The First Step Into the Future

Mumbai, June 8, 1980 – Early Morning

The morning air was thick with the scent of damp earth, a remnant of last night's drizzle. Mumbai was slowly waking up, its streets filling with vendors setting up stalls, milkmen cycling down narrow lanes, and housewives stepping out to buy fresh vegetables.

Inside the Mehta household, the day had already begun.

In the small kitchen, Madhavi Mehta stood by the stove, carefully flipping dosas on the iron tawa. The familiar sizzle of batter meeting hot oil filled the air.

At the dining table, Dinesh Mehta sat with the morning newspaper in hand, his reading glasses resting on the bridge of his nose. His face was unreadable as he scanned the headlines.

Arjun stepped out of his room, stretching his arms.

"Good morning," he greeted, his voice still laced with sleep.

His mother turned slightly, offering him a warm smile. "Go freshen up. Breakfast is almost ready."

Arjun nodded and walked toward the bathroom, but as he did, he caught a glimpse of his father's expression.

Dinesh had put the newspaper down and was now watching him—not with anger, but with quiet curiosity.

"He's starting to notice the change in me."

Arjun wasn't the same carefree college student he had been a few weeks ago. He was waking up earlier, reading financial books, asking different kinds of questions.

And his father, a man who had spent his life working as an accountant in a government office, was bound to wonder.

Breakfast Table – A Subtle Interrogation

The steel plates clinked as Madhavi served dosas, placing a small bowl of coconut chutney beside each plate.

Neha, Arjun's younger sister, sat cross-legged on a wooden stool, already munching on a piece of dosa while flipping through her school notebook.

Arjun took a bite of his food, savoring the crisp edges, when his father's voice broke the silence.

"You've been reading a lot lately," Dinesh said, casually reaching for his chai.

Arjun met his gaze. "Yes. Just trying to learn more about the economy."

His father raised an eyebrow. "The economy?"

Madhavi, sitting beside them, gave Arjun a curious glance as well.

"It's important to understand how things work, Baba," Arjun continued, keeping his tone even. "Money, business, investments… They shape the future."

Dinesh took a slow sip of his tea, setting the cup down with a soft clink. "Investments? Since when do you care about that?"

Arjun wiped his hands with a napkin. He had anticipated this moment.

"I just feel like we should be thinking beyond a simple salary," he said. "If we plan ahead, we can secure a better future."

Dinesh let out a dry chuckle. "Planning ahead is one thing, but gambling with money is another."

"It's not gambling if you know what you're doing," Arjun countered.

His father's brows furrowed. "And do you?"

Arjun met his gaze without hesitation. "I'm learning."

A heavy silence filled the air.

Madhavi, sensing the tension, reached out to refill her husband's chai. "Dinesh, he's young. Let him explore things. At least he's interested in something useful."

Dinesh exhaled, shaking his head. "I just don't want him to get caught up in unrealistic dreams. Hard work is the only thing that pays off, Arjun. Not shortcuts."

Arjun smiled slightly. "Who said anything about shortcuts? I just want to be smart about our hard work."

His father didn't respond right away. Instead, he picked up his newspaper again, flipping through the pages absentmindedly.

The conversation wasn't over.

But for now, it was paused.

Noon – Meeting with Vinod Chacha

The sun was high in the sky as Arjun arrived at his uncle's small textile shop in Dadar. The wooden signboard above the store read "Mehta & Sons Fabrics", though there were no actual sons working in the shop.

Inside, rolls of colorful fabric were stacked neatly on shelves, and customers haggled over prices with the shop assistants.

At the far end of the shop, Vinod Mehta sat behind a counter, his hands clasped as he waited for Arjun.

"Come, sit," his uncle said, gesturing to the chair beside him.

Arjun took a seat.

Vinod looked at him for a long moment before speaking. "I spoke to a few people about those companies you mentioned."

Arjun remained silent, letting him continue.

"Infosys is still a very small company," Vinod said. "And Reliance is growing, but it's not as big as you make it sound."

"It will be," Arjun said confidently.

His uncle exhaled, tapping his fingers against the wooden counter. "I want to trust you, Arjun. But this isn't just my money. It's my family's future."

Arjun leaned forward slightly. "And what if I told you that investing now could double your wealth in a few years? Maybe even more?"

Vinod frowned. "You sound too sure of yourself."

"Because I know," Arjun said, his voice steady. "Industries like technology, petroleum, and finance are going to explode. The world is changing, Chacha. India is changing. Those who invest early will see massive returns."

His uncle didn't respond immediately. He turned to look at the shop, at the customers browsing through fabrics.

For years, he had worked hard to keep this business afloat. Steady, safe, reliable income.

But deep down, there was a part of him that wanted to take a leap.

Finally, he sighed. "Alright. I'll put in ₹10,000."

Arjun smiled.

The first real investment. The first step into the future.

"That's all we need to start," he said.

His uncle gave him a serious look. "If this fails, Arjun… I won't be the only one disappointed."

"It won't fail," Arjun said firmly.

Vinod nodded slowly. "Then let's do this."