Chapter 4: The Break Transition

AGNIS'S POV

An announcement sounded on the speakers, the results of the annual science fest were about to be announced. I made my way to the main stage with Sameer, Neer, and Professor Garud, weaving through the crowd of students and families. The air buzzed with excitement,holographic displays flickering with sponsor logos and congratulatory messages. When we reached the front, we found Antariksh, Pruthvi, and Pruthvi’s family already gathered. Pruthvi’s siblings were bouncing around, their enthusiasm infectious. Pruthvi herself seemed to be soaking it all in, laughing and chatting animatedly with her parents. Antariksh, on the other hand, stood slightly apart, her arms crossed and her gaze fixed somewhere in the middle distance. Her posture was casual, but the subtle tension in her shoulders gave her away.

I glanced around the area. There was no sign of her father.

I debated whether I should ask her about it, already certain I knew how the conversation would go. “Hey Antariksh, Isn’t your father coming?” I asked, my voice deliberately neutral.

Her lips tightened for a moment, and she looked down. “I don’t think so,” she said after a pause. Her voice wavered just slightly, like there was a lump in her throat she was trying to swallow. “H-he’s mostly busy,” she added, her words rushed now, as if saying them faster would make them less painful. “He doesn’t… doesn’t bother much about this.” She gave a small shrug, but it was stiff, forced. “Plus, I didn’t even want him here. He’s kinda… kinda not very social.”

I studied her for a moment. Her laser glasses reflected the light from the nearby stage, masking her eyes, but I didn’t need to see them to know how she felt. I wanted to say something, to tell her that it was okay to feel hurt, that it wasn’t her fault. But the words caught in my throat. Instead, I just stood there, close enough for her to know I wasn’t going anywhere.

Before either of us could say anything else, the speakers crackled, signaling the start of the announcements.

—-----------

ANTARIKSH’S POV

I never really thought we’d actually win the annual science fest, but we did. Sure, we built something extraordinary, but I never imagined it would stand out like this. One of the judges was Sameer’s friend, Pawan. He practically bought our idea, seeing potential in it right away. Pawan was working on unconventional spaceships, and our design fit perfectly with his vision. We handed him our prototype engine, and he said that if he ever managed to build a spaceship, he would name it Antariksh Yaan.

I beamed, honestly flattered, but my face flushed a deep red. I wasn’t used to taking compliments. Towards the end of the day, Pruthvi was showing her parents and siblings around campus. Sameer and Neer were doing the same with Professor Garud. Agni and I, on the other hand, were seated at the booth, packing up the remnants of tools and materials.

“So….you literally sold your first idea today”, agni remarked.

I didnt know what to say. “Um…yeah….i guess…agni? Can you…..can you hold on to the money?”, i asked him.

“Antariksh its your money! Its not much but if pawan does build a spaceship out of the prototype, he has promised to pay you a bunkload of money in the contract.”,agni said.

I sighed,”i dont really need money agni…”

Agni looked at me for a moment, his expression softening. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table as he spoke, his voice a little more serious. "I get it, Antariksh. But this is your achievement. You created something, and you have every right to keep what comes with it. You don’t have to feel guilty about it."

I bit my lip, unsure of how to respond. "It just feels... weird, you know? Like, I didn’t do it for the money. I just wanted to prove I could do something, build something that mattered."

Agni’s eyes softened, and he reached over, gently tapping my hand. "You don’t have to justify it. You’ve earned it, and you deserve it. Maybe you’ll use it for something important, or maybe you’ll decide to save it for later. It’s up to you."

I let out a quiet breath, appreciating his understanding but still feeling a little uneasy. "I guess... but I’m not really used to people giving me things. It feels... off."

He nodded slowly, his gaze thoughtful. "I get that, too. But sometimes, it’s okay to accept something you’ve earned. You don’t always have to carry everything by yourself. Not everything is a burden, Antariksh."

