Unblessed

Our story begins in Gulistan, a bustling modern city in the province of Gulistan and country of Asadistan, with mighty towers and budding industries. What makes this city, or rather the entire world, different is that the people are blessed with two karamats or miracles. 

Elemental karamat that allows a person to control Air, Fire, Water or Earth through body movement and Intrinsic Karamat, which is a special ability unique to everyone. Elemental Karamat can be learned from childhood, starting from age 4-6, after discovering one’s element, while Intrinsic Karamat is unlocked at the age of 18.

Using these special abilities, many clans emerged and set their rules over various lands. One such clan is the Khanzada clan, which rules the province of Gulistan and pays allegiance to the Asad Shah clan, the ruling family of Asadistan based in the capital Shahabad.

The clan is renowned for its brilliant warriors, who expertly utilize their Karamats for the benefit of society. Unfortunately, not all are blessed with these Karamats. Seemingly, one such individual is Sikandar Ali Khan, a member of the Khanzada clan’s main branch, son of the brother of the clan head.

The short, thin young man was on the roof of his villa, flailing his arms around in his room, expecting a miracle. But all he earned was sweat drenching his long red hair that reached his waist, making it stick to his brown face, and dripping into his blue eyes, making it sting slightly.

“Boy!” A gruff voice called him from the backyard. Sikandar looked down to see Rayan, an elderly servant with greyish-green hair, “Come down for your breakfast!”

“I’m coming in five minutes,” Sikandar replied.

“Hurry! Don’t keep the master and mistress waiting!” Rayan warned him before going back inside the villa.

Sikandar sighed, he went to his room, washed his face and changed his shirt before running to the dining hall where his family had already started their breakfast.

“Finally, what took you so long?” his mother, Afiya Ali Khan asked irritably, taking a bite of a French toast. Her brown hair was tied neatly in a ponytail, her brown eyes and fair face scrunched up in a scowl.

“Don’t just stand there, take your seat!” his father, Ismail Ali Khan ordered while dipping his French toast in ketchup. The tall and stocky man glared, his green eyes and wheatish skin scrunched up in a scowl as if he had eaten something as sour as his short orange hair.

“Sorry, I was exercising,” Sikandar said as he took his seat. He reaches for a French Toast, but a servant with hair covered by a yellow hijab took the plate and placed it near Raeesa Ali Khan, a twenty-year-old with flowing orange hair, green eyes and wheatish skin. She was scrolling on her phone 

“Sister, could you pass that?” Sikandar requested Raeesa.

“Take it yourself, boy, don’t disturb your sister,” Ismail scolded him.

Sikandar shrank under his glare. He got up from his seat and took a few slices and some ketchup.

“Did your Intrinsic Karamat awaken?” Raeesa asked nonchalantly, her eyes turned to Sikandar expectantly.

“Not yet, they say it can take a few weeks after the eighteenth birthday,” Sikandar replied.

“I wouldn’t hold my breath,” Aafiya scoffed.

“If you didn’t awaken elemental karamat, you’re not awakening intrinsic karamat either,” Ismail added, taking a bite of the French toast.

“Some people get their intrinsic karamat at 18 and they awaken elemental karamat later,” Sikandar pointed out, “It’s rare but not impossible.”

“Boy, deal with it, you are an Unblessed,” Ismail shut him down. The family ate quietly for a while, then Sikandar spoke up.

“Mother, father, I was thinking, you don’t have to do it but it would-”

“Get to the point!” Ismail grunted.

“Since it’s my birthday, we could go somewhere out as a family,” Sikandar blurted out, holding his breath with hope in his eyes.

“Since when do we celebrate birthdays?” Aafiya scoffed.

“We don’t have-” Sikandar was interrupted.

“Do you think turning 18 is some sort of achievement?” Ismail asked pointedly.

Sikandar felt like disappearing, “I just wanted-”

“I don’t have time for it anyway,” Raeesa said, “I have self-defense class today.”

Sikandar sighed. He quietly ate his fill, then Sikandar and Raeesa were in the car with Rayan, driving them. Raeesa was wearing a flowery abaya and Sikandar in a checkered shirt.

‘When did we get here?’ Sikandar asked himself. He didn’t have time to ponder as his high school arrived. Rayan took off for Raeesa’s university as soon as Sikandar got off. He was glad his school was on the way to the university, ‘Or I’d have to walk.’

As soon as he entered the Gulistan High School building, a tall and buff boy with combed back blue hair and green eyes greeted him, “Asalamualaykum, bro, what’s up?”

Sikandar gave Suleiman Anwar Khan a fist bump, “Walaikum assalam, I’m as great as I can be.”

