The following morning, the atmosphere in the Pathak Haveli was tighter than a drum. Raghunath had skipped his usual early morning visit to the grinding unit, and even the grandfathers had paused their daily chess battle. The news that the "Apple of the Family's Eye" was attempting a feat unheard of in the history of St. Mary's Convent had traveled through the household like wildfire.
"He is too young, Raghunath," Nana Janardhan said, though he was busy polishing his finest spectacles. "Class 3? The curriculum includes environmental science and long-form composition. If he fails, it will crush his spirit."
"He won't fail," Ansh muttered from the corner, where he was already tinkering with a small heating coil for their 'toy' machine. "Ashu doesn't do things to fail."
Ashutosh walked down the stairs, dressed in a crisp, ironed school uniform. He felt the weight of their gaze—hope, anxiety, and pure disbelief. He didn't feel like a child being led to a slaughter; he felt like a director walking onto the set of a high-stakes climax.
When they arrived at the school, the Principal's office had been rearranged into a mini-examination hall. Three teachers sat behind a long desk: Sister Mary, the head of the Mathematics department, and an elderly man who taught History and Literature.
"Raghunath Pathak, Janardhan
Mishra," Mother Superior acknowledged them with a nod. "As we agreed, Ashutosh will undergo a three-part assessment: Logic, Language, and General Awareness. To enter Class 3, he must not just pass; he must excel."
Ashutosh climbed onto the wooden chair. His feet still dangled, but as he looked at the panel, he activated his Public Speaking (Lv 1). A subtle change occurred in his posture. His shoulders squared, and he met the eyes of the History teacher with a gaze that was disturbingly calm.
"We shall start with Mathematics," the Math teacher said, pushing a sheet of paper forward. "Solve these, Ashutosh. You have thirty minutes."
Ashutosh glanced at the sheet. Long division, basic fractions, and word problems. To a 25-year-old who had managed production budgets and tax filings, this was like breathing. He picked up the pencil.
Scratch. Scratch. Scratch.
He didn't hesitate. He didn't chew the eraser. In exactly four minutes, he slid the paper back.
The Math teacher frowned. "You must check your work, child. Speed leads to—" She stopped mid-sentence. Her eyes scanned the page. Her frown deepened into a look of pure bewilderment. "Every step... he hasn't just given the answers. He's used a short-form division method we don't even teach until Class 5."
"Is it correct?" Nana Janardhan asked, his voice booming with a hint of his courtroom authority.
"It is... perfect," she whispered.
The Literature teacher cleared his throat. "Reading and comprehension, then. Ashutosh, read this passage from 'The Merchant of Venice'—the simplified version, of course—and tell me what the character feels."
Ashutosh took the book. He didn't just read the words; he used his Director's Vision (Lv 0) to visualize the scene. He understood subtext. He spoke with a clarity that silenced the room, explaining the concept of mercy and justice.
"Justice is the law, but mercy is the soul of the law," Ashutosh concluded, glancing at his Nana.
The retired Chief Justice felt a shiver of pride so strong he had to grip his cane. The boy wasn't just reciting; he was understanding.
Finally, Mother Superior leaned in. "One last thing, Ashutosh. This is not in the books. Why do you want to jump ahead? Why not stay and play with children your own age? What is the rush?"
Raghunath and Savitri leaned forward. This was the question they feared. They wanted to know if their son was losing his childhood.
Ashutosh looked at Mother Superior, then at his parents. He didn't use the voice of a businessman now. He spoke from the "Fiery" core of his soul.
"Mother, India is like this classroom," he said, his voice resonant. "Most people are happy to sit and repeat 'G for Goat' because that is what they are told. But outside these walls, the world is moving. In the West, they are building computers. In Bombay, they are making films that could change how people think. If I stay in Upper KG, I am just waiting for time to pass. I don't want to wait for the future; I want to help build it. My family has a business that can feed hundreds of families, and I want to be ready to lead it alongside my brothers."
He paused, a charismatic smile breaking through his serious demeanor.
"And besides, Mother, I can still play hide-and-seek in Class 3. I'll just be harder to find."
The teachers looked at each other. The Literature teacher took off his glasses and wiped them, visibly moved. Mother Superior looked at Raghunath.
"Mr. Pathak, you have a prodigy. Keeping him in the lower grades would be a disservice to his intellect. Effective Monday, Ashutosh Pathak is promoted to Class 3."
[DING! Quest Completed: The Scholar's Debut]
[REWARD RECEIVED:]
1,000 Skill Points.
Physical Enhancement: [Stage 2: Very Very Little Enhancement].
As the reward took effect, Ashutosh felt a sudden warmth spread from his spine to his fingertips. His vision became slightly sharper, and the slight fatigue he felt from the "Exam" vanished instantly. He felt lighter, his muscles subtly firmer, though he still looked like a normal five-year-old to the outside world.
Savitri rushed forward and scooped him up, sobbing with joy. "My genius boy! My Kanha!"
Raghunath stood tall, his chest puffed out with a pride he had never felt before. He looked at the Principal. "Thank you, Mother. We will ensure he works even harder now."
As they walked out of the school, Ashutosh saw a notification in his periphery.
[Current Skill Points: 1,000]
[Physical Status: Stage 2 - Stamina, Physical Potential and Mental Processing improved by 10%]
'1,000 points,' Ashutosh thought. 'Time to invest in the future.'
"Papa," Ashutosh said as they reached the car. "Since I passed the exam, can we go to the bazaar? I want to buy a specific type of lens for a project I'm thinking about."
Raghunath laughed, ruffleing his son's hair. "Today, Ashu, you can have the whole bazaar."
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[New Skill Unlocked: Cinematography (Lv 0)]