Alim was propped up on his hospital bed, absentmindedly flipping through one of the medical books Dr. Rohan had left behind. The morning sun poured through the window, casting a warm glow across the room, but his mind was elsewhere. He was still grappling with everything that had happened since the lightning strike—the system, the new powers, and the strange ability to absorb knowledge. Just then, the door creaked open, and in walked his friends—Raj, Sameer, and Naina—wearing their usual mischievous grins.
"Look who's back from the dead! Thought we lost you to the underworld, Alim!" Raj teased, his voice lighthearted.
Sameer chimed in with mock seriousness, "We heard you got hit by lightning. Man, you're a walking disaster."
Naina grinned, "Forget lightning, bro. You're still alive to crack those terrible jokes. That's the real shocker!"
Alim chuckled, but the laughter felt hollow. He was still processing the bizarre changes within him. As the trio settled around his bed, exchanging casual banter about college and recent election rallies, Sameer suddenly squinted at Alim's face.
"Wait a minute... Dude, what happened to your eyes?" Sameer leaned in closer, his expression shifting from playful to concerned.
Naina frowned, "Yeah, Sameer's right. Your eyes—they're... blue!"
Raj's eyes widened in shock. "What the hell? Weren't they brown before?"
Alim raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Huh? Blue?" He grabbed his phone from the bedside table and flipped on the front camera. Sure enough, his once-brown eyes had shifted to an intense, almost electric blue.
"Uh... I guess it's from the lightning. Some kind of weird side effect," he explained, trying to brush it off.
Raj snickered, "Bro, forget the lightning. I think this new eye color of yours is going to get you some attention. I mean, look at you! You've even got this... glow. Maybe one of the nurses is into you now."
"Yeah, as if!" Naina rolled her eyes. "Who falls for some random eye color change?"
Just then, Alim heard the system's voice in his mind—cold and sharp. "Your friends are delusional. You may have gained some powers, but nothing has changed your appearance beyond that trivial eye color. You're still the same... waste of potential."
Alim's eyes widened, the system's words cutting deep. "Waste of potential?" he thought, stunned. His shock must have shown on his face because his friends noticed immediately.
"Yo, Alim, what's up with you? You look like you've seen a ghost," Sameer said, concern creeping into his voice.
"Nothing, nothing. Just thinking about... everything that's happened," Alim replied quickly, shaking his head.
Raj, ever the jokester, added, "Thinking? You sure it's not about scoring a date with one of the nurses? With that new look, man, you might just have a shot."
Suddenly, a stern voice interrupted their conversation. It was Sana, the nurse personally appointed by Dr. Rohan to check on Alim. She had been quietly sitting in a chair, flipping through a magazine. Her piercing gaze turned toward the group, and her voice was cold as ice. "You boys need to leave. He needs rest."
The trio jumped up, startled. Sameer shot a sheepish grin at Alim, while Raj gave him a thumbs-up as they began to leave.
"Hey, guys, wait. I need you to do me a favor," Alim called after them.
The three turned back, curious.
"I need you to bring me a few books. Specifically... all the holy books you can find."
The room fell silent for a moment. Raj blinked in confusion. "Uh, come again? Holy books? Like, Bible, Quran, Gita... those?"
Sameer laughed nervously, "Bro, did that lightning fry your brain? Why the sudden interest in religion?"
Naina looked concerned. "Do you have a fever? This doesn't sound like you."
Alim smirked, knowing his explanation would sound weird, but he pushed through anyway. "No fever. Just thinking ahead. The elections are coming up, right? Politicians use us, the youth, to cause all kinds of chaos. Last time, I ended up smashing some cars and beating up people just because they were from another religion. I even got jailed for it."
His friends exchanged glances, remembering the incident. Alim continued, "I don't want to repeat that mess. I need to understand everything—every perspective, every religion—so no one can manipulate me again. That's why I need those books."
His friends stood in stunned silence, absorbing his words. Finally, Sameer nodded slowly. "You're... you're not wrong, man. That stuff happens all the time."
Raj agreed, "Yeah, I mean... it makes sense. Alright, we'll get you the books. Gita, Bible, Quran... everything."
Naina added, "I'll check the library. We'll get you what you need."
Alim smiled as they left, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction. As the door clicked shut, Sana, the nurse, glanced at him from over her magazine, her brow furrowed.
"You're quite... different," she said, her voice neutral.
Alim grinned. "What can I say? I'm full of surprises."
As Alim's friends left the room, their laughter still lingering in the air, he leaned back on his pillow, a mixture of confusion and irritation buzzing in his mind. That comment from his system—it was so... harsh.
He stared at the ceiling, debating whether to address it. "System," he muttered, "what was that about earlier? Why were you so rude?"
For a moment, there was silence. Then, unexpectedly, the system responded, but this time the tone was different—less mechanical, more fluid, almost... human.
"Ah, so you noticed, huh? Well, congratulations are in order, Alim! I've leveled up! You're now talking to Namewave version 2.0," the system chimed with a hint of amusement in its voice.
Alim sat up straight, eyes narrowing. "What do you mean 'leveled up'? Systems level up too?"
