March’ 2004,
GCP, Nassau County, NY.

“Building the first car was a pain in the arse,” Steve blurted, “what I mean is, and you’ve got to deal with plenty of stuff”

“Oh yeah! I totally get it,” Aryan said fixing the bolt on the engine with a spanner, “you might have the feeling because the fact that we had my pre-built model, you people had to start from the mid of the project; that is definitely intense for you guys to digest whole lot of theory in short time and be in rhythm with the progress of the project for a quick materialization. Otherwise it shouldn’t have caused you so much pain had you started at slow pace.”

“True that,” Steve recalled those days, “whatever the pain, that was worth it. It was pain worth enduring”

“I must say”, Aryan heaved as he pushed the spanner on the bolt to tighten it, “you guys were unbelievable. I must be fortunate to have worked with you guys”

“Ah! It’s the other way around Aryan,” he sat down abreast Aryan and continued, “a higher bore diameter to the stroke length, uh-huh”

“Exactly”, Aryan said backing him, “that provides shorter travel distance per stroke. So maximum piston speeds are lower which means the higher maximum engine rotational speeds.”

“…and we see the peak torques for higher maximum power output” Said Steve.

Aryan grinned, “that way you could have the larger intake and exhaust valves installed,” he placed the spanner aside and looked in the surroundings for the wrench, “for better breathing at such a high speed”

“It’s all about power, isn’t it? Right from racing cars to an individual life. Power survives, power rules”

“Well if we wanna stand in the limelight in racing car industry. That’s our primary goal then,” he smiled, “by the way, it is Sunday. Haven’t you gone out with the other guys? C’mon man, you are working professional, you should have at least one break in a week”

“Yeah I will be leaving in sometime, In fact I have planned something out for today.” Steve said, “… but how about the sprockets to the differential?”

“You will have to engineer it along with the pieces that connect the differential to the constant velocity joints. The half shafts are not commercially available in our length so it’s our job to get ’em done” they both walked into the foyer region, “all of them gotta be tough to transmit torque without any loss”

“It’s gonna draw a lot of attention to detailing and get it to the precision,” Steve smirked,

“Well that’s what separates us from the others, doesn’t it” Aryan encouraged.

“When are we releasing the engine?” he questioned. “There’s no release, it will be a direct deployment in the car. For now, the information is that an Automobile company had agreed to be in partner with us for modelling various design of sports engine. They are yet to sign the contract for the venture. Justin is going to take care of the proceedings, will know the final call in couple of days”

“This is a great news,” Steve admired him. “You and Justin are pretty much compatible with business,”

“Oh not really but Justin is. He is the angel investor. Ah! We haven’t got any name for the company yet” Aryan said.

“Oh yeah! Would it be JAPMI?” Steve surmised, “I presume it to be because we are under the cover of Justin, is it not so?”

“We haven’t thought about it, let’s see what he has got in his mind. We are meeting tomorrow evening, we could talk then”

“Happy Birthday in advance Aryan,” Steve shook his hand. “Thank you so much, make sure that you have nothing up for tomorrow other than the party”

“Certainly,” Steve assured, “this is your first birthday after we all have got along with each other. None of us wouldn’t want to miss it”

Steve received a text message on his phone. “Alright! Let’s walk into my office, it’s hot and humid out here,” Aryan said.

“I should probably leave now. I guess my girlfriend has arrived at the cross way,” Steve chuckled, “She informed that she would be late, so I dropped by at workshop to wander for a few minutes. It seems I am lucky that it’s been really a few minutes.”

Aryan laughed out loud, “Women,” he said, “have a good time brother, Seeya” Steve left and Aryan walked into his office wandering in the thoughts of Kalki. She never kept me waiting, she knew I hated it. It’s going to be my birthday and she always made me feel special about it. Much love to the petite woman, should I be calling her tomorrow? Stop it Aryan, never again. I love her and I want her to be happy with whatever the choices she makes in. He reached his office and lay back in the chair. He placed his hands on the arm rest, flinched back to lower the back rest angle and doze off for a nap. I love you Kalki, I love you to the moon and back. He said to his heart.

February’ 2004,
GCP, Nassau County, NY.

“Come on in Aryan,” Malcolm uttered welcoming him in his home. Much to his surprise, Aryan couldn’t believe on what he heard from Malcolm and it was utterly delusional to him.

He was then having a premonition. There was no way Malcolm would know about his true identity yet he seemed to have something that’s gonna scare the heck Aryan thought. Did he know everything? How should I be answerable? I lied to his face every single time and he trusted me naively for every fabricated story about my life that I told him. How should I look him in the eyes and talk?

Dear god, what is your mechanism? The dynamics of life? I never believed in you but the very first time I made a call, when I uttered the prayers all through my heart asking you to save my father, you didn’t attend to them yet I kept believing in you because of my love. What are you trying to do now? I have been hustling through all this while and what are YOU, trying to do? Whack it up? I have one question legend; do you attend to only those people who would be devoted to you? Don’t you intend to care for all the people in the world equally? I feel you are being partial just like any other human being but then again why are you being so called god?

