After the day Dilli broke down before her, something changed between them—
not in a way that crossed the boundaries of innocence,
but in the way a wounded soul finds its first breath of peace.
Shakthi had always been bright,
but now she seemed to shine in a direction only Dilli could see.
Every day, when her school ended,
she would come running toward him, ponytail bouncing,
eyes full of questions, curiosity, and warmth that melted the cold metal of Dilli's burdens.
And every day, Dilli was there—
waiting for her.
Sometimes with a rare smile,
sometimes weary but present,
sometimes haunted but grateful.
Shakthi never called him brother again.
She respected his heart more than her age should have allowed.
Now she called him with a soft gentleness:
"Dilli…"
And somehow, hearing his own name from her felt like a grounding force—
a reminder that he was still human
beneath the layers of power, secrecy, and responsibility.
A Daily Refuge
Their routine became sacred.
Shakthi would spread her school notebooks before him—
not because she needed help,
but because she wanted his company.
Dilli would listen to her talk about math, stories, her classmates,
and in those moments,
the noise of geopolitical shadows faded.
Her questions were sharp,
her observations surprisingly mature.
More than once, Dilli thought:
"This child… her mind is decades ahead."
Sometimes, she would tilt her head and ask:
"Dilli, are you thinking too much again?"
He would smirk, caught like a child stealing sweets.
"Maybe."
And she would tap his forehead lightly.
"Then stop. Your brain needs rest too."
No one—not Betal, not the scientists, not the elders—
could bring that kind of simplicity into his complicated world.
Only Shakthi.
The Day He Introduced Her to Betal
Betal materialized in a soft blue shimmer as Dilli guided Shakthi into the hidden chamber.
Her jaw dropped.
"Woahhhh… Are you a ghost? A robot? A… magic person?"
Betal blinked.
"I am… Betal."
Shakthi circled him, studying him with awe.
"Are you alive?"
Betal hesitated—a question he could answer a hundred ways.
"I am… aware."
She grinned.
"That's enough for me."
Betal, the most advanced cognitive construct on Earth,
was taken off guard by a 7-year-old.
Later, he whispered to Dilli:
"Her curiosity is… new. Refreshing. Human in a way that feels ancient."
It was the first time Betal ever sounded almost… fond.
The Secret of Veda
One evening, Dilli guided Shakthi deeper—
to the crystalline core of Project Veda.
The chamber glowed faintly,
light dancing across her wide eyes.
She whispered:
"It's beautiful…"
Dilli knelt beside her.
"Shakthi… no one outside this room should ever know what you saw today."
She turned serious instantly.
"You trust me with this?"
"More than anyone," Dilli said.
She placed her small hand over her heart.
"I promise.
I won't tell.
Not even if someone threatens me."
The maturity in her tone sent a tremor through him.
This was not ordinary intelligence.
This was a soul carved by destiny.
Dilli gave her limited access to Veda—
simple interfaces, safe layers.
Not the dangerous heart,
but enough for her to learn, to explore, to grow.
Betal watched silently.
"Her potential is extraordinary," he murmured.
"She sees connections adults overlook.
She asks questions even scientists cannot imagine."
Dilli felt something warm rise in his chest—
a quiet pride,
a sense of companionship,
a relief he had not felt in years.
Her Presence Healed Him
Day by day, Shakthi unknowingly stitched together the fragments of Dilli's weary heart.
When he doubted himself—
she questioned him until he remembered his strength.
When he felt watched by the world—
she sat beside him,
drawing stars in the dirt to remind him that not all eyes were hostile.
When the burdens crushed him—
her small hand on his sleeve was enough to pull him back.
She didn't understand his mission.
She didn't grasp the geopolitics.
She didn't know the weight of the world on his shoulders.
But she understood him.
And that was enough.
A Bond Written by Fate
Their relationship never crossed innocence.
It never became something inappropriate.
It remained pure, grounding, powerful—
a bond between a visionary and the child who kept him human.
Hope Island saw Dilli as a leader.
The world saw him as a threat.
Betal saw him as a commander.
But Shakthi…
Shakthi saw him as Dilli—
a boy who had suffered too much
and needed someone to pull him back from the edge.
And because of her,
Dilli stood straighter.
His heart beat steadier.
His resolve sharpened.
Shakthi didn't just become part of his life—
she became the reason he still lived it.