Diya's Perspective:
I sat quietly in the car, watching the city pass by as I tried to gather my thoughts. Today was our first day at the academy, and the weight of everything that happened between me and Dhruvansh at the housewarming party still lingered. I knew that I had to apologize, but the silence between us felt heavier than what I expected.
I glanced at Dhruvansh, hoping to find a moment to break the ice. He stared out the window, his face unreadable, lost in his own thoughts. I swallowed hard, feeling nervous. What could I say? Everything I thought of sounded wrong or forced. So, I kept quiet for the rest of the drive.
When we finally reached the academy, our parents gave us both encouraging smiles. Karna Uncle patted Dhruvansh on the shoulder, while mom gave me a gentle squeeze on my hand. I tried to smile back, but my stomach was in knots.
As we walked into the academy, I clutched my student guideline booklet tightly. The building was enormous, filled with students—most of them older than me and Dhruvansh. It didn't take long for me to notice how out of place we both were, being just five years old in a setting meant for older kids. It made me feel even smaller than I already did.
Dhruvansh barely said anything. He just walked beside me in silence, his steps purposeful, as if he couldn't wait to get away. It was like he just wanted to keep to himself and didn't want any interaction with me and he was walking side by side with me because of some compulsion that he may have felt because of our parents being friend or the class was on the same way. I wanted things to go back to how they used to be, before everything got so complicated at least.
When we found our classroom, the sight of all the other teenagers made me freeze for a second. They all looked so much older. I hesitated but then made up my mind. I picked a seat right in the front, hoping it would show that I was serious about my studies. And Dhruvansh, however, headed straight to the back, choosing a desk by the window, as far away from me as possible.
Class started soon after that. The teacher, a tall man with glasses, introduced himself, and then asked both me and Dhruvansh to introduce ourselves to the class. I stood up, feeling everyone's eyes on me as I was kind of famous from my birth because of my intelligence which I was most proud of till recently. I said my name and a few words before quickly sitting back down as everybody knows about me and this introduction was a formality for me. But not for Dhruvansh, and I was shocked when he introduced himself with a short, to the point, not like what I expected.
The rest of the class was a blur of information about courses and filling out forms. I stole a glance at him every now and then, hoping to catch his eye, but he was deep in his own world, scribbling something in his notebook. I wondered what he was thinking about, and which subjects he was going to select.
After class, as everyone was busy filling in their course selections, I made up my mind. I would talk to him—apologize for everything that happened. Maybe that would help them move past it.
But when the class ended and I finally turned to face him, Dhruvansh was already gone. I watched him leave the classroom, heading off somewhere on his own. I bit my lip, feeling frustrated. It felt like no matter what I did, he was always one step ahead, always slipping through my fingers.
I decided not to follow him. Instead, I finished my course selections and tried to keep my mind on what I was here to do—study, learn, and get better at everything. I couldn't force Dhruvansh to talk to me, not if he wasn't ready.
The rest of my day passed in a similar way. I attended the introductory sessions, taking notes and trying to keep my mind focused on my studies. But I couldn't help thinking about Dhruvansh. I wondered where he had gone after class. What was he doing? Was he okay?
By the time the academy day ended, I felt exhausted. As I walked out toward the car, I saw Dhruvansh wasn't there yet, and Uncle and Aunty are waiting for there. I said good afternoon to them, and they ask how was my first day at academy to which I said it was fine and then they ask where Dhruvansh is, as he isn't here yet and I reply that he just went somewhere after introduction. Then they gesture for me to sit in the car and after some time Dhruvansh comes, and he too greets Uncle and Aunty.
Then Karna Uncle starts the car and drive towards home, Devi Aunty ask Dhruvansh about his first day at academy and why was he late and where he went as I mentioned that he went somewhere after the introduction in the class.
"How was your day?" she asked softly, hoping this time he'd respond.
"It was fine, and I just went to the library to read as there wasn't much need to stay in the class as mentioned by the professor." Dhruvansh replied.
I sighed inwardly.
When we finally arrived home, I went straight to my room, my heart heavy. I slumped onto my bed, burying my face in my pillow. It wasn't supposed to be like this. I had imagined my academy days to be exciting and full of possibilities, with me acing the whole course, learning, and growing. But now? I was alone, sad and guilty just because I did some stupid thing due to me being arrogant.
Mom and Dad noticed my mood immediately. My mom knocked gently on my door before entering. "Diya, how was your day?" she asked, her voice soft and caring.
I sat up, trying to put on a brave face, but it crumbled under mom's gaze. "It was... okay," I mumbled, not wanting to admit how bad it really felt.
Dad joined us, sitting down beside me and mom. "It'll take time, sweetheart," he said, reading my expression. "Dhruvansh's been through a lot, and he's probably still processing everything. Don't take it to heart if he's not talking to you much right now."
I nodded, though the reassurance didn't fully ease the sadness I felt. "I just want to make things right with him... I want to apologize properly for the party," I confessed.
Hearing this mom put an arm around me and said, "You will, Diya. But remember, he needs time. The best thing you can do is to be patient. Keep focusing on your studies and being there for him when he's ready."
I knew they were right, but it didn't make it any easier. Still, I had to try. Tomorrow would be a new day, and maybe—just maybe—I'd get a little closer to fixing things with Dhruvansh.
For now, all I could do was wait.
The next morning, Dhruvansh woke up earlier than usual, driven by a strange compulsion to escape the suffocating atmosphere at home. The events of the previous days had left him emotionally drained, and the only refuge he could think of was the academy's library, where he could lose himself in the endless pursuit of knowledge.
After a quick breakfast, he stepped out to join Diya in the car. The ride to the academy was silent once again, but this time, the tension between them felt sharper. Diya had tried to break the ice before, but now she seemed hesitant, unsure of how to approach him after his distant behavior. Dhruvansh didn't offer any conversation, keeping his gaze fixed on the world outside, his mind already racing ahead to the books he planned to devour.
