The second whistle of the pressure cooker echoed just as Shivam unlocked the door. A wave of warm air, coriander, and cumin greeted him like a welcome back slap. His mother's voice floated from the kitchen before he even stepped in.
"Shoes off. Hands washed. And don't pretend you already did it."
Shivam kicked off his sneakers, letting his bag slide off his shoulder. The faint thump from Dikshant's Bluetooth speaker was coming from the back room, some lo-fi playlist paired with the occasional muttered abuse.
"Why is Newton obsessed with inclined planes, bro?" Dikshant yelled, mostly to himself. "Nobody even walks like that in real life!"
In the living room, ASI Jitender had claimed his corner of the sofa, shoes still on, belt loosened just enough, first roti folded and dipped into a bowl of Lauki curry. The remote rested on his belly like it belonged there. The news played, volume low but eyes fixed.
Shivam washed his face at the basin, towel-drying half-heartedly. He entered the dining space just as the segment on SynerTech hit the screen.
"In a landmark public-private collaboration, SynerTech CEO Kairav Mehta and Industrial Minister Brijesh Tomar announced their joint vision for a defense R&D corridor across Northern India..."
The screen cut to a gleaming auditorium stage. Kairav stood tall in a navy Nehru jacket, hands folded humbly, the perfect face of young innovation. Brijesh Tomar was beside him in kurta-pajama, draped in a shawl too crisp to be unintentional.
"Together, we bring India closer to self-reliance in law enforcement tools, crowd management, and sustainable tech for public safety," Kairav said, nodding slightly, like a man allergic to arrogance but born with power.
Shivam stared a little longer than he intended. The glow of the TV lit up half his face.
Their father chewed slowly, eyes still on the screen. "At least someone's doing something useful in this country. Not like these Netas who can't even pass a sanitation bill."
"Hmm," Shivam muttered, seating himself quietly. His mother appeared with a fresh stack of rotis. "Twice this week, you skipped lunch," she scolded mildly. "What's going on in that head of yours? You look like someone hit you with a frying pan."
Shivam forced a small smile. "Just classes. Labs running late."
"Or maybe you're just dreaming about that Bhumika girl again," Dikshant teased, walking in with his notebook still open. "He was muttering in his sleep last night.
"Shut up and solve your circuits," Shivam shot back. But even his comeback lacked bite. He stared back at the screen where Brijesh was declaring "an Indian future powered by Indian brilliance."
A flash of lights. A handshake. The crowd erupted. Cameras clicked.
And Shivam… couldn't help but feel like something wasn't clicking at all. The cameras flashed. Kairav smiled with the same effortless ease he had perfected over the years, chin slightly tilted, eyes calm, palms meeting every hand with practiced timing. His Nehru jacket was immaculately pressed, not a crease in sight, and his posture broadcasted exactly what the country expected from its next-gen tech leaders: poised, brilliant, reassuring.
Beside him, Brijesh Tomar clapped as the final line of the announcement faded behind the lectern. The crowd at the SynerTech–Government Defense Collaboration Summit rose in polite applause. Among them were bureaucrats, police commissioners, corporate analysts, and a few dozen strategically invited students from engineering colleges, all watching the future unfold from velvet-covered seats.
Kairav leaned into the mic one last time. "This isn't just about defense. This is about dignity. Dignity for every citizen who deserves safety. And dignity for every officer who deserves tools smarter than sticks and shields."
A standing ovation followed. The branding was perfect. The logo behind them pulsed gently with blue lights: SynerTech x Bharat Innovation Corridor.
Once off-stage, behind the panels and heavy curtains of the event hall, the smiles slipped a little.
Brijesh was the first to loosen his kurta collar. "I'll say this much, you've got the stage presence nailed. If this tech thing doesn't work out, try Parliament." He chuckled, wiping his forehead with a neatly folded handkerchief.
Kairav didn't return the joke. He was already scanning the clipboard one of his assistants had handed over, notes about upcoming NGO deployments, field equipment, logistics.
"Ridge group confirmed?" he asked, flipping to the second page. "Cluster Seven finalized?"
Brijesh nodded, pulling out his reading glasses. "Students from three DU colleges. One of your field engineers will join them as a guide. Keep it clean, keep it friendly."
"We don't need friendly," Kairav muttered. "We need consistent exposure."
He tapped his finger on a line marked in red:
"Secondary Strain Sensor Calibration – Expected Readings from Ridge Layer II (Crystal Fluctuation Window)"
"Two years ago, we lost the opportunity to isolate the Noctirum core. If it's resurfacing, whether in crystal veins or subconscious transference, we need real-time responses. The human factor still matters."
Brijesh folded his arms. "And if someone recognizes it for what it is?"
"We spin it. Call it a myth. A radiation zone. Anything but what it actually is."
Their conversation paused as a few photographers were ushered in for a final photo-op. The two men returned to their roles instantly, smiling as they stood side by side with a group of uniformed school kids and a few senior IPS officers. Brijesh bent slightly to pose with one student, giving a grandfatherly smile. Kairav raised his right hand in a minimal wave.
The camera clicked.
No one asked about the black briefcase just behind the podium, sealed, temperature-controlled, and faintly humming.
Later, as the guests filed out and the lights dimmed, Kairav walked toward the service elevator with a junior engineer trailing him.
"Everything's timed for next week?" he asked, not slowing down.
"Yes, sir. Ridge operation is synced with the NGO's environmental awareness program. Public angle's solid."
"And the subject lists?"
The engineer hesitated. "Group 7 includes about fifteen students. Including, uh…. Shivam, you told us about"
Kairav's eyes flicked sideways, but only for a second. "Let's see what does he tell us about his journey to another world."
And just like that, the doors closed. The lights in the house had dimmed to their usual post-dinner quiet. The ceiling fan hummed overhead, stirring faint gusts through the grilled balcony door.