An Upgraded Soul

Afternoon class,

"Okay class, let's run through what we learned until now, who can tell me how does Java enable high performance?" Ms Anjali was the teacher in charge of educating Aditya's class on 'Information Technology in a Global society'.

Kavya raised her hand as she answered, " Java uses Just In Time compiler to enable high performance. JIT is used to convert the instructions into byte codes. "

"Impressive, Kavya," Ms Anjali smiled as she praised, she was a middle-aged woman having a short stature and greying hair, she again asked, " What is meant by Local variable and Instance variable? "

"Ms Anjali, Local variables are defined in the method and scope of the variables that have existed inside the method itself whereas an instance variable is defined inside the class and outside the method and scope of the variables exist throughout the class."

The smile on Anjali teacher's face broadened as she heard this answer as she nodded appreciatively towards Kavya and continued her class. She was currently teaching Java programming to them.

"Doesn't your girlfriend give chance for us to answer, why should she answer each and every question as if she is a walking encyclopedia on IT studies." Jatin teased Bhadra who was playing Dino game in google chrome. Excluding Chemistry class, Bhadra usually didn't pay much attention to other subject classes, he had chosen this subject only because he thought he could accompany Kavya and do some kind of classroom romance. But what happened was completely out of his imagination. After entering the computer lab, Kavya would turn into a computer herself, her full concentration was on the lessons, her infatuation with IT was on the same level as his interest in Chemistry. Anupama, on the other hand, had opted for 'Psychology' subject, so she had to attend another lecture hall.

"As if you know those answers, if you are so knowledgeable in Java programming, why don't you explain OOPS concept to me?" Bhadra shot back at Jatin.

cough cough…

"I was fighting for the right to answer in the class for my other classmates," Jatin answered in a righteous tone.

Bhadra looked at Jatin with disdain as he continued playing his game. In a class of 40 students, as long as you are not too flashy, you were free to do your things. After sometime Bhadra turned towards Jatin as he asked, "Didn't you say that, you had something to say to me about Adi?"

Jatin's eyes sparkled when Bhadra mentioned Aditya as he looked at the sleeping figure towards Bhadra's right and smiled as he said, "You are in for a shock in the evening if it is really as I speculate, Adi is going to give us good show this evening. So, wait until then." Jatin stoked Bhadra's curiosity as he leaned his back against the chair lazily. It was always hard for him to remain active in this class which was immediately after lunch. In addition, 'Information Technology in a Global society' was conducted in an air-conditioned computer lab where students are given the liberty to bring their laptops which functioned as the perfect cover.

"Where is the need to be so mysterious, isn't it just a human calculator, I heard that there was a woman called Shakuntala Devi from Mysore (another city near Bangalore) who could extract 23rd of a 201- digit number in 50 seconds. My mother told me about her when she (Shakuntala Devi) died three years back."

Jatin was shocked a little when he heard this but regained his composure as he said "You will see in the evening." though this time he didn't seem so confident. Jatin didn't know there were more freaks then he had imagined in this world. He looked at the 'sleeping pig' who had opened his laptop as a cover to prevent Ms Anjali who had a short stature from catching him asleep.

After the class, Bhadra woke him up and reminded him that Kapil sir had asked students attending Mathematical Olympiad to come to his office.

Aditya had actually joined this Mathematical Olympiad team so that he could spend more time with Anupama but now that his dreams had been busted by another 'Dreamworld', he did not have any interest in the exam whatsoever.

But Aditya would still attend the exam because at least you would get a day off to roam around Bangalore. Aditya was feeling vexed and frustrated these days because the police had not reported anything about his parents' whereabouts. It was getting harder for him to remain calm and doing nothing significant. He would rather search the whole city street by street though he knew there were minute chance to produce results through such methods.

So he had planned to ditch the exam and see what he could do for his parents. What made him a little desperate was that Ramachandra IPS (Indian Police Service), was the commissioner of police in Bangalore who was at the top in the hierarchy. He and his father were best friends from childhood. Aditya also had spent most of his time in childhood in Ramu Uncle's house (Ramachandra). So he knew the close relationship between his father and Ramu uncle was like him and Bhadra's.

So with the assurance of Ramu uncle and the power he held in his hand in this city, Aditya had presumed even if his parents had not been found at least news of them will be investigated. But four months had passed by and whenever he called his uncle, he could not get any news from him. So, if the commissioner of police was not capable of finding his parents then who could he turn towards for help?

He still remembered his mother's peaceful smiling face as she would tell all sorts of mythological stories for him so that he would sleep. He remembered his father's tired face as he worked late at his laboratory but still never forgot to buy Jalebi (Indian sweet) for him as he came back exhausted. He was the idiot who never really understood their value and took all their love for granted as if this was how it was supposed to be. He recognized how short-sighted and silly he was to assume he could enjoy all this happiness forever when his parents were no more near him.