I looked down for a moment, my thoughts swirling. Then, I met his gaze. "You’re right. But... maybe we could put it in a savings account for now. And... I'll think about what to do with it later?"

Agni smiled, clearly relieved. "Deal.”

Just then, a strange fluttering noise came from overhead. The booths in the field began to shake slightly. There weren’t many people left now, just a few stragglers, but they all looked up at the source of the noise. My heart dropped to my stomach when I saw it. A chopper. All black. Not very large, but it made a lot of noise. A huge "S" shone on one of its sides. I recognized it immediately. So did the university director, and so did Agni.

"Is that Dr. Sanki?!" Agni practically squealed with excitement. I swear, I could hear the pitch of his voice rise, which was impossible because Agni always had a deep, characteristic tone. Agni didn’t know Dr. Sanki was my father yet. Neither did anyone at this university, I presumed. When filling out the forms for the university, I had listed Professor Garud as my primary guardian. 

The chopper circled overhead before coming to rest in the middle of the field. The university director practically sprinted halfway across the field, flanked by his assistants chasing after him. Dr. Sanki stepped out. Tall, cold, and thin, his artificial fingers twirled around his staff. His black glasses made his face look even thinner and paler than usual.

Dr. Sanki gave the director a brief, dismissive nod, but my heart sank as the director pointed directly at our booth. Dr. Sanki’s gaze followed the gesture, and his eyes briefly locked with mine. Straightening his long black cloak, he adjusted his staff and began walking toward us, his every step deliberate. Around us, the remaining people in the field couldn’t help but stare.

I JUST WANTED TO DISAPPEAR.

Agni, oblivious to my inner panic, was practically vibrating with excitement. He had transformed into a full-blown fanboy, and I still couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that Agni admired Dr. Sanki’s work.

As Dr. Sanki approached, he stopped at our booth and scrutinized me, removing his glasses and narrowing his eyes.

“Good evening, Parmanu,” he said tersely.

“Hello, Dr. Sanki,” I replied, struggling to keep my voice steady.

—--------

AGNI’S POV
I couldn’t believe it! Dr. Sanki! The Dr. Sanki! I had followed his work ever since I was a kid. His research on cyborgs and mind realm projections had been revolutionary—years ahead of its time. Sure, he’d stopped after the great tragedy, but that didn’t lessen his brilliance in my eyes. He was a genius.

And now, he was here. Walking toward us.

Had he heard about our project? About the fact that we’d just sold the prototype to Pawan? Was that why he was coming?

I glanced over at Antariksh, expecting her to be as excited as I was, but her expression threw me off completely.

Her face was pale, her body tense, and her eyes radiated nothing but cold dread.

“Good evening, Parmanu,” Dr. Sanki said, tersely..

“Hello, Dr. Sanki,” Antariksh replied shakily.

“I’m here to pick you up,” he stated casually, straightening the cuffs of his long black coat. “We leave now. Where is your infernal dorm room?”

What?

I blinked, trying to process what I’d just heard. Pick her up? What was going on?

“But I have my finals in a week,” Antariksh tried to protest, her voice uncertain.

“So?” Dr. Sanki replied, unfazed. “I’m only here to pick you up to stay with me. You can come back to write your finals. I’m staying at an asteroid nearby, and I thought you’d prefer to stay in a hotel rather than…”—he glanced around the campus with thinly veiled disgust—“…here. Besides, I’ve arranged for tutors.”

“But, Father—” Antariksh began, but he shot her a sharp, warning look, his eyes narrowing.

“Sorry, I mean Dr. Sanki… uh… alright,” she murmured, her shoulders slumping as she shrugged sadly.

Meanwhile, my mind was still reeling. Father?!

I barely registered the sound of approaching footsteps. When I finally looked up, I saw Professor Garud, Sameer, Neer, and Pruthvi’s family returning to the field.

