The morning sun painted the Jaipur skyline in hues of gold and amber as Aarav cycled toward the coworking space, humming under his breath. The roads were still sleepy, the city stretching itself awake. With every turn of the pedal, he felt stronger—not just physically, but mentally. His life was moving forward.
At the office, things were different now. People greeted him by name. Ramesh handed him small tasks with trust, and even the chaiwala asked for marketing advice once.
But as Aarav opened his system interface that day, he noticed something new.
System Warning: Interference DetectedExternal Variable: Unregistered Competitor in Target DomainImpact Risk: MediumSuggested Action: Investigate quietly. Do not alert subject.
Aarav frowned. This was the first time the Certainty System had issued a "warning." Until now, it had only given missions, insights, and support. What did interference mean?
The details were vague, but the system had highlighted a name: Kunal Verma – Intern at City Hub, Client: AyushMart Grocers.
He didn't know Kunal personally, but had seen him around—tall, well-dressed, the kind of guy who always seemed to be networking. From what Aarav had overheard, he handled digital strategy for AyushMart, a grocery delivery startup trying to crack the local market. Nothing unusual on the surface.
But Aarav had learned to trust the system. If it flagged something, it wasn't without reason.
Still, the system also advised discretion. He wasn't supposed to confront or accuse. Just… observe.
Later that day, Aarav sat with Mrs. Joshi of Bharat Naturals again. She was grateful, but distracted.
"My supplier for lemongrass oil is late again," she said. "Second time this month. If this keeps happening, I can't keep up with the orders you're helping me bring in."
Aarav leaned forward. "Where do you get your supplies from?"
"From my cousin's contact in Assam. But the middleman's unreliable. If I could just get it straight from the farm…"
Her voice trailed off, but Aarav's mind lit up. The system reacted immediately.
Insight Generated:Problem – Local businesses rely on fragmented supply chainsOpportunity – Direct raw material sourcing platform for small manufacturersEstimated Market Viability: HIGHSuggested Next Step: Research agri-based wholesale networks in northeast India
Aarav sat back, heart pounding.
Was this it? The seed of his future business? A platform where small, homegrown brands could source directly from farmers and producers, bypassing the chaos of middlemen?
He saved the idea in the system's Journal tab, labeling it: Project Rootlink: Empowering Indian Small Businesses.
Later that week, Ramesh invited Aarav to attend a pitch meet for potential startup incubators visiting the city. It was a big deal—mentors, investors, consultants, even some early-stage VCs. Aarav wore his best shirt, borrowed Aanya's cologne, and walked in with a notebook full of ideas.
He didn't plan to pitch anything yet. He was there to watch, learn, observe.
But fate—or maybe the system—had other plans.
Midway through the event, the host announced, "One slot just opened up. Any young blood in the room willing to pitch an idea in under 60 seconds? Just a thought—doesn't need to be fully baked."
A few people looked around.
Aarav's heart thudded.
Optional Mission: Pitch "Project Rootlink" to an open audience.Estimated Success Rate: 100%.Reward: Early exposure + networking bonus + potential mentor contact.
His hand went up before his brain even caught up.
And just like that, he was walking toward the front of the room.
He stood under the spotlight, palms sweating.
"My name is Aarav Mehta. I help small brands grow online. And every week, I see amazing homegrown businesses held back not by ideas—but by access. Raw materials. Trustworthy suppliers. Clean supply chains. Project Rootlink is a platform that connects small businesses directly to raw material producers—cutting out middlemen, reducing costs, and ensuring reliability. It's about strengthening the roots so the tree can grow."
There was silence for a second.
Then, applause.
Not thunderous. But real.
After the event, a man with salt-and-pepper hair approached him. "Smart pitch," he said. "I run a logistics advisory firm. If you ever build that platform for real, I'd like to help."
Aarav saved his contact with trembling fingers.
That night, as Aarav sat on the roof of his home, looking out over the sleeping city, the system chimed once more.
Milestone Reached:Entrepreneurial Identity Established.Next Long-Term Goal: Validate business model – Minimum Viable ProductUnlocked: Business Strategy Skill Tree
Aarav smiled, the wind ruffling his hair.
A few weeks ago, he was unemployed, unsure, and invisible.
Now?
He was laying the foundation of something real.
And this time, he wasn't walking into the dark.
He was walking with certainty.