Walker in Modern World

After the meeting, Sanjay and his father returned home. As they stepped inside, his father, glanced at him curiously. "So, what was the meeting about?"

Sanjay hesitated for a moment before replying in a casual tone, "Just a collaboration opportunity for my software."

Ramesh studied his son for a second but chose not to press further. Instead, later that evening, he shared his pride with his wife. "You should have seen him," he told her, his voice filled with admiration. "He spoke so fluently in English with the foreigners—without hesitation, without a single pause. Our son is different now."

Sanjay, hearing the conversation from the other room, smiled slightly. It wasn't just about speaking well—it was about confidence. Something he never had before but was now steadily building.

He then showed them his latest purchase—a laptop. "I bought this with the money I earned from the software revenue," he said.

His mother's eyes widened. "Your own money?" she repeated, almost in disbelief.

He nodded. "Yes. "

Before they could discuss more, phone rang. It was their advocate. "Congratulations! Your company registration is complete. You can collect the documents anytime."

Excitement surged through him. It was official now. He and his father quickly left to meet the advocate, who handed over the necessary documents. As he held them in his hands, a sense of accomplishment settled in. This was real. His company, 'Future Tech,' was no longer just an idea—it was a legal entity.

Their next stop was the bank, where they opened a business account. Sanjay finally had full control over his earnings. Before this, the account Ramesh had opened for him was almost useless—no debit card, no checkbook, and he couldn't even withdraw cash properly. Worse, his appearance didn't match the photo on the account, making transactions complicated.

Now, with his own business account, he could manage his finances efficiently. The first thing he did was transfer 15,000 rupees into the new account, preparing for upcoming expenses.

Back in 2003, tax scrutiny was triggered when deposits crossed 20,000 rupees. To avoid any issues, he also transferred his software payment account from an overseas bank to his business account. From now on, payments would arrive there every alternate day. Since he was the legal owner of the software, he could file taxes properly under 'Future Tech.'

If Oracle decided to buy the software, it would be a significant financial boost, providing him with liquid capital for future business ventures. But there was no telling when or if Oracle would respond.

Checking his emails, he noticed one from Microsoft. His heart pounded slightly. If Oracle didn't work out, perhaps Microsoft would be more straightforward in negotiations. But Oracle had a major role in global digitalization efforts, pulling in billions in revenue this year alone. If he could strike a deal with them, the payoff would be immense.

Satisfied with his progress, he made another important call—to a broadband provider. If he wanted to work efficiently, a stable internet connection at home was crucial.

With that handled, he activated his skill and stepped into another world.

The medieval town of Dhavalpur was as he had left it. The night before, he had made a trip there, bringing back his people, supplies, gold, and even a generator. But time worked differently here. One full day in his world equaled a week in this one, making time management a constant challenge.

After confirming everything was in order, he moved to his next destination—the future world.

His hotel stay had already exceeded a week, with automatic deductions being made from his card. He called the reception to extend it further.

"Please keep my reservation open until I check out," he instructed.

The android receptionist responded cheerfully, "Of course, Mr. Sanjay. We will continue your stay as requested."

Taking out his futuristic-looking phone, he checked his notifications. Two missed calls. Ten messages.

He opened the messages first. The bank had credited his account—340 million quarks.

His breath caught. That had to be from the gold sale. The number was staggering.

He exhaled slowly, letting the realization sink in. This was real money. A fortune in this world.

Other messages were from Maya. She had completed the job.

Dialing her number, he waited as the call connected. "Everything alright?" he asked.

"Yes," Maya confirmed. "Everything is well."

After discussing a few more things, he hung up and set his next course of action in motion.

A taxi ride later, he stood in front of the towering headquarters of Nova Technologies. The sleek glass building stretched high into the sky, a symbol of power and progress.

As he stepped out of the car, an android woman approached him. Her movements were smooth, her voice pleasant.

"Mr. Sanjay?"

"Yes, that's me."

"Please follow me, sir. Dr. Shriya is already waiting for you."

Sanjay nodded and followed the android through the sleek, futuristic corridors of Nova Technologies. As he walked, he recalled the research he had done. Nova Technologies was the largest company specializing in human augmentation. Their best package cost an astonishing 70 million quarks—an amount that only the wealthiest could afford.

But money wasn't an issue. Not anymore.

Determined to push forward, he scheduled the surgery for the same day. In the 23rd century, medical procedures had advanced to an almost unimaginable degree—fast, precise, and nearly 100% safe, or so he had read online.

After a few minutes of walking, they arrived at the doctor's office. The door slid open silently, revealing a spacious, well-lit room.

"Hello, Mr. Sanjay," a woman in a white lab coat greeted him with a warm smile, extending her hand. "I'm Dr. Shriya."

Sanjay shook her hand. "Hello."

"Before we proceed with the augmentation, we need to conduct a full-body scan to ensure your body can handle the procedure."

"Understood."

She led him to a scanning machine—a sleek pod-like device. "Just stand here," she instructed.

