Chapter 2: NEW JOB

<p>Hari usually woke up early in the morning, but today he didn't stir until 11 AM. He felt tired and gloomy, knowing that dwelling on bad dreams would only ruin his day. Determined to shake off the lingering unease, he decided to keep himself busy.<br/><br/>After bathing, he decided to visit the thattukada (street food shop) near his apartment. When he arrived, he found it already closed. With a grumbling stomach, he opted for the nearest restaurant, which was 500 meters away. As he started walking, he saw a red trucksan approaching from the opposite direction.<br/><br/>"Last night's dream... trucksan... This is my chance to become an overpowered MC," Hari thought, closing his eyes and waiting for the anticipated transportation accident.<br/><br/>"VROOM."<br/><br/>Like usual, the trucksan didn't notice him and sped past. It seemed to be on a quest for Chinese and Japanese people. Hari felt a surge of anger towards the transmigration god for its apparent racist behavior.<br/><br/>He finally reached the restaurant and ordered his favorite breakfast: idli and sambar. As he savored the soft idlis soaked in spicy sambar, he felt a bit of comfort wash over him. The warmth of the food momentarily eased his worries. Finishing his meal, he returned to his apartment, feeling a bit more grounded.<br/><br/>He began packing his clothes and books when he received a call from home.<br/><br/>"Hello."<br/><br/>"Hello, Dad."<br/><br/>"Son, I have some happy news."<br/><br/>"Did my brother get promoted again?"<br/><br/>"No."<br/><br/>"Did the soap opera Mom's been watching for 10 years finally end?"<br/><br/>"No, she said it's only halfway done."<br/><br/>"Did you win the lottery?"<br/><br/>"No, but you did."<br/><br/>"What?"<br/><br/>"You got a job interview at the PSC (Public Service Commission)."<br/><br/>"Oh... whaaat?"<br/><br/>"....."<br/><br/>"Dad, I told you to stop drinking in the morning. It's bad for your health."<br/><br/>"I didn't. I'll send you a picture on WhatsApp."<br/><br/>"Okay, Dad, I'll call you later."<br/><br/>Hari checked his WhatsApp and saw that his dad was telling the truth. At first, he felt numb all over, but then happiness surged through him like electricity. He knew his dream of a secure life was finally coming true.<br/><br/>He decided to go to his friend's apartment to share the good news. When he reached the lift, it was out of order, so he decided to take the stairs.<br/><br/>As he reached the stairs, he felt someone push him. He tumbled down the entire flight of stairs, feeling pain in every bone. Hot blood flowed from his head to his nose and lips. His vision turned red, then dark.<br/><br/>After a few minutes, he heard the sound of an ambulance and people talking, but everything started to blur again...<br/><br/>...<br/><br/>...<br/><br/>...<br/><br/>"AHEM."<br/><br/>"AHEM."<br/><br/>Hari opened his eyes. He was in a white room. Opposite him was a young man of the same age, wearing a white suit and smiling at him.<br/><br/>"Are you a doctor? Can you save me? Is my body okay? I feel nothing... I didn't marry yet... I am still a virgin. Doctor, please save me... I feel nothing."<br/><br/>"AHEM... PLEASE DON'T BE SHOCKED. YOU ARE ALREADY DEAD."<br/><br/>"What??? I just got a job... I am still a virgin. God, why me again?"<br/><br/>Hari felt devastated. His dream of getting a job, marrying a beautiful girl—all seemed broken within arm's reach.<br/><br/>"ACTUALLY, THIS IS A BLESSING. WE DECIDED TO FULFILL YOUR DREAM ABOUT TRANSMIGRATING."<br/><br/>"But that was before I got the job... Give me my life back."<br/><br/>"SORRY, YOUR BODY IS ALREADY BURIED."<br/><br/>Hari felt all his hopes buried again. Then he remembered the feeling of being pushed, which was the sole reason for his death.<br/><br/>"Did you guys kill me?"<br/><br/>"YES, ACTUALLY, WE WANTED YOUR DEATH TO BE PAINLESS... SO WE SENT A TRUCKSAN. HOWEVER, HE MISSED YOU."<br/><br/>"ACTUALLY, YOU ONLY HAD THREE MORE YEARS LEFT TO LIVE. BUT NOW YOU'VE GOT A GOLDEN CHANCE JUST BY SACRIFICING THOSE YEARS."