The evening air carried a quiet stillness, broken only by the soft clinking of utensils and the distant hum of traffic filtering through the open window. The small apartment felt as it always did—warm, familiar, grounded in routine—but for Rithvik, something invisible had shifted beneath that surface.
He stood near the kitchen doorway, watching his mother move with practiced ease, her actions automatic after years of repetition. There was something about that normalcy that made this moment harder than any negotiation he had faced.
"Amma," he called gently.
She turned, wiping her hands on the edge of her dupatta, her eyes immediately searching his face.
"What is it?" she asked.
Rithvik stepped forward, his voice calm but steady.
"I sold the game."
She blinked, the words taking a moment to settle.
"Sold?" she repeated, her brows knitting slightly.
"To a company," he said. "An international one."
There was a pause, not dramatic, but thoughtful—her mind trying to place something unfamiliar into a familiar frame.
"Oh…" she said slowly. "So… that's good, right?"
Rithvik gave a small nod.
"It is."
She studied him for a moment longer, then asked the question that came naturally.
"How much did you get?"
Rithvik didn't answer immediately. Instead, he chose his words carefully, not out of hesitation, but intention.
"Enough to start something bigger," he said.
The answer wasn't detailed, but it wasn't dismissive either. It carried just enough weight to convey seriousness without overwhelming her.
She looked at him, sensing that there was more beneath the surface, but also understanding that he wasn't hiding—it was simply not something that could be explained in numbers.
"What will you do now?" she asked.
"I'm going to start a company," he said.
This time, there was no pause in his voice.
Only clarity.
Her expression shifted slightly, something more cautious surfacing.
"And college?"
There it was.
The real question.
Rithvik met her gaze directly.
"I'm going to drop out."
The words were quiet, but firm.
She exhaled slowly, sitting down as if the weight of that decision needed space to settle.
"Rithvik…" she began, her tone softer now. "You just started. Why rush into something like this?"
He leaned forward slightly, his voice calm but more personal now.
"Because this isn't something I can do halfway," he said. "If I treat it like a side thing, it won't grow."
She didn't interrupt.
Didn't argue.
She just listened.
"I know it's not safe," he continued. "And I know it's not normal. But I've thought about it. A lot."
The honesty in his voice made her pause.
"You've already decided," she said.
"Yes."
A long silence followed.
Then she sighed softly, looking at him not with fear, but with quiet understanding.
"I don't know this world," she admitted. "But I know you."
That made him look up.
"You've never been careless," she said. "If you're choosing this… then do it properly."
Rithvik felt something settle inside him.
"I will."
🎓 Scene 2 – Conversation with Friends
The college canteen buzzed with its usual chaotic energy, filled with laughter, arguments, and the constant movement of students who had no idea how quickly life could change. Rithvik walked toward his friends' table, the familiarity of the scene contrasting sharply with the decision he was about to share.
"Finally," Karthik said, grinning. "Thought you forgot us."
Rithvik smiled faintly, taking a seat.
"I need to tell you guys something."
The shift in his tone was subtle—but enough.
Arjun frowned. "What happened?"
Rithvik didn't drag it out.
"I'm dropping out."
The reaction was immediate.
"What?" Karthik leaned forward. "Are you serious?"
Rithvik nodded.
"Why?" Arjun asked.
Rithvik exhaled slightly.
"I sold the game," he said. "And I'm going to start a company."
They stared at him.
"You actually sold it?" Karthik said, disbelief creeping into his voice.
"Yeah."
"To who?"
"An international company."
"And you're just leaving everything?" Arjun asked.
"I can't do both," Rithvik said. "Not properly."
There was a pause.
Then Karthik leaned back, shaking his head slowly.
"Man… you're really doing this."
Rithvik didn't smile.
"Yeah."
Another silence followed, but this one carried something different—less confusion, more realization.
"This is big, isn't it?" Arjun asked quietly.
Rithvik paused for a moment.
Then said—
"It can be."
Karthik let out a small laugh, still shaking his head.
"Mad fellow," he muttered. "But… I think you'll pull it off."
Rithvik let out a quiet breath.
"Let's see."
🌇 Scene 3 – Conversation with Ananya (Crush)
The evening light stretched long across the campus pathway, casting soft shadows that moved gently with the breeze. Students walked past in small groups, their conversations fading into the background as Rithvik stood waiting near the same spot where he had met her so many times before.
When Ananya approached, there was something different in the way she looked at him—not curiosity, not concern, but awareness.
"You wanted to talk?" she asked.
Rithvik nodded.
"I sold the game," he said.
She blinked once, absorbing it quickly.
"That's… big," she said.
"It is."
There was a brief pause before she asked—
"What now?"
"I'm dropping out," he said.
That made her go still.
"Rithvik…"
"I'm starting a company," he continued, his voice steady.
She studied his face, searching not for logic—but for certainty.
"And you're sure?" she asked.
"Yes."
There was no hesitation.
No doubt.
Just quiet conviction.
She looked away for a moment, then back at him.
"You're really leaving all this behind," she said softly.
"Not everything," he replied.
The words came naturally.
Unplanned.
But real.
For a brief second, something shifted between them—subtle, unspoken, but present.
She smiled faintly.
"You always think ahead," she said.
Rithvik didn't respond immediately.
Because she wasn't wrong.
"You'll do well," she added.
He looked at her.
"I have to."
She held his gaze for a moment longer, then nodded gently.
"Then don't mess it up."
A small smile formed on his lips.
"I won't."