The nickname started on a Tuesday.
Rudra was sitting in Mathematics class, solving problems on the blackboard. The teacher, Mrs. Geetha, had given the class a set of equations—linear, two variables, the kind that made most thirteen-year-olds sweat.
Rudra finished in ninety seconds.
"Done," he said, stepping back from the board.
Mrs. Geetha inspected his work. Her eyebrows rose. "Correct. All of them."
The class murmured. Akash stared at him from the third row. A boy named Suresh whispered something to his neighbor.
"Can you explain your method?" Mrs. Geetha asked.
Rudra could. He had learned these equations in his previous life—not in 7th grade, but in 9th, when they had seemed impossible. Now they were simple.
He walked through the steps. Substitution. Elimination. Cross-multiplication. His voice was calm, measured, adult.
"That's not how she taught us," Suresh said.
"It's another way," Rudra replied. "Faster, if you understand the patterns."
Mrs. Geetha nodded slowly. "Rudra is correct. There are multiple approaches to problem-solving. He's found an efficient one."
After class, Suresh cornered him in the hallway.
"Where did you learn that?" Suresh demanded.
"Books. Practice."
"You're not that smart. You were average last year."
I was average last year, Rudra thought. I was average for forty-four years. Now I'm different.
"I decided to work harder," Rudra said. "You should try it."
Suresh's face reddened. But before he could respond, Akash intervened.
"Leave him alone," Akash said. "He's weird. We know. Move on."
Suresh walked away, muttering.
"Thanks," Rudra said.
"You're welcome." Akash looked at him. "But seriously, where did you learn that? You were solving equations like a college student."
Because I was a college student. Twenty years ago.
"Tutoring," Rudra lied. "My father's friend."
Akash shrugged. "Well, everyone's calling you 'the genius' now. Just so you know."
[Social Intelligence Lv 01 → 12/100 EXP]
[System Note: Reputation shift detected. "The 7th Grade Genius" — this label will affect peer interactions. Manage carefully.]
The nickname spread.
By Wednesday, teachers were mentioning it. "Ask Rudra, he's our genius." By Thursday, boys from other classes were stopping him in the hallway. "You're the one who solved the equations?" By Friday, even the principal had heard.
Rudra handled it the way he handled everything: with calm detachment.
He wasn't a genius. He was a forty-four-year-old man in a thirteen-year-old's body, doing math he had learned decades ago. There was nothing magical about it.
But he couldn't explain that. So he accepted the label and moved on.
[System Note: Emotional Control Lv 01 → 14/100 EXP]
[Insight: Reputation is a tool. Use it, but don't become it.]
The school team's first practice was Thursday afternoon.
Coach Ramesh stood at the center of the ground, a whistle around his neck, a stopwatch in his hand. Twelve boys stood in a ragged line—the selected few.
"You're here because you're the best in this school," Ramesh said. "But best in this school is nothing. Best in Bangalore is something. Best in Karnataka is something else. Best in India..." He paused. "That's a different conversation."
The boys shifted nervously.
"We have six weeks before the first inter-school match. Six weeks to turn you from individuals into a team. Six weeks to fix your weaknesses." Ramesh's eyes swept the line. "Sharma. Step forward."
Rudra stepped forward.
"You're the youngest here. Standard VII. The rest are VIII and IX. Why should I keep you on the team?"
The other boys watched. Varun Khanna smirked.
This is a test, Rudra realized. He wants to see how I respond under pressure.
[Decision Speed Lv 01 → 3/100 EXP]
"Because I'll out-work everyone else," Rudra said. "Because I'll field better, run harder, and stay at the crease longer. Because I won't make the same mistake twice."
Ramesh's expression didn't change. "Words are cheap."
"Then watch me practice. Judge me by my actions."
The coach nodded slowly. "Back in line."
Rudra stepped back. Varun's smirk had faded.
[Social Intelligence Lv 01 → 14/100 EXP]
[Insight: Coach Ramesh respects confidence, not arrogance. You passed.]
The practice was brutal.
Ramesh ran them through drills—running between wickets, ground fielding, high catches, throwing at the stumps. Then batting practice, each boy facing twenty balls from the fast bowlers.
Rudra was assigned to face Varun Khanna.
Varun bowled medium pace—around 85 km/h—but with good accuracy. His first ball was full on off stump. Rudra defended.
Thunk.
"Defensive," Varun muttered. "Boring."
[Batting Timing Lv 02 → 165/200 EXP]
Second ball. Short. Rudra ducked.
Third ball. Yorker. Rudra dug it out.
Fourth ball. Half-volley. Rudra drove—not hard, but clean. The ball went to the boundary.
