📖 Chapter 12 – A Mentor's Gaze
The sun dipped behind the old university building, casting long shadows across the courtyard. Most students hurried home, but Arjun stayed back in the library, his notebooks spread wide.
A calm voice interrupted.
"Young man, may I?"
Arjun looked up. It was Professor Iyer, carrying a stack of worn books.
"Sir," Arjun stood immediately.
Iyer waved him down with a gentle smile. "Relax. You answered well yesterday
. Not many students can think beyond memorized textbooks."
Arjun hesitated. Compliments were rare in his world. "…Thank you, sir."
Iyer settled into the chair across from him. "Tell me, Arjun. You spoke about vision. How do you see India compared to other Asian nations?"
Arjun's eyes lit up. This was his element.
"Sir, look at China. In the last two decades, they've poured money into infrastructure—roads, ports, power plants. They attract industries because they have the backbone ready. Korea? They pushed education and technology, creating giants like Samsung. Singapore focused on trade, ports, and efficient governance, becoming a hub despite its small size."
"And India?" Iyer probed gently.
Arjun's voice turned sharp.
"We get stuck in red tape and corruption. We produce engineers, doctors, thinkers—but most of them leave. Brain drain. We chase short-term votes with subsidies instead of building industries for the future. Sir, we have talent equal to any country in the world. But our leaders think in five years, not fifty."
The old professor leaned back, studying him. There was no arrogance in Arjun's tone—only conviction, forged through something deeper than mere study.
"You speak like a man far older than your years," Iyer murmured.
Arjun only smiled faintly. If only you knew.
---
Shadows of Jealousy
From outside the library window, another pair of eyes watched. Rohit Kapoor stood with his goons, jaw clenched.
"That bastard… now even Iyer is praising him?!"
One lackey muttered, "Should we… teach him a lesson?"
Rohit smirked cruelly. "Not yet. But soon. My father has connections. We'll see how long this beggar lasts when doors start closing in his face."
---
A Cold Gaze, A Quiet Curiosity
Elsewhere on campus, Kavya walked alongside Ritika, books in hand. Students waved at them, but Kavya's mind was elsewhere.
"Still thinking about him?" Ritika teased.
Kavya's brow furrowed. "About who?"
"Don't play dumb. Arjun Mehra. You've never looked at anyone twice before, but today…" Ritika grinned.
Kavya's lips pressed into a thin line. She hated how transparent Ritika could be. "…He's… different. His words on India—no student talks like that."
Ritika laughed softly. "See? The ice queen is curious. Careful, or you might melt."
Kavya ignored her, but her grip on the book tightened. Vision. Infrastructure. Long-term thinking. Those were words she often overheard in her father's business meetings. For them to come from a poor boy—it intrigued her more than she cared to admit.
---
The Weight of a Dream
Later that night, Arjun walked home under the dim streetlights. He thought of Professor Iyer's kind smile, of the way someone had finally acknowledged his thoughts instead of dismissing them.
"Sir sees what others don't," he whispered.
Back in his small room, he scribbled again in his notebook.
Step 1: Build seed capital through IT freelance and stocks.
Step 2: Observe government policies, find gaps.
Step 3: Slowly build a company with global reach.
The Nanochip flickered.
> [Forecast: Political reforms in India will accelerate post-2004. Strategic timing required.]
Arjun's heart pounded. The pieces were aligning.
This time, he wouldn't just build wealth.
He would help reshape a nation.
And far away, in a luxurious estate, Kavya Singh stared at the stars outside her balcony, Arjun's steady voice echoing in her mind.
"If we don't correct this now, we'll keep selling cheap labor instead of becoming global leaders."
For the first time in a long while, her cold mask cracked into a thoughtful smile.
---
🔥 End of Chapter 12 Cliffhanger