Kavin’s fingers moved furiously over his phone screen as he dashed out of the conference hall, ignoring the calls of his friends. His mind was buzzing with possibilities, each more thrilling than the last. Azhini’s words about suspended animation, BCI, metempsychosis and the possibility of reaching those via combining traditional knowledge and modern technology had ignited something in him. He barely registered Vicky’s confused shout behind him or Mithun’s exasperated mutterings. The world outside the conference felt distant, the idea of achieving the impossible pulling him forward.
Without a second thought, Kavin rushed to his secluded mansion, which he had long ago converted into a high-tech laboratory—a place where his wildest ideas could take form. He had spent countless nights here, tinkering with algorithms, pushing the limits of virtual reality, and now, his latest breakthrough demanded his full attention.
Vicky, Mithun, and Meera stood in the lobby of the conference hall, watching Kavin’s retreating figure with a mix of disbelief and annoyance.
Vicky scratched his head, staring at the space where Kavin had been a moment ago. “Is he serious? Running off like that?” he asked, his voice tinged with frustration but also concern.
“He’s off to his ‘laboratory’ again?,” Mithun muttered, barely looking up from his phone where he was already texting someone about the latest gossip from the event. "This guy and his mad experiments… I swear, he’s more obsessed with his lab than with us sometimes."
Meera sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "Well, at least he's not dragging us into his chaos for once."
Vicky looked at her, perplexed. "Are you sure you don’t mind? I thought we were supposed to brainstorm the new game level together, not go home early to stare at our screens."
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
Mithun grinned. "Exactly. If I’m stuck here all night, I might as well eat my weight in snacks and gossip about how Kavin probably forgot to feed his cat again."
Vicky raised an eyebrow. "Wait, he has a cat?"
"You didn’t know?” Mithun leaned in, lowering his voice, “It’s a completely black one. Always sneaks around in his lab. It's like his little shadow."
Meera chuckled, but her mind wandered back to Kavin’s impulsive exit. Despite the frustration, she couldn’t help but admire his drive. Even if it meant abandoning them to deal with all the aftermath.
---
Meanwhile, at the Mansion-Laboratory:
Kavin burst through the mansion’s front door, his heart pounding with excitement and nerves. The old stone walls that had once seemed confining now felt like they were closing in on him as his mind raced. His fingers found their place on the keyboard as if guided by some unseen force. The room was bathed in the soft glow of several monitors and glowing consoles, each one humming with untapped potential.
But something was off.
His excitement was clouded by the sudden realization—he didn’t have any of the details he needed. Not even the researcher's contact information. His fingers froze above the keyboard as the panic set in. How could he contact Azhini?
He immediately dialed Vicky.
“Vicky, I need her details—Azhini’s. Quick!”
Vicky’s voice, still muffled by the static, came through. “What? Kavin, the conference ended an hour ago. I don’t have her details.”
Kavin swore under his breath. He had no choice but to find another way.
But just as desperation was setting in, Mithun barged into the lab with a mischievous grin.
“I got it!” he announced proudly, holding up a small paper. “Her email ID. Found it in the books of abstracts. You’re welcome!”
Kavin’s eyes lit up, and he grabbed the piece of paper with a sigh of relief. “Mithun, you’re a lifesaver.”
Mithun smirked, the pride of being the hero for once not lost on him. “You owe me one. You’ve got her email now. Maybe send her a nice message—get her to help you with that crazy idea of yours.”
Kavin didn’t wait any longer. He opened his email and began typing, his fingers flying over the keyboard. This was it.
---
The first message went out, and their email journey began. Kavin couldn’t help but smile to himself. He had no idea what would come of this conversation, but he was certain it would be the start of something that could change everything.
---