There is always a moment before a fall when the body already knows it will not recover.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xUpu4p465
The mind simply takes longer to accept it.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0u1ijOdJCY
The threshold was not marked by fear.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTsb0LrdXw
That surprised Arav.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvFsLi1UPj
He had expected something dramatic—his pulse racing, his breath catching, a voice inside him13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XUb1A4jHy
warning him to stop. Instead, there was only clarity. A clean, quiet sense of alignment, like fitting13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMxCPMlnAu
the last piece into a puzzle.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoAMkMPbEh
This was not impulse.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7bRfiReHH
This was decision.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLCIWr8gAM
It began with the lab assistant.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEWxZt1kPd
His name was Mr. Joshi.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5HPz81NQT
Middle-aged. Ordinary. Invisible in the way most adults became once their purpose was reduced13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIlRK7prnt
to maintenance. He worked evenings in the lower research wing of the school, checking13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2iqM8PwYb
servers, calibrating sensors, logging anomalies no one ever read.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfldrF7lat
He was kind to Arav.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnVghYWZTT
That mattered.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hxSsaWBR3
Kindness, Arav had learned, was not protection. It was access.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CKcJGARQe
Mr. Joshi always greeted him with the same words.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYxTKfYVPz
“Still studying late, champ?”13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cxhO4mSTw
Arav nodded every time.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQphihD2gjc
Sometimes he asked questions—small, harmless ones.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9CAgS2iTA
“What does this machine do?”13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSb34s7aD8z
“Why do the lights blink like that?”13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqRnOSGTDP
“Does the system ever make mistakes?”13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9q20M5CDIS
Mr. Joshi answered patiently.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPPOCaSfDw
Adults loved explaining things to children who looked impressed.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9hdI6xcNf
One evening, the school corridors were nearly empty. Parent–teacher meetings ran late. The air13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarwJebKV54
smelled faintly of dust and warm circuitry.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS37or7gld4
Arav sat near the stairwell, tablet resting on his knees.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomLa5E1RHg
Mr. Joshi paused when he saw him.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSVa6bktil
“You should be upstairs,” he said gently. “This area’s restricted.”13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86TGC4bnrE
Arav lowered his eyes.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1bLohIatF
“I got lost,” he said.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5IRdJUDrK
It wasn’t even a lie.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzb1X1gAVtE
Lost did not require intention—only direction.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmdxhKa6G5
Mr. Joshi sighed and crouched slightly, bringing his face closer to Aruv’s level.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGH3wDPm9CL
“These places aren’t safe for you,” he said. “Too many machines. Too many wires.”13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvqMiGtrac
“I won’t touch anything,” Arav replied.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0PE9yhHem
His voice was steady.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1utrCOg0N
Mr. Joshi hesitated.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7Saq51wz8
And that hesitation—small, human, familiar—was enough.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStVkUpHfbT
“All right,” he said. “But stay right here. I’ll finish my check.”
Arav smiled.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hbU50VUkZ
While Mr. Joshi worked, Arav observed.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvRj8tjTQ8
The way he keyed in access codes.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtvyZSyYBb
The sequence of his movements.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWG6gMlgAL
The habit of muttering passwords under his breath—not loudly, but consistently.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ajz9qqG4u
People trusted routine more than memory.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0oZg5yhxG
Routine betrayed them.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzf2M71SdCX
The server room was colder than the corridors. Blue lights pulsed softly, casting everything in a13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQts5vwYMmV
sterile glow. The predictive core hummed behind reinforced glass—rows of data flowing like13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMiDHVuczx
silent rain.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMwzg8skax
Mr. Joshi leaned over a console.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0L71N26Ju
Arav watched the reflection of his face in the glass.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUXsR4QfpD
It looked tired.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkiG8iwgD4
Older than it should have been.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgND9rSgJj
“Do you ever feel scared?” Arav asked suddenly.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDVYDoUJTy
Mr. Joshi glanced back, surprised.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhDGYgO7KZ
“Scared of what?”13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqOqOaRud4
“Of being wrong,” Arav said. “Of missing something important.”13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91E24lQMXU
Mr. Joshi chuckled softly. “Every day.”13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJNHDi1TAJ
Arav nodded, as if satisfied.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKNr6rzwPy
What happened next took less than ten seconds.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwx6TX9Yqqz
Arav rolled his tablet off his lap deliberately.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzFh6VYLta
It clattered against the floor, skidding toward the server rack.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6u9j2fhw6
“I’m sorry,” he said quickly, panic entering his voice at precisely the right volume.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89PPgG6wHx
Mr. Joshi turned instinctively.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbs1bVaMPB
That was the threshold.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpXLVgXfSq
As he stepped forward, his foot caught a loose cable—one Arav had noticed days ago and13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DHdsuQdCK
quietly loosened further that afternoon.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5WWhXOOgh
The fall was sudden.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgcHkVYHP6
Sharp.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvx6rSXQ3IJ
Mr. Joshi hit his head against the console edge with a dull, final sound.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nQ4gHYL6b
Silence followed.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrvk5JVPbm
Not dramatic.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyifBHEnqjj
Just empty.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuYBRRR3Bb
Arav didn’t move.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXD6y7bhQz
He counted.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiJXhWrmEh
One.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4CkWcaTVr
Two.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQg8N0GJOW
Three.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNc66hbUaL6
No breath.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNapsRS7uKu
No groan.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPOpUhSW8G
No recovery.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79hE8ZCVBn
For the first time in his life, Arav felt something unfamiliar press against his chest.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeq0RsXS7W
Not guilt.
