28 The Surprise
Sam's car hummed to a gentle stop outside his home at 7:30.
The sky was a canvas of purples and pinks, the last remnants of the setting sun barely visible on the horizon.
As he made his way to the front door, the tantalizing aroma of a home-cooked meal made his stomach growl.
Stepping inside, the warmth of the house immediately enveloped him.
His father, Ryan, was laying the table for dinner, and his mother, Riya, was in the kitchen, adding final touches to the dishes.
Both of them looked up at the sound of the door closing.
A wide grin broke on their faces as they saw Sam.
Their eyes showed an unmistakable joy, the kind that only a family reunion can bring.
Sam had plenty to share about his day, from his early morning appointment to his meeting with the mayor.
It was not common for him to share the details of his business ventures.
But tonight, he felt an unusual urge to share, to let his parents into his world.
As he recounted his day, they listened attentively, offering words of encouragement and support.
They sat together, sharing food and laughter, the joyous noise filling the room.
Sam was in the middle of describing Mayor Russo's ostentatious office when his mother's voice cut through his narration.
She had a surprised, almost mischievous look on her face.
She was holding something back, something that she was eager to share.
Before he could question her, she giggled and blurted it out. "We're expecting another child, Sam."
The news hit him like a freight train, leaving him wide-eyed and speechless.
He was going to have a sibling!
He looked at his parents, and their beaming faces confirmed it wasn't a joke.
The news was so unexpected that he even forgot to eat for a few minutes.
He had a flurry of emotions coursing through him, a mix of surprise, confusion, and a growing sense of excitement.
A sibling!
It was something he hadn't even considered.
His previous life didn't feature this development at all.
Once the initial shock subsided, he felt an unfamiliar happiness bubble inside him.
He laughed out loud, his joy echoing around the room.
Sure, he was 22 and about to become a big brother.
It was unconventional, to say the least. But Sam knew nothing else mattered as long as his family was happy.
He turned to his parents, congratulating them with a wide grin.
His father chuckled and shook his head while his mother beamed at him.
He told his Mom to take care, promising to do everything he could to ensure she had a comfortable pregnancy.
The rest of the dinner was spent in a festive mood.
There were smiles all around, the happiness contagious.
The meal ended after half an hour, but the joy lingered.
Sam, now a little brother-to-be, had a village meeting to attend.
Mr. Patel, the head of the village, had called a meeting at the public square on his request.
Sam made his way to Mr. Patel's home, his heart still buzzing with the good news.
Mr. Patel was on his porch. He greeted Sam warmly, his wise eyes studying Sam's glowing face.
"Are you ready, Sam?" he asked with a hint of amusement in his voice.
Sam, brimming with happiness and an air of newfound responsibility, nodded.
He sat beside Mr. Patel, and they chatted about small things - the weather, the upcoming harvest season, the overall health of the village.
As they talked, a sense of calm settled over Sam.
He felt ready for the meeting, prepared for whatever life was about to throw at him. He was a businessman, a soon-to-be big brother, and a proud son.
After Mr. Patel excused himself to use the restroom, Sam opened the Empathy System through his eyes, and a translucent interface appeared.
It was invisible to anyone but him.
Sam's heart raced in his chest as his eyes flickered to the part of the interface labeled 'Empathy Points.'
A gasp escaped him as he took in the staggering number displayed before him: 5 million points.
It was an unfathomable amount, an undeniable testament to the vast impact his translation app had made.
Evidently, his creation had found its way to more than 5 million individuals worldwide, enhancing and positively influencing their lives enough to express their appreciation through these points.
Sitting on the porch, bathed in the lamp's light, he allowed himself to revel in his achievement.
His chest swelled with pride, a glow of satisfaction warming him from within.
He had accomplished something extraordinary professionally and made a difference in the lives of millions.
It was an intoxicating blend of accomplishment and gratitude, an affirmation that he had chosen the right path.
However, as the moment's weight settled, Sam found his gaze lingering on the translucent screen before his eyes.
His heart continued to race, but the excitement was now tinged with a sense of responsibility.
As monumental as this success was, it did not mean he could rest on his laurels.
Instead, it added fuel to the fire of his ambitions, reminding him that there were still challenges ahead that he had willingly taken upon himself.
With his mind still reeling from the revelation, he looked around, taking in the familiar surroundings of his village.
The regular roofs, the simple lanes, the fields stretching out into the distance - these sights grounded him, a constant reminder of where he came from and the community he was committed to uplifting.
He considered the Empathy Points, not a personal accomplishment but a tool, a means to an end.
Each point was a resource that he could leverage for the betterment. The betterment of people around him, the betterment of his community, the improvement of his family.
He had chosen to shoulder the responsibility for his people's well-being, and these points were the catalyst to set his plans in motion.
Yet, the task was monumental, and the path ahead was fraught with unknowns.
There was an undercurrent of apprehension mixing with his exhilaration.
The sheer scale of what he intended to do was not lost on him.
But he found comfort in knowing his intentions were rooted in altruism.
This wasn't just about him anymore; it was about his community, his people, and their future.
A sense of determination hardened within him.
With the Empathy Points as his resource and his unyielding will as his guide, he was prepared to carve out a brighter future for his village.
Emboldened by a fresh wave of determination, Sam began to painstakingly sift through the vast catalog of technology available for purchase with his Empathy Points.
He had designated a budget of 50,000 points for advancing his village and intended to utilize every point wisely.
His mind skimmed over numerous categories, each presenting a potential sea of change for his community. This prospect sent a thrill of anticipation through him.
The first thing that caught his attention was a sophisticated water filtering system.
It promised the ability to transform groundwater, rainwater, and even river water into clean, potable water.
The potential implications of introducing such technology to his village were immense, paving the way for vast improvements in the areas of health and sanitation.
It was the kind of change that could fundamentally uplift the quality of life for each villager.
His eyes then landed on an option labeled 'bio-fertilizer technology.'
According to the description, this revolutionary technology promised to significantly boost crop yields while also rejuvenating the soil - an absolute boon for a community that largely depended on farming.
The surprisingly low cost of this game-changing technology caused Sam to raise an eyebrow, but he shook off his skepticism.
A good deal was a good deal, and he was not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Having secured two potential linchpins for his village's transformation, Sam made his third and final selection: a technology that promised to construct buildings at a breakneck pace.
This choice consumed half of his allocated budget, but he viewed it as more of an investment than an expense.
His mind was already teeming with ideas of setting up a factory in his village to manufacture the bio-fertilizer locally, effectively turning his humble village into a self-reliant, flourishing community.
He also envisioned another factory dedicated to producing miniature versions of the water purifiers.
This initiative could address the clean water needs of countless others in surrounding regions and provide a steady stream of income for his village.
The thought brought a determined gleam to his eyes, his mind whirring with plans and strategies.
Lost in his thoughts, Sam hadn't realized how long he'd been staring at the translucent screen before his eyes until he felt a hand shaking his shoulder.
Mr. Patel was standing over him, a look of concern on his face. "Are you alright, Sam? You seemed lost there," he asked.
Sam focused back, shaking off his daze.
He dismissed his lapse in attention as tiredness, keeping his plans to himself.
Together, they made their way to the public square, Sam's mind buzzing with possibilities and plans for the future.
