WebNovels

Chapter 3 - The Ripple Effect

The buzzing of voices filled the wide lecture hall of a prestigious university in Mumbai. Rows of students had abandoned their books and laptops for the moment, their eyes glued to the giant projector screen where a live broadcast was playing. The anticipation in the room was thick, like the air before a storm.

"He's gonna reveal it!" one student exclaimed, leaning forward so far in his seat that his pen tumbled from his notebook.

Another student pumped his fist, unable to hide the grin stretching across his face. "We believe in our idol!"

The chatter rose and fell like waves, the name Ryan Vale fluttering across the room like a chant. To these students, he wasn't just an accountant—he was a living legend.

At the back of the hall, Nikhil lounged across a bench, earbuds half hanging, his phone angled toward him. He wasn't shouting like the others, but his wide eyes betrayed his excitement. The faint reflection of Ryan's press conference flickered across his glasses.

His friend leaned over, nudging his arm. "Nikhil, what will you do when he reveals it?"

Nikhil tilted his head, a smirk tugging at his lips. "What else? I'm buying."

"You're serious?" his friend asked, half laughing.

"Of course I am." Nikhil sat up a little straighter, his voice gaining conviction. "Ryan Vale's suggestions always send stocks flying. Always. I'd be a fool not to act on it."

The other students overheard, nodding or murmuring their agreement. Some were already pulling up trading apps, fingers hovering anxiously above their screens. The atmosphere was electric—part faith, part greed, part blind devotion.

Nikhil adjusted his glasses and locked his gaze on the man on the screen. This is it, he thought, his heart beating faster. Come on, Ryan Vale…

At the press conference hall, cameras clicked nonstop. Reporters leaned forward, pens poised above notepads, eyes fixed on Ryan Vale. He had been calm throughout, answering questions with his usual charm, but now… now the moment everyone had been waiting for had arrived.

Ryan placed his hand lightly on the microphone, his sharp gaze scanning the crowd. On the screen behind him, a chart of Mr. Frank's company flickered to life, its line stagnant, almost lifeless.

"Today," Ryan began, his voice smooth, carrying an undeniable authority, "I am going to keep this simple."

The hall quieted instantly. Even the clicking of cameras slowed.

Ryan tapped the screen, and the chart zoomed in to show the current stock value. A hush fell as he continued.

"I, Ryan Vale, suggest you buy Mr. Frank's stocks."

The last word had barely left his lips before a ripple of shock swept across the room. Gasps. Murmurs. Fingers scrambled over smartphones. Traders watching the live broadcast across the city—and the country—leapt into action.

And then, it happened.

The flat line of the chart suddenly shot upward, spiking in real time as orders flooded the market. The numbers climbed so quickly that some reporters stood from their seats, mouths agape.

On the other side of the world, in Mumbai, the lecture hall erupted.

"He said it! He said it!" a student shouted, jumping to his feet.

Phones buzzed with alerts, stock apps lit up, and the room turned into chaos. Nikhil's heart raced as he stared at his screen, the numbers climbing so fast they blurred before his eyes.

"Yes!" he whispered, his hands trembling. Without hesitation, he poured every rupee he had into Mr. Frank's company.

His friend beside him gawked. "Nikhil—you're betting it all?!"

Nikhil didn't look away from the screen. "This is it. This is the chance I've been waiting for."

The chart spiked higher and higher, reporters at the conference scrambling for follow-up questions that Ryan ignored with his calm smile.

In that moment, Ryan Vale wasn't just an accountant. He was a force of nature, a man who could bend the entire economy with a single sentence.

Back in Mumbai, Nikhil clenched his fists, adrenaline pumping through his veins. God of Digits… you never fail.

The excitement of the lecture hall still lingered in Nikhil's chest as he walked through the crowded streets outside the university. His phone buzzed with constant updates—the stock was climbing, his account balance multiplying before his eyes. The air itself felt lighter, warmer, as if the entire city shared his triumph.

Unable to contain his grin, he made his way to a small park nearby. The noise of honking traffic faded into the background as he sank onto a wooden bench beneath the shade of an old banyan tree. For the first time that day, he let out a long breath, laughing to himself.

"Someone is extremely excited today, right?"

The familiar voice came from behind him.

Nikhil turned quickly, his face lighting up. "Akarsh brother! Do you have a PhD in reading faces or what?"

A tall figure walked around the bench and sat beside him. Akarsh's presence was hard to miss—black hair neatly combed back, posture straight, movements measured. Unlike Nikhil's restless energy, Akarsh radiated calm strength, the kind of person who could command a room without raising his voice.

"Maybe," Akarsh said with a faint smile. "But I didn't need to read your face today. I already know the reason behind your excitement. After all, everyone knows how much you believe in your idol."

Nikhil's eyes sparkled as he leaned closer. "Big brother, you won't believe it! I put all the money I had into a company stock this morning, and guess what—Ryan Vale suggested the exact same company in his press conference! I've already made so much!"

For a moment, Akarsh simply stared at him. His calm eyes narrowed, the faint smile fading. "You invested everything?" His voice carried a sharp edge now, a mix of surprise and quiet anger.

Nikhil's grin faltered. "I… yeah. I wanted to do something for my family. Something real."

Akarsh rubbed the bridge of his nose and sighed. "You do realize things could have gone wrong, right? You could've lost everything in a second."

Nikhil lowered his gaze, guilt creeping in. "I'm sorry. But… I didn't want to bother you again. I wanted to try on my own this time."

For a moment, silence stretched between them, broken only by the rustle of leaves overhead. Finally, Akarsh shook his head, though the sternness in his expression softened.

"It's okay this time. I have work to finish, otherwise I'd give you a lecture long enough to make you regret this for a week," he said, standing up.

Nikhil looked up, a small smile returning. "Thanks, brother."

Akarsh paused, then turned slightly and waved as he walked away. His tall figure disappeared into the bustle of the city, leaving Nikhil alone on the bench.

Nikhil remained seated on the bench long after Akarsh had gone, staring at the rippling pond across the park. The sounds of children playing, cyclists passing, and distant honks of traffic blended into a soft hum around him. Yet his mind was elsewhere—racing between excitement and unease.

He pulled out his phone again. The stock chart blazed upward, glowing like a beacon of possibility. His account balance refreshed, showing gains that made his chest tighten with disbelief. For the first time in his life, he felt like the future wasn't something he had to chase—it was rushing toward him.

And it was all because of one man.

"Ryan Vale…" he whispered under his breath, gripping the phone tightly. "The God of Digits."

For a moment, Nikhil closed his eyes, imagining the man he'd only ever seen through glowing screens—calm, unshakable, powerful enough to change the world with a single suggestion. He wasn't just an idol anymore. He was a force Nikhil wanted to reach, to stand beside someday.

"I'll meet you one day," Nikhil muttered with quiet conviction, his reflection caught in the black glass of the phone screen. "And when I do… I won't just be another believer. I'll prove myself worthy."

The breeze stirred, carrying with it the faint scent of the city mixed with blooming flowers. Nikhil leaned back on the bench, his smile returning—hopeful, stubborn, and a little naïve.

High above, the sun dipped lower into the horizon, painting the sky orange and crimson. It was the kind of evening that felt like the start of something bigger, something invisible that had already begun shifting.

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