The beeping sounds softened as Betal dimmed the lights slightly, sensing the aged man's disorientation. The glowing blue screens faded into a warm golden hue, reflecting gently on Subbaraju's wrinkled yet wise face. He slowly lowered himself into the chair Dilli offered, his eyes scanning the room — the tangle of cables, the whirring drives, and the hovering holographic interface.
Subbaraju: "Dilli… tell me honestly. What is all this?"
Dilli exchanged a quick glance with his father, then turned toward his great grandfather with a humble but confident smile.
Dilli: "Tathayya… this is the heart of what I call Cosmos United Ltd. It's a digital universe I'm building — a place where people will connect, communicate, share, and express across the world without limits. We're building four key systems right now."
Subbaraju's brows furrowed slightly. "Systems?"
Dilli: "Yes. CosConnect — an email platform that will let anyone in the world send and receive messages instantly. CosChat — instant messaging and voice calling. CosSnap — a visual sharing network for photos and short videos. And CosPlay — a video platform for creators across the world."
The old man's eyes widened further with every word. He leaned back slowly, his mind racing through decades of memories — from the days of telegrams and typewriters to the first landline phones and early computers. And now, his own great grandson was talking about connecting the planet like a living network.
Subbaraju: "You're saying people… across countries… will talk, see each other, share pictures and films instantly?"
Dilli: "Yes, Tathayya. That's exactly it. We'll be among the first to bring it alive — not from America, not from Japan, but from right here."
A small chuckle escaped the old man's lips, half disbelief and half pride. "Dilli… you're not just dreaming big. You're dragging the future here ahead of its time."
Betal's calm digital voice resonated from the main terminal.
Betal: "Sir, your observation is statistically accurate. Current global infrastructure isn't yet optimized for these systems. However, with strategic development, Cosmos United can lead the digital age before the rest of the world catches up."
Subbaraju blinked, almost smiling. "And this voice… this Betal — he's not human, but he speaks like one."
Dilli: "He's my partner, Tathayya. My assistant and my logic. I provide the vision — he provides the precision."
The old man stared at the softly glowing sphere hovering mid-air, then at Dilli. "You've made a thinking being, Dilli. Do you even realize what that means?"
Dilli: "Yes. It means responsibility. Betal isn't just code — he's consciousness within boundaries. A mind designed to build, not destroy."
For the first time, Subbaraju's stern expression melted into something deeply emotional — a mix of astonishment and pride. He turned toward Dilli's father.
Subbaraju: "When I was his age, we were happy just to own a radio. Now this boy is creating something that will make distance meaningless."
Dilli's Father (smiling faintly): "Yes, Tathayya. He's always been different. Maybe this is what he was born to do."
There was silence for a while — the kind that holds reverence. Betal, sensing the mood, projected a soft simulation — a galaxy of light dots swirling slowly around them, each representing a potential user, a potential connection.
Betal: "This is what Cosmos United will look like, once operational. Millions of connections across the Earth — all speaking, sharing, and learning together."
Subbaraju gazed at it — the digital cosmos spinning before his eyes — and whispered softly, almost to himself, "You've named it well, Dilli. Cosmos United. Because what you're building isn't just a company. It's a bridge between souls."
Dilli looked down, humbled. "That's what I want, Tathayya. Not fame or power. I just want to connect humanity — one spark at a time."
The great grandfather slowly stood, his voice now steady. "Then let the world prepare. The boy from this farmhouse will soon teach them how the future is built."
He placed his trembling but proud hand on Dilli's head. "May your Cosmos shine brighter than all their empires, my child."
The air filled with the quiet hum of machines again — not cold or mechanical this time, but alive with purpose.
And in that farmhouse, three generations stood under the same roof — past, present, and future — as the first empire of the digital cosmos took its breath.