The author has decided to skip next few hours of Atharva's life. It's really tedious to listen to hours of monologue about the college, the honours of the teachers and various students who had studied there, much less to write about it. The various statistics to show off the immense power of the institute - yeah, unless you need it for publication, no need to record it or even remember it.
Finally, honours ceremony. The students would have their own graduation ceremony later on. This is just to honour select few who were brighter even among bright students.
The last and most important one to recieve honours was of course, Atharva. He broke previous records. Made new records. Blah blah blah... The dean awarded him. The principal gave certificates. Honour president of the faculty facilated him. These were people he could never even see and now they were standing so close to him on the stage.
Atharva had to give a speech. Most painful three minutes of his life. So obviously his ten minute speech that he had made, for just in case, some how shortened to three minute one.
These certificates, awards, medals...yeah, all would be stored in his parents' place. He didn't need these to get the job. All of these were just items used to brag. Let's leave that to his parents and siblings. Be low profile.
After the awards ceremony, many people left. Now, the real issue. The scholarship. The education loan.
Thanks to various courses he had taken, the school fee was in millions of credits. Premiere institute had premiere fees to match it. With better grades and higher rankings, the scholarship amount would increase and education loan amount would reduce.
So the calculation started. Never mind the fact that these calculations were done as soon as his results were published and it had been checked and verified many times. Just go with the flow. See how the amount is calculated. The school fee raised a lot for every course he took. Then add in the result. A dip in the fee because he scored good. Another dip. This time because of his ranking. Then a raise because it's a new course again. Repeat the cycle.
Still...the school fee became substantial after adding and subtracting. Now for the last dip in the fee. For breaking old records and creating new ones. Did it become zero?
But it doesn't end here.
Various people had shown interest in him. Few had even given him some sponsorship money. Oh, they are not called that. Just label it appreciation money. Now add the monetary rewards for some of his rankings. Yep! The college has to pay him now. And here he was running here and there ( inside a game) trying to earn enough credits to pay the school fee.
Another session of vids and pics. This time for scholarship department. He was the success story they would use to lure many poor yet brilliant kids into deep pit called education loan.
Atharva was famished. As he walked towards campus entrance to fill his stomach from any restaurant outside, he was planning to call his family again. No need to pay the school fee. This information had to be shared and soon too.
He had turned into instant celebrity. He was watched as he walked. He had received more than fifty offers already. Most of them wanted to use him as poster boy. He even got a call from news department for an interview, which he declined. Low profile, low profile. He was going to be an assistant, not a boss.
He tried to find a restaurant where he didn't get a heart attack after seeing the prices of the items.
Ah! Bliss of having packed sandwich in a park.
And he could talk a lot too. This conference call to family was long and loud. Passing exams- good. Getting some awards - better. No need to pay any fees- the best news ever.
As he talked, Atharva felt like crying. Each one was discussing how to use the money. Which money? Of course, it was the money they had scrimped and saved towards his school fee. Individually. Without letting another family member know.
Few tentative plans were made. Similar to those that were made in his childhood. Never to be realised. Atharva didn't stop them. After all, he knew most of the joy was in the planing, not going. The same principle he had believed from the childhood.
They didn't talk for long. Lunch break over. Need to go back to work.
Atharva walked back to his hotel. Till he was evacuated, he would stay there.
He made new folder for all the job offers he received. They didn't know he would not accept. The offer letters were tempting. He would use these to grab more salary and perks from Mrs Briggs.
Oh, here it is. Offer letter from her firm. Let's see what she is offering. Fifteen days of probation. Probation salary. Salary for assistant in the team. Job description. Salary break down. Bonuses. Perks. Overtime.
Oh, she was good. But he will still seek more.
A call to certain Mr Hoyt from Human resource department and a meeting was fixed next day morning to discuss the salary package and hopefully sign on dotted line.
Having done that, time to check in his investment. He had not read much about the game and it's bombastic effects. Let's see what is trending? Who has theories? What insane things had become red hot in the forums?
Lin shu was having a headache. His father was a voracious reader and loved some story so much that he decided to name his children from the novel. So he was struck with the name Lin Shu. And the ancestors were right. The names do have power. Why else would he become advisor to Mrs Briggs? After retiring as Senior assistant, he was hired right back as advisor. Mrs Briggs hated changes when it comes to her personal issues. He just finished the meeting, which was disguised as a meet and greet. What a horrible experience it was. He was a old soul residing in an old body. And the madam had sent him to meet people regarding games. Ah, his head! His heart!