**They were trying to create a "walking human."
A strange idea — but that was the kind of man he was.**
Rishi stared at the boy with curiosity, thinking to himself:
"He looks about the same age as me… Whatever. I'll just say he's involved in some science experiment. That should be fine."
Then Rishi turned to his uncle, the driver.
"Uncle, I'll take this person home."
His uncle raised an eyebrow.
"Then what about your college?"
Before Rishi could answer, Lakshmi interrupted.
"Uncle, let my brother take him. Otherwise, Dad will find out that you didn't help your friend's son. Family comes first, right? Please, Uncle."
The uncle sighed.
"Fine… but how are you planning to get back home, Rishi?"
Rishi smiled.
"I'll just take a taxi from here, Uncle."
"I see," the uncle said.
"Then I'll put both of you in a taxi. And this 'boy who wants to become human' too."
He helped them into the taxi.
Chen, who was standing nearby, frowned.
"Something's wrong… They're hiding something. I need to find out."
He stepped forward.
"Uncle, I'll come along to help."
But Lakshmi immediately cut him off.
"No need, Chen. We can handle it. And this boy is my dad's friend's son."
She stared at him coldly.
"Didn't your father say you shouldn't come near us anymore? Just go to college. If you show up again, I'll tell your dad. Don't complain later."
Chen stayed silent.
(I shouldn't talk back now… I'll investigate later. If needed, I'll hire a detective.)
Meanwhile, Rishi and Lakshmi were on their way home in the taxi.
The school bus drove away toward the school again.
---
Scene Shift — Rishi's Father's Company
At the same time, Rishi's father had already reached the office.
Krishna was working at his desk when suddenly the boss's daughter, Mei, appeared.
Arms crossed, cold smile on her face.
"So, you finally showed up. You still have a chance. If you listen to me, I'll protect you from my father."
Krishna replied calmly.
"That won't be necessary. After all, you're the one who locked me in here."
Mei smirked.
"Oh really? Then show me how you'll escape from here."
---
Scene Shift — Rishi's House
The taxi stopped at their house.
Rishi and Lakshmi carried the unconscious boy inside.
In Rishi's room, he sighed with relief.
"Good thing Mom went to work early."
Lakshmi nodded.
"Seriously. If she were here, we would've been dead."
Rishi looked at the boy.
"But how do we wake him up? It's not low battery, right? Should we charge him?"
Lakshmi glared.
"Don't be stupid. He has human skin! You can't peel it off and tape it back! What if—"
Before she could finish, their mother's voice echoed from the entrance.
"Is someone here?"
They froze.
Maybe Dad came home early.
Panicking, they shoved the boy under the bed.
Lakshmi shouted,
"Mom, it's us!"
Their mother walked in while removing her shoes.
"You two didn't go to college today?"
Lakshmi stammered,
"Umm… my brother was feeling sick… so we came home."
Mom frowned.
"Oh? Rishi, what's wrong?"
Rishi forced a nervous answer.
"I think I have a fever."
Mom took out a thermometer.
"There's no fever at all. Tell me the truth. Did you fight with Chen again?"
Lakshmi thought:
(Ugh… my brother is terrible at lying.)
Just when Mom was about to continue lecturing them, her bag fell to the floor.
She reached down to pick it up, but Lakshmi quickly stepped forward.
"Here, Mom."
But at that moment, something caught her mother's eye — a hand sticking out from under the bed.
"What is that?" she asked sharply.
Rishi panicked.
"Ah—that's my stuffed toy! It just looks very realistic!"
Mom frowned deeply.
"But this stuffed toy… is extremely heavy."
She pulled it — and it was far too heavy.
Rishi and Lakshmi froze.
(It's over…)
Mom managed to pull the boy out.
And the second she saw him clearly, she went completely still.
Eyes wide.
Face pale.
Breath stopping.
Then she whispered with a trembling voice:
"…Where did you find this?"
For the first time, fear appeared on her face.
Rishi tried to answer, but Lakshmi spoke first.
"Mom… what's wrong? Do you… know this person?"
"Who is he? Where did he come from? Is he human?"
Mom asked over and over, panicking.
The two had never seen her like this.
Finally, she spoke the words that froze the entire room.
"He is… your father."
The room fell silent.
No one moved.
Even the ticking clock felt like it had stopped.
After a long moment, Lakshmi whispered:
"No… right, Mom? That can't be… Dad was… he was human, wasn't he?"