A Quiet Discovery, A New Beginning

Chapter 21: A Quiet Discovery, A New Beginning

The courtyard was quiet now.

The stars still twinkled gently over the Singh home, and the last of the dishes had been stacked in the steel basin near the handpump. The smell of dal, warm kheer, and charred roti still lingered in the air. The children had finally gone to sleep, sprawled like tiny bundled starfish across bedsheets under mosquito nets.

Ajay stepped out with a glass of water in his hand. He walked slowly, enjoying the peacefulness of the evening after so many conversations.

As he passed the neem pillar, something caught his eye.

A notebook.

Half-open, with a pencil tucked into the spine. It rested on the bench where Bharat had been sitting earlier.

Ajay picked it up, thinking to return it inside. But as he flipped it shut, a sketch peered up at him—bold, confident lines, detailed structure.

Screens. Arrows. Labels.

"Score → Next level → Retry → Win!"

One page showed cartoon figures jumping over blocks.

Another had children pressing buttons labeled "Math" and "Health."

Another showed a layout of a game center—arcade-style, with ticket counters, machines, colorful lights.

Ajay stood still.

This isn't just child's play. This is a blueprint.

He sat down slowly on the wooden bench and flipped through the notebook—page after page, full of game ideas, notes, charts, short descriptions like:

"Game for Rohan – Spy puzzle."

"Game for Meena – Jalebi Kitchen."

"Game for Pinky – Doll Doctor."

"Game for Everyone – India Maze Adventure."

One page was titled:

"Why People Play Games"

→ To relax.

→ To compete.

→ To learn.

→ To escape.

→ To feel proud.

Bharat's Thoughts

From behind the pillar, Bharat quietly observed his father. His heart raced—not with fear, but with hope.

"He's reading it."

He stepped forward, his thoughts rushing like a tide.

"In this time, no one in India truly sees gaming as a real future. But I know—because I remember. In the 21st century, games become empires. GTA V earns over 7 billion dollars. One single title. Companies like Nintendo, Sony, and Rockstar dominate global entertainment."

"Games won't be just for children. Adults will play them. Soldiers will use them to train. Doctors to simulate surgeries. Teachers to teach math, science, even culture."

"And India… India will still be lagging behind unless we start now. My vision isn't just a game. It's an industry. A revolution."

He clenched his fists lightly.

"Today they think it's a toy. But tomorrow—tomorrow the world will pay to play our stories."

He remembered names from his future memory—Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of Mario. Hideo Kojima with his cinematic games. Gabe Newell, Markus Persson, and the founders of Unity and Unreal Engine—tools that would empower thousands of creators.

"And one day," Bharat thought, "there will be Indian names too. Why not start from Lucknow?"

Father and Son

Just then, a small voice came from behind the pillar.

"Pitaji?"

Ajay turned gently. "Bharat. Come sit."

Bharat sat beside him, still holding back.

"I was going to show it later… I wanted to surprise everyone."

Ajay placed the notebook on his lap and looked at him with quiet pride.

"Beta, this is not a surprise. This is a vision."

Bharat whispered, "I don't want to make just one game. I want to build many. Games for fun, games to teach, games for every age. First for our family… then maybe for schools, maybe for shops… maybe the whole country. And later… maybe the world."

He looked down. "But I didn't want to say it in front of everyone yet."

Ajay put a hand on his son's shoulder.

"You said it perfectly here," he tapped the notebook. "And tomorrow morning—we start something new."

Bharat looked up, confused. "Start what?"

Ajay stood up with new energy. "A new division in our company. No, not just a division. A new company. A game company. Based on your ideas. You'll help us form the first team. We'll build the machines, the circuits, the consoles. And you… you will design."

Bharat blinked. "Truly?"

Ajay smiled. "We'll register it. Make it official. Let the world know what's coming."

Then he leaned in, voice quieter:

"But tonight… just you and me. A secret. Tomorrow, we tell the world."

Bharat nodded slowly, his eyes shining in the moonlight.

Ajay ruffled his hair. "Go to sleep, Game Designer."

As Bharat walked back to the room, hugging his notebook close, the neem tree swayed gently, as if blessing the first seeds of something extraordinary.