Varun's jaw tightened.
Fifth, sixth, seventh. Defensive blocks.
Eighth. A delivery outside off. Rudra left it.
Ninth. On his pads. He nudged it to square leg.
Tenth. A bouncer—too high. Rudra ducked.
[Batting Timing Lv 02 → 168/200 EXP]
"Ten balls," Ramesh called. "Next."
Rudra stepped out of the crease. Varun glared at him.
"You didn't score," Varun said.
"I survived. That's more important."
"Surviving doesn't win matches."
"Getting out in the first over doesn't win matches either."
Varun turned and walked away.
[Social Intelligence Lv 01 → 15/100 EXP]
[System Note: Rivalry with Varun Khanna deepening. Use competitively, but avoid open conflict.]
After practice, Rudra stayed behind to work on fielding.
Coach Ramesh watched him for a few minutes, then walked over.
"You're serious," Ramesh said.
"Yes, sir."
"Most boys your age would go home. Play video games. Eat snacks."
"Most boys aren't trying to play for Karnataka."
Ramesh studied him. "You think you can?"
"I know I can. It's just a matter of time and work."
The coach was silent for a moment. Then he nodded.
"Stay after practice every day. I'll work with you personally. Fielding first. Then running between wickets. Then batting against spin."
[System Note: Mentor relationship developing. Coach Ramesh added to mentors list.]
"Thank you, sir."
"Don't thank me. Prove I'm not wasting my time."
Rudra walked home at 6:30 PM, exhausted but satisfied.
The Kashmir willow felt heavier than usual. His hands were blistered from batting. His legs ached from running. But the System panel showed progress.
[Day 12 Complete — First School Team Practice]
[EXP Earned: Stamina +4, Batting Timing +4, Fielding +8, Running +5, Decision Speed +1, Social Intelligence +3]
[Stamina Lv 02: 88/200]
[Batting Timing Lv 02: 168/200]
[Fielding Lv 01: 20/100]
[Running Between Wickets: Lv 01 (5/100)]
Slowly, Rudra thought. Step by step.
Dinner was lemon rice and papad. His mother had made extra.
"Your father is late," Janavi said. "Something about the land deal."
Rudra looked up. "The Whitefield property?"
"He's meeting with Prem Nath. They're finalizing the loan."
Twelve lakhs. No interest. Six months.
If the land appreciated as expected, they could sell it for a profit, pay back the loan, and still have capital left over. If it didn't—but Rudra knew it would. He had seen the future. Whitefield was going to explode.
"It's a good investment, Amma."
"You sound like your father."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Janavi smiled. "Eat your rice."
At 9 PM, Krishnamurthy walked through the door. His face was tired but satisfied.
"It's done," he said, setting down his briefcase. "The loan is approved. We sign the papers tomorrow."
[Financial Management Lv 01 → 60/100 EXP]
[System Note: Second land acquisition confirmed. Total family real estate exposure: approx 1.5 acres in Whitefield corridor.]
"How long until we see returns?" Rudra asked.
"Prem Nath says eighteen months. Maybe less." Krishnamurthy sat down at the table. "He also mentioned something else. He's heard about you."
"About me?"
"Your cricket. Your school selection. Your 'genius' reputation." His father's eyes were sharp. "He asked to meet you."
Rudra's heart quickened. Prem Nath. The senior advocate. The man with connections to every important person in Bangalore.
"When?"
"This Sunday. At his office."
"I'll be there."
Krishnamurthy nodded. "Be careful. Prem Nath is not a man you impress with words. He's a man you impress with substance."
"I understand."
[New Quest Detected — Hidden]
[Quest: Impress Prem Nath — Make a positive impression on Senior Counsel Prem Nath during Sunday's meeting.]
[Reward: Legal Bastion unlock progress + Social Intelligence Lv 05 + 200 EXP]
After dinner, Rudra retreated to his room.
He opened the System panel and reviewed his goals.
SHORT-TERM (Next 7 days):
Reach Batting Timing Lv 03
Reach Fielding Lv 02
Generate first revenue from snack business
Prepare for Prem Nath meeting
MEDIUM-TERM (Next 6 weeks):
Survive school team practices
Prepare for KSCA Under-14 trials
Improve physical attributes to Lv 02 minimum
LONG-TERM (End of 2001):
Make Karnataka U-16 team
Flip Whitefield land for profit
Establish snack business as sustainable income
[System Note: Goals logged. Recommend daily progress tracking.]
Rudra closed the panel and lay back on his bed.
The ceiling fan wobbled above him.
One step at a time.
End of Chapter 14