“So, did you get it?” Suleiman asked and Sikandar shook his head negatively, “Don’t worry about it bro, sometimes it takes a few w- watch out!” Suleiman pulled Sikandar aside just in time for someone to run past them with a powerful gust of wind. “What’s your deal man?”  He asked the runner.

Ishaq Ali Khan, the young man with dark skin, popped his joints, brushing his spiky green hai, no guilt in his blue eyes, “Didn’t uncle and aunty teach you not to stand in the middle of the road?”

The students witnessing the scene laughed in mirth.

“Didn’t your parents tell you to watch where you go?” Suleiman retorted.

“They taught me to ignore the trash lying around,” Ishaq shrugged, making students laugh again.

“Why you!” Suleiman growled, ice forming like claws on his fingers but Sikandar held him back.

“Leave him, he’s not worth the trouble,” Sikandar pacified Suleiman.

“Are you two causing trouble again?” A giddy voice asked, they turned to see Asif Raza Khan, their Homeroom teacher. The red-haired man was smirking, his blue eyes taunting them to do something.

“Us? It’s your star pupil who tried to hit and run Sikka!” Suleiman retorted.

Asif’s smirk turned into a grimace, “You want to repeat that in detention?”

“No sir, we were just on our way,” Sikandar said, still holding Suleiman back.

“Tsk, go then, it’s too early in the morning to be putting up with you,” Asif scoffed, going to the teacher’s cabin.

“See you in dodge session, losers!” Ishaq taunted them before running to the class like the wind.

“Are you sure he’s your cousin?” Suleiman scoffed.

“This isn’t even the worst thing he has done,” Sikandar shrugged.

“You should’ve let me throw hands,” Suleiman said, “Javed sir would vouch for us.”

“Javed sir can only help with school stuff,” Sikandar pointed out, “And only if we can prove we didn’t start it.”

“We didn’t-”

“And who’d vouch for us?” Suleiman became silent at that, Sikandar sighed, “Let’s just get to class.”

Then they were in the classroom at the last two corner desks, ‘When did we get here?’ Sikandar wondered.

“Any plans for the big 18?” Suleiman asked, “Mom baked a few batches of your favourite cheesecake today.”

“Nothing at home, maybe I’ll stop by yours tonight,” Sikandar replied.

“That’s great, the kiddos will get to play Scrabble with their second favourite brother,” Suleiman smirked.

Sikandar had something clever to say but forgot it as soon as he saw a young, short blonde with fair skin and blue eyes enter.

“No,” Suleiman tried to stop him, holding his arm.

“I’ll be quick,” Sikandar said, brushing his arm off. He walked towards Zara Sufi Khan, who was talking to her friends. One of them pointed towards him and Zara turned around, her smile turning to a scowl.

Sikandar deflated for a bit, but pushed through his reluctance and walked up to Zara and said, “Hi Zara.”

“What do you want?” she spat out.

“Well, it’s my 18th birthday, so I was thinking if you’d want to hang out with me?” He asked.

“And why would I do that?” She scoffed.

“Well, we are engaged, so we ought to know each other better,” he replied with hope in his voice.

“Do you think I want to know you better?” she glared, making him flinch, “the only reason we are getting married is that my stupid father wants to be brother-in-law to your stupid father.”

Before Sikandar could reply, Ishaq butted in, “Is the Unblessed one bothering you?” 

Zara leaned into Ishaq, “This Unblessed was asking if I would go out with him, since it’s his 18th birthday.”

Ishaq wrapped an arm around her, “Oh, happy birthday, cousin! How could I forget the day?” he tapped his chin, “Maybe it’s because I only remember important dates.”

The classroom erupted in laughter.

“Haha, very funny,” Suleiman replied dryly, “It’s a simple yes or no question, just answer it and get it over with.”

“What do you think?” Zara asked rhetorically.

“Actually, why don’t we give the birthday boy a chance?” Ishaq asked, “We do have that dodge session today.”

“Well, there you have it, if you win the dodge session, I’ll think about it,” Zara said before turning to Ishaq and whispering something to him. He smirked and they left the classroom together.

Suleiman patted Sikandar’s back, “Bro, she may be a b***h, but you walked into that one.”

‘Is it just me or did he just get censored?’ Sikandar wondered but shrugged it as his imagination.

“I know but I can’t help it,” Sikandar admitted, “I have had a crush on her forever and we’re actually engaged. It’s one of the few nice things happening to me.”

“Fine,” Suleiman sighed, “Let’s win you that date.”

After the classes, the students gathered at the basketball/volleyball court in their sports uniforms.

