Chapter 3: The Tinkerer’s Dream

2 Years later

It was afternoon as Devi Agastya walked hand-in-hand with her now five-year-old son, Dhruvansh, along the wide, tree-lined path that led home from school. The Varanasi Megacity had settled into its usual rhythm, its towering structures reaching high into the sky while life beneath them carried on at a peaceful pace. Even though the city was a marvel of technological advancement, the remnants of human nature—the need for connection, love, and nurture—still thrived within homes like the Agastyas'.

Devi smiled softly as she glanced down at Dhruvansh, whose face held a look of pleasant detachment, his mind clearly lost in thought. School, for him, wasn't a place for learning but rather a rare opportunity for him to relax among peers his own age.

"How was school today, beta?" Devi asked, squeezing his little hand gently.

Dhruvansh, snapped out of his thoughts, looked up at her with his usual innocent yet all-knowing expression. "It was... normal, Maa," he replied. "I did what you and Papa asked. I didn't answer too many questions."

Devi chuckled. Both she and Karna had agreed that sending him to school would be more for social interaction than education. They had reminded him that he didn't have to show off his intelligence there. Dhruvansh, who could solve advanced mathematical equations in his sleep, was asked to relax, to enjoy the simplicity of being around kids his age without feeling pressured to excel academically.

"Good boy," Devi said, patting his head affectionately. "It's good for you to just have fun and play sometimes. Even geniuses need a break."

They walked in silence for a bit longer before finally reaching the Agastya Family Orphanage, their home and refuge. As they entered the front gate, Dhruvansh's pace quickened. His eagerness was obvious, and Devi smiled knowingly. She knew exactly why he was excited to get home.

Since Dhruvansh's remarkable learning pace had outstripped anything they could have imagined, Karna and Devi had given him his own private room, complete with all the tools and books he needed to continue his self-study. Two months ago, he had asked them for a space where he could work on electronics—his next major interest. They had, of course, obliged.

Now, with an intense curiosity for advanced electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and computer science, Dhruvansh had outgrown the typical childhood hobbies. He was now on the verge of a breakthrough. Today was the day he would begin his first real experiment: transforming an old, dead phone into a wearable smart device—a watch with capabilities far beyond anything on the market.

"Maa, I'll be in my room for a while," Dhruvansh said eagerly as they entered the house, his small feet practically running towards the stairs.

Devi smiled and nodded. "Don't work too hard. Come down if you need anything."

Once inside his room, Dhruvansh stood in the center of what could only be described as a young inventor's paradise. Tools, circuit boards, books, and components were spread out across his workbench. His bright eyes scanned over everything, his mind already piecing together the steps he needed to take. Today's project was ambitious, even for him.

His plan was to modify the dead phone into a wearable smartwatch with advanced features: a holographic interface, location tracking, and a personalized AI assistant, which he'd already named Eye. The AI would not only assist with day-to-day tasks but also keep an experiment log, so Dhruvansh could learn from every success and failure.

As he began, his small hands moved with the precision and focus of someone far beyond his years. His tools clicked and hummed as he unscrewed the old phone, delicately pulling apart its inner components. He had already read volumes on electrical engineering, circuitry, and even artificial intelligence—his head filled with complex knowledge, despite his youthful appearance.

The first attempt wasn't successful. After nearly an hour of tinkering, he miscalculated the power conversion, resulting in the phone short-circuiting when he tried to connect it to the new hardware. A tiny spark and a small puff of smoke confirmed his mistake.

Unperturbed, Dhruvansh pulled out his notebook, detailing every step he had taken and making note of the error. "First attempt: power surge due to improper resistor placement. Adjusting capacitor arrangement for second trial."

He wasn't discouraged—failures were part of learning.

The second attempt was more promising. He recalibrated the connections and adjusted the power distribution. But this time, the holographic interface flickered for a moment before fading out completely. It was better than before, but still, something was wrong.

Again, he recorded his findings. "Second attempt: Holographic projection failed due to insufficient power supply. Will attempt to streamline power draw and focus on stabilizing the interface."

By now, most five-year-olds would have grown frustrated, but Dhruvansh's focus only sharpened. His young mind thrived on solving problems, and failure only pushed him closer to success.

On his third attempt, everything clicked into place. As he connected the final wires and adjusted the tiny sensors, the holographic interface blinked to life—a glowing, three-dimensional display hovered above the watch. A small smile crept onto Dhruvansh's face. He activated the AI he had coded, and Eye came online, displaying its simple welcome message.

"Hello, Dhruvansh. I am Eye. How can I assist you today?"

It was done.

After four hours of intense effort, Dhruvansh finally leaned back in his chair, his mind racing with satisfaction. He pulled out his notebook again and, with the AI now running, began to read aloud his experiment log, documenting every failure and every success in detail for future reference. The AI recorded everything into its database.

"Third attempt: Success. Holographic projection stable. Power supply streamlined using alternate energy path. AI online. All functions operating as expected. End of log."

Exhausted but satisfied, he powered down the device and stood up. The work had drained him, but it was the kind of exhaustion that felt good. A small victory had been won today.

Downstairs, the aroma of dinner filled the air as the other children played in the yard. Dhruvansh joined them at the table, his mind still buzzing with the day's success, but outwardly, he was just another child enjoying a meal with his family.

"You look tired," Karna observed, watching his son eat. "Were you working on your project again?"

Dhruvansh nodded, taking a bite of his food. "Yes, Papa. I finished it today."

Devi smiled from across the table. "And? Did it work?"

"Yes," he said, beaming. "The AI is working. It can track locations and display information holographically. I'll show you tomorrow."

Both parents exchanged proud glances. "That's our boy," Karna said, ruffling his hair. "But remember, no matter how smart you are, you still need to play and enjoy life."

After dinner, Dhruvansh ran outside to join the other kids. They were already in the middle of a game of soccer, and as always, Dhruvansh was welcomed with excitement. Though his intelligence set him apart in some ways, he was still their friend, still just a boy who loved to run, laugh, and play.

Later, as the sun began to set, the children gathered in the backyard where Karna, the retired Force General, led them through their daily physical training. Karna believed that physical and mental discipline were equally important, so he ensured that all the children in the orphanage were well-rounded.

"Alright, everyone!" Karna's booming voice called out. "Line up for PT!"

Dhruvansh joined the others, standing tall among them as Karna led them through stretching exercises, basic calisthenics, and agility drills. Afterward, they practiced self-defense techniques, learning the basics of Taekwondo, Judo, Muay Thai, and even some traditional Indian martial arts.

As Karna demonstrated a new move, Dhruvansh mimicked him perfectly, his body reacting with the same precision as his mind. Though he was young, his parents had already noticed that his coordination and reflexes were sharper than those of his peers. He moved with the grace of someone far more experienced.

After the training session, as the other kids sprawled out on the grass, exhausted, Dhruvansh lay back with a smile on his face. For a moment, he wasn't the genius inventor or the prodigy—he was just a boy, basking in the warmth of family and friendship, with the boundless sky stretching out above him.

And yet, even in moments like these, deep down, he knew that something inside him was different—something the world wasn't ready for yet.