Vedika's face glowed with quiet pride, the corners of her lips curling into a soft, contented smile. Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson—like freshly picked tomatoes basking in the sunlight—as Shivangi's eyes sparkled with unfiltered wonder, as if she were witnessing a miracle unfold before her.
They sat in their shared sanctuary — a space that was once a bedroom but had been half-converted into a laboratory, stitched together with laughter, memories, and midnight musings. The table before them was a glorious mess—blueprints layered with scribbles, sketchpads overlapping wires, half-finished circuits nestled beside glitter pens and empty teacups. Childhood trinkets sat beside humming gadgets, echoes of their past woven into the pulse of their present.
Amid the chaos of creation, in that little haven of possibility, sat their masterpiece—proof of all they had built together.
"Thank you, thank you very much!" Shivangi's voice spilled like honey, warm and brimming with gratitude. In her hands rested the finished chip — a sleek, compact masterpiece, designed and perfected by Vedika over days of sleepless tinkering. It wasn't just hardware; it was a dream etched into reality, carefully soldered and coded into existence.
Vedika tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and looked away, feigning modesty but clearly basking in the praise. Shivangi's gaze lingered, curiosity bubbling beneath the surface.
"Vedu… can I ask you something?" she said at last, her tone gentle but laced with that unmistakable mix of awe and affection.
"Of course, what is it?" Vedika replied, raising a curious brow. She leaned in, resting her chin against her palm, a teasing glint dancing in her eyes. "Is this where you ask for my autograph?"
Shivangi chuckled and rolled her eyes, but then her voice softened, her curiosity peeking through. "No, I'm serious. How do you do it, Vedu?" She asked, hesitating for just a beat, her gaze sparkling with wonder. "How do you create something so beautiful… so alive? It's not just code and circuits with you — it's art. It's immersive."
She leaned in, her face just inches from Vedika's, eyes wide with fascination—like a curious little child, on the verge of uncovering a precious secret.
Shivangi internally thought, admiring Vedika's remarkable qualities. I knew that it was not appropriate to ask this type of question. I am well aware that neither I nor my next seven — no, not even my next 100 generations — would be able to acquire the level of concentration and determination that Vedika possesses.
In fact, I am certain that Vedika's exceptional concentration and determination are traits that will remain unmatched for hundreds of generations to come.
Vedika chuckled, a sly smile playing on her lips as she glanced theatrically from side to side, scanning the room like a spy about to divulge state secrets. Then, leaning in with a mock-whisper, she said, "Okay. I'm about to share my deepest secret. But shh... don't tell anyone."
Shivangi's eyes widened, her excitement practically radiating off her. She instinctively leaned closer, her body buzzing with anticipation—like a kitten drawn toward a dangling toy, ready to pounce on a long-lost treasure.
"It's all about passion, Shivangi…" Vedika began with a dramatic pause, her tone rich with faux wisdom. Then, just as Shivangi leaned in with bated breath, Vedika's lips curled into a mischievous grin. "And dedication. Which, by the way, you completely lack!"
"What—!?" Shivangi's eyes widened in mock betrayal, her mouth falling open. "You ungrateful jerk!" She shouted, her voice rising like a battle cry.
Vedika burst into laughter, the sound ringing through the room like music. Shivangi, not to be outdone, sprang from her chair and charged with exaggerated fury. What followed was pure chaos—a wild, laughter-filled chase around the room as Shivangi attempted to give her mischievous best friend a thoroughly earned, good-natured beating.
"Aaah! No!" Vedika shrieked with laughter, dodging to the side.
Before Vedika could react, Shivangi lunged at her with theatrical fury, launching into a full-on chase. The room exploded into laughter and chaos as Vedika squealed and darted between chairs and scattered blueprints, narrowly dodging Shivangi's outstretched hands. Their little sanctuary echoed with the sounds of mischief, friendship, and pure, unfiltered joy.
After 30 seconds of chasing...
"You won't get away with this, Veda!" Shivangi shouted, her voice a dramatic mix of mock fury and laughter. She chased Vedika around the room, knocking over cushions, sliding across rugs, and throwing everything within reach—a pillow, a book, even a plush flying squirrel—and hurled them with wild precision.
"You insult me after I compliment you? VEDIKA NARAYAN, PREPARE TO DIE!" She bellowed, her laughter ringing through the room like battle drums made of pure mischief.
Vedika cackled breathlessly as she dodged behind a chair. "No violence, please! I'm delicate! My brain's a national treasure!"
"You mean narcissistic treasure." Shivangi snapped, her voice breathless with laughter as she hurled a pillow across the room.
Vedika ducked just in time, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "You can't hit genius!" She declared grandly, grabbing a cushion in self-defense.
She dodged or caught the items, her laughter echoing through the room, like a battle cry. "No, no, no. Shivangi, no." She pleaded dramatically, holding up her hands in defense. "No, Shivangi. My darling, please."
But Shivangi was relentless, fueled by the righteous fury of playful betrayal. Cushions had flown, a plush flying squirrel had been sacrificed, and Vedika was rapidly running out of places to hide.
Just as Shivangi lunged forward, poised to strike with another pillow, Vedika's eyes flicked to the table—and then lit up.
"Shivangi! The project!" she yelped, snatching the project chip and holding it aloft like a divine shield. "Do you want to be the reason we fail?"
