And with Dr Arya, he entered the college whistling a bit holding a round pan drive that twisted like a fidget spinner. He was moving with little sway in it. He greeted who greeted him and ignored who ignored him. He entered the main lab, where few researchers were doing their stuff, and he went to the receptionist, and asked the beautiful lady in a very casual tone about whose turn it was to use the supercomputer? And if there is any day. And the receptionist said in a respectful tone, that it's available in a week, but it can be ahead of time. She'll ask someone if they can give their turn, and they'll agree for sure. And he just smiled, and said that would be great.
And after some time, he got his chance, and entered the core area of a super computer named Vishnu. He touched the arm chair in one of the monitors, and the receptionist was following him.
" Dr Arya, how much processing power do you need?" she asked in a polite tone.
" Not much, not much." He said waving his arms, and told her to give her some space. And she nodded.
He sat on the chair, and plugged his pandrive, and said.
" Let's hope it works." And as soon he plugged in, the camera monitoring him flickered, and came back to his senses. And Dr Arya looked at the data following in the monitor and whistle..
" It really worked." And he started to check his work and simulation.
And with Krishna, Rohit took him to his lab, which was on the other side of the house, and it looked simple, but not so simple. They enter the lab, and Rohit sits on a chair and then enters some keys into the computer, and it opens another secret lab.
" This is my lab, and here I do half of my stuff, which can either make me visionary or a madman. It depends who's looking at it by the way." And then he started to press some buttons and became busy, and Krishna asked if he could look around, which he nodded, and said just don't touch anything.
Krishna wandered around the lab looking at this half bizarre lab, when he noticed something shiny on a pedestal, and it had an omega logo on it. Krishna's eyes were attracted to it, he was about to touch it when Rohit's voice came.
" How is it?" Asked Rohit, holding a coffee cup, and one he handed over to Krishna.
" Is it?" And Rohit replied negatively.
" It's fake. I've hidden the original well enough." and he took a sip.
" Its actual weight is way heavier than you think. It took me a while and a lot of favors to get this, it's the second most fascinating thing I have ever study"
" Is it dangerous?"
" Dangerous? I would say disastrous, if I could, I would destroy it long ago. A mortal should not have this kind of power." And Krishna looked at his hand.
" Then what about us?" And Rohit replied.
" We should not as well. My impulsiveness almost exposed our planet." And after hearing that, Krishna finally asked.
" What is this threat you are talking about, you didn't say in front of Priya and others?" And seeing this, Rohit looked at him weirdly.
" Isn't it obvious, whoever is looking for it?" and there was huge silence there.
" So how can you stop whoever is looking for it?"
" It's not necessary, I've blocked the power leakage, and the box has a self repair function, and it's pretty much indestructible."
" What if something happens to it?"
" We'll see when it happens." And he turned back.
" What if I couldn't stop it?"
" It'll be a surprise if you can. The world is so big, I've spent my time looking for someone like you. And so far, I haven't found anything of much value."
" What about the Meta-gene enhancer you created?"
" Never trust something that's not under your control. That's what life will teach you. No matter how strong the enemy outside is, the biggest threat will always be among us." And he paused, maybe thinking something.
" Others aren't trustworthy?" he asked.
" Power changes people, Krishna. People doing good with it are always a minority. And like I said earlier, it's a very unstable factor." And he paused, probably thinking something, and after that he continued.
" Do you really think my Meta-gene research is for a show? I have never trusted anyone since the last incident where my research was stolen. Just think about it Krishna, what would have everyone has the power but not will of a strong. You and I are rare. Not even Priya has ever entered this room, not because I don't trust, it's because I trust the world enough. When I got my powers, I didn't know what power means, I thought this was all natural, but things change, people change. If I had known you were alive a while ago, I would have rushed to bring you back. I spend years searching for you or your remains. The first year was for love, but the rest for worry." And he looked at him.
" You didn't send Priya to test my abilities, did you?" And Rohit didn't look any different. He just took a sip, and replied.
" I didn't send Priya and Sakshi to get your data or to check your powers. I know you were special, long before your birth. I sent them there to assess you. To see how you have grown." And he became silent. And Krishna clenched his fist.
" You were checking if the second Mahamanav you know has gone rouge or not. " This wasn't a question.
" I have to. But you have Daader. So I don't have to worry too much." And Krishna looked at his eyes a little angry.
" What if I had?" And he replied with that calm look.
