Two hours later, the ink was dry.
The "Agreement for Equity Transfer" and the "Articles of Incorporation for Bharat-Digital Services" were signed. Radha Varma, hand shaking, had signed her name on documents that technically made her a corporate tycoon.
As they stood up to leave, Prakash Murthy felt a sudden pang of magnanimity. He had won. He had the code. He was safe.
"Radha-ji," he said, pulling a checkbook from his jacket. "We usually don't do this... but as a gesture of goodwill, and as an advance against future dividends..."
He wrote a check and handed it to her.
Radha took it. She looked at the number. She stopped breathing.
Pay to: Radha Varma
Amount: ₹ 50,000 (Fifty Thousand Rupees Only)
It was more money than she earned in three years. It was the debt. It was freedom.
She looked at Prakash, tears welling in her eyes. "Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you, sir."
Prakash puffed out his chest, feeling like a benevolent king. "Business is business, madam. Now, please, ensure young Arjun sends over the documentation for the code by tomorrow."
Arjun watched this exchange with a neutral expression. He didn't thank Prakash. He knew this ₹50,000 was a pittance compared to the millions Prakash would make from his code in the next six months.
But it was enough.
They walked out of the office building and into the warm, dusty evening of Bangalore. The city noise—the horns, the hawkers, the chaos—sounded different now. It didn't sound like struggle. It sounded like opportunity.
Radha stood on the pavement, clutching the check to her chest, weeping silently. She hugged Arjun so hard he thought his ribs might crack.
"We did it," she sobbed. "Mr. Gowda... he can't hurt us now. We're free, Arjun. We're free."
Arjun hugged her back, burying his face in her sari. For a moment, he let himself be a 12-year-old boy who had saved his mother.
Then, he looked over her shoulder at Aisha Siddiqui.
The lawyer was leaning against a pillar, lighting a cigarette with a shaking hand. She looked at Arjun, smoke curling from her lips. She didn't look at him like a child. She looked at him like a partner in a crime of the century.
"You're a terrifying little monster," she mouthed, blowing smoke into the air.
Arjun pulled away from his mother and walked over to Aisha. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the crumpled ₹500 note—his "retainer" that she hadn't taken.
He held it out.
"Your fee," he said.
Aisha laughed. A real, genuine laugh that startled a passerby. She took the ₹500 note.
"This doesn't cover my bill, kid," she said, pocketing it. "My fee is 5% of that SPV. Bharat-Digital. I want equity."
She had learned. She was evolving.
Arjun smiled—a genuine, "Rama" smile this time. "Welcome to the team, Advocate Siddiqui. Draft the amendment. 5% comes out of my share."
He turned to look at the sunset. The debt was gone. The capital was secured. The vehicle (Bharat-Digital) was ready. The lawyer (Aisha) was locked in.
Arc 1 was complete.
Now, it was time to build the empire.
[System Alert: Arc 1 Complete.]
[Objective Achieved: 'Secure First Capital'.]
[Reward: +500 PP.]
[New Ability Unlocked: 'Talent Scout'.]
[Next Objective: Assemble the Core Team. Target: The Technologist.]