📖 Chapter 11 – Sparks of Intellect
The Classroom Duel
The lecture hall buzzed with chatter. Rohit and his goons lounged arrogantly in the back row, laughing loudly. Arjun quietly took a seat near the side, notebook open.
The economics professor, Dr. Sharma, shuffled in. He was known for his sharp tongue and sharper bias. Poor students were often his targets.
"Mr. Mehra," Dr. Sharma's voice carried, "you seem rather… confident lately. Perhaps you can answer a question."
Whispers ran through the hall. Everyone knew this was a setup.
Dr. Sharma smirked. "Tell me, why did the dot-com bubble burst in America last year, and what lesson does India have to learn from it?"
A trap. Even rich kids struggled with this question.
Arjun stood slowly. His eyes were calm.
"The bubble burst because of blind speculation. Companies with no profits, no innovation, were valued in billions simply because of hype. When reality hit, the illusion collapsed. India's lesson is clear—we must focus on infrastructure, real industries, and long-term vision. Not hype."
The hall went silent.
Arjun's voice grew firmer.
"Our politics lack vision. Instead of investing in research, manufacturing, or education, we get stuck in corruption and short-term populism. That's why India lags behind nations like China. If we don't correct this now, we'll keep selling cheap labor instead of becoming global leaders."
Gasps filled the room. Even the mocking students were stunned.
Dr. Sharma's smile twitched, forced. "Lucky guess."
But before he could continue, another voice spoke.
"That was not luck."
Everyone turned. At the side stood Professor Iyer, a respected senior faculty member, known for his integrity.
"I've been teaching for 30 years, and few students can answer with such clarity. Arjun Mehra, well done."
Applause erupted—hesitant at first, then stronger.
Rohit's jaw clenched.
"Maybe he memorized it," Rohit sneered loudly. "Bookworm knowledge is useless in the real world."
Arjun's lips curved faintly. "You're right, Rohit. Knowledge without action is useless. Which is why you'd better study before opening your mouth."
Laughter exploded. Even Ritika covered her mouth, giggling. Kavya, however, only raised an eyebrow, her cold expression hiding the faintest flicker of interest.
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A Glimpse Into Kavya's World
That evening, Kavya returned to her family's grand estate. The contrast to Arjun's modest home couldn't be greater.
Her younger brother, Aarav, ran up with toy cars.
"Didi, race with me!"
Her goofy father, Rajeev Singh, a portly man with a hearty laugh, nearly tripped carrying a tray of samosas.
"Don't tell your mother I snuck extra oil in these!"
Her mother, graceful and kind, sighed but smiled fondly. "You'll ruin everyone's health, Rajeev."
And the old grandfather sat on the sofa, cracking jokes about his army days.
"Kavya, these boys in your college—do they even know how to march? Or just how to comb their hair?"
Kavya shook her head, a rare warmth touching her usually icy features. She was loved here—not pressured, not caged.
But when she lay in bed that night, her thoughts drifted.
That poor boy… Arjun Mehra.
He wasn't like others. No groveling, no showing off. His words about India's future lingered in her mind.
Infrastructure. Vision. Research.
She'd heard those words in boardrooms, from CEOs twice his age. But never so clearly, never with such conviction—from a student mocked by all.
Her eyes narrowed slightly in the dark. Interesting.
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Arjun's Midnight Resolve
Meanwhile, Arjun sat by the flickering bulb of his small room, pen scratching furiously across the notebook.
"India's problem is not talent," he muttered to himself. "It's vision. We have brains, we have manpower, but our leaders think in five-year elections, not fifty-year futures. That's why foreign powers exploit us."
The Nanochip pulsed faintly in his mind.
> [Strategy Suggestion: Build capital → enter IT outsourcing → shift into manufacturing → influence policy.]
Arjun's eyes burned with determination.
"I was born too late in my last life. This time, I'll start early. I'll correct the mistakes of this nation… and no force will stop me."
Outside, the night deepened. In two very different homes, two young minds—one poor, one rich—lay awake, thinking of the same person.
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🔥 End of Chapter 11 Cliffhanger