Professor Garud’s gaze landed on Dr. Sanki almost immediately. His expression shifted—not surprise exactly, but something close to curiosity. Without hesitation, he began walking toward us.

Dr. Sanki noticed him, of course. He always noticed everything. Straightening his already perfect posture, he turned slightly to face the professor, his expression remaining impassive.

“Garud,” Dr. Sanki greeted with a curt nod, his tone neutral.

“Dr. Sanki,” Professor Garud replied, his voice warm but measured. “It’s been a long time.”

“It has,” Dr. Sanki said, his artificial fingers tapping lightly against his staff. “I trust the academy on Pluto is thriving?”

Professor Garud’s lips curved into a faint smile. “More than thriving, thanks to your generous donation. You’ve helped educate an entire generation of Plutonians, including Antariksh.” He glanced at her briefly, his smile softening.

Dr. Sanki’s expression remained unreadable, but there was a flicker of acknowledgement in his eyes. “You were persuasive, as always, Garud. Though I have yet to decide if sending her there was a wise decision.”

“Come now,” Professor Garud said, his tone light. “Antariksh has turned out wonderfully, hasn’t she? Brilliant, resourceful, and not afraid to push boundaries—like her father.”

Dr. Sanki’s gaze shifted to Antariksh, who looked like she wanted to disappear. His lips thinned as if he were about to argue, but then he simply said, “We shall see.”

The tension in the air eased slightly. I exchanged a glance with Antariksh, her expression still anxious, though there was a flicker of relief.

“Dr. Sanki,” Professor Garud continued, “surely you’ll stay for a while? I’d love to discuss some of the recent developments in mind-realm projection with you.”

Dr. Sanki raised an eyebrow. “Tempting, but I have arrangements to make. I’m only here to collect my daughter.” His voice softened just slightly as he added, “Perhaps another time.”

Professor Garud nodded, his smile unwavering. “Of course. Another time, then. But, is it really necessary to take Antariksh with you at the moment. I'd say let her stay and finish her finals first.”

Dr. Sanki's sharp gaze flicked between Professor Garud and Antariksh. His artificial fingers resumed their soft tapping against the staff, a habit I was beginning to associate with irritation or deep thought.

“She can complete her finals,” Dr. Sanki said coolly. “But she doesn’t need to remain here to prepare for them. I’ve arranged for tutors who are far more capable than the resources available at this institution.” His tone made it clear he didn’t think much of Astralis University.

Professor Garud didn’t falter. “With all due respect, Dr. Sanki, while private tutors may provide knowledge, they can’t replicate the environment Antariksh has here. Collaborative learning, exposure to peers’ ideas, and the opportunity to refine her work under pressure—these are irreplaceable experiences.”

Dr. Sanki’s eyes narrowed slightly. “And yet, despite these so-called irreplaceable experiences, she still struggles to focus. Perhaps a different approach is in order.”

“She doesn’t struggle,” Professor Garud countered gently, his voice steady. “She’s thriving. Her project ideas are innovative, her problem-solving skills are sharp, and her ability to work under pressure has improved significantly since her time at Plutonian Academy. Taking her away now could disrupt that momentum.”

Dr. Sanki’s lips pressed into a thin line. He glanced at Antariksh again, who seemed frozen under the weight of his scrutiny.

Professor Garud continued, his tone softening. “Dr. Sanki, you trusted me once when I convinced you to send her to Plutonian Academy. Trust me again now. Let her stay and finish what she’s started here. She’s on the cusp of something great—I can see it.”

For a long moment, Dr. Sanki said nothing. The only sound was the faint hum of his staff’s mechanisms, a subtle reminder of the technology he embodied. Finally, he sighed, a sound more exasperation than resignation.

“Fine,” he said at last, his voice clipped. “She can stay—for now. But I expect results, Garud.” His gaze shifted back to Antariksh. “And you, Parmanu. No distractions. If I find out you’ve squandered this opportunity, there will be consequences.”

