time bows to no man.

TIME KEEPS SLIPPING PAST YOUR FINGERS.

Attempt to grab it, and you shall fail. Try and preserve it and you will be dodged again. Embrace it, and you shall be rewarded. The Tantways of India, their ancient name now long lost by history books, used to weave time with their bare hands. The old ones listened for the Samay, the ancient fabric of the world that thrummed under your fingertips if you were patient enough.

That is, until the British found a way to cut it into hours and minutes.

You have grown up in this mess, and you remember it well—six years old and the feeling that the mangoes in the trees were infinite. You had two friends of your own, and you sauntered around the neighbourhood like you owned it. The Banyan Three, you were called, especially since you all hung around that huge banyan tree that grew near all of your houses: Sunny's bungalow with the spacious front verandah, Vin's house with the courtyard where you all played cricket and yours.

Of course, all childhood friends fall apart! The huge front verandah collected dust and the house is now vacant. You hardly remember how that courtyard looked. It's for the better, you have to outgrow some things and people.

The banyan tree is the last man standing.

At 18 years old, you have to face the real world.

The Samay University of Temporal Sciences has chosen you one of the many others to study the prized subjects that are above the 'common' folk who had discovered this long before Crown. The letter comes with sealed red wax followed by a family fight. No one can ignore the summons of the prestigious university, so you pack your bags and leave.

And though the banyan tree is a few roads away, the childhood friends reunite like three stars finally finding their familiar constellation. Are you hopeful? Angry?

Well, time does not care. It will watch this Banyan Three of yours burn.

SURENDHRA/SUREKHA 'SUNNY' RAVINDRA // THE FALLEN SUN.

— from your hometown. You and Sunny were once inseparable, to the point that whenever your name was called, their name always followed immediately after. Tyres dangling from a branch, running races and climbing trees—you and Sunny did it all. After the execution of their father for participating in the Revolt of 1857, Sunny, so unlike their name, changed. After a torturous six months of screaming your voice hoarse under their window, calling for them to come down, to come play, to talk, to anything, their mother, three siblings and them moved away. Now, they're back in town, with an admission letter to the university in hand with a charming fact: they're practically a stranger who regards you with distaste.

( Come back. Let's not play tag, because if I become it, you'd run forever. )

Sunny has golden brown skin, dark brown curls(up to shoulder length in female), a mole on the left of their chin and sharp brown eyes that always seem directed in a faint scowl.

PARVEEN/PRAVIN 'VIN' MIRZA // THE FAULTY MOON.

— from Hyderabad, moved to your hometown. Vin has claimed the title of the rudest person you've ever met ever since you were children, and they were the bully who lived across the road. It was an endless war of tricks and insults between you and them, even more fuelled when Sunny was by your side. But when Sunny left, they became the most loyal as well. You both drifted apart, eventually—all children grow out of their childhood friends, don't they?

( You yearn to be six years old and feeling the wind in your air. You miss jeering at them under their window, with Sunny doubled over laughing beside you. You miss it all. )

Now, they talk of Britain as a faraway land of their dreams, and fantasize getting on a ship and leaving their country. Ask them why and Vin becomes gentle as a feather, coaxing you to leave them the hell alone—with such mastery that you actually do. However, they're one of the smartest in your year, and with something brewing, you might just try and revive your childhood trio.

Parveen has jet black hair tied back in a plait, sports a dupatta at all times and has startling grey eyes and a fawny beige skin.

Pravin has straight, closely cropped, jet black hair and startling grey eyes and a fawny beige skin.

Okay! So three quick things:

I wanted to clarify something before I continue working on Chapter One since I’ve been a bit vague about it until now. Because the IF is set in colonial India, I’m trying to approach it with a focus on realism in terms of social dynamics and how people are treated. As a result, the MC will only have cis male/female gender options, and I’m not planning to include nonbinary or trans options. I know that may be disappointing, and I’m really sorry about that. It’s just not something I feel I can handle with the care and nuance it deserves in this particular setting, especially given how harsh the consequences would realistically be. The same idea applies to romance as well. Both opposite-sex and same-sex routes are written in a very internal, restrained way because of the setting. I'd call it more subtle, and more concerned about feelings than the direct acknowledgments of the outside world considering the time period. I just wanted to be upfront about this now so there aren’t any mismatched expectations going forward. Thank you for understanding <3

I'm also narrowing down a content warnings list, but I'm still apprehensive about it and want to make sure it's set it stone before posting it. In the writing parts of things, I've dipped my ankles in Sunny's route, and I have the last stretch for Vin's route. I have two routes that do not involve Sunny or Vin that has to be worked on as well 😭

I'm also debating what to do in case I do end up missing the deadline. I have about 19-20k words which I can release (hopefully) with some polishing. There's the option to split the release of the chapter into two parts, but I'm aware that many readers do not prefer that? I'll just insert a poll here, and you guys can take the wheel.