...3,500 AED per month, with the possibility of review after your probationary period. Does that work for you?"
Aarav's internal processing unit, boosted by the general cognitive uplift, instantly ran a complex series of calculations. 3,500 AED. It was indeed modest, barely enough to cover rent, utilities, and basic food in this city but its not enough, to cover for his situation . A flicker of disappointment tried to surface, but it was quickly overshadowed by the sheer exhilaration of landing a job in his field, a job that promised real-world application of his burgeoning "Engineering Proficiency." This wasn't merely about the money; it was about the opportunity, the experience, the input for his growing skill set.
His upgraded communication skills kicked in seamlessly. "Mr. Al-Zahrani," Aarav said, a genuine smile spreading across his face, "that's excellent news. I'm very grateful for the opportunity and I accept. I'm confident I can prove my value well within the three months."
Mr. Al-Zahrani returned the smile, a slight nod of approval. "Good to hear. Our HR department will be in touch tomorrow with the full details and paperwork. We look forward to having you on board, Aarav."
As Aarav walked out of the office building, the late morning sun warm on his face, he felt an unprecedented surge of optimism. The nervousness was gone, replaced by a focused anticipation. He had a job, a foot in the door, and a clear path to apply his newfound, almost supernatural, grasp of engineering concepts. The modest pay was a short-term hurdle; his enhanced mind was already sketching out scenarios for rapid advancement, for proving his worth so unequivocally that a raise would be undeniable. This wasn't just a job; it was a proving ground for the new Aarav, the engineer who was fifteen minutes early, and perhaps, fifteen steps ahead.
He wasn't merely going to do the tasks assigned to him. His goal was to dissect them, understand their foundational mechanics, and then, inevitably, find a better way. This wasn't arrogance; it was a calm, almost detached certainty. The entry-level position at "InnovateEcho Solutions" was a stepping stone, a sandbox. He would spend his initial weeks absorbing the company's existing methodologies, identifying bottlenecks, and perhaps, most importantly, understanding the unasked questions that plagued their projects.
Back in his modest apartment, the usual sense of pre-job jitters was absent. Instead, a peculiar calm settled over him as he opened his engineering textbooks. He wasn't reviewing; he was re-evaluating. Concepts that had once required painstaking effort to grasp now unfolded with crystalline clarity. He saw the elegant simplicity behind complex equations, the compromises inherent in every design, and the path to transcending those limitations. It was as if a hidden layer of reality had been peeled back, revealing the intricate gears of the universe below. This wasn't just knowing the answers; it was understanding the very fabric of the questions