Chapter 22: Savant Syndrome (REVAMPED)

Memories of Jay's life continued to flash before him, and among his family members one in particular stood out—his grandfather. 

Jay's grandfather, Ojasvi, was a self-made man, someone who had risen from humble beginnings to build something truly impactful. In the 1980s, he started a small company with a creative business model called 'Buy One, Give One.' 

The company was named 'Nav-Yuga,' which translates to 'new age.' His grandfather envisioned an era where kindness and helping others would be part of everyday life. The business model was simple yet impactful: for every product a customer purchased, whether clothes, footwear, or other essentials, another similar item would be donated to someone in need.

Nav-Yuga's transparency with its charitable donations struck a chord with people. Customers felt they were contributing to something bigger just by making a purchase, and the combination of profit and purpose caused the enterprise to grow rapidly. 

By 2010, 'Nav-Yuga' had evolved into one of India's largest and most successful social enterprises. While the profits from the 'Buy One, Give One' model were smaller than those of typical businesses, the sheer number of loyal customers who supported the cause turned the company into a major success.

Jay's grandfather's vision didn't stop at profit—it extended to making a lasting, positive impact on society. By balancing social good with business success, Nav-Yuga became a shining example of a social enterprise, maximizing both financial growth and societal benefit. 

Even with relatively low margins per product, the company's mission to help those in need made it thrive. That was the legacy Jay's grandfather built, and it became a source of immense pride for the family.

Jay's grandparents had two sons. His father, the eldest, stepped up to take on the mantle alongside his younger brother—Jay's uncle. Together, the two brothers worked alongside their father, helping to grow Nav-Yuga and guiding the company toward even greater success.

By the time Jay was old enough to understand, the company was on the verge of becoming a conglomerate. Experts estimated that, at the pace it was growing, Nav-Yuga would achieve that status within the next decade. It was a family legacy built on the values of compassion, innovation, and the conviction that businesses could serve as a force for positive change in the world.

As Nav-Yuga's reputation grew, so did the attention it garnered from larger corporations. Numerous companies sought to merge with the social enterprise, and conglomerates offered staggering amounts in attempts to buy it outright. 

Yet, Jay's grandfather, stood unwavering in his convictions. He saw through their intentions with a clarity that came from decades of experience. He knew that selling the enterprise, or merging it would hollow out its core values. 

The donations that once flowed freely to those in need would become nothing more than a show, eaten up by greed under the guise of corporate philanthropy. And so, time after time, he rejected their offers, determined to protect the heart of Nav-Yuga.

Meanwhile, Jay and his siblings grew, their lives shaped by the legacy of their family. Each child, bound by the rare gift and curse of Savant syndrome, carried both exceptional talents and profound challenges. 

For Kay, the youngest of the three, those talents manifested in a near-flawless memory and an uncanny ability to read others. His mind was sharp, able to decode the most subtle of human expressions.

At only 10 years old, Kay had already earned a unique role within the family business. His insights into human behavior led him to teach classes to the staff, helping them refine their interactions with customers. Under his guidance, the company's popularity soared even higher as customers began to notice the warmth and attention they received.

But Kay's brilliance came with a heavy price. He was afflicted with Polymyositis, a cruel condition that drained his muscles and left him physically weak. Despite the medication that helped keep his symptoms in check, his body remained thin and pale, his immune system fragile. 

As for Jay's younger sister, Qew, the 'Con' side of her Savant syndrome was a heavy one—Paraplegia. 

From a young age, she had been unable to walk, her legs paralyzed, leaving her dependent on an electric wheelchair for mobility. It was a condition she lived with every day, but despite the physical limitations, Qew's mind was something extraordinary.

The 'Pro' side of Qew's Savant syndrome manifested in her exceptional thought-processing ability. While Kay had near-perfect memory, Qew's gift was distinct. She couldn't recall every detail with the precision her brother could, but her ability to process information was far beyond the capabilities of the average person. 

Multitasking came naturally to her, and she could perform complex mental tasks with remarkable ease. One of her most impressive abilities was her speed reading—at a rate of 10,000 words per minute, she could absorb and analyze information almost instantaneously. 

Though her reading speed didn't match the Guinness World Record of 25,000 words per minute, it was still extraordinary. Her rapid information processing also sharpened her reaction time, allowing her to think and respond with agility that bordered on instinct.

That mental dexterity found its most visible outlet in video games. While her family played for leisure, Qew turned gaming into a battleground where her skills dominated. Her lightning-quick reactions and ability to juggle multiple tasks at once gave her an overwhelming edge. 

Whether it was strategy games or fast-paced action, Qew outplayed her siblings with such ease that it became a family routine to watch her win, often without breaking a sweat.

In stark contrast stood Jay. His abilities didn't match the mental gifts of his siblings, and his challenges appeared more conventional—struggles that seemed magnified in a family of high performers. 

In fact, Jay's condition wasn't even considered Savant syndrome in the traditional sense. Physically, he was healthy, but academically, he faced difficulties. His ability to memorize or grasp academic concepts lagged far behind, making school a relentless challenge. 

Where others would succeed with minimal effort, Jay found himself fighting just to stay afloat, barely managing to scrape D grades in his classes. The only reason he managed to pass at all was thanks to the support of his siblings, who helped him through subjects that felt impossible to master on his own.

Despite the struggle, Jay wasn't discouraged. His low grades didn't define him, and he refused to let them weigh him down. He recognized that his siblings' gifts were exceptional, but his own strength lay elsewhere.

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Author Note:

I'm thrilled to share that I'm taking a big leap forward! Alongside Earth's Alpha Prime, I've launched the first sub-book for EAP.

ALTER REALITY: Online (Full-Dive VR LITRPG)

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