Parallel Pathfinders : Quest For home

By Aditi Sawarkar

In the enchanting beauty of this world, mysteries unfold and surprises await those who seek them. Take the example of the humble honeycomb, where countless bees work tirelessly to create nectar that eventually finds its way to drizzle on your pancakes, a simple delight with a remarkable tale of effort and collaboration behind it.

Kairos- is like that bee trying to give it's best, curious and hardworking about everything, Makes friends is an ambivert, is a first level workoholic , living in the small town of Anora in the beautiful country of Sankara.

High school was the time he thought that he needs to study well, why 24/7 though?

Perfectionist

Most of his time was spent in the library.

This was a normal day for him, in the library in his normal spot near the window.

But today he thought if leaving early.

One day, after finishing his mid-term exams, Kai decided to break his usual routine and enjoy some time outside.

It was 11am he was in the library since 9 am as he didn’t have any classes today.

He walked through the garden trying to find a bench.

He sat there enjoying the view of blooming flowers his attention quickly diverted to his bench as someone had sat near him, As he glanced beside him he saw a guy who looked very scared and very nervous.

“Are you good ?what happened ?”Kai asked because yes humanity exists.The person just nodded a little and said

“No-nothing much I was just chased by a dog hehe “

“A dog?”

Kai said as he looked behind the boy trying find the ‘dog’.

He’s so pretty.

Kai thought to himself, noticing how cute the guy looked.

After strong two minutes of staring kai realised he was making the guy uncomfortable..

So asked the guy-

“where are you from Mr-?

“oh yes my name is Leo…I’m from Kaish.”

The boy replied immediately.

“Kaish! My grandparents are from kaish…but I’ve never visited Kaish. Oh yea sorry my name’s Kai”

Kai said as he shook hands with Leo.

Leo calmed down and had a random conversation with kai. Kai just felt homely to him.

Surprisingly.

Both of them were walking in the garden barefoot on the grass.

“Coffee?”

Kai asked as they were wearing their shoes.

“Sure”

They both reached for the same coffee cup at the same time, and their hands touched. They look up at each other, and they both felt a spark. they locked eyes and shared a smile.

As they sat at a table they realized how similar they're interests are.

Smiling ear to ear kai went to put away the cups.

On returning he didn’t see Leo.

He waited there for a while but Leo didn’t return.

Ever.

And since then.

Kai was just in his room, library,the café table or the bench they sat at that day.

Thinking of him.

Wishing to see him again.

Not to let him go this time.

Every book he owned had a sketch of Leo.

He was always lost in his thoughts.

Thinking about where and why did he leave?

That’s when his wish to desperately wanting to visit Kaish started just to find Leo.

There were chances

Like that one time his grandparents wanted him to go see Kaish.

But his mother didn’t allow.

“WHY MOM? I’ll be back in a week !!!

Please let me go”

Kai said trying to convince his mother.

“I said no and that won’t change”

That ruined their day.

Leo, I was pretty close to meeting you but my mom,she won’t let me go.WHY. I’VE NO CLUE.

Kai wrote in his diary.

He always wrote a little something in that diary.

The soft glow of Kai’s desk lamp illuminated the room as he sat hunched over his sketchbook, pencil poised in his hand. The pages were filled with numerous unfinished sketches, all attempts to capture the essence of a boy he had met in the park—a boy who had captured his heart in an instant but had vanished just as quickly.

Kai’s hand moved across the paper, recreating the boy’s enigmatic smile and the way his eyes twinkled under the golden rays of the setting sun. With every stroke, he tried to recapture the feeling of warmth that had enveloped his heart when their gazes first met.

Days had turned into weeks, and Kai still couldn’t shake the memories of that serendipitous encounter. The park had become his sanctuary, a place where he yearned to find the boy once more, hoping against hope that he would appear just as mysteriously as he had disappeared.

As Kai continued to sketch, his mind wandered back to that day—the gentle breeze, the scent of freshly cut grass, and the sound of laughter mingling with the chirping of birds. The memory brought a bittersweet ache to his chest, for he longed to relive those fleeting moments.

