a real game

Bangalore…

It was morning…

The clock struck 10, and the streets were already bustling with vehicles, and the noise grew louder. Everyone was in a rush to get to work, trying to avoid their boss’s scolding. Meanwhile, inside a flat along that road, a girl hurriedly packed her things. With an apple in one hand, a cup of coffee in the other, and her phone pressed to her ear, she walked out of the house, saying, “Hey, Anisha... tell the in-charge that I had a small accident and that’s why I’m late.”

Her mother, Jassi, who was helping her pack, heard this and, enraged, took off her slipper and threw it at her. “You useless girl, what nonsense are you spouting? You spend the entire night playing games on your phone, wake up late in the morning, get ready lazily, and come up with new excuses every day! I don’t know what your grandma, who died before you were born, left behind for you, but you’ve certainly lost your mind playing these games!”

Dodging the slipper, the girl—Nancy—ran out, saying, “Mom, you don’t understand because you don’t play this game! It’s amazing. In real life, I’m poor, but in this game, I’m rich and living a luxurious life.”

Saying this, she opened her phone to play the game Destiny Can Flip Anytime. The game had a powerful, handsome king with a massive kingdom. Players started as a gardener and progressed through levels to become a soldier, a servant, and eventually the queen’s personal maid. At the highest level, they could become the queen and enjoy a luxurious life. Currently, Nancy was stuck at the servant level and had to complete tasks to become a maid. She despised the idea of being a maid and wanted to skip straight to being queen.

Nancy was engrossed in the game when the conductor's voice interrupted, "IT Sector… IT Sector."

She quickly turned off her phone, got off the bus, and ran toward her office, as she was late again. While running, she collided with a man, spilling her coffee all over him. Panicked, she bolted before the man could say anything. The man stood there, gritting his teeth in anger. As she ran, Nancy thought to herself that the man looked familiar but couldn’t figure out where she’d seen him. However, she didn’t have time to dwell on it and rushed into her office.

Inside the elevator, she finally let out a sigh of relief and said, “Thank God! The manager didn’t see me sneaking in, or he’d have eaten me alive, that bald-headed devil.”

She adjusted her hair in the elevator mirror when she noticed the reflection of the man in a cap standing behind her. To her horror, it was none other than her manager, Sharma.

Terrified, she forced a fake smile and turned toward him. “Good morning, Sharma Sir! How are you?”

Sharma glared at her and yelled, “First, you come late, and then you call me bald-headed?!”

Nancy, looking down, mumbled, “You’re late yourself, and you’re yelling at me.”

“What did you say?!” Sharma demanded.

“Nothing, sir! What could I possibly say?” Nancy replied.

Infuriated, Sharma said, “You’re finished now!” He threw a file at her and ordered, “Finish this file before leaving the office today.”

He stormed out of the elevator, leaving Nancy clenching her fists in frustration. “Who does he think he is? Ugh! What a life, Nancy! Look at what you have to do for a little money!”

As she stepped out of the elevator, her friend Anisha teased, “Wow, Nancy, you’re such a workaholic today!”

Nancy sighed. “That bald devil said I can’t leave until I finish this file.”

Anisha smirked. “Here’s a thought: suck up to him like Pooja does.”

Nancy retorted angrily, “No thanks! I’m not becoming anyone’s servant. I’m going to be the queen, not the queen’s maid.”

Her friend laughed. “Alright, Ms. Game Addict, better finish that file, or you’ll rot here forever.”

Nancy got to work, and before she knew it, evening turned to night. Sharma returned and said, “If the file isn’t finished, don’t even think about leaving!”

Nancy made a face as he walked out. By the time she finished the file, it was 10 p.m., and everyone else had already gone home. Stretching her arms, she said, “Finally done! Now, let me play some games.”

She pulled out her tablet and resumed playing Destiny Can Flip Anytime. She was at the maid level and muttered, “I just need to reach the queen level and enjoy a luxurious life—at least in this virtual world!”

Engrossed in the game, she lost track of time. It was midnight when a sharp pain shot through her head, and she fainted. Her PC fell to the ground as a blinding light engulfed her, pulling her into the game.

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