The flashing lights of the gaming setup were the only thing that kept him going. Arjun Mehra, once a rising star in the Indian esports scene, sat in front of his computer, eyes glued to the screen. His fingers moved with precision across the keyboard, executing combos in his game like a seasoned pro. His viewers were watching, waiting for him to finish the game, hoping for another exciting match from the content creator they adored.
But something felt wrong today. Arjun's hands were shaking, his mind not entirely focused. A small but noticeable nagging feeling in the back of his head told him that he had made the wrong choice somewhere along the way. His career, which should have been booming by now, had slowed down. Family pressure, responsibilities, and the constant expectations to be 'more than just a gamer' weighed heavily on his shoulders.
This isn't the life I imagined... Arjun thought, pausing for a moment. He had it all. The skill, the fame, the respect of the esports world. But the price of it all had been far higher than he expected. It wasn't the tournaments that drained him—it was the constant tug-of-war between his passion for gaming and his family's wishes.
He had left his dreams behind—sacrificed them—for a stable career in a corporate job his parents had always dreamed of for him. And as he stared at the glowing screen, he could practically hear their voices in his mind. "You need to focus on something serious, Arjun. Esports isn't a real career!"
That decision… was one of the biggest mistakes of his life.
The next few moments passed in a blur. One minute, he was staring at his screen in contemplation. The next, everything went black.
"Arjun, wake up."
The voice was distant. Faint. But as Arjun's senses returned to him, he realized something strange. He wasn't in his room anymore. The world around him was unfamiliar.
He opened his eyes, and for a moment, everything was a haze. A strange sense of déjà vu washed over him, and then the memories flooded back.
The accident. His death.
Wait. What?
Suddenly, everything became clear. The last thing he remembered was the crash. The car hitting him. He had died. So why was he here, in a different place? In a different time?
Arjun sat up, his heart racing. As he looked around, he recognized the old-fashioned room—bare walls, a small desk, a low bed, and a poster of a famous esports team from 2017. His head spun as his mind struggled to catch up.
Is this... 2017?
He looked down at his hands, and everything felt... younger. His body felt lighter, less burdened. When he pulled up the sleeve of his shirt, he saw the watch he used to wear back then. He was in his old bedroom. The one he had before all the pressure began, before his choices led him down the path of giving up his dreams.
Is this real?
A cold sweat broke out across his body as he stood up, stumbling slightly as the room spun around him. Slowly, the pieces clicked into place. I'm back in time. I have a second chance.
For the first time in years, Arjun felt a rush of excitement. He had been given another shot—another chance to chase his dreams without the burden of failure hanging over him. This time, he would make sure to never let anything stop him. He wouldn't let the world around him dictate his future.
He smiled.
"I won't waste this chance," he whispered to himself.
As he glanced at the calendar on the wall, his fingers traced the date: January 1, 2017.
The esports world was about to change forever, and Arjun was going to be at the forefront of it.
End of Chapter 1.