The scent of chalk dust and old paper filled the classroom as Dilli sat quietly at his desk, pencil in hand, his gaze calm and unhurried. The quarterly exams were underway, but for him, it was less of a test and more of a delicate balancing act.
To Dilli, the answers came effortlessly — equations unfolded in his mind like poetry, and paragraphs formed themselves with surgical precision. But perfection drew attention, and attention was the one thing he didn't need right now.
So, after each flawless answer, he added a small error here, a skipped line there — the kind of mistakes an intelligent but human student would make. When the results came, he had secured 95 percent — brilliant enough to make teachers proud, but not enough to spark suspicion.
The principal Ramaraju, a wise middleager man with years of intuition behind his eyes, called Dilli into his office. "Dilli," he said warmly, "you have a gift beyond your years. I don't want to confine you to regular classes. Study independently, explore what you love. Just promise me one thing — attend your exams. Don't disappear into your genius."
Dilli smiled faintly, a silent understanding passing between them. "Yes, sir," he said softly. "I promise."
While Dilli blended back into his research life, the world outside his farmhouse was changing beyond recognition.
The once-quiet village, known only for its green fields and morning chants from nearby temples, had become a symphony of engines and steel. Massive earthmovers roared across the 30-acre farmland owned by Dilli's family. Tower cranes pierced the sky. Trucks carrying prefabricated structures thundered down the narrow lanes.
People from nearby villages gathered at the borders, whispering and pointing at the towering walls that were rising around the site.
"Is it a government project?" one murmured.
"No… they say it's private. Gadhiraju is buying every acre around," another replied.
"I even saw foreign machines — ones I've never seen before."
And indeed, it was true.
Shipments had begun arriving in waves.
Robotic frameworks from Japan — precision-crafted humanoid structures waiting to be assembled.
Advanced construction machinery from Europe and North America — imported at staggering cost.
Supercomputer components packed in cryogenic containers — the foundation of what Dilli and Betal had named Project El Capitan.
Fabrication tools for smartphone and smartwatch R&D, customized for in-village production, each piece part of Dilli's silent revolution.
Gadhiraju, now managing CosRise Infra Limited under the Cosmos United banner, moved with the efficiency of a seasoned industrialist. Every transaction, every shipment, every contractor was vetted personally. He handpicked security personnel — loyal men from neighboring towns, trained and discreet — and erected high-rise walls around the estate. Within weeks, the 30-acre land had transformed into a restricted technological fortress.
The local MLA visited twice, curious but cautious. He toured the perimeter, peered through tinted windows, and left with more questions than answers. Whispers spread like wildfire — from tea stalls to district offices.
> "Something big is coming."
"That family is building a factory larger than anything we've seen."
"Foreign cargo planes are landing at the airstrip… who are they working with?"
For the villagers, it was both awe-inspiring and terrifying.
For Dilli, it was just the beginning.
Each evening, after finishing his supervision he would retreat to the farmhouse lab. Betal's holographic form flickered above the workstation, processing logistics and supply chains in real time. Together, they reviewed blueprints, verified component arrivals, and optimized assembly lines.
The hum of machines became the lullaby of the night, blending with the soft chirping of crickets outside.
And somewhere between the distant roar of excavators and the flickering light of his monitor, Dilli smiled to himself.
He had passed his exams — both in school and in strategy.
No one suspected the child genius was laying the foundation for a technological empire that would soon shake the world.