The city sky was veiled in thick clouds again, like the heavens were contemplating something of great weight. Dhruv stood on the rooftop of the abandoned clocktower, his gaze fixed on the horizon. A dark ripple of energy swirled over the edge of the skyline, visible only to him. It flickered like an ink stain in the fabric of the world.
"Found it again..." he muttered.
"You keep saying that, but I see nothing, man," came a voice from behind him.
Dhruv sighed.
Sunny stepped forward, arms crossed, eyebrows raised. "You've been doing this every night, staring into space like you're in some alien Netflix show. What's going on with you, dude?"
Dhruv didn't respond. Instead, he lowered his gaze, eyes heavy with something far older than Sunny could imagine.
Sunny hesitated, then walked closer. "Okay, I know I talk a lot, and I'm dramatic, and annoying, don't say it, I know, but I'm not stupid. Something's wrong. And I feel like I'm being left out of a Marvel-level secret here."
There was a long pause.
Then Dhruv finally turned to face him, his voice calm, but commanding.
"I'm not from here."
Sunny blinked. "What?"
"I'm not from Earth. I'm not human. I don't sleep, I don't age, and I don't belong to this world."
Sunny's mouth slowly opened, but no words came out.
Dhruv continued, his voice low. "I am the Lord of Stars. A celestial being sent here on a mission, to track down and eliminate a growing dark force that threatens not just this world, but the balance of all realms."
Sunny blinked several times. "...Okay. Wow. That's... okay. You're messing with me, right? This is, like, a prank?"
Dhruv shook his head. "You've seen it too, Sunny. That night when the space show got disrupted, the static, the flicker of something wrong. That was the first signal."
"Wait... that creepy pulse in the sky? That wasn't just bad WiFi?"
"No. It was the beginning of a tear, a shadow forming. A dark energy. One that feeds on chaos, fear... and it's getting stronger. Every time it appears, the line between realms blurs."
Sunny stumbled back slightly. "So, you're telling me... I've been crashing with a literal star lord?"
"Yes."
"And all this time, while I've been ranting about Anu's mood swings and buying peanut butter, you've been chasing invisible death clouds?"
"Yes."
Sunny dragged a hand down his face. "Okay, this is insane. But also... weirdly cool. You're like space Batman."
Dhruv didn't smile.
Sunny's tone softened. "So… why tell me now?"
"Because I need someone who knows what's at stake. And because I can't do this distracted." His gaze drifted, unspoken thoughts pressing behind his eyes.
Sunny frowned. "This is about Riya, isn't it?"
Dhruv said nothing.
"She's been texting you. I saw her messages when you ignored your phone this morning."
"I can't talk to her."
"Why not?"
"Because caring... forming attachments here... it's forbidden. We're not meant to feel. We're watchers, not participants. If I stray too far, I lose everything."
There was a silence between them. For once, Sunny didn't crack a joke.
"Do you care about her?" Sunny finally asked.
Dhruv exhaled slowly. "More than I should. That's the problem."
Sunny looked at him with something between awe and pity. "You saved me from a bunch of thugs. You let me stay in your home. You've cared more than you admit since day one. Maybe that rulebook of yours is broken."
"It's not a book. It's law. If I fail this mission, or let personal feelings interfere, I'll be pulled back. My essence will be removed from the mortal plane, and this Earth will lose its only shield."
"Wow…" Sunny whispered. "That's... heavy."
Dhruv turned back to the skyline. "Which is why I have to stop."
"Stop what?"
"Everything. Talking to her. Seeing her. Thinking about her. I have to ghost her. It's the only way."
Sunny hesitated, then said quietly, "You're going to break her heart."
Dhruv closed his eyes. His voice barely above a whisper.
"I'll break mine first."
- - - to be continued - - -