9."Let’s Meet Soon, My Five Pandavas"

I was sprawled out on the sofa, my eyes half-watching the TV, when the doorbell rang. I groaned softly, glancing around to see if anyone else would get up, but of course, no one moved. So, I pulled myself off the couch and went to answer the door.

It was Dad, back from work. He stood there, looking tired but giving me a small, familiar smile. "Hey, Papa," I greeted him, stepping aside to let him in.

He patted my shoulder lightly as he walked in, and I took his bag from him, making my way to the kitchen. In a routine motion, I pulled out his tiffin and placed it in the sink, hearing the faint sound of him heading toward the bathroom to freshen up.

After setting everything down, I returned to the hall and placed his bag on the table. I was just about to sit back down when Dad came out of the bathroom, looking more relaxed, in his home clothes. He sat beside me on the sofa, where the rest of the family was still watching TV. Mom appeared shortly after, holding a cup of tea, which she handed to him without a word.

Dad sipped his tea quietly, the soft clink of the cup against the saucer filling the room. The TV droned on in the background, some old serial playing that none of us were really paying attention to. It was one of those familiar, quiet moments when everything seemed to fall into place.

As soon as Dad finished his tea, he handed the cup back to me. I got up again, heading to the kitchen to put it in the sink, where it joined the pile of dishes. When I returned, Dad was already getting up from the sofa.

"Alright, let's go get that laptop," he said, a small smile on his face.

My heart skipped a beat. Finally, it was time. After waiting for two days, we were finally going to buy the laptop. I was about to respond when Kartik, who had been lying on the floor, shot up with a grin. "I'm coming too!" he exclaimed.

Dad raised an eyebrow but then nodded. "Okay, Kartik. You can come."

I gave Kartik a quick glance, knowing this would slow things down, but I didn't say anything. The excitement bubbling inside me was too much to let anything ruin this moment. We all slipped on our sandals and headed out into the evening air.

The streets were busy, as always in the evenings. The sound of honking and people chatting filled the air, along with the occasional smell of street food from a nearby stall. I walked alongside Dad and Kartik, who was practically skipping next to me.

As we made our way toward the electronics store, Kartik tugged on my shirt. "Dada, what's so special about a laptop? Is it like the TV? Can I play games on it?"

I smiled, trying to explain in simple terms. "It's not like a TV, Kartik. You can watch stuff, but you can also use it for other things, like school work or... other things."

Kartik frowned, clearly not impressed by the idea of using the laptop for schoolwork, but I didn't blame him. It wasn't easy to explain how much this laptop meant to me without sounding overly dramatic.

We finally reached the store, a brightly lit space with glass doors and large signs promoting the latest gadgets. The moment we stepped inside, the cool air-conditioning hit us, a welcome change from the heat outside. Inside, rows of shiny laptops, phones, and other electronics filled the room.

Dad walked straight to the counter and started talking to one of the salespeople. Meanwhile, Kartik's eyes grew wide as he wandered around, staring at the gadgets on display. I hung back, my eyes scanning the laptops lined up on the tables.

After what felt like an eternity, Dad called me over. "This one," he said, pointing to a sleek MacBook Pro on the counter. It looked even better in person, its silver surface gleaming under the store lights.

"It's perfect," I said quietly, feeling a smile tug at the corners of my lips.

Dad gave a small nod, satisfied, and continued talking to the salesman. While they finalized the details, I glanced over at Kartik, who was now poking at a display phone with wide-eyed curiosity.

Eventually, the salesman handed Dad the bag with the laptop inside, and we headed out of the store. Kartik was still buzzing with excitement, trying to ask Dad a million questions about when he could use the laptop, while I just walked beside them, holding the bag like it was something precious.

On the way home, Kartik piped up again. "When can I play on the laptop, Dada?" he asked, his voice filled with anticipation.

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Let me set it up first, Kartik. After that, I'll show you how to use it."

Kartik frowned but didn't push further, clearly disappointed he couldn't play with it right away. The walk back home felt different, lighter. Maybe it was the weight of the bag in my hand, or maybe it was the knowledge that this laptop was more than just a gadget — it was an opportunity, a step toward something I hadn't even figured out yet.

As we reached the house and opened the door, Mom looked up from the kitchen. "You got it?" she asked, her voice laced with curiosity.

Dad nodded, placing the bag on the table gently. I stood there for a moment, looking at the bag, before Kartik rushed up to it. "Can I open it?" he asked, his hands already reaching for the zipper.

Dad chuckled. "Let your brother open it."

I took the bag, opening it carefully. As I gently lifted the laptop from the bag, everyone gathered around me with curious eyes. A small smile played on my lips as I powered it on. The Apple logo appeared on the screen, and I began explaining how the laptop worked, diving into its features and the possibilities it offered.

But as I kept talking, I noticed something—their expressions were changing. Slowly, the curiosity faded from their faces. Kartik, who was standing closest to me, was the first to lose interest. He frowned, his little nose scrunching up. "This thing is useless. Why did you even buy it?"

