The Unseen Game Begins

June 19, 1980 – A Father's Challenge

The morning air carried the scent of freshly made chai and the distant melody of a radio playing an old Kishore Kumar song. The Mehta household stirred to life—Madhavi moving through the kitchen, Riya chattering about school, and Dinesh finishing his morning routine.

But Arjun felt the shift in the air.

Today wasn't just another day. It was the day of his father's test.

As he buttoned his crisp white shirt, his mind ran through the possibilities.

"A job interview at an established investment firm… Baba wants to see if my knowledge holds up under real scrutiny."

He wasn't worried.

If anything, he welcomed the challenge.

Breakfast Tension

As Arjun entered the dining room, his father was already at the table, reading the newspaper. His face was unreadable.

Madhavi placed a plate of idli and coconut chutney in front of Arjun. "Eat properly before you leave," she said, her voice soft, but tinged with worry.

Dinesh glanced up from his newspaper. "Your interview is at 10 a.m. Mr. Khanna doesn't tolerate lateness."

Arjun took a bite of his food, chewing thoughtfully. "I know."

Dinesh studied him. "Do you?"

Madhavi sighed. "Dinesh, let him eat."

But her husband wasn't done. "This is different from your little stock games, Arjun. This is real business. The people in that office have been working for years. You can't just… guess your way through this."

Arjun wiped his hands calmly. "I don't guess, Baba."

Dinesh narrowed his eyes. "Then prove it."

Arjun simply nodded.

There was nothing left to say.

The Interview – A Room of Doubters

The investment firm's office was a stark contrast to the bustling chaos of Dalal Street.

Here, everything was organized, professional, and intimidatingly quiet. The air smelled of polished wood and fresh ink, and the employees moved with purpose, their conversations hushed but serious.

As Arjun walked toward the meeting room, a few employees glanced at him curiously. An 18-year-old wasn't the usual candidate for such an interview.

But Arjun carried himself with ease. He belonged here.

Inside, a long wooden table stretched across the room. Three senior executives sat behind it—middle-aged men with sharp eyes and skeptical expressions.

At the center sat Mr. Khanna, the firm's head.

Dinesh Mehta stood at the back of the room, arms crossed, watching.

Mr. Khanna adjusted his glasses, looking Arjun over. "You're young."

Arjun met his gaze. "Age doesn't determine ability."

One of the other executives smirked. "Confidence. Let's see if it's backed by knowledge."

Khanna nodded. "Alright, Arjun. Let's start with something simple. If I gave you ₹50,000 to invest today, where would you put it?"

Arjun didn't hesitate.

"Reliance Textiles."

The room went silent.

One of the executives frowned. "Dhirubhai Ambani's company?"

Arjun nodded. "Yes. It's undervalued right now, but in the next few years, it will dominate the market. Investing early will yield exponential returns."

Mr. Khanna leaned back, intrigued. "And how do you know this?"

Arjun's expression remained unreadable. "By studying the patterns. Understanding how businesses evolve."

Dinesh narrowed his eyes. Too confident. Too precise.

The second executive tapped his pen against the table. "Alright, let's test your analytical skills. A hypothetical scenario—"

The questions came one after another.

Market trends. Portfolio strategies. Economic predictions.

And Arjun answered every single one without hesitation.

By the time the interview ended, the room was silent.

Khanna finally spoke. "You're either a genius… or a liar."

Arjun simply smiled. "I prefer 'well-prepared'."

Dinesh didn't know whether to be proud or terrified.

A Watchful Eye

As Arjun stepped out of the office, he felt the weight of his father's stare.

Dinesh walked beside him, his silence more unsettling than any question.

Finally, he spoke.

"Where did you learn all this?"

Arjun kept his voice casual. "Books. Observations. Practice."

Dinesh exhaled sharply. "No. There's more to it."

They stopped near the gate. Arjun turned to face him.

"Baba, if I had told you a year ago that I wanted to be an investor, would you have believed in me?"

Dinesh hesitated. "No."

Arjun's expression softened. "That's why I didn't tell you."

Dinesh searched his son's face for answers.

He found none.

Just a calm certainty that unnerved him.

Nisha's Growing Doubts

Meanwhile, at St. Xavier's College, Nisha sat in the library, flipping through old stock market records.

She ran her fingers over the names.

Companies Arjun had mentioned before. Companies that had suddenly started rising.

Meera leaned against the bookshelf. "So what now?"

Nisha exhaled. "Now, I get closer."

Meera frowned. "Closer?"

Nisha closed the ledger, her grip tightening.

"I need to find out exactly what he's hiding."