Narration:
By the time Liyan and his "cousin" Rohan reached school, Liyan already regretted letting him tag along. Rohan's idea of "blending in" was waving at random strangers and asking them if they'd "downloaded the latest human software update."
---
[At the Gate]
Aarav: (grinning) Wah, Sharma ji! Imported cousin, haan?
Ahana: (eyeing Rohan) He doesn't look imported. More like… manufactured.
Isha: (snorts) He looks like the guy who'd clap when the plane lands.
Rohan: (smiling proudly) I also clap when the Wi-Fi connects.
Liyan: (groans) Why are you like this?
---
[First Period – Math Class]
Narration:
The teacher wrote a monstrous integration problem on the board. Liyan's soul nearly left his body.
Liyan: (whispering) I'm dead. This is it. My obituary will say: "Died tragically, murdered by integration."
Rohan: (pulling a gadget from his sleeve) Don't panic. Brain Booster Bands!
[He slips a glowing band onto Liyan's wrist. Suddenly, Liyan solves the problem on the board in 30 seconds flat.]
Teacher: (stunned) Sharma! I didn't expect… this.
Aarav: (whispering to Isha) Bro just evolved into a Pokémon.
Isha: (smirking) Yeah, Level 12: "Accidental Genius."
Narration:
But as soon as Liyan sat down, the band fizzed. He looked at the board again—
Liyan: (whispering) Uh… what's this squiggly thing?
Rohan: (nervously) Oh, side effect: memory lasts only 60 seconds.
Liyan: (groans) Fantastic. I'm a human Snapchat.
---
[Lunch Break – The Canteen]
Ahana: (frowning) Rohan, why aren't you eating?
Rohan: (confidently) Humans consume… samosa units, correct?
Isha: (laughs) Samosa "units"? Who talks like that?
[He bites into one but instantly spits it out.]
Rohan: ERROR. Too much oil. My circuits—uh, stomach—can't handle it!
Liyan: (facepalming) Circuits? Really?
Aarav: (grinning) Your cousin's weirder than you, Sharma. That's an achievement.
---
[After School – Walking Back]
Narration:
For the first time in ages, Liyan didn't feel like the dumbest guy in the group. With Rohan around, he actually laughed more than he worried.
Liyan: (quietly) Hey… thanks for today. I kinda… had fun.
Rohan: (smiles) That's my job. Mission "Keep Liyan Alive in Class 12" — 2% complete.
Isha: (suddenly) Oye, Sharma. Your "cousin" doesn't even blink properly.
Rohan: (instantly blinking rapidly like a malfunctioning tube light) See? Totally normal!
Ahana: (laughing) Yeah. If "normal" means possessed.
Narration (closing line):
Liyan chuckled nervously, but deep down, a thought nagged him: How long can Rohan keep fooling everyone before the truth comes out?