The pencil danced across the paper, tracing the boy’s silhouette with every stroke. Kai’s eyes glazed over with a mixture of determination and longing, as if he could will the boy’s presence back into his life through the power of his art.

But try as he might, the boy’s image eluded him. The sketches, though beautiful, could never fully capture the essence of the boy’s captivating presence. It was as if the boy had been an ethereal being, a mirage that Kai desperately clung to, fading further from his grasp with each passing day.

Lost in his thoughts, Kai’s hand slowed, the pencil hovering uncertainly over the page. He sighed, his heart heavy with longing and the weight of unanswered questions. Would he ever see the boy again? Was he just a figment of his imagination, a fragment of a dream?

With a final stroke, Kai put down his pencil, the sketchbook now adorned with countless portraits of the boy he couldn’t forget. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, letting the image of the boy linger in his mind.

Though the boy had vanished without a trace, Kai carried him in his heart, etched forever within his memories and immortalized through his art. The sketches were a testament to a love born in an instant, an unbreakable bond that defied time and space.

And so, Kai would continue to visit the park, his sketchbook in hand, hoping that one day, destiny would bring them together once more, and their story would continue where it had left off

He drew him a lot,on every notebook he owned on every sheet of paper he had .

Not wanting to forget him

It had been six years since that.

Kai never forgot him and wished that he didn’t aswell.

He had grown up to be a scientist now, never being able to forget Leo.

He worked at "QRRC"- Quantum Realms Research Centre

A normal day for kai began with him getting ready for office.

The usual.

"Ma! My WATCH I can't find it"

Kai yelled with tears in his eyes and a sock in his hand the other one already worn.

"YOU'RE 23 learn to keep your things nicely"

His mother said from downstairs setting up the table.

This is pretty normal for the Wong household.

Kai loved the watch beyond his life ,his grandmother gave it to him when she was on her death bed.

The thing was every single time he lost the watch it would end up on the door mat.

His mom always joked

"It's magical, it'll appear here every time it's not in your room"

Kai never believed it, but for the time being decided to check.

Maybe I just left near the door yesterday

He thought to himself.

So nevertheless he went down to check and, yes he found his watch there lying like it wanted to be there forever I don't know to explain that but that's what the watch looked like.

Not caring enough he grabbed the

watch and the briefcase in the other hand and started rushing towards his office while he was there he just thought about how the watch ended up there but as soon as he thought of getting his coffee he forgot about the watch,oh did he love coffee so much ,but would never agree that he's addicted , forgetting all of that he decided to focus on his day. He entered the office almost getting late and found peole stared at him as he looked at them in confusion wondering what was wrong it was 9:01 and he was supposed to reach the office at 9 he was late for the third time this month which was pretty unusual for kai.He just bowed and sat down.

"Kai the boss called you"

Ethan called kai out while he made coffee for himself.

"I'll be there soon"

Kai replied murmuring a "oh no what did I do now?" under his breath.

Walking towards his boss -Emma's cabin fidgeting with his shirt.

"May I come in?"

He asked trying to sound confident.

"Oh!, Mr. Wong sure"

He bowed and walked in.

"You were looking for me?"

"Yes, I wanted to talk to you about your project, you've been working very hard on it...so i think you should continue the research in kaish"

Kai's world stopped

This is what he always wanted.

This is what he needed.

Going to kaish

"Oh my god!! Thank you so much I’m m so glad"

He said not being able to contain his happiness.

"Yes, but uhmm.... you've to leave Tomorrow as you have to report the branch of QRRC there.

HOW WILL I DO THISS?MOVE IN,IN ONE DAY?BUT I CAN'T MISS THIS CHANCE .

He thought to himself.

He nodded in response. A bit hesitant but he followed his heart and made a side note in his head about all the mess he had to gather.

"You can leave and start packing I suppose?"

Emma said breaking his train of thoughts.

"Oh-yes, I'll leave now"

He said as he went towards the door bowing and thanking her.

He just stepped out of the door and two faces stared at him with curiosity,them being Mira and Ethan, his colleagues who he was friends with.

"Did she yell?"

"Did you get an increase?"

"Was she mad?"