These days, more and more memories where he was a disobedient son, would sting him in the heart as he thought maybe he should have been more appreciative of his parents love and gave the respect that they deserved.

"Aditya"

"Aditya!"

Aditya woke up from his thoughts to find a serious face of Kapil sir staring at him. There were around eight students along with Anupama who was staring at him with varied expressions. Anupama also looked at him for a moment then turned away.

"Aditya, pay attention." Kapil sir knew that Aditya had his difficulties, so, he did not go deep into it and turned towards others and said, "As I said there are three stages to pass to go to International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO)."

"Regional, National, International training camp. So regional is held in Bangalore while nationals are held in the capital while this year's International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) is held in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil where you represent India. In the past years, India has not performed well in IMO as you know most of our students are busy studying for JEE (Joint Entrance Examination) to get into Indian Institute of Technologies (IITs) instead of IMO. Also, Mathematics has long since ceased to be a serious career so rank in an IMO is presently worth nothing but decoration in your future CV."

"So as you people have applied for this exam, I hope you take this exam seriously and I hope all of you selected at the national level as well. So any doubts?" Kapil sir asked while staying his vision on Aditya for a longer time.

All the students shook their heads. Kapil nodded and said, "If there are any doubts which you have now, you could ask me or you could go about your activities."

Some students had come for clarification, so they stayed behind while Aditya walked out of the office towards his dormitory to change his clothes to sports dress as he promised Jatin and Bhadra to meet them at the basketball court. Just as he was about to take a turn, he heard a pleasant voice calling him.

Aditya knew even before turning back who it was because this was the person he had once dreamed of making his girlfriend. He turned back trying to keep his face as normal as possible as he asked, "What is it Anu...pama?" he used to call her Anu before but it did not seem right anymore.

Anupama was a little shocked when she heard Aditya calling her by her full name. It felt that he wanted to put some distance between them which was actually what she wanted, but when she saw Aditya taking the initiative to do that, the whole nature of this distance changed drastically.

Anupama looked at Aditya for a while and then said, "I hope your parents are alright and that you stay strong." after she finished what she wanted to say, she walked past him as fast as she could. She did not like this version of Aditya at all. As she went a distance she heard Aditya thank her for her support.

Aditya had no expectations whatsoever about what Anupama would say to him, so he was not surprised or disappointed. Almost all his classmates had already said the same words of support to him. So, in a way she was the last one to approach him but somehow Aditya felt that this was more natural. This was exactly how she would react based on his understanding of her in the 'dream world'.

But right now Aditya did not have the time or mood to worry about this. So he went back to his dormitory room and changed his clothes and went to the basketball court.

"Why are you so interested in playing basketball today, I thought you did not enjoy playing this game?" Bhadra asked Jatin as he saw Jatin wearing a new white jersey and red shorts with matching athletic shoes. He was pretty sure that Jatin had just removed the price tags today before wearing these clothes. Bhadra's jersey, on the other hand, was messy and full of mud stains which clearly indicated his sports activity. While Jatin had a delicate stature which could almost rival that of a girl, Bhadra had a masculine stature with taurine shoulders and tiger waist with healthy bronze complexion and square cut face.

Though Aditya was also on the thin side, he had broad straight shoulders, unlike Jatin's narrow drooping shoulders. As Aditya walked on the multi-purpose plastic floor of the outdoor Basketball court, he felt refreshed as he breathed the cool evening air, the winter was setting in so the climate was very comfortable right now. Aditya flexed his hands and shoulders as he jogged towards Bhadra at the other end of the court. Many other students were also playing including Aditya's juniors.

Jatin took the basketball and threw it towards Aditya but the ball shot towards in a completely different direction and knocked against a junior. It was lucky that Jatin had no strength in his arms, so the junior who took the hit was unharmed and passed the ball back to Bhadra. Aditya suppressed his smile as he walked towards them.

Jatin knew that he was not fit for sports but he had underestimated his 'skills' apparently. Bhadra tapped Jatin's shoulder while suppressing his laughter as he said, "I am happy that your skills have developed Jatin." Aditya may not know but how could Bhadra who had grown up with Jatin not know that Jatin had a very poor sense of direction which directly eliminated Jatin from all outdoor games.

It was actually because Jatin was so conscious of his poor sense of direction that he could figure out the application of Aditya's calculative ability when he saw the scene in the cafeteria. It was like how only the hungry will realize the value of food, Jatin could realize this aspect of Aditya's ability which was why he wanted Aditya to come to the Basketball court today to test his hypothesis.

Jatin took the ball from Bhadra and placed in Aditya's hand and said with a smile on his face, "Shoot."