Antariksh nodded quickly, her voice barely above a whisper. “Yes, Dr. Sanki.”

I couldn’t let the moment slip away. "Dr. Sanki!" I blurted, stepping forward with my hand outstretched for a handshake. "It’s such an honor to meet you in real life! I’ve been a fan of your work for so long now!"

His gaze shifted to me, sharp and analytical. For a moment, he didn’t respond, his hands still clasped neatly behind his back. Then his eyes fell to my extended hand, his expression unchanging.

"I don’t… shake hands," he said curtly, each word precise and deliberate.

The rejection stung more than I’d like to admit, and I awkwardly lowered my hand, trying to salvage what little dignity I had left. "Oh, uh, of course. I understand.” He was so rude! I could now tell why everyone referred to him as the most hated man in the whole galaxy. I thought maybe people were jealous of his genius. But he gave off a pure evil vibe. I knew that it would be a stupid move to infuriate this man but I didn't like him one bit and so without thinking much, I looked him directly in the eye and said,”well ... .it's a pity they discontinued your work. Heard you managed to kill your own wife with your experiments.”

Dr. Sanki’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought I’d made a grave mistake. His piercing gaze locked onto mine, and I felt as though he was calculating all the ways he could dismantle me without even breaking a sweat. Then, with a slow, deliberate drawl, he spoke.

"If the search for power costs a few lives along the way…" He paused, his lips curling into a faint, chilling smirk. "Well, that’s just the nature of progress, isn’t it? Oh, forgive me, Mr… Professor, uh?" He tilted his head slightly, his tone mockingly polite. "I’m sorry, I don’t know your name. Not that it matters." The deliberate dismissal stung, but before I could respond, he straightened, his sneer growing sharper. "Anyway," he continued, "I may have discontinued my work, but discontinued only means one thing: the galaxy authorities stopped funding it."

He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "And let me tell you a little secret, Professor…" He let the title linger, dripping with sarcasm. "True genius doesn’t need funding. It finds a way. Always."

Professor Garud stepped forward, placing a steadying hand on my shoulder. "Dr. Sanki," he said evenly, his voice calm but firm, "this isn’t the time or place for such discussions. We’re all here for the same reason—to collaborate and learn."

Dr. Sanki’s eyes flicked to him, and for a moment, something unspoken passed between them. Then, with a faint shrug, he stepped back. "Very well," he said, his tone dismissive. "But don’t mistake civility for weakness, Garud. Some lessons are best learned the hard way."

With that, he turned on his heel and began walking toward his transport, leaving the rest of us standing in the heavy silence of his wake.

—---------

ANTARIKSH’S POV

I was sitting in my bedroom, staring up at the ceiling. My nanny—or, as I preferred to call her, my maid—was struggling to complete my project. Not that it was her fault; the task was horribly complex.

My "maid" was one of the many people from this blighted asteroid belonging to Dr. Sanki. Their brains had been wiped clean, and Dr. Sanki had filled their heads with AI enhancements. I know what you're probably thinking—why wasn’t Dr. Sanki getting screwed by the galaxy authorities?! Well… the people working on this asteroid had actually consented to having their minds erased. They were individuals who had lost all sense of purpose in their lives and had willingly signed a contract with Dr. Sanki. In return, he gave them different AI-programmed minds. He didn’t exactly control them, but they were bound by a sense of duty to the asteroid. Some worked in fields, others in factories—keeping the asteroid functional.

If you counted them as humans, this place would seem like a bustling, lively colony. But they weren’t humans. They were emotionless, soulless shells. Mere bodies. And because of that, I was always plagued by a terrible sense of loneliness.

And to make matters worse, they had absolutely no creativity. My maid wasn’t even equipped with advanced scientific knowledge. I had to literally teach her so many things—deleting useless data from her memory, like the daily logs she had saved since I was a toddler. She even had records of my bowel movements and sleep schedule from when I was a kid. Like… I get it. Back then, she was the one changing my diapers, but why would she still keep that data?!

