Ria, who disliked gossip, felt irritated. She also had no time to complete her mission. As time passed, the damage increased. So, she interrupted them.
"Is it over? Let's move, there's no time."
The four looked at her awkwardly. It felt as if she were ordering them.
Chaitanya then noticed something mysterious.
He saw Ria's left hand healing itself, and there was a metallic structure beneath her skin. It stunned him.
"Hey! What's happening to your left hand?"
His voice drew everyone's attention toward her hand.
Ria quickly tried to hide it, but in vain. They had already seen it and were stunned.
R-1 and Bhargav started shivering and hugged each other.
"Y-you… you're not human?! Are you?"
Bhargav and R-1 asked simultaneously in shaky voices.
"No! I am human!" she shouted, widening her eyes.
"Then what about your hand… young girl?"
Chaitanya asked with a gentle smile.
"It's none of your business."
She replied, avoiding eye contact.
He smiled.
"It is, young girl."
He glared at her.
"How could we trust an anonymous person with a metallic arm… and self-healing abilities?"
She clenched her fists.
"Damn it… okay, I'll tell you."
"I am ...Ria. Dinesh and Shruti, the co-founders of Heavy Duty, are my parents."
Everyone's eyes widened.
"So, it's not a myth. You're the one they adopted," Chaitanya blurted out curiously.
Ria cast a sharp glare at the ground.
"Yes."
"Then why did they hide you from the outside world?"
"It's because of my special abilities."
Chaitanya frowned.
"Special abilities?"
"Yes. I am a cyborg. My left hand and right leg are artificial because I was disabled. But later, my parents discovered that their invention was extremely powerful. If it fell into the wrong hands, it could cause great destruction. That's why they hid me all these years—to protect me and keep the invention secret."
Chaitanya rested his head on one hand, placing his forefinger near his mouth thoughtfully.
"Hmm… now everything makes sense. By the way, where did you live before they adopted you?"
The young girl turned away from them.
"In the slums."
"Slums?!"
Everyone shouted at once.
Ria clenched her fists tighter.
"Yes. My parents threw me into the garbage…"
(She paused for a second, yet neither trembled nor cried.)
"…because I was disabled… and a girl."
"Later, an old man found me and took care of me. He taught me the dark truths of this bloody world."
(She clenched her fist.)
"After his death, I faced many situations that proved there is no mercy for the weak. From that darkness, my parents showed me a path toward a bright and colorful life."
Silence filled the air for a moment.
Chaitanya noticed her trembling fists. He gently placed a hand on her shoulder to comfort her.
"You've gone through great struggles, young lady. They made you strong."
"One last question… where are your parents?"
She sighed.
"They are under the control of robots."
Chaitanya patted her shoulder.
"So, you escaped from them."
"Yes. My father told me to deliver this device to Deepak."
(She showed the device to Chaitanya.)
A slight glow appeared on his face.
"Oh, so this is the device Deepak told me about. I'm lucky to get it this quickly."
Ria's eyes widened.
"You know Deepak?"
Chaitanya gave a slight smile.
"Of course. We've been friends since childhood. By the way, I'm Chaitanya, and she is my traveling partner, R-2."
Chaitanya raised his hand for a handshake. Ria accepted it, and they shook hands firmly.
'Luckily, half of my mission is completed.'
Meanwhile, our little brain was overflowing with thoughts.
Let us see what he was thinking:
"Oh, Mother… where are you? I miss you. I hope you are safe, wherever you are. Mother, please come to me… I want to see you again."