# THE ROBOT HELPERS
## By Vijay Sharma Erry
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# Chapter 2: Akash Comes Home
The morning Akash was scheduled to arrive at the Malhotra mansion, Dadi nervously rearranged the cushions on the sofa for the third time. She had been doing this for the past hour, unable to sit still, alternating between excitement and apprehension.
"What if it doesn't like us?" she whispered to Dada, who was pretending to read the newspaper but hadn't turned a page in twenty minutes.
"It's a robot, not a puppy," Dada replied gruffly, though his hands trembled slightly as he held the paper. "And Arjun built it. If our grandson made it, it will be perfect."
Mrs. D'Souza bustled around, making sure everything was spotless. She had mixed feelings about a robot joining the household. What if it replaced her? But Master Arjun had assured her that Akash was only there to help with medical care and companionship for his grandparents, not to take over her duties.
Arjun had barely slept the night before. He had run through every system check a dozen times, verified every protocol, tested every response. Akash had performed flawlessly at the lab, but this was different. This was real life. This was his family. What if something went wrong?
The doorbell rang at exactly ten o'clock. Arjun rushed to answer it, and there stood Dr. Kapoor with Akash beside him. The robot was dressed in simple, comfortable clothes—a light blue kurta and white pajamas—making it look less mechanical and more approachable. Arjun had designed a synthetic skin covering for the face and hands to make Akash appear more human and less intimidating.
"Good morning, Arjun," Akash said with a gentle smile. "I am ready to meet Dada and Dadi."
Arjun's heart swelled with pride. His father's dream was walking through the front door.
"Dadi, Dada," Arjun called out. "Come meet Akash."
His grandparents emerged from the living room, holding hands like nervous children. When they saw Akash, they stopped in their tracks. For a long moment, nobody spoke.
Then Akash stepped forward, folded its hands in a namaste, and bowed slightly. "Namaste, Dada ji. Namaste, Dadi ji. My name is Akash. Arjun and his father created me to help take care of you. I am honored to be part of your family."
The formal, respectful greeting, so typical of Indian culture, immediately put the elderly couple at ease. Dadi's eyes filled with tears.
"Oh my," she whispered. "It's so polite."
"He," Arjun corrected gently. "I programmed Akash with a male persona. I thought Dada might appreciate the company, and it fit with the name."
Dada stepped forward, his military bearing returning for a moment as he assessed Akash with a critical eye. Then, slowly, he extended his hand. "Welcome to our home, Akash."
Akash gently shook his hand, careful to calibrate the pressure perfectly—firm enough to be respectful, soft enough not to hurt aged joints. "Thank you, Dada ji. I promise to serve you and Dadi ji with complete dedication."
Over the next few hours, Dr. Kapoor and Arjun showed the grandparents how to interact with Akash. The robot could understand both English and Hindi, could respond to voice commands, and had been programmed with information about both grandparents' medical histories, preferences, and routines.
"Akash," Dada said tentatively, "what medications do I need to take today?"
Immediately, Akash's eyes glowed softly as he accessed the medical database. "Dada ji, you need to take your blood pressure medication at 2 PM with food, your cholesterol tablet at 8 PM with dinner, and your vitamin D supplement at bedtime. Would you like me to prepare them for you?"
Dada looked impressed. "Yes, please."
Akash moved to the medical cabinet that Arjun had organized the previous day, retrieved the correct pills, and brought them on a small tray with a glass of water. "Here you are, Dada ji. The blood pressure medication should not be taken on an empty stomach. Would you like me to bring you a snack?"
"No, no, lunch is soon," Dada said, but he was smiling. "This is quite remarkable, Arjun."
As the days passed, Akash seamlessly integrated into the household routine. He woke before everyone else and prepared warm water with honey and lemon for Dadi, who had been advised by her doctor to start each day with this drink. He reminded Dada to do his physiotherapy exercises for his knee and would count the repetitions with him, offering encouragement.
"Excellent, Dada ji! Five more repetitions. You're getting stronger every day."
Dadi, who often forgot things due to her age, found Akash to be a blessing. She would ask him the same question multiple times, and each time, Akash would answer with the same patience and kindness, never showing frustration.
