Chapter 10: The Buying Frenzy and the Sacred Vows
Inside his quiet room, Karan Shergill sat beside the window, the faded cotton curtain gently swaying in a sluggish April breeze. Outside, the village of Gola lay hushed under a haze of heat and stillness. The long fields shimmered in the golden light of late afternoon, looking like a painting of a time that refused to move forward.
But Karan's mind was pacing—sharpened by the cold memories of the border and the flickering schemes of a man who had seen the future. He looked at his hands, calloused from the grip of a rifle and stained with the red earth of his home, and felt a strange, restless fire. He had returned home in body, but his soul was still calculating. The architecture of revolution needed to be rebuilt, one technological seed at a time, but the scale was vast. The world was moving too slowly.
I need more time, he thought, leaning his head against the cool plaster of the wall. Or I need to bend time itself.
That's when the Architect System activated in his mind with a sudden, hum-like presence. Its invisible interface bloomed across his vision like a calm yet imposing whisper of light.
[Congratulations, Host. Yearly discount is here.]
[Flash Sale: All items in the System Shop are 99% OFF for the next 3 hours.]
Karan froze. His breath hitched in his chest. For a moment, he didn't move, convinced it was a hallucination born of the humid heat. Then, the realisation struck him like a physical blow. A 99% discount.
"Three hours," he whispered, his voice cracking with a sudden, manic edge of joy. "I can buy the world in three hours."
The Seeds of the Consumer Empire
He immediately summoned the interface, his mind pushing open the layers of translucent menus. One of the first entries was deceptively simple: Carbonated Cold Drink – Cola Formula (2.0 G.P.). Karan felt a surge of grim, joyous satisfaction. He remembered the giant multinationals of his previous life—how they colonised nations with sugar and branding. "Not this time," he muttered. He envisioned a Shergill Refreshments factory rising from the dust of Gola, a cash cow that would fund his secret laboratories while the rest of the world was still drinking stale tea. He purchased the formula and six other variants: orange, mint, ginger lemon, jeera, apple, and a high-energy drink.
Cost: 14 G.P. (at discount)
Remaining balance: 70,386 G.P.
Next came the foundation of the modern movement. He found the 2000s Car Engine Technology (50 G.P.). Karan laughed, a short, disbelieving sound. "Thirty years," he breathed. "I'm handing India a thirty-year head start on a platter." He envisioned the rusted, coughing tractors of Gola replaced by sleek, high-efficiency Shergill Motor Works engines. He added the full ecosystem: transmission systems, suspension models, axle designs, thermoplastic dashboards, power steering units, and high-traction tyre formulas.
Cost: 2,100 G.P.
Remaining G.P.: 68,286
The Global Power Defence Pack: The Iron Soul
Karan then focused on the Global Power Defence Pack. As he opened the sub-menu, the sheer scale of the technology made the air in the room feel thin. It was the technological soul of a 21st-century superpower, condensed into blueprints and manufacturing protocols.
1. The Sky Sovereign Suite (Aviation & Aerospace):
He felt a surge of fierce pride as he scrolled through. He bought both the 4th Generation Kaveri Turbofan and the stealth-optimised 5th Generation Kaveri Engine blueprints. But he knew blueprints were just paper without the means to forge them. He added the Propulsion Manufacturing Suite—the 5-axis blisk-milling machines, vacuum-casting furnaces for single-crystal blades, and laser-drilling rigs. "I won't just have the design," he whispered. "I'll have the factory. Shergill Precision Engineering will be the heart of the sky." He added blueprints for 5th-gen multi-role fighters, Stealth Strategic Bombers, and HALE UAVs for persistent surveillance.
2. The Neptune's Wrath Suite (Naval Dominance):
He envisioned an Indian Navy that ruled the Indian Ocean like a silent ghost. He acquired Modular Shipbuilding techniques to reduce construction time from years to months. He bought blueprints for AIP (Air-Independent Propulsion) conventional submarines, Nuclear Attack Submarines (SSNs), and Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carriers equipped with electromagnetic catapults (EMALS).
3. The Iron Shield & Sword (Ground & Air Defence):
This ensured India would never be bullied by bombardment again. He secured a Multi-layered Air Defense ecosystem, blueprints for a Next-Gen Main Battle Tank (MBT) featuring composite armour and an active "Trophy" protection system, and 155mm/52 calibre self-propelled howitzers with GPS-precision munitions.
4. The Invisible War (Electronic & Strategic):
The tech that blinded enemies. He purchased AESA Radar technology, Electronic Countermeasures (ECM), and the ultimate deterrent: ICBMs with MIRV capability, allowing a single missile to strike ten different targets. He finished the pack with a modernised infantry suite—modular assault rifles and high-velocity ammunition lines.
Cost: 23,000 G.P.
The Silicon Foundation and Resource Sovereignty
He moved to the 1990s Semiconductor Fabrication Suite (350nm GaAs/Silicon). Karan's hands were trembling. This was the soul of the computer revolution. He envisioned a Shergill Silicon Valley blooming in Uttar Pradesh. He also secured the Industrial Modernisation Suite for Shergill Precision Engineering and Shergill Agro-Chemicals, bringing 5-axis CNC machining and robotics to his doorstep.
Cost: 8,000 G.P. total
Remaining G.P.: 37,286
Then, he opened the Revolutionary Resource Compendium. As the digital map of India unfolded, Karan's breath stopped. The map glowed with neon intensity. India possessed five times more natural resources than any textbook claimed. High-grade oil and gas sat beneath Rajasthan, Gujarat, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh.