" As I said earlier, my research on Meta-genes is not for show." And Krishna looked at him, seeing in his eyes, they were not saying anything. Krishna, seeing this, just walked away.
And in the house, Sakshi who was just awake and was brushing her teeth saw this scene, his brother storming out of his father's superlab where even she has never entered. And for a moment she couldn't understand what happened, and when she did, it was already late, he had left the house, and when she went to his father to ask what happened. He didn't reply and just stated.
" Nothing." But his eyes betrayed him, it wasn't guilt or anything, it was something deep.
" I hope things don't go the way I think they might."
And outside, Sakshi immediately called him, but he didn't pick up, and after trying several times, she gave up, and called her sister in law,, cough,,cough, Priya, and told her the entire situation, the part she knows at least. And Priya also tried to call him, and like Sakshi, he didn't pick up and she also started to worry, and she asked Sakshi about more details, but she said, she didn't know anything, she just woke up late, and saw Krishna storming out of the house like it's on fire. Which she in replied asked is she can ask Dr Mehra, which she replied by throwing the question back.
" Why don't you ask him?" And she also got quiet. And Priya after thinking and gritting her teeth replied.
" I'll find another way." And she hung up the phone, and took some breath, and called a number she didn't like to call. Her sister.
And on the other side of the city. Supriya was in a traffic jam, which was caused by a masked pared, in honor of our own superhero Krish. And it was quite long and crowded. Supriya was getting late, and the sound was so loud that she couldn't hear her phone ringing, so she decided to take the newly built subway, she entered it, and it was mildly crowded, and she got her seat, and sat down, and when she looked at her phone she found her sister missed call which were unusual to say the least.
She called her back, and in hurry came her question. She asked if Krishna was with her, to which she replied, he was not. Supriya asked what happened, and Priya replied, hat Sakshi had told her. Which wasn't much, but Supriya got cusp of the matter.
" What,,, the…are all the scientists mad." And Priya probably didn't hear that, and asked.
" What?" And Supriya mattered to herself.
" The ones I know, at least." And then she hung up the phone and said she'll call him. And the train started, and in loud speaker it said it'll reach the next location in twenty minutes. And she called Krishna, and like others, he didn't pick up.
And with Krishna, he was on top the building looking at the whole jungle of concrete in front of him, his eyes a little moist, his face showing a little sadness.
Things were really complicated, he understood but didn't want to understand anything, he just wanted to stay away from her now. So he without thinking just jumped, and jumped over another building, which cracked the floor a bit. And he jumped again, with a runup, and this time he jumped really far, crossing many blocks, and landed on another building, but it didn't break this time, and without stopping he kept on jumping far away at a very fast speed. And Rohit, he saw him jumping over a building, his eyes fluctuating.
And with Supriya, after trying a lot she gave up, and called her sister, which she hasiated. But still does, and it took some time for her to pick up.
" He didn't pick up, I think you should ask Dr Mehra properly first, what happened, and look if Sakshi can track his phone or something, I'll check if picks up the phone later." It was a normal response to their situation, but the person receiving it wasn't part of this situation.
" Supriya?" And when Supriya heard this voice, she immediately became silent and her expression becomes emotionless. And she hung the phone immediately. She put back her phone, and switched it off. And she felt like her whole morning was ruined. And leaned back on the train's seat.
And a little far from here, in the oceans of Mumbai, a floating lighthouse was floating in waves rhythmingly. A group of two was monitoring the waves and seismic movement and motion noticed something there was a spike in one of the raydaars. He elbowed the other guy, which in response he took off his headphones, and looked at him and asked. Which! In reply he pointed at the readings, and the guy told him to contact the forecast department immediately. And outside, the waves on the ocean started to get a little more wavy, and the surroundings became quiet.
And with Supriya, her train was just moving forward on an underground tunnel, when the light of the tram flicker. And supriya and others all looked at it. And the tram shook a little, and then the light came on, and the tram stopped. The light switched to emerge once, and an announcement was made.
[Public Announcement – Emergency Alert]
[⚠️ Attention all passengers:
This tram has made an emergency stop due to seismic activity detected in the area.
For your safety, please remain calm and stay inside the tram until further instructions are provided by tram personnel or emergency services.
We are currently assessing the situation and will resume service as soon as it is safe to do so.
Your cooperation is appreciated.
Please stay alert and follow all safety guidelines.
Thank you.]
It repeated for three times, and then stopped.