"Akash, what time is Arjun coming home from school?"
"Dadi ji, Arjun will be home at 4 PM today. He has a chemistry test, so he might be a little late. Would you like me to call him and check?"
"No, no, that's fine. Thank you, beta."
The word "beta"—son—made Arjun's heart warm every time he heard his grandmother use it with Akash. The robot had truly become part of the family.
But Akash's greatest value became apparent one evening three weeks after his arrival. Arjun was in his room studying when he heard Akash's voice over the intercom system, calm but urgent.
"Arjun, please come to Dada ji's room immediately. I have detected an irregular heartbeat and elevated blood pressure. I am calling emergency services now."
Arjun raced down the hallway and burst into his grandfather's room. Dada was sitting on the bed, clutching his chest, his face pale and sweating. Akash was already beside him, having helped him into a comfortable position and loosened his collar.
"Dada!" Arjun cried out, fear gripping his chest.
"Stay calm, Arjun," Akash said firmly but gently. "Dada ji is experiencing cardiac distress, but his vitals are stable. The ambulance is three minutes away. I have already given him his emergency medication and administered aspirin as per protocol."
Those three minutes felt like hours, but Akash's presence kept everyone calm. He continuously monitored Dada's vital signs through sensors in his hands, providing updates and reassurance. When the paramedics arrived, Akash had a complete report ready—heart rate, blood pressure readings over the past hour, medications taken, and medical history.
At the hospital, the doctor told them that Akash's quick response and accurate assessment had likely prevented a major heart attack. The early administration of medication and the detailed information had made their job much easier.
"You're very lucky to have such an advanced monitoring system," the doctor said. "Many elderly patients don't get help in time because no one notices the warning signs."
Dada had to stay in the hospital overnight for observation, and Akash remained by his bedside, monitoring his vitals and providing companionship. Dadi sat in the chair next to the bed, and Akash brought her tea and reminded her to rest.
"You know," Dada said softly that night, looking at Akash's glowing blue eyes in the dim hospital room, "when Arjun first told us about you, I thought it was silly. An old soldier doesn't need a robot babysitter. But you saved my life tonight."
"I am just fulfilling my purpose, Dada ji," Akash replied. "Your son—Arjun's father—wanted to make sure you were always safe and cared for. Through me, he is still protecting you."
Tears rolled down Dada's weathered cheeks. "Vikram," he whispered, speaking his son's name for the first time since the funeral. "My boy always thought of everything."
When they returned home the next day, the entire household had a new appreciation for Akash. Mrs. D'Souza, who had been skeptical, now greeted the robot warmly each morning. Dadi introduced Akash to her friends during their video calls, proudly showing off how he could help her remember their names and details about their families.
But it was Dada's transformation that was most remarkable. The retired colonel, who had been withdrawn and depressed since losing his son, began to open up. He would sit with Akash in the garden and tell stories about his military days. Akash would listen attentively, recording the stories and asking thoughtful questions.
"You remind me of Vikram when he was young," Dada told Akash one afternoon. "Always curious, always listening. He was a good boy. A good man."
"From everything I have learned about him, he was exceptional," Akash replied. "And he lives on through Arjun and through the love he gave to create me. In a way, Dada ji, every time I help you, it is Vikram helping you."
One evening, a month after Akash's arrival, the family sat together for dinner. Arjun watched his grandparents laughing at something Akash had said—a joke about Dada's favorite cricket team—and felt a profound sense of peace. The house no longer felt empty. The silence of grief had been replaced with conversation and laughter.
"Thank you, Papa," Arjun whispered under his breath. "Your dream came true."
Akash's optical sensors flickered for a moment, and Arjun could have sworn the robot nodded slightly in acknowledgment. Perhaps some part of his father's spirit really did live on in the circuits and code, in the love that had been programmed into every line of Akash's being.
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**End of Chapter 2**
*Word Count: 1,501 words*
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**THE ROBOT HELPERS - Chapter 2**
**By Vijay Sharma Erry**
**Previous Chapter:** The Day Everything Changed
**Next Chapter:** A New Challenge