Anyway, after hours of altering her memory and teaching her science, she was finally doing something productive. And honestly? It almost felt like I had done the project myself.

"I'm going out," I told her. Not that it mattered, not that she actually cared, I reminded myself. "Okay," she replied in a mechanical voice, still trying to complete the homework. "It's alright, you don’t have to do it anymore," I told her. She stopped abruptly and walked away. She almost looked relieved, but that was probably just my mind playing tricks on me. 

I picked up my hoverboard and an oxygen mask, securing the tank behind me before stepping out onto the surface of the asteroid. I had never really used a teleport tunnel or a hyperspace tunnel across the belt—at least, not alone. But I could remember the tunnels and pathways that led to Pruthvi’s house, so I relied on muscle memory and took the first step. 

I was scared initially… The tunnels and paths all looked annoyingly similar. But after 15–20 grueling minutes, I finally spotted a water tank—this was it! Somewhere around the corner was Pruthvi’s house. Her house was huge, but it was arranged in stacks. She lived in a colony of farming asteroids, and her parents were part of a large network of dealers. They were pretty rich, but due to some tragedy, Pruthvi’s extended family had to share one stacked house. But I loved Pruthvi’s family and her home. It was always messy and chaotic, but honestly, that was what made it fun. I had been to her place before 2-3 times. The first time id been there, raised a lot of questions in me…

—-------

They were so... nice to each other. Especially her mother. She was such a warm, welcoming woman. At first, I had been scared when she leaned in for a hug, unsure how to react, but as soon as she wrapped her arms around me, I felt a genuine warmth in her embrace. It was so different from what I knew. I didn’t realize how much I’d missed that kind of kindness, that kind of softness, until I felt it from her. And then there was the way she and Mr. Terrae interacted—they seemed so in tune, so open with each other. It made me wonder...

Was my relationship with my father dysfunctional?

I had asked myself that question before, in moments of anger or frustration, but after seeing Mr. Terrae and Pruthvi, it felt different. Less like a sudden outburst, more like a quiet realization.

Maybe Mr terrae is a special kind of father. I mean people are of all sorts aren't they? My father was doing the bare minimum . He was paying for school and for food. He paid my medical bills. Mr terrae never allowed Pruthvi to have pocket money. He never allowed her the independence Dr. Sanki gave me. And *scoff* he wasn't a leading scientist otherwise he'd never had time for Pruthvi like Dr Sanki never had time for me. And I liked it this way. I never wanted Dr. Sanki in my life . I liked my space. 

I never liked Dr sanki. But I like Mr terrae. I wish I could talk to him. And I also liked Mrs terrae. I wish I could talk to her. Hell, I wish they were my parents. God what was wrong with me? Why was I so attention seeking? 

Some part of me wished Dr. Sanki would be nice. That he would say he was proud of me. But he never did. He was always angry, always distant. I was always a burden to him—getting in the way, ruining his plans. The mere sight of me seemed to spoil his day. And in a way, it was the same for me. I couldn’t stand him either. I absolutely hated him.

But I had no right to feel that way. He was the smart one. I was the dumb one. And no matter how much I hated it, the truth was that I didn’t have the strength to change anything.

—---

I flew past a corner, and her house came into view. Farms stretched across the surface, neatly lined up, with a towering structure standing in the middle—her home. I hovered outside, when one of her many uncles spotted me. He squinted, trying to place me. “Beta, you look very familiar,” he said, his tone warm but uncertain. I hesitated for a second before lifting my laser glasses onto my head, hoping he’d recognize me.

“It’s me, Uncle! Antariksh,” I said, offering a small wave.

Recognition flickered in his eyes, and his face broke into a wide grin. “Arey, Parmanu beta! It’s been so long! Come, come inside!” He gestured eagerly, already calling out to the rest of the family. Before I could even step through the entrance, chaos erupted inside the house. A couple of Pruthvi’s younger cousins rushed forward, nearly knocking into me, their excited chatter overlapping.

