Ria wasn't interested in their conversations.
Of course, since childhood, she had never liked group talks. She preferred doing everything on her own.
So, she interrupted them.
"Shall we move now? There's no time for gossip," she muttered, her jaw tight.
Everyone glanced at her in surprise. Her tone sounded commanding.
But no one—not a single one—noticed the fresh wound on her right palm.
Except Chaitanya.
He immediately realized that even the young girl herself hadn't noticed it.
"Hey, young girl. Look at your soft right palm—it's bleeding," he said gently, his words like a breeze brushing against skin.
Ria looked down at it... then casually turned away, as if it meant nothing.
She shifted her face to the side, avoiding his gaze.
"No problem. It's just a small wound," she muttered.
Chaitanya smiled faintly and stepped closer.
He took her palm in his hand and examined it carefully.
The wound was deep.
He was amazed—how could she ignore this?
"Oh gosh! Look how severe this is. If we don't treat it, it could lead to an infection."
He turned and called out, "R-2, get me the bandage and cotton."
Following his command, R-2 quietly extended them from within its body.
Then, with care, Chaitanya began cleaning the blood on her palm.
Ria blinked. Once. Twice.
She was bewildered by his actions.
"Why is he helping me? We barely even know each other…"
A light blush crept up her cheeks.
To others, it might've seemed ordinary.
But for Ria—it was new. No one had ever cared for her like this.
She felt awkward. Shy.
And she had no idea how to react.
So, she did her best to hide it.
Chaitanya, however, noticed everything. Her expression gave her away.
"Hey, young girl, why do you look so awkward? Does it hurt? Should I be more gentle?"
He smiled softly.
That only made Ria blush more. She tried to suppress it, but her face became even more awkward.
"No… I don't feel any pain. It's just… new to me."
Chaitanya frowned slightly.
"New? Has no one ever done first aid for you before?"
The blush vanished from her face. Her expression turned blank.
"No. I do everything myself," she said flatly.
Chaitanya looked at her with subtle amazement, then smiled and continued cleaning the wound—more gently now.
"Brave little young girl," he murmured, and then asked,
"Who are your parents?"
"My parents are Dinesh and Sruthi," she answered, with no interest in her voice.
Chaitanya paused.
He slowly turned his head toward her, stunned.
"You mean… the co-founders of Heavy Duty?"
Ria raised an eyebrow at his reaction but nodded.
"Yes. Is there any problem?"
Chaitanya's eyes widened. The cotton fell from his hand.
"What?! But they don't have any children. Are you trying to fool me?"
Ria looked down, as if trying to hide something.
"…You're right. I'm not their real child. I'm… an experimental child."
Chaitanya was stunned.
"What?! Experimental? What kind of experiment?"
Ria clenched her fist, her eyes turning red. Blood began to drip again from her right hand.
Chaitanya gently took her hand in both of his.
His soft touch calmed her. She slowly relaxed her clenched fist.
"Don't worry, young girl. If it's uncomfortable, you don't have to tell me anything," he said gently.
Ria felt warmth in his voice.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
Memories began to flood back.
'Damn it. I don't want to remember the tragedy again…'
Her childhood had been horrific.
She had been thrown into the garbage after birth—born with only a right hand and left leg.
An old man living in the slums had adopted her and raised her with love and care… until his death.
After that, life was cruel.
Only the bitter truths told by the old man before his passing helped her survive.
'No... this isn't the time to remember the past.'
She took a deep breath… and exhaled slowly.
Then, she glanced at Chaitanya, who had just begun bandaging her palm.
'Should I tell him… or not?'
'I don't know why... but I want to. Or else I might burst.'
Finally, she broke the silence.
"I'm an orphan. They adopted me when I was seven or so. I only had one leg and one arm.
They used me for their experiments. Eventually, they attached an artificial hand and leg.
Surprisingly, I could control them.
After that… they took care of me like their own child.
But they kept me hidden from the public for some… anonymous reason."
Her voice was plain. Detached.
It took Chaitanya a few seconds to process everything.
Suddenly, he understood her strength… especially that powerful punch from earlier.
By now, he had finished tying the bandage.
The others who had overheard her story now looked at Ria with guilt.
They regretted their earlier judgments.
Chaitanya gently said, "You should rest until the vehicle is repaired."
Then he turned and instructed,
"R-1, R-2 — repair the WV-1."
Meanwhile, Bhargav stood silently, his thoughts drifting elsewhere.
'I hope my mother… and the other civilians… are safe.'