New Friend

The last chapter left off with Aditya’s family plunged into sorrow after hearing the news of his tragic death. His father, Rajesh Sharma, devastated and trembling, arrived at the accident site, breaking down in tears at the sight of the mangled car. Meanwhile, far from the chaos, Aditya sat silently beside a cascading waterfall—his mind a whirlpool of betrayal and pain.

He stared at the falling water, haunted by the same tormenting thought: Why did my own people betray me?

Just then, a strange sensation crept over him. He turned quickly. “What’s there?” he muttered. Something had darted out of sight the moment he looked. But as he turned back to the waterfall, it began to approach again.

Though his eyes were on the stream, his mind stayed alert. As soon as the presence drew near, Aditya spun around—and heard a startled voice cry, “Ah! You scared me!”

He froze. That voice hadn’t come from a human—it had come from… a hamster.

The little creature, realizing its mistake, immediately began squeaking in panic, trying to make it seem like Aditya had imagined the words. But Coco didn’t know whom he was dealing with.

“Don’t try to fool me,” Aditya said calmly. “I know what I heard. You can talk. So stop pretending.”

Caught in the act, the hamster sighed and replied, “Sorry… I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Aditya chuckled. “Scared? That wasn’t scary at all.”

At least for a moment, he wasn’t thinking about his painful past.

The hamster’s eyes lit up. “That’s a relief! Most people freak out when they see me talking.”

“Why?” Aditya asked. “Your voice is adorable—sweet and soft. Why would anyone be afraid of you?”

Coco looked down, ears drooping slightly. “Because I’m… different. People think I’m weird. So they stay away.”

“What’s your name?” Aditya asked.

“Coco. And yours?”

“I’m Aditya—Aditya Vats. But tell me… how can you speak like a human? You’re a hamster.”

Coco took a deep breath. “A mad scientist experimented on me when I was just born. He injected me with human DNA. Since then, I’ve had the mind and voice of a human. I eventually escaped—he wanted to run dangerous tests on me that could’ve killed me.”

He looked up curiously. “But what about you? Why are you all alone out here? And in such a condition?”

Aditya’s eyes filled with tears. Pain returned like a sudden storm.

“Did I say something wrong?” Coco asked gently.

“No… You didn’t.”

And with that, Aditya poured his heart out. He told Coco everything—how his own family had tried to kill him, how he barely survived the fatal accident, and why his clothes were scorched.

Coco listened in disbelief. “That lightning strike… it hit you? That’s why I came here—I saw the flash and wanted to check it out. It’s unbelievable you survived something like that!”

Even Aditya was stunned. “I’ve been asking myself the same question—how am I still alive?”

“Anyway,” Coco said, “come with me. I’ll guide you out of this forest.”

Aditya shook his head. “No. The outside world believes I’m dead. And maybe I should be. I don’t want to return to that cruel, selfish place. I’ll survive here… in the jungle.”

Coco paused, then said softly, “Would you… stay with me then? The animals here avoid me because I talk like a human. I’ve been alone for so long.”

His voice trembled slightly with loneliness.

Aditya looked at the tiny creature with warmth. “Of course. I’ll stay. And you’ll teach me everything I need to know about the forest.”

Coco’s face lit up with joy. “Deal!”

And just like that, both found something they didn’t know they were looking for—a true friend.

But will Aditya truly find peace in the jungle, or will new dangers emerge from the shadows?

To find out, keep reading ANGELDEVIL— Aditya, only on the NovelToon.

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