character was introduced as Aditya, but a later revelation confirmed his name as Vikramaditya. In Khoobsurat, the stoic yet endearing character Vikram stole her attention.

It became a recurring theme: whenever a name finally stood out in her mind, it was Vikram.

To be clear, she wasn't exclusively drawn to characters named Vikram, only. There were others, of course-heroes, villains, and side characters alike. Sometimes, it was their wit; other times, their bravery or charm. But the pull she felt toward these characters as well as with those Vikrams was brief, fleeting. She never saw a very remarkable, unforgettable Vikram; who'd reign within her heart, mind and-her soul.

Arya's voice pulled her back to the present. "Sam? Earth to Samiksha?"

Samiksha blinked, her thoughts scattering. She looked at Arya, who was staring at her with an amused expression. "You totally zoned out there. What were you thinking about?"

Samiksha hesitated for a moment, then gave a small soft chuckle. "You're gonna think this is weird."

Arya leaned forward, intrigued. "Try me."

Samiksha sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Okay, so... you know how you asked if I've ever had a crush on a fictional character? I guess I've had... a lot of them. But here's the weird part: almost most of the characters I've ever liked-like, or got attracted to even for a fleeting moment we're... named Vikram."

Arya's eyes widened. "Seriously? Every single one?"

"Well, not every single one," Samiksha clarified, "but a most of them. And the funny thing is, I didn't even realize it until now. I'd watch a show or read a book, and there'd be this one character I'd get attracted too. And then later or, years later, I'd look back and realize... oh, his name was Vikram."

Arya burst out laughing. "Wow, Sam. You've got a type, and it's not even a personality-it's a name!"

Samiksha couldn't help but laugh too, the absurdity of it hitting her all at once. "I guess so," she admitted, shaking her head. "It's like some cosmic joke or something."

Arya grinned. "Well, if nothing else, at least you've got a solid starting point for finding your soulmate. Just find someone named Vikram, and you're good to go."

Samiksha rolled her eyes, but there was a warmth in her smile. "Ha, only if that was so easy." She said what a bit of mockery with a small, sincere grin playing at the corner of her lips.

Arya squinted at Samiksha, her lips curling into a sly grin. "You know, it's almost poetic how every Vikram in your life has made some sort of mark. I mean, come on, Sam. Admit it. You've got a thing for that name."

Samiksha, brushing back her hair with a sigh. "Fine, Arya. I'll admit it, but not the way you think." She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand, her tone growing contemplative. "Yeah, I've liked all the Vikrams. Or at least bits and pieces of them. They had qualities here and there-maybe there intelligence, maybe a little charm. But none of them were perfect. None of them were... it."

Arya smirked, tapping her cheek. "So what? Are you telling me you're still waiting for this mythical 'perfect Vikram' to show up?"

Samiksha let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "No, Arya. I'm not waiting for anything. I've kind of... given that part of my life to Krishna."

[Krishna : The Indian God of love. The 8th avatar of Lord Vishnu from the Sanatana (Hindu) mythology.]

Arya blinked, tilting her head. "To Krishna?"

"Yeah," Samiksha said, her voice steady and calm. "I've just decided not to stress about it. If there's someone out there who's meant to be with me, whether his name is Vikram or something else entirely, then God will make it happen when the time is right."

Arya squinted at her, skepticism creeping into her expression. "So you're saying you're leaving your love life all up to God?"

"Exactly," Samiksha replied, her lips curving into a soft subtle smile.

Arya stared at her, a mix of admiration and disbelief flashing in her eyes. "You're something else, Sam. Most people our age are freaking out about crushes and relationships, and here you are, just... chilling."

Samiksha smirked. "Just gonna go with the flow about this one..."

Arya grinned, nudging Samiksha playfully shaking her head. "But you know what Sam? I actually feel envy towards you, you're just so calm about this matter even if you're on fire everyday!".

Samiksha laughed, shaking her head. Arya laughed along, the sound light and carefree.