Stunt man to Star director

Dev woke up early, as he had been doing for the past two days. His decision to give up acting weighed heavily on him, but he had no choice—he needed a stable income to survive. As he walked through the bustling streets of the city, the heat of the sun bore down on him mercilessly. His shirt clung to his back, damp with sweat, and his shoes were worn from the constant search for job opportunities.

He had visited numerous offices and shops, asking if they were hiring. Some rejected him outright, while others offered positions that barely paid enough to cover his expenses. Dev swallowed his pride and kept going, but each rejection chipped away at his confidence.

By noon, his legs ached, and his stomach growled, but he didn't stop. He didn't have the luxury of resting—not until he found something. His mind was filled with doubts. Was this the right decision? Should I have held on to acting a little longer? What if I've made a mistake I can't undo?

---

Dev returned home late in the afternoon, utterly drained. His father was sitting in his usual spot, reading a newspaper, while his mother was in the kitchen preparing tea. Dev didn't say a word as he walked past them, heading straight to his room.

Once inside, he collapsed onto the bed, his body screaming for rest. The cool shade of his room was a small relief after hours under the scorching sun. Despite his exhaustion, his mind wouldn't stop racing. He felt trapped, caught between his failed dreams and the reality of his responsibilities.

As he drifted into a restless sleep, his dreams were filled with flashes of his past—auditions, rejections, and moments of fleeting hope. He saw his father's disappointed face and his mother's encouraging smile, both haunting and comforting him in equal measure.

---

A sudden ringing jolted him awake. Disoriented, he reached for his phone, which lay on the bedside table. Without checking the caller ID, he answered.

"Hello?" he said groggily, his voice heavy with sleep.

"Is this Dev?" a voice on the other end asked, sharp and businesslike.

"Yes," Dev replied, sitting up.

"This is Mythic Productions. We need you to come to our office tomorrow at 10 AM sharp for a meeting."

Dev blinked, trying to process the words. "Wait, what? Why?"

But before he could get a proper response, the line went dead. He stared at his phone, dumbfounded.

Mythic Productions? What could they possibly want with me? he wondered. The name rang a bell, and then it hit him—this was the company where he had auditioned just days ago for the role of the lead in Lawless.

---

His heart raced with a mix of confusion and excitement. He wanted to believe this was good news, but the past few years had taught him not to get his hopes up too quickly. Still, the call was enough to spark a glimmer of optimism.

Dev got up and walked to the living room, where his parents were still in their usual spots.

"I just got a call from Mythic Productions," he said, trying to keep his voice steady.

Rajesh glanced at him over the rim of his glasses but didn't say anything. Sunita, however, looked up from her cooking with a smile. "What did they say?"

"They asked me to come in for a meeting tomorrow," Dev replied.

Sunita's smile widened. "See? I told you not to give up."

Rajesh remained silent, but Dev caught the faintest flicker of something in his father's expression—pride, maybe, or concern. It was hard to tell.

---

That night, Dev lay awake, his mind racing with possibilities. What could the meeting be about? Had he actually gotten the role? Or was this just another disappointment waiting to happen?

The next morning, he dressed in his best outfit, a simple but well-fitted shirt and pants. He wanted to make a good impression, even if he didn't know what to expect.

The journey to Mythic Productions was nerve-wracking. The streets seemed busier than usual, and every red light felt like an eternity. When he finally arrived, he stood outside the building for a moment, taking a deep breath to steady himself.

---

Inside, the receptionist directed him to a waiting room. Dev recognized a few faces from the audition—other hopeful actors who had tried out for the same role. They exchanged polite nods, but the tension in the room was palpable.

After what felt like hours, Dev's name was called. He stood up, his palms slightly sweaty, and followed the assistant to a large conference room.

Seated at the head of the table was Suraj, the young director whose name had been on everyone's lips in the industry lately. Beside him sat Kunal, the company's senior executive, whose presence added an air of authority to the room.

"Dev," Suraj said, gesturing for him to sit.

Dev took a seat, his heart pounding.

"We've reviewed all the auditions," Suraj began, his tone calm but firm. "And we've made our decision."

Dev's breath caught in his throat.

"You've been selected for the lead role in Lawless," Suraj announced, a small smile breaking through his professional demeanor.

For a moment, Dev couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Me?" he managed to say.

"Yes," Suraj replied. "Your performance stood out. It was raw, emotional, and exactly what we were looking for. Congratulations."

---

Dev felt a wave of relief and joy wash over him. All the struggles, the hard work, and the heartbreak had led to this moment. He wanted to cry, laugh, and scream all at once, but he kept his composure, nodding respectfully.

"Thank you," he said, his voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside him.

"We'll send you the contract and other details by the end of the week," Kunal added.

As the meeting concluded, Dev shook hands with both Suraj and Kunal. Suraj's grip was firm, his eyes filled with determination.

"Welcome to the Blood Bound Chronicles," Suraj said.

---

Dev left the building feeling like a new man. The doubts and despair that had plagued him just days ago were now replaced with hope and purpose. As he made his way home, he thought about his parents—how his mother would react with tears of joy and how his father might finally look at him with pride.

This wasn't just a role; it was a chance to prove himself, to show the world—and his family—that he was meant to be an actor.

For the first time in years, Dev allowed himself to dream again.

_________________

Author note:-

:- mass release (3/4)

:- support the story with power stones for extra chapters and motivation 😄