"Why did she call you so urgently?"

"Are you good"

Kai was flooded with alll these questions by them.

"Chill guys!!no she didn't yell,i don't know if I'm getting an increase,she wasn't mad,she called me to tell me about my transfer so-"

"YOU'RE GOING AWAY?"

Mira said dramatically,while Ethan just stood there trying not to scream in happiness, because he knew it had to be Kaish.

"LET'S GIVE YOU A FAREWELL"Ethan screamed

"Shhh-later someday.... I've to leave today!"

Kai replied feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the sudden changes.

"Good luck with everything, Kai! We'll miss you!" Mira said, giving him a hug.

"Thanks, guys! I'll miss you too!" Kai replied, feeling grateful for his friends' support.

"Don't forget to call us everyday ok?"

Ethan said as it was finally hitting him that he won't see kai everyday now.

"Tell us if you meet anyone, you know "Mira said in a teasing manner.

"I'm gonna go work there"

Kai said being serious.

He was both excited and nervous. He knew it was a great opportunity for him to grow and develop his skills, but he was also going to miss his family and friends. After finishing work at the office, he headed home to start packing. He felt a bit overwhelmed at first, not knowing where to start.

"Were you late? You're home early"

Said Kai's mom from the kitchen while she did the dishes.

"Ma,look at this"

Kai said as he removed the envelope from his bag.

"What is it?"

His mom asked as he walked out if the kitchen to the living room, wiping her hands.

"Look for yourself"

Kai said as he handed the envelope to her, grinning ear to ear.

His mom opened the envelope and gasped.

"No"

Kai saw this coming as he heed his advice to himself to not show his mother the letter as soon as he's home.

His mother never let kai visit kaish.

Nobody knew why.

She quickly got up and called Kai's dad while kai looked at her figure disappear in the room.

"Alright let's get it!"

Kai's dad said as he kept all of Kai's clothes neatly folded on the floor and a list of things he should take.

"Dad. Can we do thi-"

Kai proceeded to say as his dad cut him off saying

"WE CAN SON! Chill"

Which made kai flinch.

Kai's dad was thrilled when he told him about his transfer to Kaish. He had always encouraged him to pursue his dreams and was proud of him for getting this opportunity. As Kai started packing he helped him,gave me advice,told him to take care of himself he was beyond happy but at the back of the mind still thought about how will he live without his son.

Meanwhile his mom just sat there in disbelief she knew that now she was helpless and had no reason to stop kai from going to Kaish, her son’s dreams were important after all. She was still skeptical but Kai’s dad handled it.

Kai wakes up with the sound of the alarm, sunrays hitting his face, being alarmed of what he has to do today.

The smell of "paneer tandoori toast" filled his room.

That was his mother's speciality.

He quickly sprinted out of the bed and towards his bathroom to brush his teeth, take a shower and think about kiash and it's beautiful culture.

He sat down the dining table as his father bought him the breakfast but there he sat looking at his luggage, he might've zoned out, that's actually not a "might've".

"Hey! It's going to be ok"his father called him out

"Don't think much have your breakfast" said his mother sitting down on one of the chairs.

The smoky smell of creamy paneer toast filled in the air. The toast was creamy with roasted paneer and flavorful with all those spices, the toast being crispy on the outside and soft in the inside making it the reason why it had been Kai's comfort food.

The breakfast went by...as Kai's dad ticked the checklist.

For the N'TH time today

It was time now.

Kai had to leave.

The bee has to leave it's house in search of nectar.

It'll be back soon

Everyone knows

But

What if it doesn't.

The queen bee thinks of it.

Doesn't stop the bee from going tho.

"Your ristle ride is here “Ethan said as he and Mira were at Kai's house help him move.

( Ristle ride- A cab company all over Sankara)

"I called the 'traveling relocaters' they'll be here soon, you're extra luggage will be there, perhaps before you reach ”Mira said.

"A hug?"

Kai's mom asked

They shared a warm hug and Kai seated in his cab.

He reached the airport, was nervous as this was a complete new start for him.

