Chapter 54: The Burden of Success
While Nagraju's house had settled into a peaceful routine after the board examinations, the atmosphere in his elder and younger brothers' homes was completely different.
The children's school holidays had just begun.
Normally, summer vacations meant relatives arriving to spend a few cheerful weeks together.
This year was different.
One after another, relatives began arriving in Mumbai.
But they had not come merely to enjoy the holidays.
Most had come with another purpose.
They were looking for opportunities.
One wanted a role in the television serials.
Another hoped to work as an assistant director.
Someone else wanted a job in production.
A few had brought their grown-up children, hoping they could be accommodated somewhere in the company.
Earlier, whenever such requests had come, the brothers had politely declined.
"Our company is still new," they would say.
"We're in the balancing stage. Once things become stable, we'll certainly think about it."
That explanation had worked before.
People understood and returned home without much disappointment.
But now, the situation had changed.
The company had produced successful serials.
Its name had begun to spread throughout the industry.
Everyone knew that work was increasing.
Using the same excuse again would no longer sound convincing.
The brothers found themselves trapped.
If they accepted one relative, several others would expect the same treatment.
If they refused, feelings would be hurt, and family gatherings would become uncomfortable.
Every evening, another conversation began.
"Just let him assist for a few months."
"My daughter has always wanted to act."
"He doesn't expect a big salary. Give him any work."
"You are family. If you don't help us, who will?"
The requests never seemed to end.
Late one night, after everyone had gone to sleep, the two brothers sat together in silence.
The elder brother rubbed his forehead.
"We've created a problem for ourselves."
The younger brother gave a tired smile.
"It isn't that we don't want to help."
"We simply can't employ everyone who is related to us."
The elder brother nodded.
"For the first time, I understand something."
"What?"
The younger brother looked at him.
The elder brother sighed.
"Earlier... our middle brother stood between us and all these expectations."
"He would politely handle difficult conversations, set boundaries, and say no when necessary."
"We hardly realised how much pressure he was taking."
The younger brother lowered his eyes.
"Now that he's no longer part of the business..."
"...all that pressure has fallen on us."
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
the house was full of relatives.
brothers silently wished that the holiday season would end soon.
That evening, after dinner, Akshata sat alone on the terrace.
The cool breeze carried away the tiredness of the past few months.
She closed her eyes.
One thought kept returning to her.
"I've secured one part of our future... but it isn't enough."
Her modelling career had only just begun.
It was giving her recognition and a good income, but she knew the fashion industry could change quickly.
She could not rely on modelling alone.
"I need another source of income," she murmured.
"Something that can continue earning even when I'm not walking on a runway."
She leaned back and connected with the mysterious space that carried the memories of her previous life.
One by one, the events of the future began to surface in her mind.
Bitcoin.
Her eyes opened.
"Not yet," she whispered.
"It hasn't begun."
She smiled.
"When the time comes, I'll start mining as much as possible instead of trying to buy it later."
She had already made up her mind.
Whatever she accumulated would eventually be divided equally among four people.
One part for herself.
One part for her father.
One part for her mother.
One part for Manu.
"They deserve to benefit from the future just as much as I do," she thought.
Another memory surfaced.
WhatsApp.
She sat upright.
"How could I forget?"
She remembered that the messaging application had only recently been launched.
"If I can somehow become an early investor..."
She stopped herself.
"That would require a significant amount of capital."
She knew it wouldn't be easy.
The founders would not simply accept any investor.
She would need the right opportunity, the right introduction, and enough money to make a meaningful investment.
Still, she wrote it down in her notebook.
Potential Investment: WhatsApp
She smiled.
"I'll keep watching."
Then another thought entered her mind.
"If there's one industry capable of creating enormous value in a short time..."
"...it's gaming."
She began thinking rapidly.
Unlike television, games could reach millions of people across the world.
A single successful title could generate steady income for years.
She closed her eyes once more, searching her memories.
Perhaps there was an idea waiting there.
Perhaps there was a game that had become a worldwide success.
Or perhaps she could create something entirely original, inspired by what she remembered.
If she could build and launch a successful game...
...it could provide the financial independence she needed to pursue every other dream.
Akshata smiled as she filled another page of her notebook.
Fashion.
Television.
Long-term investments.
Technology.
Gaming.
She wasn't chasing money for luxury.
She was building multiple paths toward one goal—
to create a future where her family would never again have to worry about financial security.
That night, Akshata sat quietly in her room.
She closed her eyes and entered the mysterious white space.
As always, everything around her was calm and endless.
A familiar voice echoed through the silence.
"Welcome, Host Akshata."
It was Kalpa.
Akshata smiled.
"Kalpa... I have a question."
"Please state your request, Host."
She hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Do you have the ability to grant knowledge or skills that I don't possess?"
There was a brief silence.
"Specify the required skill."
Akshata answered without hesitation.
"I want to master computer programming."
She continued,
"Not just the basics. I want to understand software architecture, algorithms, graphics programming, networking, artificial intelligence, game engines—everything required to build a game completely from scratch."
Kalpa remained silent for a few seconds.
Then its calm voice replied.
"Host requests mastery-level knowledge in software development and game creation."
"Request acknowledged."
Akshata's eyes brightened.
"So... you can grant it?"
Kalpa answered in its usual emotionless tone.
"Knowledge transfer is possible under the system's capability."
"However, knowledge alone does not replace experience."
"Mastery requires application, experimentation, and practice by the Host."
Akshata smiled.
"That's enough."
"If I have the knowledge, I'll put in the effort."
She looked into the endless white space.
"I don't want to depend only on modelling."
"I want to create something that can reach millions of people."
"If I build a successful game..."
"...it could generate a steady income for years."
Kalpa processed her words.
Akshata nodded.
"Exactly."
She already had ideas.
Ideas inspired by memories of games that had captivated millions in another lifetime.
But she did not want to copy them exactly.
She wanted to understand why they had succeeded and then create something new.
Something players around the world would enjoy
Akshata smiled confidently.
"Then let's begin."
The endless white space around her shimmered gently.