A fantasy world with all kinds of mystical beings that transcend the laws of the common world, it is the dream of every child to be part of such a world. A place where he can have powers that defy logic, defy the world. A land where he can become someone’s hero, but most of all, be admired.

  All these thoughts are lost once you grow up, none of the emotions remain. Your imagination is lost, the dreams that once defined your life and thinking process vanquish.

  Responsibilities destroy creativity, ambition and dreams, but what does a child know about this cruel reality, so he simply wishes for unreasonable realities. However, in our modern societies, creative and imaginative minds are frowned upon by the system which only ever wishes to create more and more workers.

  Harwin was one of those foolish dreamers. He grew up in a family who could barely even afford three meals a day.

  He had three siblings. Both his parents worked so they hardly had much time to shower them with affection, but what was their fault. They worked their hardest for a roof, clothes and hot meal not only for themselves, but for their children as well.

  His younger days were spent watching T.V and reading fantasy books, where-in he pretended to be the protagonist. A world where he could become whatever he wanted.

  He often used to pray to God to be teleported in a fantasy world — a mystical land with all these heroes who take on great adventures, help the powerless and defeat the evils of society. This innocent wish would only come to haunt him later.

  Being the oldest, he was always responsible for his siblings, and was the hope of his parents.

  Soon after realizing his responsibilities, he stopped praying about the foolish fantasies and just focused on his studies.

  Once he was sixteen, he started to work part-time to further decrease his parent’s burden, but he also completed his education. He became an accountant, not that he had any interest in the field. It was just a field that his family could afford and it did pay well.

  He always had straight A’s in his exams and was on the top of his class, but he still was not able to land a single job after completing his education. This made him go in complete despair. Even after doing everything he had been told to do, he was still not able to achieve anything.

  His parents never said anything, but it was clear from their eyes that it anguished them to see him in this state doing nothing, but day jobs. Harwin used to do all kinds of labor work or any accounting projects which were given to rich students as assignments, but they did not care for it much.

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  He tried his best to help his siblings with their studies as well. His younger brother wanted to become a doctor though it was an expensive field, but Harwin wanted to support him. He wanted to give the dreams he had himself lost.

  One fateful day instead of a call for rejection, he got the job. It was in a multi-national company where he was given the role of a junior-accountant. The pay was not great, but it was still a huge jump from what he was already earning.

  When he let his parents know of the placement, they were overjoyed; it was truly a moment of pride for any child. In that moment, Harwin thought that his life was finally worth something so he gave his all at work.

  He complied with any unreasonable demand. He was the last to leave the office. If someone was not able to cover a work, he was given the task for completion. He often worked for his seniors without any credit or extra pay, but did not complain no matter how hard it was.

  After two years, he finally joined another company as a senior accountant. His pay was enough to cover all house hold expenses and help his siblings with their educational fee, at-least cover some of it, but none the less, it was a huge upgrade. His parents could afford to work less, his mum could now even afford to work on weekends only.

  He was overjoyed — he felt wanted, worthy and complete.

  At his work, he was still worked to death, but did not care for such treatment — only focusing on whatever tasks were given to him.

  He worked, went home and then repeated this cycle. He was in the corporate rat race, but it did not matter because once he arrived home to find the smiling faces of his family waiting for him by the door, all his worries would vanish.

  Harwin was already mature enough to not waste any money, but did indulge just a little, by purchasing few fantasy books. He had locked all of his hobbies long ago, but still longed for them sometimes. On weekends, he would often read and watch all sorts of popular books and series.

  Harwin felt that his life was great, but there was still something amiss. He was not being ungrateful, but there was a feeling of emptiness in a corner of his heart — a dark spot that could not be filled, no matter what he did, but he managed to ignore it most of the times.

  Soon Harwin would come face to face with that desire – manifested. He would come across a situation that would shock him to the very core.

  One evening whilst returning from work, he was stopped by a few thugs who intended on robbing him.

  Harwin had just withdrawn his salary for household expenses. It was almost the time to submit the admission fee of his younger brother’s med-school as well.

  He pleaded with them, even bowed before them but what could a few thugs, who had never worked a day in their lives, know of the working man's worry.

  They shook him down and tried to take all his belongings. Harwin resisted which made one of them stab him in the gut — not once nor twice but repeatedly until he was on the ground with constant bleeding.

  The last thing that he saw was the thugs running away with his wallet. The last feeling he had was of regret and anger.

  He thought of his parents and siblings who were happily waiting for his return....then slowly closed his eyes after trying to clutch to the little life he had left.