He boarded the plane with fear and excitement. The flight was 4 hours long and that sleepy head kai was, he thought he'd sleep through the flight but the excitement didn't let him.

With two hours of sleep on the flight and 5 hours of sleep last night kai finally landed in the city of Kaish where a cab was waiting for him.

It surprised him how the driver and talked to him only on the phone till he found them.

"Maybe people don't talk alot here"

He thought and shrugged it off thinking it was nothing.But still thought to try and start a conversation.

"Uhmm...how long till we reach sir?

"We'll reach in about a couple of minutes "

The driver said with a smile.

"That's a relief I'm tired"

Kai said dramatically leaning on the seat.

"That's obvious dear,you can call me if you ever want a ride-oh btw my name is Sarthak I'll give you my card later"

And there's how kai kept talking to Mr Sarthak

Till they reached.

As He stepped out of the cab going towards his assigned place to live being surprised how it gave "studio ghibli" vibes.

It had huge windows, soft colours,some vines crawling on the walls and the door frame. It was partially made up if stones and wood with a slightly slopping roof made up of brown red dusty colored tiles.

Kai loved the place.

Being a very artistic and creative,kai wanted to make that house -which he called boring to look homely.

Decor.

"Ok sure I'll be there"

He spoke on the phone to the person who had their couch on Facebook marketplace while a cleaning rag in his hand cleaning the cupboard that the house already had.

The day went by pretty quickly.

Just him calling his mother reassuring her that everything is just fine.

Still not getting why she was so worried and why was "kaish" a problem to her.

Guess he'll know soon.

Kai woke up just a few seconds before his alarm and turned it off.

Green luscious grass covered the muddy ground swaying as the morning air hit them a small cottage in the middle with bricked walls and tulips all around a very silent and cozy place.

But a dream.

He got off his bed.

Which apparently didn't have a frame for now it was just a mattress laid in the middle of the room with a little furniture around.

He took his first step and sighed heavily.

He had that felling of excitement as it was his first day today but he was scared.

Nevertheless he didn't think much about it because it us what it is.

He had a refreshing shower and rushed to the kitchen reading from a book his friend Mira gave -"a bowl of congee, which is a type of rice porridge commonly eaten in many Asian countries. Simply cook rice in a pot with plenty of water or broth until it becomes soft and soupy, then add in your choice of ingredients such as shredded chicken, vegetables, and soy sauce. Another option could be to make steamed buns filled with pork or vegetables, which are a popular breakfast food in many parts of Asia."

He read out as quickly as possible.

"Congee... interesting... that's what we doing today "

He quickly snapped his newly made family group a picture of the Breakfast he made

The group literally had three people -

He

His mother

And

His father

He smiled at his phone while he ate his congee 🥣 and went into his room to change into something that looked

"First day of work aesthetic"

A walk would be good for now because he did have time.

A office bag in his hand a confident smile on his face and he entered the office.

As he passed by people walking to a cabin which said his name.

"Whoa"

He whispered as he read his name.

"He looks....n-nice"

"Shhh!"

He heard someone whisper as he walked and he ignored it.

Well throughout the day he met his new colleagues they were all welcoming and kind which eased his nerves,he attended a few meetings all in all the day was productive for him and he was content with his work.

It was 4 pm and he was walking back home after bidding bye to his coworkers.

He looked around and was amazed to see the place.

The little busy streets.

The street art.

The old buildings.

How did he manage to not see this in the morning.

Oh.

He was excited.

He was lost in thoughts.

He stopped his feet in front of a shop that looked like a vintage thrift shop.

"Well-my house doesn't look that good either"

He thought, shrugged and went inside.

There was clothing, accessories and waht hr needed- home decor.

Mirror.

The mirror caught his attention.

It had a frame that looked like something a old castle would have, it looked like something that showed the king just a mere reflection of his beloved partner.

He quickly picked it up.

"3 novas, cheap for something that looked so unique.

He went to the counter.

"Anything else sir?"

The cashier who's name read

"Wyatt Herbert"

Smiled and asked kai.

Kai looked around the counter and found a mug that had a owl carved.

"Oh yes I'll get this too"

The cashier packed all of that and said-

"That'd be seven novas sir"

As kai was paying.

