Hero – Arjun

Arjun had never liked the city.

Too loud. Too fast. Too many people who didn’t look at each other.

“Why does everyone walk like they’re chasing something?” he muttered, adjusting the small bag on his shoulder as he stepped out of the bus.

This was his first proper visit to the city—to sell crops directly at a farmers’ market. Ramu kaka had insisted.

“Go once,” he had said. “You’ll learn how the world works beyond our fields.”

Arjun wasn’t sure he wanted to.

The buildings felt like they were staring down at him. The roads were confusing. Even the air felt different—less honest somehow.

Still, he walked carefully, holding a small paper with the address written on it.

“Left… then right… then big signal…” he read, frowning. “Why can’t they just say ‘walk straight until you see a tree’?”

Lost in his thoughts—and directions—he stepped forward without noticing the rushing crowd.

And that’s when it happened.

THUD!

He collided straight into someone