The dimly lit office of Albert Lam was filled with the faint buzz of fluorescent lights. Bhalla Singh leaned against the desk, a mug of tea in his hand, breaking the silence.
"Sir, IIT Delhi has invited you as a guest speaker for their entrepreneurship summit."
Albert looked up from the stack of documents he was reviewing. His sharp eyes briefly flicked towards Bhalla before returning to the papers.
"IIT Delhi? Interesting. What's the cover story this time?"
Bhalla chuckled, slurping noisily from his mug. "The usual, sir. Albert Lam—the genius entrepreneur who built a ₹1000 crore medical empire from scratch."
For the rest of the world, Albert Lam was a respected entrepreneur. He founded a new startup that dedicated itself to unprecedented medical research that would change medicine. Officially, he was just another success story in a corporate world of millions. Unofficially, he was India's most secretive agency's sharpest mind.
The auditorium at IIT Delhi was abuzz with excitement. Students filled every seat, murmurs of excitement echoing through the hall. Backstage, Bhalla adjusted Albert's mic, struggling to keep a straight face.
"Sir, do you want me to prep the crowd? Maybe start with a dance performance?"
Albert raised an eyebrow. "Bhalla, if you dance, the students will forget about entrepreneurship and start a crowdfunding campaign to buy you rhythm."
Bhalla smiled. "Ouch, sir. Right in the feels."
Albert let out a once-in-a-lifetime smile before continuing onto the stage, leaving Bhalla to chuckle backstage.Meanwhile, Aarvansh ran through the IIT campus with students and bicycles leaping out of his way. His shirt was half-tucked in, and the bag was bobbing on his back.
"I am going to be really late for Albert Lam's speech!" he huffed, panting.
For Aarvansh, Albert was not just another entrepreneur but an icon. He was a self-made man who did not play by the rules of society.
The limelight fell on Albert Lam as he stood behind the podium, composed and calm.
"Heroes are not always the ones who have powers. Sometimes, they are the ones wearing white coats in a hospital, or the ones designing solutions in a lab. Doctors, engineers, researchers—they are heroes too."
His words were full of weight, and the audience hung on every syllable. Albert spoke with precision, combining wisdom with just enough charm to keep the crowd captivated.
As his speech ended, the hall erupted into applause.
Later, in a quieter corner of the campus, Aarvansh, clutching hisnotebook, bumped into Albert and Bhalla Singh near a parked SUV.Albert adjusted the cuff of his tailored coat, his sharp eyes fixed on Aarvansh.
"Oh, sir! Mr. Lam! I'm so sorry… I mean, it's an honor to meet you!" Aarvansh stammered, his excitement barely contained.
"Calm down, kid. Do you need something?"
Aarvansh straightened up, clutching his notebook tighter. "Sir, I admire your journey. I've always dreamt of starting my own enterprise and helping lives. I want to do something that's profitable but also benefits society."
Albert gave a slight nod, his eyes briefly softening before returning to their usual sharpness. "I was also in college when I first started working on my idea. Hope you're taking time out for it."
He grinned, his voice full of excitement. "Yes, sir. I am. Although… I've been a little busy with family these days, so…"
Albert's face locked for a moment, and then his jaw clenched. His words came out more slowly this time, laced with something sharp and faraway.
"Family, you say? They won't be there all the time, kid. Humans… they leave. Or worse, they anchor you. If you keep looking back to check on them, you will never walk forward."
Aarvansh's smile dulled ever so slightly, his eyes clouding over with confusion. "But sir, aren't we supposed to care for them? They're the reason we…
Albert cut him off abruptly. "They're the reason you'll hesitate when the moment comes. The reason you'll make mistakes. Dreams require sacrifice, boy, and family—" He paused for a moment, his voice lowering, "—family is often the first casualty."
The weight of his words hung heavy in the air. Bhalla, sensing the shift, stepped in with his usual warmth.
"Sir… perhaps let the boy breathe, huh? He's just speaking of his ambition, not signing up for heartbreak."
Albert's gaze drifted away to the side, like he is staring beyond Aarvansh at something not here in this room.
"Ambition's a lonely road, Bhalla. If he's serious, he'll work it out soon enough."
Aarvansh managed a deep breath, still with some shuddering, as he spoke again. "I understand that sacrifices are needed, sir. But I strongly believe success does not have to mean surrendering love and relationships either."
Albert's eyes flicked back towards Aarvansh, a faint flicker of something unreadable crossing over his eyes; perhaps regret or recognition, but it vanished in the same quick sweep as it came into him.
"Idealism is a luxury, kid. One that life will soon take away from you."
With that, Albert turned and walked off in the direction of the SUV. Bhalla paused momentarily to pat Aarvansh on the shoulder.
"Well done, boy. Don't lose your spirit. And.....ah...maybe avoid emotional landmines around the boss."
Aarvansh nodded, still way behind in processing what had just happened. As the SUV disappeared into the horizon, Aarvansh couldn't help but feel that behind those cold words lay a story—a heavy one.
And somewhere deep in his gut, Aarvansh knew this wasn't the last time their paths would cross.