"I feel like this mirror was meant for you sir"

He heard Wyatt say.

"Weird"

Said kai muttered.

Walking to his house like a teenager who got a package delivered and can't wait to open it he reached his house in 3 minutes 36 seconds.

He kept the mirror and the mug on the table and went inside quickly changing into his pajamas eager to put up the mirror in his bedroom that had a random nail sticking out if the wall.

"Perfect"

He looked at it at it was not too high not too low and looked like a cute piece of home décor.

He went in his kitchen making himself a chai because chai tea doesn’t exist because that is literally tea-tea.

It’s never late to quit a caffeine addiction

The chai was on the burner while kai had a huge book in his hand named

“ BYDLC” Which was the short form for -Because You Didn’t Learn To Cook.

IT was gifted to him by Mira because she knew kai would not survive on chai or coffee.

Soba Noodle Salad: Cook soba noodles, then toss with sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and sliced vegetables like bell peppers, carrots, and cucumbers.

“sounds nice”

Kai thought he turned of the burner to get his chai and hear a loud bang and shatter he quickly went to his room from where he heard the noise .The mirror had shattered into pieces .

“Wait-how?”

Kai was confused

“Maybe I didn’t put it up nicely UGH”

He bent down to pick up the broken mirror and noticed something strange.

The mirror didn’t show him his reflection

Every broken piece had a different reflection.

Only one of them reflected kai.

Kai looked at all the broken pieces and found one of them that had the same cottage as his reoccurring dream ,had the same grasslands,the same cottage the exact same calmness.

That piece didn’t feel like it was broken it felt like someone carved it to be broken like that.

The shape was oddly specific.

And also similar to something He’d seen before.

He quickly removed his watch and flipped it over only to see the same exact same shaped frame in his watch.

It looked like puzzle piece.

Kai placed the mirror on top of the mold in the watch.

It fit like a glove.

As the mold fit,it emitted bright light blinding Kai’s vision.

When he was able to open his eyes.

He saw

Green luscious grass covered the muddy ground swaying as the morning air hit them a small cottage in the middle with bricked walls and tulips all around a very silent and cozy place.

But didn’t feel like a dream.

The moment he tried to get up,he was in his house,laying on the carpet.

“What was that?”

He quickly ran downstairs to his other room that he called his office because he reserved that place foe when he researched at home.

He kept the watch aside and started going through all his notes he’d made for his own research about “multiverse”

“It might be.”

“Or I was just dreaming UGHHHH”

He thought to himself.

“Should I try again?”

All he had figured out from the last hour was that the dial of the watch was supposed to be the button to return or go to the ‘other connected universe'

He put on the watch and watched the same bright light .He closed his eyes waiting for a brief moment before he opened them and yes, here he was …in the mysterious place he saw in his dream and the mirror too.

He stood up and looked around.

He was walking not knowing where while he looked around.

He walked towards the city area of the unknown place where a board said-

“-city of Kaish”

“Kaish?? Did I just teleport..but where am I if I’m in kaish”

He thought not paying attention where he was walking and bumped into a guy.

“Omg I’m so sorry I wasn’t paying attent-“

Kai began while helping the person gather his stuff that was now in the ground but stopped when he saw who it was.

“LEO?”

He almost screamed.

The same black hair, beautiful eyes and cute little nose.

“K-kai?”

Leo stuttered foo stunned to talk.

People were staring at them so Leo quickly grabbed kai by his hand and took him.to a nearby park.They. Sat on one of the benches.

“so-“

Leo was cut off midway when Kai Blankly said.

“Why did you leave?”

“Trust me I didn’t want to.”

“Why did you?”

“I was obliged to “

“to what?”

“I’ll explain everything….my parents used me for their ‘experiment’.”

“What experiment?”

“you see they researched on multiverse after my uncle said that this watch could teleport him to different worlds.”

He said while showing kai his watch.

“Wait I have that watch too…infact I was able to be here because of this watch”

Leo’s eyes lit up

“YOU CAN SAVE ME KAI!”

“what?”

Kai said being visibly confused.