As they arrived at the academy and stepped out of the car, Dhruvansh walked ahead without a word, not waiting for Diya or their parents to say goodbye. He could feel Diya's eyes on him, but he didn't care. His focus was singular. Knowledge. That was his escape.
Without delay, he headed straight for the library again, leaving Diya behind to navigate the social minefield of their classroom. His card beeped at the entrance of the library as the doors opened, welcoming him into the vast ocean of books. His heart quickened with excitement at the thought of diving deeper into subjects he had only scratched the surface of the day before.
The shelves were still as endless as they had been yesterday. He went straight to the section on electronics and programming, his fingers grazing over the spines of various books. From beginner to advanced, he picked a combination of both, stacking them on the desk before plunging himself into study.
Hours passed, and Dhruvansh lost himself completely. He poured over schematics, algorithms, and the intricate logic of programming languages. It was as if the words on the pages had a life of their own, drawing him deeper into their complexities. He scribbled notes feverishly, filling page after page in his notebook, his mind processing information at an incredible rate.
Diya, meanwhile, had noticed his absence from the classroom and quietly searched the academy for him, finally finding him seated at the far end of the library, surrounded by piles of books. She stood for a moment, watching him from a distance, unsure whether to approach. The past few days had created a rift between them, one she desperately wanted to mend. But each time she tried, Dhruvansh seemed to push her further away.
Steeling herself, Diya approached the table. "Hey," she said softly, sitting down beside him.
Dhruvansh didn't look up from the book he was reading. "Hey," he muttered in return, barely acknowledging her presence.
"You're really into this stuff, huh?" Diya asked, trying to make conversation.
"Yeah," Dhruvansh replied, his tone indifferent. His eyes remained glued to the page in front of him as if he hadn't heard her question at all.
Diya shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "I just... I wanted to talk. About, you know, things."
Dhruvansh shrugged, not offering any further encouragement. His mind was elsewhere, swimming in the technical intricacies of programming logic and the possibilities it opened up for him.
Sensing that she wasn't going to get much out of him, Diya let out a small sigh. "Okay... I'll leave you to it, then." She stood up, looking at him one last time, hoping he'd say something—anything—but Dhruvansh remained silent, lost in his books.
As Diya walked away, Dhruvansh didn't feel anything. He has developed a stereotype towards the rich people, and he knew that it was wrong to judge a whole category of people based on the actions of some people of the same category as not all people are made from the same mold, but he couldn't help it. There was too much going on in his head, too much he needed to figure out for himself.
By the time Dhruvansh looked up from his books, it was already afternoon. He had spent the entire day reading through advanced programming manuals, studying new techniques for improving artificial intelligence algorithms and upgrading hardware systems. He glanced at the clock and realized it was almost time to leave.
Packing up his notes and placing the books back on the shelves, he made his way to the academy's exit. Karna and Devi were waiting for him again, just like the day before, and this time, Diya was already seated in the car, her face turned toward the window. Dhruvansh got into the car silently, and they drove home in the usual quiet.
Once they arrived home, Dhruvansh went straight to his room. The information he had absorbed today buzzed in his mind like an electric current, sparking new ideas and plans. As he sat at his desk, he knew exactly what his next step would be.
"Eye," he called, his voice steady.
"Yes, Dhruvansh?" Eye responded, her voice calm and familiar.
"I'm upgrading you," he said with quiet determination.
"An upgrade?" Eye asked curiously. "In what way?"
Dhruvansh had spent the entire day learning about advanced algorithms and new hardware technologies. He knew exactly how to implement them into Eye's system. "I've learned some new programming techniques that will make you faster, smarter. I'm also going to upgrade your hardware to improve your processing speed and storage capacity."
There was a brief pause before Eye responded. "Are you sure it's safe? Some of these systems are quite complex."
"I know," Dhruvansh replied confidently. "But I'm ready. I've studied everything I need to know."
He moved swiftly, gathering the necessary tools and materials he had stored over the years. First, he opened up Eye's hardware panel, which housed the AI's core processing units and memory modules. Using the knowledge he had gained from his studies, he began reconfiguring the system, upgrading the components one by one. His hands worked deftly, carefully installing new parts that would allow Eye to function at a much higher capacity.
Once the hardware was updated, Dhruvansh turned his attention to the software. He had memorized complex lines of code that would allow Eye to process information more efficiently, enhancing her cognitive capabilities. His fingers flew across the keyboard as he rewrote and implemented new algorithms, making sure every line was precise and perfect.
After several hours of intense focus, Dhruvansh finally sat back, his work complete. "Eye," he said, his voice laced with anticipation. "Run a full system diagnostics check."
A series of beeps and whirs filled the air as Eye's system ran the necessary tests. "Diagnostics complete," Eye said smoothly. "All systems are functioning at optimal capacity. Processing speed has increased by 37%, memory storage by 45%, and cognitive efficiency by 42%. Well done, Dhruvansh."
A small smile tugged at the corners of Dhruvansh's mouth. He had done it. He had upgraded Eye to a new level, pushing the AI far beyond its original capabilities. For the first time in days, he felt a sense of accomplishment, a sense of control.
But even as he basked in the success of his upgrade, the anger simmering beneath the surface remained. His thoughts drifted back to the terrorists responsible for his parents' death, the injustice of it all. The upgrade was just the beginning, he reminded himself. There was much more to be done before he could truly feel at peace.
With his mind made up and his goals set, Dhruvansh lay down in bed, his body exhausted but his mind wide awake. Tomorrow, he would continue to learn, continue to grow, and continue his journey toward the path he had chosen. The path of vengeance and truth.
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