As he stepped into position, the machine whirred softly. A soft blue light swept over his body, analyzing every cell. Within seconds, a holographic display appeared, showing detailed results.

Dr. Shriya's expression shifted from professional neutrality to mild concern. "Mr. Sanjay, have you had any vaccinations or immune system treatments before?"

Sanjay frowned. "Not that I can remember. Why? Is something wrong?"

She hesitated before answering, "According to our scans, your immune system is extremely weak. If we proceed with the augmentation now, there's a high risk that your body won't be able to handle the modifications."

His stomach dropped slightly. 'Weak compared to what?' he thought. Then it hit him—compared to the 23rd century standard, his 21st-century immune system was practically primitive.

"Is there a solution?" he asked, hoping there was an alternative.

Dr. Shriya smiled reassuringly. "Of course. We have a body enhancement drug that will not only strengthen your immune system but also improve your overall physical condition."

Something about her tone made him pause. 'Why does this feel like a sales pitch?'

"How much?" he asked cautiously.

"Only 30 million quarks."

'Only 30 million?' The way she said it, as if it were pocket change, made him chuckle internally. But could he really put a price on his own survival? No.

"Fine. Proceed."

The moment he agreed, a payment request appeared on his futuristic phone. Without hesitation, he accepted it.

Moments later, he was led to the procedure room. The sterile, high-tech environment was both intimidating and fascinating. He lay down on the surgical table, trying to calm his nerves.

A different doctor approached, placing a mask over his face. "Just relax," the voice said softly.

His vision blurred. Darkness consumed him.

When he woke up, he was lying in a luxurious hospital room. The walls were pristine white, the furniture sleek and modern.

He blinked, expecting pain, but there was none. Instead, his body felt… different. Stronger. Clearer. As if a fog had been lifted from his mind.

'Was the procedure completed already?' He sat up, carefully flexing his fingers, stretching his arms—everything felt intact. More than intact. Enhanced.

Just as he was examining himself, Dr. Shriya entered the room.

"Ah, you're awake. How are you feeling?"

"Surprisingly… good," Sanjay admitted. "No pain at all. Is everything done?"

She nodded. "Yes. The procedure was successful. It should start soon."

He frowned. "What should start soon?"

Before she could answer, something happened.

[System Initializing… 1%... 2%... 10%... 50%... 99%...]

A translucent screen appeared in his vision, floating before his eyes.

[100%]

[Initialization Complete]

[Welcome, Host.]

Sanjay's eyes widened. 'What the hell?'

He instinctively muttered, "Who are you?"

Dr. Shriya's lips curved into an amused smile. She knew exactly what was happening.

A soft, melodic voice echoed directly in his mind.

[I am the Integrated Reactive Intelligence System. An AI designed to assist you in your daily life. I am capable of multiple functions. Would you like a demonstration?]

His breath hitched. It wasn't a normal voice. It wasn't in his ears—it was inside his head. A completely new sensation.

He glanced at Dr. Shriya. Over her figure, lines of text appeared in real time, displaying her name, contact details, and professional background. His brain was processing external information in ways he never thought possible.

Dr. Shriya chuckled. "Impressive, isn't it?"

Sanjay exhaled slowly. "This AI… was it included in the package?"

She nodded. "Yes, but there's much more to it than just the AI. It's best to let the system explain. I'll take care of your release paperwork."

Before he could ask further questions, she left the room.

Sanjay sighed in frustration. 'That was too fast.'

He focused on the AI. "AI?"

[Yes, Host. You can communicate with me directly in your thoughts. No need to speak aloud.]

His eyes widened. 'Wait… you can hear my thoughts?'

[Yes, Host.]

'That's… kinda insane.'

He hesitated before asking, "Does that mean someone could steal my data?"

[No, Host. Stealing personal data is strictly prohibited under Section 80C. The penalty for such an offense is death.]

Sanjay blinked. "That's… harsh."

[Yes, Host.]

A thought struck him. "To function properly, don't you need a server connection?"

[No, Host. Unlike traditional AI, I operate independently using nanites within your body.]

'Nanites?'

[Would you like a brief overview of your enhancements?]

'Sure.'

A holographic interface appeared before his eyes, displaying streams of microscopic machines coursing through his bloodstream.

[Millions of nanites are now part of your body, reinforcing your bones, strengthening your muscles, and enhancing your organs. Your resilience has increased significantly.]

[Additionally, you can modify certain abilities—such as vision, hearing, and reaction speed—at will. Would you like to activate any enhancements now?]

A grin spread across his face. 'Can I see in the dark?'

[Yes, Host. Activating low-light vision mode.]

The dimly lit room instantly brightened. Every detail sharpened, as if he had night vision goggles built into his eyes.

He let out a breath of amazement. "This… is incredible."

[Thank you, Host. Would you like a tutorial on accessing additional functionalities?]

Sanjay blinked, still processing everything. "Sure, why not?"

A new interface materialized before him, displaying a list of features.