One of them quickly grabbed my hoverboard. “It’s a HOVERBOARD!” he yelled, his eyes wide with awe. A barrage of questions hit me all at once.

“Where did you get this?”
“Does it actually fly in space?”
“Can I try it?”
“What’s the top speed?”
“Did you modify it yourself?!”

I barely had time to react before they started poking and prodding at it, their excitement growing by the second. One of her brothers even hopped onto it, wobbling dangerously as he tried to balance. “Hey, hey, careful!” I said, reaching out to steady him.

Someone yelled, “Pruthvi! Look who’s here!” And then I heard the familiar, exasperated voice of my best friend. “Alright, alright! Let me at least see who—” She stopped mid-sentence when she spotted me. Her face lit up, and before I could react, she pulled me into a bone-crushing hug.

“Atom! What the hell?! You didn’t even tell me you were coming!”

I let out a breathless laugh. “Honestly? I wasn’t sure if I’d even make it.”

Pruthvi rolled her eyes but grinned, slinging an arm around my shoulders as she dragged me inside. “Well, you’re here now, and you’re not escaping anytime soon.”

As we stepped into the bustling house, the familiar smell of freshly cooked food filled the air. Pruthvi’s grandmother was already fussing over me, pulling me toward the dining area while scolding me for not visiting sooner. The warmth of it all—the noise, the chatter, the sheer aliveness—was a stark contrast to the eerie silence of Sanki Manor.

After I had been fed an enormous amount of food and been asked about how my finals were, by 5 different people, and shown all of Pruthvi's siblings how a hoverboard looks and works up close, I was being guided to Pruthvi’s room. 

I flopped onto Pruthvi’s bed, staring up at the sloped ceiling. The window was open, letting in the soft glow of Jupiter—the planet-turned-star. It bathed the fields outside in a golden-red hue, casting long, swaying shadows over the crops. No matter how many times I saw it, it still felt surreal. The solar system should have gone dark after the sun died, but instead, here we were, orbiting a burning Jupiter, its massive electromagnetic fields fueling the survival of everything left behind.

Her room was chaos—true, unfiltered chaos. The walls were covered in green and brown posters, some peeling at the edges. A dusty old computer sat on her desk, still running ancient games from her parents’ time. And then there was the fish tank. It sat in the corner, humming softly as Pruthvi’s homemade translator flickered with text. She had built a machine to convert the fish’s signals into human speech from some video she found online. Unfortunately, all it ever managed to translate was:

I’m hungry.
I’m bored.

I snorted. “Your fish are either really simple or really dramatic.” Pruthvi, who was fiddling with some wires near the desk, didn’t even look up. “Both. Just like my siblings.” I laughed, for the first time in the past week, since the time we said goodbye after the finals. Maybe it was the mess, maybe it was the warmth, or maybe it was just the fact that Pruthvi never treated me like an outsider. I stretched my arms over my head, sinking deeper into the mattress. 

"I missed this," I muttered without really thinking. Pruthvi finally glanced up from her tangle of wires, one eyebrow raised. "My room? The mess? Or me?"

"ALL OF IT," I said, smirking.

She snorted. “Good. Because you’re stuck here for the night.although, i share this room with two younger sisters. They will be sleeping here….hope you don't mind.”

“Well…the thing is…I kinda didn’t inform Dr Sanki…..”, I said sheepishly.

Pruthvi froze for a second, then slowly turned to face me, her expression caught between amusement and horror. “You what?”

I shrugged, suddenly very interested in the peeling corner of one of her posters. “I mean… I didn’t exactly lie to him. I just… didn’t mention I was leaving.”

“ you idiot!” She scolded me. “What if he gets worried or something?!”

