[One Year Ago]
[Lili's University]
"Let's invite our Chief Guest, Mr. Niklaus Cooper, to say a few words about his journey from a student to the top business tycoon."
Nik gave a dignified smile and walked to the podium to address the students. Being a businessman does not make him do business but also makes him do various jobs like preaching, career guidance, life goals and autobiographic teller. He told his own life journey multiple times that he started feeling if it's really his.
'One more time,' he encouraged himself and gave a half smile to the anxious audience. During his first speeches with students, he was amused to see people listening with eyes filled with eagerness. He was on cloud nine during his first interaction with the university students because of the interest they had shown. However, after a few speeches, he was shuttered to find out that most of the students were interested in his looks and outfit rather than the words coming out of his mouth. He realized youngsters were the least concerned about how and why he started his business. It was his hairstyle, shoes, outfit and accessories that interested and attracted them.
He sighed to see the same type of audience again. The students, who were busy with mobiles for the entire session, suddenly straightened their backs and widened their eyes as he stood and walked to the podium. 'Ah! I don't want to speak.' But there was no option to escape. He could sense the piercing eyes and gossiping mouths all the way from his seat to the podium. Some students were loud too that Niklaus could hear the words - 'Coat', 'Watch' and 'Hair'. The last-minute bit of interest and enthusiasm vanished after listening to them. "Hello" he greeted with an obvious disappointment and zero zeal.
With that single word, the auditorium roared with echoes of whistles and screams. 'You idiots, what are you shouting for?' He wished he could say that out. Apart from the ridiculous screams, some of them were also shooting over their mobiles. This even angered him as he recalled many videos made by the useless youth about the total cost of his outfit. The most frustrating thing was the absurd thumbnails that portrayed him as a mannequin with multiple price tags.
Yet he maintained the same smile and rested his hands on the podium, telling himself to control his anger. "Friends, if you want to listen, please maintain silence." he muttered with a forced smile. Though his appearance seemed friendly, he was boiling with rage, frustration and struggled to hide that feeling.
As silence prevailed, he started telling his life story, which he was doing for the hundredth time. His eyes occasionally peeped at the audience to find if any people were genuinely listening. But he found a person who was absolutely disinterested. She looked like a bookworm with weird and obvious red framed spectacles. Her eyes moved side to side as she read her book.
After ten minutes of narrating the age-old story, the girl didn't even lift her head even for a second. 'Am I boring? Is that book more appealing than me?' Nik asked himself. "Am I boring you?" he questioned the audience, particularly the girl with red spectacles. The entire crowd shouted, "No", except for that girl. He pursed his lips with frustration and left the podium after saying a thank you note.
"Beau, ask the staff to call that girl to give her opinion on my speech?" Nik leaned to the person sitting next to him.
"What? I don't think that's a good idea."
"Do as I say!" Nik snarled.
"Fine!" Beau got up and conveyed the same to the anchor. She was frightened for a second but at last accepted Beau's cute, long pleasing.
"Now comes the most interesting and special segment. I am going to pick a random person who gets to share his/her opinion on the chief guest's speech."
The auditorium roared again with multiple hand rises and shouts- "Me! Me!" The anchor gulped and hesitated to call the only detached person onto the stage.
"The girl with the book!" she called out, still not sure if it was the correct decision. Finally, Niklaus got to meet the black, doe eyes behind the hideous red frames. With a blank and expressionless face, she left the book on the chair and got on the stage. "Please be careful," the female anchor whispered and handed over the mic.
"Every job requires work hard and I am sure that the chief guest did his share of work to reach his position. However, take his life as inspiration if you have the same conditions as his. If I am not wrong, Mr. Cooper was rich and talented, so if you are a person with the same economic status and talent, I am sure you can get the tricks and tips. But, if you aren't, it's better you take decisions based on your condition."
Upon listening to her words, the anchor's legs turned numb, and the audience glared at her with grinding teeth. Beau, too, got tensed and glanced at the man beside him. He blinked his eyes in disbelief. "Dude, she isn't praising you. Why are you smiling?"
"Do you think I don't understand English?" Nik scowled through the corner of his eyes.
The girl with the lovely black eyes continued her speech, ignoring the students' frowns. "If you take me as an example, I am rich but not talented as him. So, if I start a company, I am sure I would become poor too." She smiled and handed over the mic to the anchor.
The female anchor became speechless. She didn't understand if the student was admiring Mr. Cooper or not. 'Let's be neutral,' she finally thought. "Thank You…. Miss?"
"Liliya Meyers"
As if waiting for that, Niklaus immediately whispered to Beau, "Find out about her."
"Thank You Miss Liliya!"
Lili gave a bow to Niklaus while tucking a lock of her brown hair behind the ear.
"WoW!" Niklaus feebly blurted out, shocking Beau.