A World of Possibilities

Mumbai, June 6, 1980 – 10:15 AM

Arjun walked through the college corridors, feeling an odd mix of nostalgia and anticipation. Every little detail—the faded posters on the notice board, the faint chalk dust lingering in the air, the rhythmic tapping of shoes against the tiled floors—felt both familiar and foreign at the same time.

It was a strange thing, living in a world where he already knew the script but could rewrite it at will.

As they reached their classroom, Arjun hesitated at the doorway.

This was it. His second chance at life had officially begun.

He stepped inside.

10:20 AM – Economics Lecture Hall

The classroom was large but packed, the wooden benches arranged in long rows, each occupied by students hunched over notebooks. A giant blackboard stretched across the front wall, streaked with remnants of past lessons.

Professor Sharma, an elderly man with graying hair and round glasses, stood at the podium, adjusting his notes. He was a strict but fair man—one of the few professors Arjun had actually respected in his past life.

"Alright, settle down!" Sharma's voice carried across the room as students hurried to take their seats.

Arjun slid into a seat near the window, Rajiv beside him, and Nisha a few spots away.

Professor Sharma began writing on the board. "Today, we will discuss the impact of economic policies on industrial growth in India."

Arjun exhaled, gripping his pen.

This was it.

A subject he once barely paid attention to—a lecture he had sat through mindlessly in his first life—now felt like an opportunity. He knew exactly how India's economy would evolve in the coming decades.

The market liberalization in 1991. The IT boom of the early 2000s. The rise of digital payments, mobile technology, real estate, pharmaceuticals…

He could see the future laid out before him.

The question was—how soon could he start making moves?

Professor Sharma continued, "Now, can anyone tell me the key challenges Indian industries faced in the early 1980s?"

A few students fumbled through their notes. One raised his hand hesitantly. "Uh… the License Raj?"

Sharma nodded. "Yes, the License Raj severely restricted private businesses. Entrepreneurs needed government approvals for nearly everything, which slowed innovation. Any other challenges?"

There was silence.

Arjun glanced at the hesitant faces around him. He knew the answer better than anyone.

Slowly, he raised his hand.

Sharma raised an eyebrow. "Yes, Arjun?"

Arjun took a breath and spoke confidently, "One of the biggest challenges was the lack of foreign investment. India's policies discouraged international companies from setting up businesses here. High import tariffs and restrictions made it nearly impossible for new industries to grow."

The room went silent.

Professor Sharma studied him for a moment.

Then, he nodded. "That is correct. And a very well-articulated answer. What else?"

Encouraged, Arjun continued, "The lack of technological advancement was another major hurdle. Most industries were still relying on outdated methods. There was no real push for automation or modernization, which meant Indian companies lagged behind global competitors."

Professor Sharma's eyes lit up with approval. "Excellent. You're absolutely right."

Rajiv turned to Arjun, eyes wide. "Bhai, where did that come from?"

Arjun smiled slightly. "I just read ahead a little."

Nisha gave him a curious glance.

She wasn't convinced.

Of course, she wasn't.

This wasn't just 'reading ahead.' This was knowledge far beyond anything they were being taught in 1980. And Nisha, sharp as ever, had already noticed the shift in him.

He would have to be careful.

12:30 PM – College Canteen

The scent of frying samosas and freshly brewed chai filled the air as students crowded around steel tables, chatting animatedly between bites of food.

Arjun, Rajiv, and Nisha sat near the corner, their plates filled with vada pav and cups of chai steaming beside them.

Rajiv took a large bite of his vada pav. "I swear, college food will be the death of me. It's so spicy, but I can't stop eating it."

Nisha rolled her eyes. "You complain every day, and yet here you are."

Rajiv grinned. "I'm a simple man, Nisha. I suffer, but I continue."

Arjun smirked but remained mostly silent. His mind was elsewhere.

He had to start making money.

But how?

Stocks required capital. Businesses needed investment. And he was just an 18-year-old student with no financial backing.

"There has to be a way," he thought.

Then, an idea struck him.

The newspaper.

The Times of India.

Every morning, the newspaper was filled with company reports, financial updates, and investment news. And Arjun already knew exactly which businesses would boom in the next few decades.

"If I can find someone with money—someone willing to invest—I can guide them to make the right moves."

But who?

Most college students were broke. Professors weren't exactly wealthy either. He needed to find someone older, someone already involved in finance or business.

Then, he remembered.

His uncle—Vinod Chacha.

Vinod Chacha wasn't a millionaire, but he was smart with money. He had always been good at saving and investing small amounts in gold and property.

If Arjun could convince him to start investing in stocks…

"That could be my way in."

"Arjun?"

He looked up.

Nisha was staring at him again, her expression unreadable.

"You've been quiet all afternoon," she said. "Are you sure everything's okay?"

Arjun hesitated. Then, he smiled. "Just thinking about the future."

She frowned slightly. "Lately, you seem obsessed with the future."

Arjun held her gaze. "Maybe because I know it's going to be different this time."

For a second, their eyes locked—as if she could sense there was something much deeper behind his words.

But before she could say anything, Rajiv groaned. "Bhai, enough about the future! Let's focus on the present—like, for example, who's paying for my chai today?"

Arjun laughed. "It's your turn, Rajiv."

Rajiv gasped dramatically. "Betrayal!"

Nisha chuckled, shaking her head.

And just like that, the moment passed.

But deep inside, Arjun knew this was only the beginning.

Tonight, he would meet Vinod Chacha.

And if things went well, this would be the first step toward changing his life forever.