“Suleiman, is it just me or did the classes get over too fast?” Sikandar asked.

“What are you talking about? That maths class took forever!” Suleiman replied.

“We had maths?” Sikandar asked.

“You okay bro?” Suleiman raised an eyebrow.

“If the two of you are done with your chat, can we pay attention?” Asif rebuked them, making the students laugh. Sikandar straightened up and Suleiman grumbled.

‘When did he get here?’ Sikandar asked himself, ‘Also, is he the only teacher we have?’

Having everyone’s attention, Asif started speaking, “You know the rules, team A fires karamat at team B, team B dodges or blocks the attacks. If team A hits everyone in team B, team A wins, if even one member of team B survives until the siren sounds, team B wins. Now split up and start.”

Suleiman and Sikandar went to team B, who were less than happy to have them. Ishaq and Zara went to Team A, who were already celebrating as if their win was guaranteed.

“Show them their place, Ishaq,” One of the Team A members cheered.

“You better not hold us back,” a black-haired girl from Team B warned Sikandar.

Asif blew the whistle and everyone in Team A fired water, rocks, wind and fireballs at Sikandar.

But Suleiman expected that and made an ice wall around Sikandar, blocking the attacks effectively.

One of Ishaq’s cronies- ‘What’s his name?’ Sikandar wondered- melted the ice into water and tried to dunk it all on Sikandar but Suleiman took control of the water and splashed it on Team A.

“Oh, you’re so scr***d,” Zara cursed, her makeup in ruins. She summoned a large number of fireballs and fired it at all of Team B. Some of them dodged, others got hit.

“Yeah, go girl,” one of Zara’s besties- ‘What’s her name?’ Sikandar asked - cheered, joining in with her own barrage of rock attacks. Ishaq added speed to the attacks with his wind power.

Slowly but surely, Team B’s members were going down under the relentless onslaught from Team A. Soon only three members were left.

“Get down!” Suleiman warned Sikandar of a sneak attack from one of Ishaq’s cronies- ‘What’s his name?’ -and Sikandar ducked, unknowingly letting the attack hit the black-haired girl from earlier.

“D**n you!” she cursed Sikandar.

‘Why am I having a tough time remembering everyone’s names?’ Sikandar didn’t have time to ponder as everyone from Team A started targeting him again. He somersaulted away from a wind blast, ducked under a rock attack and jumped over icicles rising out of the ground. Suleiman provided support by blocking any attack that Sikandar didn’t see coming. This went on for long as Team A relentlessly tried to hit the friends, booing them after every dodge but Suleiman and Sikandar were determined to win.

Soon the siren rang marking the end of the game.

“Yeah!” Suleimand and Sikandar gave each other a high five. Team B was flabbergasted as if they couldn’t believe they won, Asif was gritting his teeth as if he had swallowed something sour and Team A was red with anger and embarrassment.

Seeing the two friends distracted by their celebration, Ishaq channeled his anger and embarrassment by blasting a wind ball at Sikandar, hitting him square in the chest, making him hit the wall hard and knocking the wind out of him.

Everyone erupted in cheer at seeing that. Suleiman rushed to Sikandar’s side.

“Hey! What’s the deal? The game is already over!” Suleiman demanded an answer.

“Sorry, I didn’t hear the siren over you two making a ruckus,” Ishaq smirked, “Did you all hear it?”

“No!” Everyone replied.

“Really, you’d rather make fun of Sikandar rather than defend him after he won the match for you?” Suleiman asked Team B, who shrugged in response.

“Enough of that,” Asif butted in, “It’s Sikandar’s own fault for not paying attention, in a real battle no one will care about the siren.”

“Except this is not a real battle,” A deep baritone butted in, “It’s a high school game.”

Everyone turned to see Javed Pasha Khan, a wheatish man with grey hair and beard, wearing a grey suit.

“Headmaster sir, what brings you here?” Asif asked, sweat forming on his forehead.

“Your incompetence,” Javed rebuked him, “Instead of scolding Ishaq for his unsportsmanly conduct, you’re blaming the victim.”

“I’m just preparing them for the real world, it’s not kind to the Unblessed,” Asif replied with a smirk.

“You’re supposed to be teaching kindness and fairness instead of encouraging bigotry,” Javed rebuked him again, “And you, young man!” He turned to Ishaq, “You will serve detention and write a 10-page essay about why discriminating against people without karamat is wrong.”

“No fair!” Asif retorted.

“You’re getting off lightly, I should also call your parents but they obviously aren’t teaching you well,” Javed rebuked him.

“Be careful sir,” Asif warned, “You’re talking about the head of the Khanzada clan, he is your leader too.”