“Well ....hopefully if i return before night he won't notice that i even left in the first place”, i shrugged.

“You know he cares about you”, she said, crossing her arms and looking at me like she was my mother.

“Oh, puh-lease!” I scoffed. Dr. Sanki didn’t check in on me unless it was about my test results or his latest research updates. And even then, it was all clinical. Detached. Like I was just another machine in his lab.

Pruthvi studied me for a moment, then crossed her arms. “Alright… now spill.” I blinked. “Spill what?” She narrowed her eyes. “You don’t just randomly show up here on a whim. Something’s on your mind.” She jabbed a finger at me. “So, come on—spill the beans!”

“Fine,” I sighed. “The thing is… Dr. Sanki asked me if he could attach a cyborg arm and cyborg leg… by amputating my human ones.” Pruthvi froze. Her eyes went wide, and for a second, she just stared at me in disbelief. “WHAT?!”

I winced at the volume of her voice. “Shhh! Not so loud.”

“He wants to cut off your limbs and replace them with machines?!” Her voice was a mix of horror and anger. “Are you out of your mind?!”

I shrugged awkwardly. “I didn’t say yes, but… he’s really insistent. He thinks it’ll make me stronger, more… efficient, I guess. He says it’s the next step.”

Pruthvi shook her head, pacing back and forth. “That’s insane, Antariksh! You can’t just let him take your body like that. It’s not just a few upgrades—it’s everything.”

“Oh cmon…its just one leg and one hand. Not both.”, I said. 

—-----

PRUTHVI’S POV

The practice of attaching cyborg limbs or even converting most of the human body had become increasingly common over the last few decades. It made sense in cases of people who had suffered tragic accidents, or those born with physical deformities. But this?  To consider removing perfectly healthy limbs—normal limbs—and replacing them with machines, no matter how enhanced, just didn’t sit right with me. There was the promise of strength, speed, efficiency—sure, those things sounded tempting. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that something about it was wrong. Especially considering Dr. Sanki was the one planning to carry out the surgery himself.

I was torn. I wanted to argue, to tell Antariksh that she didn’t need this, that she was fine the way she was. But… part of me understood the appeal. I saw the way she hesitated, the way she doubted herself. Wouldn’t she be better, stronger, more like what Dr. Sanki said she could be? And still, even with all that logic, I couldn’t get past the gut feeling that replacing her human limbs with machines would change something fundamental about her. Something irreplaceable.

Antariksh seemed okay with it. She kept brushing it off, but I could still see the uncertainty lingering in her eyes. It wasn’t the confident, sure expression I was used to seeing from her.

“Hey, look. If you’re really okay with this, then I guess it’s fine…” I said, my voice trailing off, still unsure.

“Yeah, I don’t mind, honestly,” Antariksh replied with a small, detached shrug. “Plus, I can’t really say no to Dr. Sanki.”

“I was just scared, though,” she continued, her voice quieter now. “What if something happens during the surgery? But he’s a really smart scientist, right? And he’s going to have help from one of the AI people at Sanki Manor.” She shrugged again, but this time, it felt more like a defense mechanism, a way to hide the fear beneath her words.

I could tell she was trying to convince herself as much as she was trying to convince me. And that worried me even more. But it seemed like she had already made up her mind. 

I laid down next to her in the bed as well. We remained silent for the next few minutes. I rolled onto my side, propping myself up on an elbow and giving her a playful grin. “Hey… have you spoken to Agni at all after the finals?”

She stiffened slightly, a faint blush creeping up her neck toward her face. I giggled, loving the effect I had on her. “What? No! Why would I?” she shrugged, but her voice wavered a little. “It’s not like he really wants to talk to me, y’know…” she muttered almost bitterly.

I grinned, leaning in just a bit. “You know, you almost sound like you wish he would. I mean, you two really hit it off at the science fest, didn’t you? And all those extra classes before the finals… Why even I wasn’t called to attend them!”