Before I could say anything, he turned on his heel and bounded back toward the sofa, jumping onto it and immediately turning his attention to the TV. The sound of cartoons filled the room as he leaned back, completely engrossed.

I paused, looking up at the others. Dad exchanged a glance with Mom, Grandma and grandpa who gave a small, amused smile, and then they all followed suit, returning to their places on the sofa.

"Well," I muttered to myself, a smile still lingering on my face despite their reactions.

It wasn't like I expected them to understand, but part of me had hoped they'd at least share in my excitement. I glanced back at the laptop in my hands, the screen glowing brightly in the dimly lit room, and without saying anything more, I got up and made my way toward the gallery.

Sliding the glass door open, I stepped outside, closing it softly behind me. The night air immediately embraced me, cool and refreshing. Above, the sky was a dark, deep blue, dotted with stars. The moon was full tonight, casting its gentle light over the city, which was alive with the twinkling of lights from every corner.

I let out a small sigh and sat down on the cool floor of the gallery, placing the laptop on my lap. The city stretched out below, its constant hum creating a distant, soothing soundtrack to the night. There was something peaceful about being out here, alone under the moonlit sky, while the world moved on around me.

As I gazed at the laptop screen, my fingers moved with practiced ease. Modifying the system was like second nature to me, almost like breathing. Within minutes, I had customized and optimized the entire setup, pushing the laptop far beyond its standard capabilities. A satisfied smile crept across my face as I leaned back, admiring my work.

It was almost too easy. This technology, in 2014, was outdated by the standards I knew—far too simple for what I was capable of. My mind buzzed with possibilities as I glanced at the laptop again. In this world, no one could even imagine what I was capable of doing with just a device like this.

My fingers hovered over the keys, and before I knew it, I was inside the systems of the SBI—one of the largest banks in the country. No alarms went off. No one noticed. I navigated through layers of security like they were nothing but curtains in the wind.

I created a fake account within minutes, my heartbeat steady and calm. This wasn't a challenge; it was child's play. A few clicks later, I transferred a small, unnoticed amount of money into the account—enough to test the waters. The system didn't react. Everything went through seamlessly.

Leaning back, I stretched my arms out, feeling the cool night breeze brush against my skin. The moonlight bathed the gallery in a soft glow, and the world below continued, blissfully unaware of what I had just done.

My mind wandered back to the idea of technology in this era—so primitive for me. It almost made me laugh. But there was something thrilling about it too. I had all this power at my fingertips, and no one could stop me.

After finishing up, I leaned back, letting the cool breeze wash over me, and gazed up at the sky. The stars twinkled faintly, barely visible against the bright moon, but the night felt alive, like it was listening. I whispered to myself, "The first step is done... now for the second."

I sat there, mulling over my next move. I needed to start a business, something profitable—something that would make a mark. "But what kind of business?" I muttered. The city was vast, and opportunities were endless. But I wanted something... special, something that stood out.

As I let my thoughts wander, an idea struck me, lighting up my mind like a flash of inspiration. A slow smile spread across my face, and I immediately opened the laptop again. My fingers flew across the keys as I searched for information about coffee shops. After a few moments, I found what I was looking for.

"Starbucks," I read aloud, "has opened around 36 outlets across major cities—Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai—but they haven't entered Pune yet." A small chuckle escaped me. Pune, my city, was still untouched by the coffee giant. I continued reading. "There's competition: Café Coffee Day (CCD) has over 1,000 outlets in India, and there's also Barista and Costa Coffee." I paused, thinking for a moment.

"They're not that impactful, though," I said to myself, closing the articles. "But a coffee brand... that's perfect. People can't resist a good cup of coffee, and with my recipes, once they taste it, they won't be able to let it go." My confidence surged, but I knew I couldn't do it alone. I needed a team—people I could trust, people with talent.

I leaned forward again, typing furiously, searching for the best candidates who could help me in my journey. Hours passed as I combed through profiles, resumes, and portfolios, looking for the right people. The night deepened, the world outside my window growing quieter, but I was lost in my search. Then, finally, I found them.

On my screen were five individuals, their photos and information spread out before me like pieces of a puzzle. My heart raced with excitement as I scanned their faces and read about their skills. "Found you," I whispered, leaning back with a satisfied grin. "My five Pandavas."

Each of them had a unique talent—marketing, operations, finance, product development, design—and together, they could help me build something incredible. I couldn't wait to meet them. I stretched my fingers and began crafting a message, carefully choosing my words. It had to be perfect.

After I finished, I re-read the message one last time and hit send. The sound of the email flying off into the ether felt like the beginning of something new, something big. I closed the laptop with a soft click and looked back at the sky. The moon was still shining brightly, casting a soft glow over everything. My heart swelled with anticipation.

"Let's meet soon, my five Pandavas," I said with a smile, imagining the journey that lay ahead. With that, I stood up, feeling lighter than before. Opening the gallery door, I stepped back into the house, ready to embrace whatever was to come next.

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