Not fear.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrlbNGcHH4
Confirmation.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBZUvbVzV3
He stood up slowly and approached the body.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZoeov2ijJ
Mr. Joshi’s eyes were open, unfocused. A thin line of blood traced down his temple, dark against13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARREiqOdFP
pale skin.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4w932h1ca
Arav studied it clinically.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0mmR5GKhz
Cause: accidental fall.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEuZPZvIXj
Contributing factors: unsecured cable, restricted area access, adult negligence.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4tGBFGCln
Witnesses: none.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkfOTM33vS
The system would agree.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSBVzI6bFx
He adjusted his own breathing, letting his heart rate rise slightly. Stress indicators mattered.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapQZuJSvo3
Then he pressed the emergency alert.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvW5iO7sfYx
Chaos arrived quickly.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOFeF8H5MN
Teachers. Security. Medics.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZW6On02YU
Voices overlapped. Screens flashed. Wristbands synced data.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdJ0V3REEx
Arav sat on the floor, wrapped in a thermal blanket, shaking just enough to look real.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDA30KwhAo9
“I dropped my tablet,” he whispered to the counselor who knelt beside him. “He tried to help13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7L9Gu8XQ3L
me.”13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyHTb125Or
The counselor’s eyes softened instantly.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4iK71QJ5r
“Oh, Arav,” she said. “This isn’t your fault.”13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPNTXUro3T
No one suggested it was.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFSEk9V8DT
The report was clean.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXG9qveHqH
Accidental death. Workplace hazard.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7opIKx0Hj
The Behavioral Grid flagged no anomalies.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxDPUu2JLr
Aruv’s data showed:13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzCsWKHJSJ
Elevated stress13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENL0nFyKJ7
Shock response13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMxXxIqAur
Emotional suppression typical of trauma13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImnKCvpNuB
The system updated his profile again.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHtBz1norr
Vulnerability Index: Critical13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD04OHvRjX7
Protection Bias: Maximum13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zSqwJOPKb
The city wrapped tighter around him.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eoFvJpce9
That night, Arav lay awake, staring at the ceiling.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBsDO1L7MU
He replayed the moment—not the fall, but the choice before it.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ489N8gRXKs
The hesitation.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUn4z2z8aGe
The step forward.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CYFSAJSKH
The point of no return.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jDwtADTvK
He understood now what the threshold truly was.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDeYO7FRTC
It wasn’t the act.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudYfZnCVXR
It was the realization that nothing stopped you afterward.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ64kcCuQEb
At Mr. Joshi’s funeral, Arav stood between his parents, dressed in white.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMelpY6t3LQ
People touched his head gently as they passed.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltXIxwXwrj
“So brave,” they said.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSeVdIIRNI
“So unlucky,” they said.
“Poor child,” they said.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYeITclDiF
Aruv lowered his eyes respectfully.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhHX4CKXSj
Inside, something settled into place.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmZyp948Oz
That night, he wrote one sentence in his private notes and did not delete it.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdV9Imsr0YP
There is no punishment for accidents.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiEYD5Z4sR
He closed the tablet.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEgAmlqWpB
Outside, Neo-Varuna City continued to glow—confident, measured, blind.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6pmKqoSku
Arav slept peacefully.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35jN1BGSWn
He had crossed the threshold.
13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgSOXqYm13
and then Add to home screen.