Shivangi skidded to a halt, her eyes locking onto the chip. "What?" she asked, suspicious.
Vedika waved the chip in the air. "You break this, and we both fail. No dreams, no future, just eternal shame and failure."
Shivangi's eyes darted between the chip and Vedika, suspicious. "…Are you bluffing?"
Vedika tilted her head, smirking. "Wanna find out?"
There was a beat of tense silence.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Vedika quickly got closer and snatched the pillow Shivangi had been wielding.
"Nothing." Vedika said, grinning mischievously. "Just needed to stop a wild cat."
"…You're bluffing," Shivangi said flatly, but her voice had lost some of its steam.
Vedika smirked. "Am I?"
Shivangi narrowed her eyes.
And then puffed out her cheeks in mock defeat. "Ugh. Fine. You win this time, evil genius."
"National treasure, actually," Vedika corrected, still grinning, as she placed the chip back on the table with exaggerated care.
"But mark my words, I'll get back at you next time!" she said, sticking out her tongue, her face scrunched up in a mock-threatening expression. Then she crossed her arms in playful anger.
"Sure, sure." Vedika chuckled and reached out, ruffling Shivangi's hair fondly. "Plot your revenge, my little menace."
Shivangi leaned into the touch, her frown giving way to a soft smile — one that said this moment, like many others they shared, would be a memory worth keeping forever.
The room gradually quieted, their laughter fading into a warm hum of contentment. The chaotic storm of pillows and flying squirrel plushies gave way to a soft stillness, like the hush after a summer rain.
Vedika gently settled into her chair again, the grin on her face slowly melting into a look of fierce concentration. Her fingers found the project chip with instinctual precision, and her eyes sharpened, the playful sparkle now replaced by an intense golden glint.
She inhaled deeply.
"Nabhovajranetra.""Abhayagami."
The words fell from her lips like sacred invocations.
At once, her body responded — a subtle tremor of energy pulsed through her. Her eyes shimmered with molten gold, burning with clarity and vision. Her fingers moved with supernatural grace, weaving threads of code and design in seamless harmony.
This was no longer just a project.This was art. This was purpose.This was power — awakened.
As their playful battle subsided, Vedika turned her attention back to the project. She worked with renewed focus, her eyes and hands deftly adjusting the intricate design of the chip.
"Nabhovajranetra[1]!" "Abhayagami[2]!" Vedika activated her eye and hand skills, unleashing a surge of focus and speed that erupted within her. Her eyes blazed with golden determination.
With precision, she scanned every detail, her gaze piercing through the intricacies of the chip. Meanwhile, her hands danced with confident, precise gestures, as if whispering secrets to the wind.
Shivangi watched her friend with a mixture of admiration and amusement. Veda's dedication was inspiring, yet it also presented an irresistible opportunity for mischief. A sly grin spread across Shivangi's face as a plan formed in her mind.
Vedika, sensing Shivangi's plan, playfully nodded her head without looking up.
After a short while, she returned with two sweet drinks in hand. "Here, have some." She said, placing one on the table.
"Hmm." Vedika nodded fervently, still absorbed in her work.
After waiting for few minutes...
"Vedika." Shivangi called softly, but there was no response. She tried again, this time louder, but Veda remained unperturbed.
Shivangi rolled her eyes and chuckled, picked up the drink, and unscrewed the lid of Vedika's drink. With a mischievous grin, she tilted it and poured the cold liquid directly into Vedika's mouth.
"..." "Shiv...angi..!" Veda sputtered, caught completely off guard. She sat up abruptly, her expression a mix of shock and exasperation. She glared at Shivangi with a questioning gaze.
"What?" Shivangi asked innocently, though her grin betrayed her true intent. "You were so absorbed in your work, you didn't even notice the drink had been sitting here for 15 minutes. So, I took matters into my own hands." She grinned mischievously, her eyes sparkled with joy.
Vedika rolled her eyes, a hint of exasperation in her voice. "Okay, okay. I'm drinking it. Are you happy now?" She set aside her work and drank her Aam panna drink in front of Shivangi, her eyes never leaving her friend's face.
The tension between them was palpable, but it was a comfortable, familiar tension, born of years of friendship and playful banter. As they engaged in their lighthearted exchange, they remained oblivious to the fact that something monumental was about to happen in the next few seconds - something that would catch them completely off guard.
The air was thick with anticipation, but it was an anticipation that only the universe seemed to sense. Vedika and Shivangi were too caught up in their own little world, a world of laughter and friendship, to notice the storm clouds gathering on the horizon.
And yet, as they sat there, smiling at each other, the universe was holding its breath, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. The clock was ticking, the seconds counting down to a moment that would change everything.
[1] Nabhovajranetra (Sky Thunder Eye): As activating this skill, her black eyes turned into radiant golden orbs, blazing with an otherworldly light. Her vision sharpened to perfection, allowing her to scan and analyze even the tiniest of details in her surroundings. Nothing escaped her piercing gaze.
[2] Abhayagami (Fearless Walker): Upon activating this skill, Vedika's hands moved with an almost ethereal precision, dancing through the air as if conducting a silent symphony. Each motion seemed alive, as though her fingers were whispering secrets to the unseen forces around her.