Chapter 7 – Laddoos, Superpowers, and Flirting
The moment Yash's mind recovered from the insane revelation that his best friend's family was also part of the supernatural world, he did what any rational person would do.
He reconstructed the laddoos.
Abhishek, who had been sulking over their tragic loss, immediately perked up, stuffing one into his mouth like a kid who had just won the lottery.
Meanwhile, the rest of the room's occupants—Mithra, her bodyguard, and the entire Kalyankar family—stared at the two of them, completely dumbfounded.
"You just—" Mithra began, watching in disbelief as Yash popped a laddoo into his mouth like it was nothing.
"Yeah, yeah, magic, whatever," Yash waved her off, still chewing. "So, about this whole 'chakra and mantra' thing—what exactly did you mean by that?"
Mithra exhaled, clearly trying to remain patient, before finally launching into an explanation.
Mithra leaned forward, her voice taking on a more serious tone. "Alright, listen carefully. There are several types of energy in the supernatural world, each used in different ways. The most common are:
Mana – The purest form of energy that exists in nature and within people. It is the foundation of all magic. Those with a strong affinity can manipulate it freely, and it manifests differently based on one's mana attribute.
Mantra – A variation of mana that comes from emotions and the soul. It requires refinement into a usable form and is influenced by faith, prayer, and sacrifice. It strengthens both the body and spirit and is often channeled through hymns and sound.
Chakra/Aura – The spiritual energy formed through mental focus and strong emotions. It exists in seven different types, each linked to a different chakra point in the body:
Red (Muladhara) – Governs physical strength and endurance.
Orange (Svadhisthana) – Governs emotions and passion.
Yellow (Manipura) – Governs willpower and self-energy.
Green (Anahata) – Governs healing and vitality.
Blue (Vishuddha) – Governs intelligence and speech.
Indigo (Ajna) – Governs mental clarity and psychic abilities.
Violet (Sahasrara) – Governs higher consciousness and spiritual awareness.
Chi – A life-force energy that exists in all beings. Unlike aura, which is spiritual, chi is more material and grounded in the physical world.
Mithra paused for a moment, letting Yash digest the information before continuing.
"Mantra," Mithra continued, "is different from the others. It's not just energy—it's a law of the universe. There are eight core Mantras that shape reality itself:
Pride – Fueled by dominance and ego. (Color: White)
Violence – Fueled by conflict and destruction. (Color: Yellow)
Sloth – Fueled by laziness and stagnation. (Color: Green)
Greed – Fueled by an insatiable desire for more. (Color: Orange)
Vanity – Fueled by self-obsession. (Color: Light Blue)
Lust – Fueled by carnal and material desires. (Color: Purple)
Melancholy – Fueled by sadness and inner turmoil. (Color: Dark Blue)
Wrath – Fueled by suffering and unrelenting rage. (Color: Red)
"Mantra," she explained, "can be considered a cosmic programming language. Those who understand it can 'write their own code' into reality. In the past, civilizations like the Inca and Mayans discovered ways to harness it through prayers and sacrifices. Since prayers alone weren't enough, they resorted to human sacrifices to speed up the accumulation of Mantra energy. This is the reason why its just my family and some people 'gifted' in today's time who can use this energy."
Yash frowned. "That's… kinda mental."
Mithra smirked. "Oh, it gets better. Mantra is extremely difficult to control. Most people can only manipulate one of these aspects, and even fewer can understand its deeper secrets."
She leaned forward, her gaze sharp. "And that's where you come in."
Yash blinked. "Me?"
Mithra nodded. "When we first met, I sensed faint traces of Mantra on you. But now that I've seen you use your powers, I'm certain—you're unconsciously using Mantra."
The Kalyankars turned to Yash in surprise.
Yash, on the other hand, sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. "Uh… mai itna bhi kuch khaas nahi (I'm not that special…)" he muttered like Shinchan.
Abhishek, still chewing a laddoo, snorted. "Bro, if this spreads, your ass is gonna be the number one target for every supernatural group in India."
Yash's face paled. "...Wait, what?"
He turned to Ramesh Kalyankar for confirmation, only to see the man nodding.
"...Oh fuck."
Mithra smirked. "Now you understand why I offered you a place in my family, huh?"
Her tone was smug, and Yash found it annoying.
But also… kinda cute.
Muttering under his breath, he murmured, "Cute…"
Unfortunately for him, Mithra had enhanced hearing.
Her cheeks immediately turned red. "W-Wait, what did you just say!?"
Yash, realizing his mistake, went stiff.
However, it was too late.
The entire room heard it.
Neelam Aunty, watching the chaos unfold, let out a motherly laugh.
Ramesh Kalyankar, looking between his son's best friend and the powerful heiress of the Varma family, nodded in approval.
Abhishek, however, stared at Yash with a deadpan expression.
"...Bro, you're gonna get yourself killed one day."
Yash blinked. "Huh?"
Abhishek sighed dramatically, stuffing another laddoo in his mouth. "Before you die, I'm taking your phone for all the cultured content you've hoarded."
Mithra, still blushing, immediately looked away.
For a brief moment, there was an awkward silence.
Then, Yash sighed.
"Bhai, maine sirf laddoo khane aaye tha… ab mujhe superpower conspiracy ka part bana diya gaya." (Bro, I just came to eat laddoos… now I've been thrown into a supernatural conspiracy.)
Abhishek nodded solemnly. "Tera bad luck bhi na, bey…" (Your bad luck is unreal, man…)
Mithra, regaining her composure, cleared her throat. "Regardless, the reality is this—you have a power that shouldn't exist in modern times. The moment people find out, you're going to be in danger. That's why you need protection."
Yash rubbed his temples. "Goddammit, I just wanted a normal holiday."
Mithra smirked. "Well, too bad. Welcome to the real world, Yash Shah."
Yash groaned, already regretting everything.
Abhishek patted his shoulder. "Don't worry, bro. At least we still have laddoos."
Yash exhaled. "...You know what? That actually does make me feel better."
And just like that, the most chaotic meeting in the history of supernatural diplomacy ended—over a bowl of besan ke laddoos.
-[End]-