Unseen Tensions

June 16, 1980 – A Father's Worry Deepens

The summer heat in Mumbai was unforgiving, settling like a thick blanket over the city. The ceiling fan in the Mehta household spun lazily, doing little to fight off the warmth.

Inside, the air was tense.

Dinesh Mehta sat in the living room, his gaze fixed on the open balcony where Arjun stood, arms resting on the railing, lost in thought. The boy had changed. That much was obvious.

But what bothered him more was how he had changed.

Arjun wasn't just confident—he was certain. About everything.

It wasn't normal.

Dinesh's fingers tightened around his tea cup as his wife, Madhavi, entered the room with a tray of fresh-cut mangoes.

"Here, have some," she said gently, setting the plate down.

He didn't respond at first. His eyes were still on their son.

Madhavi followed his gaze, sighing softly. "You're still thinking about him."

Dinesh exhaled, running a hand over his face. "I just don't understand, Madhavi. One day, he was my boy—now, he's… he's something else."

Madhavi frowned. "He's just growing up, Dinesh."

"No," Dinesh said, shaking his head. "This is different. It's as if he already knows what's going to happen. Like he's not learning—he's remembering."

Madhavi hesitated, then reached out to squeeze her husband's hand.

"Arjun has always been smart. Maybe he just sees the world differently now."

Dinesh sighed. "Maybe. Or maybe he's hiding something from us."

Madhavi looked at him sharply. "Dinesh, don't say that. He's our son."

"I know," he murmured. "And that's why I have to know the truth."

He took a deep breath before adding, "Dilip said he's still looking into him."

Madhavi's expression darkened. "You asked Dilip to spy on our son?"

Dinesh met her eyes. "I just want to make sure he's not in trouble."

Madhavi stared at him for a long moment before standing up, shaking her head.

"Trust him, Dinesh," she said quietly. "Or you'll lose him."

With that, she walked away.

Dinesh sighed, looking back at Arjun.

"I hope I'm wrong," he thought.

But deep down, he didn't believe in coincidences.

Dalal Street – The Game Becomes Real

By mid-afternoon, Arjun was back on Dalal Street, walking past the crowded alleys filled with traders, brokers, and workers shouting over each other.

It was a world he knew well.

A world he was meant to master.

At Ramesh Shah's office, he sat with Vinod Chacha, going over the latest numbers.

Ramesh, their broker, adjusted his glasses, shaking his head. "Arjun, your shares are up 20%. If you sell now, you'll make a solid profit."

Vinod grinned. "That's good news!"

But Arjun's eyes remained on the register.

He knew the future. And this was nothing.

"We hold," he said.

Vinod frowned. "Arjun, beta, this is a lot of money."

Arjun looked at him, his expression calm. "It's just the beginning, Chacha."

Ramesh exhaled a cloud of smoke. "You're playing a dangerous game, kid. Markets don't always follow logic."

Arjun smiled faintly. "No. But history does."

Ramesh studied him for a long moment, then chuckled. "Alright. Let's see if history is on your side."

As they finalized their decision, Vinod patted Arjun's shoulder.

"You have the mind of a businessman," he said proudly.

Arjun smiled, but inside, he knew the truth.

It wasn't a mind built over time.

It was a mind reborn.

Nisha's Investigation Begins

That evening, under the dim yellow lights of the college library, Nisha sat with Meera, flipping through an old ledger.

But her mind wasn't on her studies.

It was on Arjun.

Meera nudged her. "You're staring at him again."

Nisha didn't even pretend to deny it. "I need to know what's going on with him."

Meera sighed. "Why does it bother you so much?"

"Because people don't change overnight, Meera," Nisha said firmly. "And Arjun has."

She hesitated before adding, "It's almost like… like he already knows what's going to happen before it happens."

Meera scoffed. "That's ridiculous."

"Is it?" Nisha asked. "Then how do you explain it?"

Meera fell silent.

Finally, she sighed. "Alright. What do you want to do?"

Nisha's eyes darkened with determination.

"I want to find out everything he's been up to. Where he goes. Who he meets."

Meera hesitated. "That sounds like spying."

Nisha met her gaze. "I just need answers."

And she wouldn't stop until she had them.

Dinesh Receives the First Report

Late that night, Dinesh sat at his desk, staring at the small piece of paper in his hand.

It was from Dilip.

"Arjun visits the stockbroker's office daily. Investing large sums. Never loses confidence. Almost like he knows the outcome before it happens."

Dinesh clenched his jaw.

His son wasn't gambling. He wasn't wasting money.

But he was winning—too much. Too easily.

"This isn't normal," Dinesh thought.

He exhaled slowly, folding the paper and placing it inside his drawer.

Tomorrow, he would talk to Arjun.

And this time, he wouldn't let him dodge the questions.