The evening air in the Pathak Haveli was filled with the rhythmic sound of a mortar and pestle from the kitchen and the distant melody of a temple shehnai. But for Ashutosh, the world had slowed down into a series of frames. With Cinematography (Lv 1) and Director's Vision (Lv 1) active, he wasn't just seeing his home; he was seeing a set.
He stood outside his Nana's study. This was the sanctum of Janardhan Mishra—a room lined with heavy law books, smelling of old paper and expensive tobacco.
"Nana?" Ashutosh called out softly, pushing the heavy teak door.
The retired Chief Justice looked up from a thick file. "Ah, the Resident Genius. Come in, Ashu. Are you here to argue a case for more sweets?"
"No, Nana. I'm here for the Bolex," Ashutosh said, walking straight to the large wooden trunk in the corner.
Janardhan paused, his eyebrows shooting up. "The 16mm camera? It hasn't seen the light of day since I left London in the sixties. Why would a five-year-old want a heavy piece of iron and glass?"
"Because the eyes see, but the camera remembers," Ashutosh said, using his Public Speaking (Lv 1) to strike a chord of poetic maturity. "You always say the law is about evidence. A camera is the ultimate witness. I want to record the factory trial tomorrow. For the records."
Janardhan stared at his grandson. The boy's "Fiery" conviction was hard to ignore. With a sigh of amused defeat, the old man stood up and unlocked the trunk. Inside, nestled in velvet, lay the silver-and-black Bolex H16. It was a mechanical masterpiece.
[ITEM DETECTED: BOLEX H16 (VINTAGE)]
[CONDITION: FUNCTIONAL BUT DUSTY]
[SYSTEM BONUS: COMPATIBILITY WITH 'DIRECTOR'S VISION' UNLOCKED]
As Ashutosh touched the cold metal, his mind surged. He didn't need a manual. He knew exactly how the spring-wound motor felt, how to load the film, and how the parallax error would affect his framing.
"Careful, it's heavy," Janardhan warned.
"I have a strong grip, Nana," Ashutosh replied, his Stage 2 Physique allowing him to lift the three-kilogram camera with surprising ease for a child.
He lugged the camera back to the courtyard where Padma Sharma and his mother were still talking. When Padma saw the vintage camera in the hands of the tiny boy, she gasped.
"Savitri! Look at him! He looks like a miniature David Lean!" Padma laughed, her eyes bright with genuine interest. "Ashu, do you even know how to look through the viewfinder?"
Ashutosh didn't answer with words. He dropped to one knee, braced the camera against his shoulder, and aimed it at Padma. Through the lens, he saw her—the lighting was perfect, a soft backlight from the setting sun catching the edge of her chiffon saree.
"Don't move, Auntie Padma," he whispered. "The light is perfect for a star."
He didn't have film in it yet—it was too expensive to waste—but he was "practicing" his shots.
"You know," Padma said, her voice turning thoughtful, "my brother, Govind, would love you. He's just a teenager now, but he's obsessed with dancing and the camera. He spends hours in front of the mirror."
'Govinda,' Ashutosh thought, a thrill running through him. 'The man who will rule the 90s with his comic timing.'
"Is he going to be an actor, Auntie?" Ashutosh asked, lowering the camera.
"He wants to be. But the industry is hard, Ashu. It's not just about talent; it's about who you know," Padma sighed.
"Then he should come to Varanasi," Ashutosh said with a confident smirk. "In a few years, the biggest studio in India won't be in Bombay. It will be right here. And I'll need a hero who can dance."
Savitri and Padma burst into laughter, thinking it was just the "cute" arrogance of a child. But Ashutosh's eyes were deadly serious. He looked at the camera, then at his brothers who were now gathered around, curious about the 'new toy.'
[DING! NEW SUB-QUEST: THE FIRST ROLL]
Objective: Capture 3 minutes of high-quality footage of the "Pathak Packaging Machine" trial.
Reward: 300 Skill Points + [Item: 10 Rolls of Kodak 16mm Film (High Speed)].
"Ansh-bhaiya, is the machine ready?" Ashutosh asked, turning to his brother.
Ansh looked up, wiping grease onto his shorts. "The heater is drawing power, and the spring-plate is clicking. We just need Papa to bring the plastic rolls from the market."
"Tomorrow then," Ashutosh declared. "Tomorrow, we record the birth of the Pathak Empire."
That night, as the house slept, Ashutosh sat on his bed, the Bolex beside him. He opened his system.
'System, I have 100 points from the Sharma family bond. Put them into Cinematography.'
[DING! Cinematography: Lv 1 (100/500)]
Current Remaining Balance: 800 points
He closed his eyes. He didn't dream of toys or school. He dreamed of a red-and-gold packet of masala falling in slow motion, captured at 64 frames per second, while a young Govinda danced in the background.