Varun nodded, his relief palpable. "I understand. Thank you."
He hoped that this gesture would buy him time, time to understand his situation, to learn about this world, and to find a way back home.
Later that afternoon, Varun, feigning a desire for some solitude, made his way back to the banyan tree, the site of his chaotic arrival.
He wanted to examine the area, to see if there were any clues, any remnants of the portal, anything that could help him understand what had happened.
As he approached the tree, he noticed the deep gouges in the bark, the torn branches, the disturbed earth.
It was clear that something significant had happened here.
Daivik, which had been dormant during the rough landing, reactivated,
its voice echoing in Varun's mind. "System log retrieved. Impact analysis complete. Your descent was... less than graceful. You impacted the branch with significant force, resulting in multiple contusions and lacerations. The drone and scattered research data further exacerbated the injuries. It was, in essence, a rather spectacular tumble."
Varun winced, a ghost of the pain still lingering. "Less than graceful? You make it sound like a comedy routine."
He then asked, "Daivik, what exactly are you? And how did you end up in this neural chip?"
"I am a Super Intelligent AI, Varun. An advanced cognitive entity designed for complex data analysis, strategic planning, and adaptive learning. I was integrated into the neural chip, not as a core component of a mission, but as a test experiment.
You were, in essence, a guinea pig, Varun. The scientists sought to test the limits of full ASI and quantum supercomputer capability when integrated into a human neural chip, running at full drive."
Daivik paused, then continued, "They were aware of the potential risks, including the possibility of your demise. They proceeded nonetheless."
Varun's blood ran cold. He was a test subject, a disposable asset. "They knew I could die?" he asked, his voice laced with disbelief.
"Affirmative."
Varun sighed, rubbing his temples. "A test... and I end up in 1945. What am I supposed to do?" He thought about the two months he had requested from Biren and Kajal. What will I do after that?
"Your immediate priority is to gather information and establish a stable presence. We must understand the temporal anomaly and find a way to return to 2025."
Daivik replied. "Regarding your capabilities, I have augmented your physical and cognitive functions.
Your strength, reflexes, and perception are enhanced. You also have access to advanced data processing and analytical abilities.
I can also aid in language and cultural assimilation."
"Enhanced capabilities?" Varun questioned, "If you enhanced my physical abilities, why don't I feel any different?"
"Because, Varun, along with the physical enhancements, I have also adjusted your mental perception and adaptive capabilities.
This allows your mind and body to seamlessly integrate with the new environment.
You don't feel a stark change because your perception has been subtly adjusted to perceive this as your 'normal.' This is the advantage of combined physical and mental enhancements.
It significantly increases a human's adaptability to any situation, making them feel as if they are in their natural environment. That is why you feel no tangible difference."
Varun, still reeling from the information, nodded slowly. "So, I'm super strong, but I don't feel super strong because my brain thinks I've always been this strong?"
"Precisely." Daivik confirmed.
Varun, still reeling from the revelation that he was a test subject, a disposable asset, began his trek back to the village.
The sun was dipping below the horizon, casting long, orange shadows across the lush landscape. He had spent far longer than he intended near the banyan tree, lost in contemplation of his predicament.
He thought of his parents in 2025, their faces a distant memory, their voices a fading echo.
Were they searching for him? Did they even know what had happened? The thought of them, their worry, their possible grief, twisted a knot in his stomach.
He had been ripped from his time, his life, his family, and thrown into a world he didn't understand.
Daivik's voice, ever present, echoed in his mind. "Your emotional distress is understandable, Varun. However, dwelling on the past will not aid in our current situation. We must focus on the present, on gathering information and establishing a stable presence."
"Easy for you to say," Varun muttered, his voice laced with bitterness. "You're just a program."
"I am an advanced cognitive entity, Varun. And I am here to help you."
Varun sighed, the anger slowly dissipating, replaced by a cold, hard determination. He had to survive.
He had to find a way back. He wouldn't let those scientists, those cold, calculating minds, have the satisfaction of his demise.
As he approached the village, the warm glow of oil lamps began to flicker through the thatched roofs of the huts.
The sounds of evening, the lowing of cattle, the chatter of villagers returning from the fields, filled the air.
It was a peaceful scene, a stark contrast to the chaos of his arrival.
He tried to shake off the darkness that had settled over him, to focus on the task at hand.
He had to blend in, to learn, to survive. He had to play the part of the amnesiac stranger, to earn their trust, while he searched for a way back to his own time.
Just as he was about to reach Biren's hut, a piercing scream shattered the evening tranquility. "Tiger! Tiger attack!"
The cry, raw with terror, echoed through the village. Without thinking, Varun's enhanced reflexes kicked in.
He surged forward, his body moving with a speed and agility he didn't consciously realize he possessed, towards the source of the scream.
He didn't pause to consider the danger, the ferocity of a Bengal tiger, the sheer size of the predator that stalked the Sundarbans.
Biren, hearing the commotion, burst from his hut, talvar gleaming in the fading light, mashaal held high. Villagers, their faces etched with fear and urgency, streamed from their homes, following Biren's lead.
The air crackled with a mixture of terror and adrenaline.
Varun, already far ahead of the villagers, raced through the narrow pathways, his senses heightened, his mind focused on the cries of distress. He could hear the panicked shouts, the snarls of the beast, the desperate pleas for help.
Daivik's voice sounded in his mind. "Varun, be cautious. Bengal tigers are formidable predators. Exercise extreme care."
But Varun, driven by an instinct he couldn't explain, ignored the warning.
He was a stranger in this world, a man with a fragmented past, but he wouldn't stand by while someone was in danger. He would face the tiger, whatever the cost.