“They wanted to discover and tell them about the different worlds.The day I met you was the day they were going to send me here, knowing there were chances of me not returning,and that’s what happened.This locket helps me exist here but not return to our world” Leo said pointing at the locket oh his neck.

“Show me the watch”

Kai said stunned by what he’d just heard.

The watch too had a weird shaped frame in the back, it’s dial was also made up of mirror and it’s bezel was also silver.

“I can get you out of here,trust me”

Kai said not knowing how he was going to do it though, but just seeing Leo bright and hopeful made him happy very happy.

He missed Leo .

A lot.

Never forgot those 5 hours they spent together,just talking, sketching and basically having fun.Kai never forgot this….he never could…he never wanted to,as if he knew he’d find Leo someday.

“Just be here, don’t go anywhere again”

Kai instructed Leo clutching Leo’s watch in his hand, closing his eyes and pressing the dial of his watch.

He was in Kaish.

The one he transferred to.

The one he was excited to come to just search his Leo.

Back to his room.

He quickly went to the box where he kept the broken mirror pieces.

Finally finding the one he could see his reflection in.

He looed at the mould Leo’s watch had in the back of it and saw that it would fit.

YES THIS IS IT. I CAN BRING HIM BACK.

Kai thought.

He took in a long breath,sighed and pressed the dial wishing that everything he thought would work should actually work out.

Next he knew he was in his house sleeping in his bed.

Wondering and questioning if all this was even real.

As Kai woke up in his bed, he couldn't shake off the feeling that everything he experienced was more than just a dream. Determined to find out if it was real, he decided to revisit the broken mirror and Leo's watch.

Kai carefully placed the mirror piece with the mold onto the back of Leo's watch. To his surprise, the two fit together perfectly, as if they were meant to be reunited. Excitement and anticipation coursed through Kai's veins as he thought about the possibility of bringing Leo back.

Taking a deep breath, Kai closed his eyes and pressed the dial on his watch once again, focusing all his thoughts and wishes on reuniting with Leo. As the familiar bright light engulfed him, he could feel a surge of energy, as if the universe itself was responding to his desire.

When Kai finally opened his eyes, he found himself standing in the serene grasslands of Kaish once more. But this time, he was not alone. Standing before him was Leo, his presence confirming that this was not a dream or a figment of his imagination.

Overjoyed, Kai rushed towards Leo and enveloped him in a tight embrace. Both of them felt a wave of relief and happiness, knowing that they had defied the boundaries of their respective worlds to be together again.

As they sat on a bench in the park, Kai listened attentively as Leo explained the circumstances that led to his forced separation. Leo's parents, driven by their obsession with multiverse research, had used him as a test subject without considering the consequences.

Determined to free Leo from his predicament, Kai shared his plan. He believed that by combining the power of the mirror and the watch, they could create a portal to bring Leo back to their world permanently. They would need to embark on a quest to gather the missing pieces of the mirror and uncover the secrets of the watch.

“I will bring you back Leo just give me some time”

As Kai held the watch in his hand, he noticed a small, intricate button on its side—a button that had gone unnoticed until this very moment. Intrigued, he pressed it, and the watch emitted a soft, pulsating glow.

And the next moment

He was home.

Trying to go back to sleep.

It was difficult.

The night passed with a kai just thinking of ways to bring Leo back.

It was 9 am and he had a day off so he decided he could just roam around the Library that might help. So he decided to rent a car for the day.

He got his coffee.

Caffeine addiction isn’t that easy to overcome.

And sat there looking at his watch thinking just about Leo ,when he got a notification that the car’s ready and will arrive in a minute.

He quickly got out locking the house and waiting for the car.

Once It arrived he thanked the person dropping it off.

Kai was driving to the library according to the maps, his mind drifting with thoughts of the previous events. Suddenly, a jarring sensation shook him, accompanied by a deafening crash that made him feel as though he had been in a severe accident. Dazed and disoriented, he struggled to make sense of what had just happened.

As the haze lifted, Kai found himself just in the next Street, his heart still pounding in his chest. Confusion washed over him as he surveyed the familiar surroundings, untouched by any signs of a collision. However, a lingering sense of unease got at him, urging him to explore the occurrence further.