“That makes him even more responsible for how his children behave,” Javed retorted,  “Since you are so supportive of the Khanzada heir, you can watch over him during the detention.”

“Yes sir,” Asif grit his teeth.

“The rest of you, drill this into your minds, having or not having karamat does not make you superior or inferior,” Javed advised the students.

“Yes sir!” they replied together dryly.

“Suleiman, take Sikandar to the nurse’s office,” Javed said.

“Yes sir,” Suleiman replied, helping Sikandar stand up.

“Wait,” Sikandar said, “Zara, I won.”

“You did?” Zara raised an eyebrow.

“Will you go out with me like you said?”

“Firstly, I never said I’d go out with you, only that I’d think about it, and after thinking,” She scratched her chin, pretending to think, “I say never ever you worthless moron.”

“Then you can spend the detention with Ishaq young lady,” Javed told her.

“Look what you did!” She shrieked.

“You literally did it to yourself,” Suleiman snarked, “Let’s go buddy.” He took Sikandar to the nurse’s office.

There Sikandar sat shirtless while Suleiman touched his bruises with blue healing light.

“You okay there?” Suleiman asked.

“Yeah, you’re doing a good job,” Sikandar assured him.

“I mean mentally,” Suleiman asked again.

Sikandar let out a heavy sigh, “I thought things would change today. I’d get my powers, Zara would be impressed by me winning, but I’m still the same old loser.”

“Sikka, you did win, it’s those jerks that can’t see beyond miracles who are the losers,” Suleiman tried to cheer him, “But your fixation on Zara, that needs to go,” he teased him.

Sikandar gave him a light jab but smiled.

“Anyway, forget about others, come to my home tonight, in fact let’s go there right now,” Suleiman invited him.

“I gotta drop my stuff at home, I’ll come to your place after that,” Sikandar replied.

Soon, Sikandar was back at his home- ‘when did I get here?’- hoping his parents would allow him to hang out with Suleiman. ‘They usually don’t mind, more than happy to not have me at home.’

But his heart sank a bit when he saw his family gathered at the living room with frowns on their face. They scowled even more when they spotted him.

“Boy, you got Ishaq into trouble again!” Ismail snapped at him.

“I-” Sikandar tried to defend himself.

“Why can’t you just stop causing trouble for others?” Aafiya asked him.

“But-” Sikandar tried speaking but his parents were not listening.

“What do you have against Ishaq?” Ismail asked.

‘Why?’ Sikandar asked himself.

“This time you also got Zara into trouble,” Aafiya added.

‘Why?’ Sikandar asked again.

“I thought you liked her,” Raeesa butted in.

‘Why?’ Sikandar was breathing hard.

“You always bring shame upon us,” Aaafiya said.

‘Why?’ He felt a force surge through him.

“Why can’t you just be normal like the rest of us?” Ismail asked.

“WHY WON’T YOU LISTEN?” Sikandar roared, power surging out of his body. His family and servants created elemental barriers but the force nullified the barriers and pushed them all against the wall, knocking them out and causing Aafiya to drop her disguise.

But Sikandar wasn’t paying attention, as the power surged through him, he felt disconnected from his body, like he was in a trance. In the trance he saw a young lady with large round spectacles eating pizza in front of her laptop. The brown-skinned blonde ate a slice with one hand and typed something with the other, squinting her green eyes as she read what she typed before hitting enter.

Sikandar floated closer to see what she was typing. He was shocked by what he read.

“Imagine you are an experienced urban fantasy writer. Write me the prologue of an animesque urban fantasy set in a fictional muslim country where everyone has powers to control elements (Fire, earth, water and air) and a second ability unique to them. Don’t call the powers magic. The world should be ruled by powerful clans who rule over cities and answer to an emperor in the capital. The hero of the story should be part of one of the clans but have no powers. He should have only one true friend with everyone, including his family and love interest, looking down on him. He can have a mentor figure who helps him while another mentor figure continuously sabotages him. He will eventually be abandoned by his family after an incident with the bully cousin (heir of the clan he’s part of) but his powers will awaken, giving him the power to control void (a super rare element) and nullify powers. He will then begin a long quest to seek revenge from everyone who wronged him.”

The AI interface loaded for some time before generating a large chunk of text. He was shocked by what he was reading, the AI generated what happened today from start to now. The text even described him and others he met today accurately.

The lady, on the other hand, didn’t bother reading it. She copy pasted it in a publishing portal and hit publish.

Sikandar gasped as he returned to consciousness, he was back in the living room, where everyone was still knocked out.

“So that’s why.” He whispered.