Chapter 39: The gene enhancement effect
Chapter 38;
After the day's frenzy, Animesh came back to his sprawling, colonial-era bungalow, set amidst thick greenery. Large it was, but eerily silent. The sun's light in the evening was dim, casting a long shadow across the marble floor, making the place almost somber.
As he came in, the weight of the day fell fully upon his shoulders. His body felt unnaturally heavy, and a dull ache pulsed through his muscles. He climbed the great staircase with conscious effort, his legs trembling slightly beneath him.
In the living room, Sarita Devi, his mother, was sitting in her usual place and knitting something with immense concentration. She looked up as Animesh entered and instantly found the pale sheen on his face.
"Animesh, are you alright?" she asked, concern etched across her features.
"I am fine, Ma," he replied in a softer-than-usual tone. "Just a long day."
His father, Raghav Yadav, looked up from the newspaper he was reading. "You look tired, son. You shouldn't push yourself so much."
Animesh offered a faint smile but didn't respond. He trudged upstairs to his private quarters, waving off the household staff who hurriedly approached to assist him.
The full-scale realization of his weakness hit him as soon as he reached his room and locked the door. His knees buckled, and he went down onto the edge of his bed, shallow irregular breathing moving in and out of his chest. Beads of sweat dotted his forehead though the room was cool.
His mind went back to the Gene Enhancement Potion he had taken not so long ago. The system had assured him it was safe, but it hadn't uttered a word about how excruciatingly exhausting the physical toll would be during its initial transformation.
---
System Notification:
Host Vital Signs: Stabilizing.
Gene Enhancement Process: 57% Complete. The familiar "Ding!" of the system interface resounded in his mind. Weary, he focused on the holographic display sprang before him.
---
Warning: Cellular restructuring of host body in progress. Momentary weakness to be expected while your genetic code readjusts to the new and better framework. Rest and hydration advisable.
---
Animesh let out a tired sigh. Side effects, he had not bargained for these to fall upon him so strongly. A war was being fought within his body-the muscles, the bones, the cells inside him were shifting and adjusting themselves.
"System," he said in a hoarse voice, "how long will this take?"
"Complete stabilization within 12 hours. Strength, agility, cognitive abilities-sharply improved after stabilization. Pain is a temporary side effect of neural and muscular upgrades.
Animesh fell back against the headboard, closing his eyes. The reassurances from the system did little to alleviate his fears, as the pain was unbearable. He clutched at his stomach as a wave of nausea rolled over him, followed by an intense burning sensation that coursed through his veins.
Time dragged on. Minutes seemed like hours as he lay there, his body between agony and exhaustion. Yet amidst the physical discomfort, a strange clarity was beginning to emerge in the mind. His thoughts came clearer and sharper now, as if his brain had started to work on quite a different level.
--
Gene Enhancement Process: 90% Complete. Neural capacity enhancement underway.
---
By the time the clock struck midnight, the pain began to lessen. His breathing steadied and his muscles ceased their spasming. Slowly, he sat up, testing his limbs. The weakness was still there but less pronounced, and for the first time in hours, he felt a flicker of strength return.
Animesh walked towards the full-length mirror in his room on unsteady legs. The reflection staring back at him was that of a subtly different man: his skin smooth, eyes sharper and almost glowing with an intensity he had not seen in them before; his carriage, despite the weariness, straighter and commanding.
Gene Enhancement Complete. Host is now 9x stronger, faster, and resilient. Cognitive functions enhanced by 300%. Cellular aging has slowed down by 2x.
---
Animesh clenched his fists as the power coursed through him, even while his body was screaming to rest-a latent power in his body, just waiting to break its leash.
He got back to bed with a faint smile on his lips. It was worth the pain. He was more prepared for whatever would happen next. The world knew nothing about what was going to hit it.
---
Downstairs, Sarita Devi looked up toward his room. Still, her motherly instincts were uneasy. "Hope he's all right," she told herself.
The next
The first rays of dawn tore through the heavy drapes into Animesh's room. His body, after a really long, restless night, finally started stabilizing. This weakness was gone, supplanted by a silent hum of strength beneath his skin. He stood at the window, peering out at the sprawl of the garden, his sharp mind already considering his next move.
Smoothing his tie, he readied himself to plunge into yet another day of hectic schedules; instinctively, his mind flitted to Vanshika. It had been several weeks since they spoke as her life had become an agony in running her father's unsuccessful beauty products company in Mumbai. Though she lived far, far away, she remained one of the sure aspects of his life-a confidence keeper and a source of warmth in the storm his ambitions were.
He reached for his phone and dialed her number. After two rings, a peppy yet slightly weary voice came over the line.
"Animesh? This is a surprise," Vanshika replied with the sound of a buzz in the background.
"Vanshika," he was soft, softer than normal. "How are you? You seem to be at the factory."
"Yes," she said with a sigh. "It's been chaotic. We're trying to launch a new product line to boost sales, but the competition here is cutthroat. Honestly, it feels like we're fighting an uphill battle every day."
"I can imagine," Animesh said thoughtfully. "You've always been resilient, though. I'm sure you'll find a way to turn things around."
A short silence worked its way over the line before he went on with a much-serious sounding voice. "I need you to come to Delhi, Vanshika. I want to see you."
Surprised: "To Delhi? Animesh, I'd love to, but right now things are so hectic here. My father is relying on me to keep the business running, I don't think I could leave even for a couple of days."
"Vanshika," he was saying, his tone gentle yet resolute, "I am not asking where it weren't necessary, trust me on that. There is something important I have got to speak about with you personally- something quite impossible over the phone.
The determination in his voice made her pause. She knew Animesh well enough to understand that when he spoke like this, it wasn't just a casual request.
"Alright," she said after a moment, her voice softening. "I'll figure things out here and book a flight. Give me a day or two."
"Thank you," he said, a hint of relief in his voice. "Let me know your flight details, and I'll send someone to pick you up from the airport."
"Animesh," she said hesitantly, "is everything okay? You sound. different."
He was hesitant, choosing his words very carefully. "Everything is fine. I'll explain when we meet. Just trust me, Vanshika."
"I always do," she replied with quiet conviction.
The call got over, and Animesh leaned back into his chair, already racing with thoughts.
In Mumbai, Vanshika kept the phone back on the table, her heart racing with curiosity and a little unease. She did not know what awaited her in Delhi, but one thing she knew very well: Animesh never did anything without a reason.
[A/N]
[I am writing a new novel, "SOVEREIGN OF THE ETERNAL THRONE", you type the words and search in the search, and currently you will not find on my profile. And please remember to add it into your reading list.]
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