"Third-highest oil reserve in the world," he whispered in disbelief. He added the Advanced Mining & Extraction Suite—Deep-Sea Nodule Harvesters, Horizontal Drilling, and Plasma-Torch Smelting—along with the Five Pillars of Sovereignty.
Cost: 10,500 G.P.
Remaining G.P.: 26,786
The Arrival and the Orders
With the clock ticking down to the final seconds, he grabbed the ISRO Technology Compendium (1971–1991)—securing the future of Indian rocketry and satellite communication. Finally, he looked at the most expensive item on his list: five BR-1 Artificial Intelligence Robots (Year 2210).
Cost: 15,000 G.P.
Final Balance: 5,686 G.P.
As the light of the interface faded, five humanoid beings appeared from the shadows. They looked perfectly human, wearing ordinary civilian clothes, but they radiated a terrifying stillness. One knelt.
"Master, your servant is here. Please issue your orders."
"You will be called Mr Bharat," Karan said, his voice hard as iron. He looked into the robot's eyes—a depthless void of processing power. He laid out the terms of the mission in calculated detail: "Identify and eliminate only the most dangerous politicians—those guilty of rape, murder, riot-mongering, or theft of public funds at scales beyond comprehension. Limit it to five per month. For judges and senior police officials, the quota is set to ten. For bureaucrats, twenty."
Karan's voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "For those who harm women and children, there is no mercy. Executed on sight. Everybody must be left with a letter listing each crime—and always signed, not anonymously—but boldly: Mr Bharat."
The robot saluted, a motion so fluid it was haunting, and vanished into the air. The other four, Agents Mark 1 through 4, were silently assigned to future intelligence operations and the stabilisation of the country.
As the silence of Gola settled back into the room, a cold, sobering wave of reality washed over Karan. He looked at the scroll in his hand—the beverage formula—and then at the space where the androids had stood.
"It's not a magic wand," he whispered.
He realised then, with heavy clarity, that he had only reduced the R&D time of these technologies. It didn't mean he could start producing them in a single day. The blueprints for Shergill Silicon Valley were in his head, but he still needed to train thousands of engineers. To build the Kaveri Engine, he needed a workforce that understood advanced metallurgy. To pull oil from the deep veins of Rajasthan, he would need pipelines and refineries that would take years to build.
"One day," he murmured, looking at his calloused palms. "Everyone thinks an empire is built on a throne. It's built on the sweat of a million hands."
He wasn't waking up to a fleet of stealth fighters tomorrow. He was waking up to a journey of decades. He would need to find the brightest minds, the intelligent hands, and the grit to push through. But in this journey of decades, he was ready. He was the gardener of a new India, prepared to wait for the harvest, no matter how much blood and sweat it took to water the soil.
The Sehra Bandi: The Pride of the Shergills
The morning of the 3rd of September arrived, smelling of rain and marigolds. In the inner room, Karan sat on a stool while his younger brother, Aditya Shergill, buzzed around him, adjusting the sword at Karan's waist with a proud grin.
"Bhaiya, you look like a King!" Aditya laughed. "But don't think marriage means you stop helping me with my studies. I've cleared a spot in the study for Sakshi Bhabhi, but the cricket gear stays where it is!"
Karan ruffled Aditya's hair. "Focus on your books, Aditya. I'm going to need a brother who can run an empire, not just bowl a bouncer."
Then, his Mother walked in with the Sehra tray, followed by his father, Arjun Shergill. His mother's eyes were already red. "My son," she whispered, touching his cheek. "I prayed for your return... and now, to see you like this... my heart might burst."
Arjun placed a heavy, steady hand on Karan's shoulder. "Karan," his father said, his voice raspy with pride. "I see a different strength in you today. The Shergill name is in hands greater than mine. Take care of her, son. A home is the only fortress that truly matters."
As his mother tied the veil, Karan felt the weight of their love. It was more grounding than any blueprint he had ever bought.
The Joota Chupai and The Vows
The Barat was a riot of dhol beats. Aditya danced at the front, leading the procession to Krishan Lal's house. At the entrance, Jyoti blocked the way, her chin tilted up. "Not a step further, Jeeju! Valour has a high tax in this house." Karan laughed, finally feeling like a boy from Gola again.
During the ceremony, Jyoti successfully stole his shoes. When she demanded five thousand rupees, Karan didn't just pay; he gave her a velvet box with gold earrings. "The money is for the shoes," he said softly. "The gift is for the sister I'm proud to protect." The teasing stopped as Jyoti's eyes welled up.
Then came the Pheras. As the sacred fire leapt high, Karan sat beside Sakshi.
First round. Second round.
Sakshi's hand was warm in his. He realised that while he was the Architect of India, she was the Architect of his Humanity. He needed this family, Aditya's laughter, and the dust of Gola to keep his soul from becoming a machine.
The Vidai: The Long Game Begins
The celebration ended with the tearful Vidai. Sakshi stood by the door of her father's house, sobbing into her father's shoulder. Krishan Lal looked aged, his eyes red. Karan walked over and took the old priest's hands.
"Pandit ji," Karan said firmly. "She isn't just a daughter-in-law. She is the soul of my house now. I will protect her with everything I am."
As the car pulled away, Sakshi clutched Karan's hand tightly. He didn't speak; he just held her. Far beyond the village, in the dark treeline, a BR-1 unit stood like a mechanical ghost, watching the car pass.
The wedding was over. The husband had returned. And the Architect was ready to begin the decades of sweat and blood that would turn his vision into a reality.