When the waiter brought her plate of hot roti and a bowl of rich green palak paneer, Bani smiled slightly. She tore a piece of roti, dipped it into the creamy spinach gravy, and tasted it slowly. The flavor was comforting and delicious, and she realized she liked it a lot. As she ate, she carefully observed everything around her—the steel tables, the ordinary chairs, the simple serving dishes, and the way the staff worked efficiently. Since her father was new to the city and they were setting up their own restaurant, Bani knew it was important that their place looked just as normal as this one. If any equipment broke later, her father should easily find the same items in the market without thinking anything was unusual. While finishing her meal, Bani quietly made mental notes about the setup, the menu board, and even the way the food was served. To anyone watching, she was just a girl enjoying her lunch. But in her mind, she was carefully planning how their restaurant would run—keeping everything simple, practical, and ordinary so that her secret powers would remain completely hidden.
Bani had spent the afternoon working at the beach, letting the sound of waves and the salty breeze guide her thoughts as she planned the restaurant layout. By the time she reached the shore in the evening, she found a quiet bench and spread out her laptop and papers, sketching designs and making notes under the fading sunlight. Hours passed quickly, and when the clock showed 8 at night, she packed her laptop and other belongings into a taxi and headed home. By the time she reached her apartment, it was already 8 p.m. She removed her shoes at the door and stepped inside to find the whole family sitting together, watching a movie. Manu was the first to notice her and greeted her cheerfully. Bani handed him a fresh pack of ice cream she had bought just after leaving the taxi, since the previous one had already been finished.
The family continued watching the film, and Bani joined them comfortably. In between, she shared with her father the designs she had been working on, explaining that she had discussed layouts with her friend and incorporated feedback. She described her plan: two seating areas on the walkout of the shop with foldable tables and chairs—just three options for simplicity—and multiple interior layout options for inside. She showed designs in her friend's name that he recommended it after reviewing the shop and explained that if her father approved, the team could start the next day. By noon, the kitchen setup could be completed, as all the equipment was ready and only needed to be transported and adjusted to fit. Her father nodded in approval, giving the green signal to proceed.
After dinner, the family enjoyed ice cream for dessert, and Manu's excitement was evident—he savored each bite with wide-eyed delight.
That very night, Bani connected with space again. She inquired whether it had gained any new powers, it replied.
host nothing had changed beyond what had been shared previously: copying, resource library access, and influencing one thought. But then a new feature appeared in her panel, unlocked only after she had moved into her new house. This allowed her to design items according to her wish. The host clarified that if she wanted spares of anything in real life, she would need to copy the material first, otherwise the items would only exist in her design
That evening, Bani had spent several hours at the beach, her laptop open on a quiet bench as the sun dipped low behind the horizon. The gentle waves lapping nearby provided a calm rhythm as she worked, sketching layouts and making notes for the restaurant. By the time it was 8 p.m., she packed up her laptop and materials, hailed a taxi, and headed home. The drive was short, but by the time she stepped through the door, it was already 8 p.m. She removed her shoes at the entrance, stepping into the familiar warmth of her home where the family was gathered, watching a film. Manu, ever eager, was the first to greet her. Bani handed him a fresh pack of ice cream she had bought right after leaving the taxi, to be stored in the refrigerator, as the previous one had already been finished.
The family continued watching the film, and Bani joined them quietly, the glow of the screen reflecting softly on her face. During a pause, she spoke to her father about the restaurant plans. "I discussed with my friend," she said, showing a set of designs she had created herself. When her father asked how she planned to execute them, Bani explained: the plan included two seating areas outside the shop, using foldable tables and chairs—just three options, so they could easily store them each day. Inside, there were multiple interior design options, and after her "friend" reviewed the layout and discussed possibilities, these were the choices recommended. "If you approve, work can begin tomorrow," she added. "By the end of the day, the kitchen setup can be finished—all the equipment is ready; it just needs to be transported and fitted."
Her father smiled, giving the green light to proceed. Dinner followed, and ice cream was served as dessert. Manu's delight was impossible to miss—his joy at savoring the sweet treat became the favorite moment of the day for him, evident in every gleeful expression.
Later that night, Bani connected with the space again. "Have you gained any new powers?" she asked silently.
The space replied, calm and precise: "Nothing beyond what I told you before—copying, resource library, influencing one thought. Only recently, a new update appeared in my panel. After you bought the house, it remained locked. But now, it is unlocked. With this feature, you can design according to your wish. You can select from the collection, but if a piece is damaged, a spare will not be available unless you copy the material first, like in real life. Then I can craft it according to your choice."
Bani's lips curved into a satisfied smile. Perfect, she thought. Everything she needed for the restaurant setup could now be managed carefully, ordinary to everyone else, but exactly as she envisioned.