And after hearing that, the atmosphere in the tram was a little tense, and they started murmuring to each other, talking about the sudden earthquake and other stuff. They talked about how sudden it war or if they are gonna hurt or something. And the voices of discussion started to get higher and higher, when the tram suddenly shook. Many people scream, and many hold the things they were holding more tightly. The tram shook more, and a magnitude 3.2 hit the coastal areas of Mumbai in a very silent state. Some structures were damaged, but the rest remain normal.
The tram shook for a while, and many people standing sat down, and screams kept coming from the tram inside. And after some time, it stopped. And Supriya tried to calm everyone down. And said it's ok, the earthquake has subsided, and there is no problem anymore. And like usual, just as she said that, a problem happened. The tunnel above the tram's engine started to crack a little. Which wasn't a good thing. A newly built subway, near the ocean, in the middle of an earthquake and possibility of a tsunami and probably a little cut corners in certain aspects. So it is easy to understand what would happen.
A huge wave hit the coast, and the tunnel immediately cracked open on top of the control chamber, and water poured like a drain. And they heard the sound of tunnel cracking. Many people screamed and huddled with each other, kids and family included. The water poured like hell, and covered the whole train upside down. And they can see that train was submerged in the water, and the starter was slowly pouring in slowly, and seeing this many people scream, and Supriya tried to calm them down, but it didn't work, and many called for help, and so did Supriya, she tuned on her phone, and called her office.
The news soon became a sensation, and even Rohit and Priya saw that. News reporters flicked, and Supriya's boss was cursing her for being the part of the problem, instead of reporting it. And some inside tried to start a live broadcast, but Supriya tried to stop him, but he didn't listen, and started one. And Supriya got a call from Priya, and she picked it up in a hurry, and she asked what happened, and she said she is trapped inside, the control section was crushed and they are stuck here, and things isn't looking good. Water is flooding, now hitting her ankles, and probably in fifteen minutes the whole train will be submerged.
Officials took actions, and it was so sudden that they didn't have much to respond, but efforts count.
And inside Supriya was still on the phone, and now Priya was seeing this on live, and she saw the situation, and she got worried.
" Maybe Krishna could help?"
" No," Supriya's reply came immediately.
" It's not necessary." And just as she said, the lights flicker again. And an ominous feeling filled the air. And when the lights came back, the announcement happened again. It was once again that earthquake precautions were noticed. And many panicked again, not following the protocol at all. And seeing this she told everyone to calm down in a very loud voice. Many people listened to her, and took the place safely. And outside things were not good either, they also got the news about the second earthquake. And before they could do anything the earthquake happened.
It was two orders of magnitude stronger than the previous one. Shaking the world once again. And this even Priya felt that,
And in this wave the glass in front of Supiya cracked. And her expression became grim. And before she could say another, the glass, and many parts of the tunnel collapsed. Supriya's phone got lost, and she struggled in the water, her eyes closed. She kicked her leg, and tried to get to the top of the tram, and reached an air pocket, and took some heavy breaths, and looked around, the whole section was under water, just the air pocket was fine, and there were only a few people there, probably those who can swim. The water was little muddy, but somethings can be seen easily, and she saw some people still down there struggling, and seeing this, a conflicted look flashed in her eyes, and after some contemplation, she took a breath and lunged in the water and tried to grab the people below, they resisted first, but after seeing the situation, the other person also did the same, and she let the person grab the handle on the ceilings, and she did this many time, some resisted, she faced several problems, but she did what she could. Things were not going in a good direction, the light had gone out, and she didn't know how many people were ok or not? And the water was not going well either, the water which was stagnant, started to flow up again, squeezing the living area once again.
And seeing this, she panicked, and her expression became desperate. And the woman she saved first, started to scream, and continuously started to mumble about his death, and she's gonna die. She started to apologize to his family and friends in hysteria, remembering the past, maybe this is the life flashing before his eyes.
Surpriya, seeing this, felt powerless, and gradually accepted his fate, when she heard the rhythmic sound of something hitting the wall with tremendous force. She didn't know if it was her hallucination or something, but she could hear the vibration on the water surface, she was losing consciousness, and felt a little drowsy.
And in that drowsy state she heard a loud boom, and felt sudden weightlessness. She felt like the water level was going down, she felt she hit something, felt a lot of weight pressing, and then a sudden jolt, like something tossed the box she was in. Then she felt like the box hit the wall of something, and she totally lost consciousness.