Curiosity driving his actions, Kai ventured inside his Library, seeking solace and answers. He sat down, replaying the incident in his mind, desperately trying to unravel the mystery. Gradually, a peculiar theory began to form, dawning on him like a ray of clarity.

“Nexus to a different universe?”

His eyes grew wide as he thought over the possibility of this being true.

He quickly got the car and rode home as soon as he could.

But before that he left the car to the spot he was supposed to.

He paid and left in hurry and he just wanted to know if it could be true.

Once he reached home he barged into his office trying to find that one file that he’d not opened since a long time.

“Interdimensional Horizons: Exploring the Multiverse Nexus”

Is what the file said.

The research was on hold but kai saw a hope.

He was ready to work day and night if he could bring his Leo back.

Kai’s determination and passion for reuniting with Leo led him to delve deep into the research on interdimensional travel. He collaborated with experts and scientists from the QRRC to understand the intricacies of the multiverse. Day and night, he tirelessly worked on various theories and experiments, trying to find a way to create a stable portal between their worlds.

Months passed, and Kai’s efforts began to show promising results. He managed to recreate the incident that had brought him to Leo’s world the first time, proving that there was indeed a nexus between their dimensions. He discovered that the combination of the mirror piece and Leo’s watch had triggered a unique interdimensional resonance.

With this breakthrough, Kai grew more confident that he could bring Leo back permanently. However, he knew that he needed to be cautious, as tampering with the fabric of reality could have unexpected consequences. He sought advice from senior researchers and gathered a team to ensure the process was as safe as possible.

As they continued their research, Kai and his team discovered that the stability of the portal relied on a delicate balance between the mirror piece and the watch. A single wrong move could lead to irreversible damage or even worse, a catastrophic rift between the dimensions.

Kai’s emotions were a rollercoaster during this time, wavering between excitement and trepidation. He missed Leo more with each passing day, and the anticipation of their reunion fueled his determination to make it happen. Yet, the weight of responsibility weighed heavily on his shoulders, knowing that he held the magic potion to bringing Leo back to their world.

Finally, the day of the experiment arrived. Kai’s heart raced as he stood before the portal they had painstakingly constructed. With Leo by his side, he prepared to initiate the process. They synchronized their watches, the ones with their unique frames, and shared a meaningful glance, reassuring each other of their unwavering trust.

Taking a deep breath, Kai activated the portal. The room began to glow with a soft, otherworldly light, and the portal shimmered before them. The air crackled with energy as the dimensions momentarily intertwined. A sense of anticipation and hope filled the room.

With a burst of courage, Leo stepped forward, trusting Kai and their love to guide them safely through the portal. As he passed through, Kai’s heart skipped a beat, fearing for a moment that it might not work. But to his immense relief, the portal remained stable.

On the other side, Leo found himself back in Kai’s world, the one he had longed to return to. Tears of joy streamed down his face as he embraced Kai once more, their reunion more profound than any words could express.

“I’m home.”

Is all Leo could blurt out falling on his knees.

The portal held strong, and Leo’s transition back to their world was a success. The balance between the mirror piece and the watch had been achieved, and the nexus between their dimensions became a controlled and repeatable phenomenon

Kai’s accomplishment did not go unnoticed. The scientific community hailed his work as a groundbreaking achievement in interdimensional travel. His name echoed in circles, and he was recognized as a pioneer in the field.

However, the greatest reward for Kai was having Leo by his side once more. Their love for each other had overcome boundaries and connected two souls across multiple dimensions.

Kai and Leo found themselves sitting on a bench in the garden o, the sun gently setting in the horizon, painting the sky with hues of pink and gold. The air carried a hint of warmth, and the fragrance of blooming flowers enveloped them.

Leo let out a contented sigh, breaking the comfortable silence between them. “You know, Kai, I can’t believe we’re here together. It feels almost like destiny brought us together once more.”

“oh sure it did”

Kai said Before chuckling at Leo’s ironic words.

And that is how their journey ended (for now) alot was to come in the future.

By Aditi Sawarkar