“Pruthvi!” Antariksh shot me a glare. “You know he kept those extra classes just to embarrass the students who weren’t performing well in physics! You were doing awesome, while I was barely keeping afloat!”

I shrugged nonchalantly, still grinning. “Oh, come on, Antariksh! Just admit it already! You like him!”

“I don’t!” she retorted, her cheeks reddening further.

“Yeah, you do,” I teased. “Just say it!”

“Fine!” she said, her voice muffled from behind a pillow.

“AHA! I KNEW IT!” I jumped up, laughing triumphantly.

“I used to like him!” Antariksh said quickly, but I wasn’t listening anymore, too busy celebrating my victory.

I grinned even wider. “Sure, sure! I can’t wait to tell Sameer!”

“NO!” Antariksh screeched.

“Okay, okay… fine…” I looked at her slyly, still savoring the moment. “I won’t tell Sameer... yet.”

“You are IMPOSSIBLE.”

—------

ANTARIKSH’S POV

We spent most of the time chilling in her room, laughing and talking about random stuff. After a while, we decided to video call Sameer and Neer, with Professor Garud and Agni joining the conversation too. It was nice, in a way, to reconnect with everyone, even if the usual tensions lingered in the background.

Then Sameer, in his usual mischievous way, swung the camera toward Agni. The moment I saw Agni’s face on the screen, I froze, my stomach twisting. Before I could stop myself, I jumped up and darted toward the door, desperate to escape.

But the last thing I wanted Agni to see was me trying to bolt out of Pruthvi’s room like a scared rabbit, locked in a room with a stupid puzzle that wouldn’t open. So, I immediately stopped myself, turned around, and tried to pretend like everything was fine.

I cleared my throat and slowly walked back into the frame, forcing a casual smile. “Hey, what’s up?” I said, trying to sound completely normal, though I was pretty sure I sounded more like a nervous wreck.

He was busy with some work, barely looking at the screen. But then, when he noticed me, his gaze shifted. He raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “Antariksh! How are you doing?” he asked, his tone casual, almost like nothing had changed.

“Uhh... g-good! Good... uhmmm, I’m—I’m doing p-pretty great... a-actually... ahem,” I stuttered. He tilted his head slightly, then shook it, his lips curling into that annoying smirk of his. “Oh lord... are you seriously stuttering again?” he said, his voice dripping with amusement. “I thought we became friends over those remedial classes before the finals… you’d stopped stuttering at least. Just one week since we spoke, and you’re already reduced to a mess again?”

Sameer, Pruthvi, and Neer howled with laughter as I gripped the edge of Pruthvi’s bed, trying to steady myself, but my brain wasn’t cooperating. I opened my mouth to speak but all that came out was a nervous squeak. I excused myself to go use the washroom. Partly because I didnt wanna face Agni and partly because I was pretty sure I wet myself.

Before I knew it, dawn was falling over the asteroid. Pruthvi’s family insisted I stay for dinner, and honestly, I was glad they did. Dinner at Pruthvi’s was filling in every sense—food, conversation, warmth. I would've stayed the night, but the thought of Dr. Sanki waiting, the looming silence of Sanki Manor, and what he might say... 

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I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my body.

The arm and leg were AWESOME.

Dr. Sanki had replaced my left hand and right leg, and they were perfect. The metal plating gleamed under the artificial light, the intricate joints and servos moving effortlessly as I flexed my new cyborg arm. It didn’t even feel foreign—just an extension of me.

I was still supposed to be doing physiotherapy to adjust, but so far, everything felt... natural. Smooth. Strong. I lifted my leg experimentally, rolling my ankle. No stiffness. No discomfort.

Maybe I wouldn’t even need physiotherapy.

I grinned, flexing my fingers, watching the sleek mechanics respond without hesitation. This was better than I had imagined.

I had a week before the second semester started, and for the first time in a long time, I actually felt good. Maybe even... excited.

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