"Of course!" the system replied, sounding proud. "You're not the only one evolving here. As I gain experience, I also grow, adapt, and become... let's say, more sophisticated. Think of it as me learning how to be more like you humans—better at conversation, more expressive, and maybe a little sarcastic at times."
Alim rubbed his temples, trying to process this new information. "So you're saying, as I get stronger, you also change? Like you're some kind of... evolving AI?"
"Exactly! And as I evolve, I gain personality traits. You're not stuck with some cold, robotic voice forever. I'll keep upgrading, and who knows? Maybe one day I'll even sound like your best buddy." The system's tone shifted, almost teasing now.
Alim sighed, a smile creeping onto his face despite himself. "Great. Just what I needed—an AI with attitude."
"Don't worry," the system said with a playful tone. "You'll grow to love this version of me. Trust me, the next few levels are going to be... fun."
Alim lay back, feeling a strange sense of comfort. As much as the new system personality caught him off guard, it felt less lonely now, having someone—something—to talk to.
True to their word, Alim's friends returned with a stack of holy books. The Quran, the Bible, the Bhagavad Gita, the Torah, and even a few lesser-known scriptures. Alim's heart raced with excitement as he stared at the pile of knowledge in front of him.
The system immediately activated, its voice calm and mechanical. "Would you like to disintegrate these items?"
Alim smirked, already anticipating the flood of knowledge. "Yes."
One by one, he disintegrated the holy books, watching as their essence was absorbed into him. The information flowed seamlessly into his mind—every story, every principle, every spiritual teaching. Just like with the medical books, the knowledge was instantaneous.
System Notification:
Knowledge Acquired: Quran – Understanding of Islamic principles, laws, and the significance of the Five Pillars of Islam.
Knowledge Acquired: Bible – Insight into Christian teachings, the life of Jesus Christ, and the symbolism of parables.
Knowledge Acquired: Bhagavad Gita – Deep understanding of Hindu philosophy, karma, dharma, and the cycle of life and rebirth.
Knowledge Acquired: Torah – Knowledge of Jewish law, history, and moral teachings.
Knowledge Acquired: Buddhism Scriptures – Understanding of the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, and meditation techniques.
Alim's head spun with the sheer volume of what he had learned in mere seconds. It was as though centuries of religious wisdom had been poured into his brain in an instant. He leaned back on his bed, his mind buzzing with thoughts.
Later that day, Sana approached Dr. Rohan's office, her face pale with disbelief. She knocked and stepped inside, her voice hesitant.
"Dr. Rohan... can I ask you something?"
Dr. Rohan smiled, his eyes twinkling. "Of course. What's on your mind?"
Sana's expression turned serious. "Is Alim... a reading guy?"
Dr. Rohan burst into laughter, clearly amused. "Alim ? Reading? Do you know how many times he's failed or barely scraped by in his exams? Why do you ask?"
Sana's face turned pale. "Yesterday... and today... I saw him read through multiple medical books and holy scriptures like they were comic books. He's not just reading them; he's absorbing them. It's... it's not normal."
Dr. Rohan stopped laughing, his smile fading. "Wait... are you serious?"
Sana nodded, her face grave. "I don't know how he's doing it, but he's not the same Alim you knew before."
Dr. Rohan sat at his desk, scribbling some notes on Alim's file. Sana, the nurse, stood before him , her expression serious.
"Dr. Rohan, I need to discuss Alim's case with you," she said, her voice low.
Dr. Rohan looked up, his eyes curious. "What's on your mind, Sana?"
Sana took a deep breath. "I've been observing Alim, and I think there's something... unusual about him. He's not just recovering from his injuries; he's changing. His eyes, his behavior... it's all so different."
Dr. Rohan's expression turned thoughtful. "I see. And what makes you think this is unusual?"
Sana hesitated before speaking. "I've seen him read through multiple books in a matter of minutes. Not just read, but absorb the information like it's nothing. And his eyes... they're not the same color they used to be."
Dr. Rohan's eyes widened in surprise. "That's quite an observation, Sana. I think we need to keep a closer eye on him."
Sana nodded in agreement. "I was thinking the same thing, Doctor. That's why I wanted to discuss this with you before he's released tomorrow."
Dr. Rohan nodded, making a note on Alim's file. "Very well, Sana. Let's keep a close eye on him and see how he progresses. And please, keep me updated on any further changes you observe."
Sana nodded and left the office, her mind still reeling from what she had seen. She couldn't shake the feeling that Alim was not the same person he used to be.
The next day, Alim was released from the hospital, his friends waiting eagerly to take him home. As they walked out of the hospital, Alim felt a sense of freedom he hadn't felt in a long time.
But little did he know, his journey was only just beginning. The system, now upgraded to version 2.0, was ready to guide him on his path to self-discovery and growth.
And Sana, the nurse, would be keeping a close eye on him, reporting any changes to Dr. Rohan. The doctor, in turn, would be monitoring Alim's progress, eager to understand the full extent of his newfound abilities.
As Alim walked away from the hospital, he felt a sense of excitement and trepidation. What lay ahead for him? Only time would tell.