<br/><br/>"..."<br/><br/>Hari wanted to curse at him, but he knew it wouldn't do any good. He trusted his brother would protect their family. Their sadness over losing him would fade after a few years. Now was the time to think about the future and get as much information as possible from the person in front of him.<br/><br/>"Are you God?"<br/><br/>"YES, I AM. ALSO, YESTERDAY'S EXAMINATION WAS CONDUCTED UNDER MY SUPERVISION. NOW YOU HAVE TWO OPTIONS: REBIRTH IN ONE OF THE BABY WORLDS, OR TRANSMIGRATION INTO A YOUNG WORLD AS A DIVINE EMPLOYEE."<br/><br/>"Baby world? Young world? Are you making fun of me?"<br/><br/>"ACTUALLY, WE USE THESE TERMS FOR SIMPLICITY. THE WORLD WITH A MINIMUM AMOUNT OF MANA IS CALLED A BABY WORLD. YOUR EARTH IS PLACED AT THE EDGE OF A BABY WORLD. WHEN THE CORE OF THE WORLD REACHES A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MANA, THE FIRST CATACLYSM WILL START. EVERY STAR AND PLANET UNDER THIS WORLD WILL BEGIN TO PRODUCE MANA. EVERY LIFE FORM WILL MUTATE. THESE WORLDS ARE CALLED YOUNG WORLDS. WE SEND DIVINE EMPLOYEES TO MAINTAIN THESE WORLDS. THERE ARE TWO OTHER TYPES OF WORLDS: OLD WORLDS AND DIVINE WORLDS. YOU DON'T HAVE SECURITY CLEARANCE TO KNOW ABOUT THEM."<br/><br/>"What will I get from being a divine employee?"<br/><br/>"YOU WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CYCLE OF REBIRTH. AND ONLY DIVINE EMPLOYEES HAVE A CHANCE TO BECOME REAL GODS."<br/><br/>Hari thought that being reborn meant losing his memories and personality, meaning the reborn him wouldn't be the same. So, transmigration seemed like a better choice. But he felt like he had forgotten something important.<br/><br/>"Okay, I select transmigration."<br/><br/>The god's smile bloomed again after hearing his answer. Then he opened a transparent screen and moved it towards Hari. There were many tantric words inscribed on that screen.<br/><br/>"THEN PLEASE TOUCH HERE."<br/><br/>Hari touched the marked place with his soul. A tantric diagram formed where he touched, then absorbed into his soul.<br/><br/>"ARE YOU READY TO TRANSMIGRATE?"<br/><br/>"Yes, I am."<br/><br/>"I WISH YOU SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE TRAINING PHASE AND BECOMING A NEW DIVINE EMPLOYEE... UNLIKE THE LAST CANDIDATE."<br/><br/>Only then did Hari remember what he had forgotten... Zhang Wei, the winner of the examination.<br/><br/>"What happened to Zhang Wei?"<br/><br/>"HE FAILED THE TRAINING MISSION."<br/><br/>"What happens if we fail the training mission?"<br/><br/>"YOU WILL DIE FOREVER."<br/><br/>"What... No one told me!"<br/><br/>"GOODBYE."<br/><br/>"DING."<br/><br/>"TRANSMIGRATION STARTING... 10... 9... 8... 2... 1."<br/><br/>"TRANSMIGRATING 47th CANDIDATE HARI TO HIRUDA PLANET."<br/><br/>In the moments before his consciousness faded, Hari tried to process everything that had happened. He had spent years striving for a government job, believing it was the pinnacle of security and happiness. Yet, just as he was on the verge of achieving his dream, fate—or some higher power—had other plans. The thought of Zhang Wei's failure lingered in his mind, a chilling reminder of the stakes involved. What if he, too, failed the training mission? The prospect of eternal oblivion was terrifying, but there was no turning back now.<br/><br/>As his surroundings began to shift, Hari felt a mix of fear and excitement. He was about to embark on a journey that transcended anything he had ever imagined. The path ahead was uncertain, fraught with challenges that could end his existence for good. But it also offered a chance at something extraordinary—a life beyond the mundane, a purpose greater than anything he had known.<br/><br/>The last thing he remembered before the world around him dissolved into a blinding light was the god's final words echoing in his mind: "LUCK IS ALSO A STRENGTH." Hari clung to that thought, hoping that perhaps, in this new life, luck would be on his side.<br/><br/>And with that, Hari's old life came to an end, and a new, unimaginable adventure began.</p>