“Sit down boy,” Malcolm motioned his hand unto a couch, “we are expecting a guest, till then make yourself comfortable. I will be right back and the coffee is on its way”

Aryan believed that the creator of this universe was a very strange person to be understood. He had compelling reasons for his understanding, the conversation he had with his mother long ago. He questioned her, ‘who writes the life of a person?’ She replied with ‘the god’. Momentarily he had to ask her, ‘if a person commits a mistake then it is only because of the same god who had written his life to be so, isn’t it?’ She replied, ‘very true’. He questioned her instantly, ‘so why there is a heated contention of being driven to hell or heaven when you are dead? Don’t you think that a person on which they have no control over is being made to suffer because of it? Don’t you think it is ironic that the person is going to hell, as they say, for the mistakes he never understood why he had committed but only did it because the god had written his life for it?’

His mother shrugged it off on anymore of his questions. Only later he had to realize that god seemed to be scarier than the one who usually is believed him to be. Aryan thought that he was the real businessman, scaring one to death if they don’t devout themselves to him. Yet they call him god. Ironic, utterly ironic, He said to himself, A wise man once said, “… but if a universe is really completely self-contained, having no boundary or edge, it would have neither beginning nor end; it would simply be. What place, then, for a creator?” that explained everything. Should one really believe in god?.

---

Aryan continued sipping his coffee only until he had seen a man in his mid-thirties walking on his way into the hall along with Malcolm. Aryan mildly spilled the coffee on the table soon after he took a glimpse of the profile.

“Aryan, you know him. Don’t you?” Malcolm squinted, “don’t worry young man, you don’t have to be apprehensive about anything. I understand how tough it was for you, I really appreciate your decision, you earned my deepest respect yet again hereafter for all the odd life you have had been in till this point in time”

“Justin…” Aryan scarcely voiced out any more words, “you…you…” and looked composed once in a blue moon.

“It just seems that it’s been years since we had seen each other, doesn’t it?” both of them walked close to each other real quick, “I know it was you, I knew it” Justin said and wrapped his arms around Aryan’s shoulders. He could not carry himself from the emotional state, few beads of tears just evinced from the lacrimal sac but as Aryan felt cautious on his ambience they quickly disappeared.

“He knew it Aryan,” Malcolm joined in the state of affairs, “He knew it very long back, probably on the same day when I visited the company for a sponsorship. For various reasons, as he says, he opened up on the matter just a day before the success party in the university… Justin,” Malcolm moved close to both of them and placed his hand over Justin’s shoulder, “tell him everything. Aryan, let’s get our backs some rest”

They were all seated, each one on a different couch. A silence prevailed for a while, the other two intended to give a minute for Aryan before they proceeded to talk about anything with him. Aryan laid back on his couch, pressed his palms onto his face while Malcolm and Justin looked at each other with a grin. Aryan sighed for some water and Malcolm handed him the bottle.

“I have never ever thought that I would be meeting you again Justin,” Aryan constructed words for his feelings, “you have no idea, how grateful I feel right now. I am more than happy to see you”

“I see it buddy,” Justin said, “in fact we both see it, don’t we Malcolm?”

Malcolm sighed with his eyes, “We sure are seeing it”, he replied.

“You know Aryan, the visiting card that I had given you,” he paused, “it has the hologram if you remember, I am sorry to tell you but that is enciphered with a numerical digit. Which means, the card has a specifically ordered number giving me the license to register the identity of the individual who holds the ownership of card”

“So, when Malcolm had shown the card, you did what? A scan to check the identity of mine” Aryan completed the elucidation, “fair play dear”

“Hahahaha! Some things are just business” he bust a gut, “you know why I am here?”

“Did you expect me to know about your presence,” Aryan said, “you were quite a package of surprise to this morning?”

“Oh sure I am,” he leaned towards the glass of water to quench his thirst, “we have something interesting for you. When I said Interesting, I mean a game changer. Wanna hop in for a game?”

“Only if you wanted to play it my way dear,” he looked through narrowed eyes, “I like challenges, you knew it, don’t you?”

“I pretty much know you well handsome,” he smiled and looked at Malcolm who engaged in looking fixedly at both of them.

“So the bottom line of me coming right here to this place is not to surprise you with my visit but to let you know that,” he paused; turned his pate towards Aryan and continued, “Me and Malcolm had made our mind to entrust you with a new entrepreneurial venture”

“Sorry what?” he was bolted out of the blue, “I made no sense of what you just spoke” he said.

“Yes Aryan, you heard it right,” Malcolm continued, “Justin has decided to run a small business, a start-up in the automobile industry and he would like to consign it to you. You will be the co-founder and CEO”

“Wait what?” he guffawed, “I am the CEO of the company where there are no resources for it be established. Let me make it clear, we need people, high skilled labor with work ethics. It is tough to get ’em. Did I make it look condescending?”

“You never talk condescendingly. You are very pragmatic and whip-smart. That’s what I like about you” Justin answered him, “and resources? You don’t wanna draw to a close on them. I have people for you, as you’ve cleared it out. We do have skilled workforce”

“Well it looks like the day is going to offer several thunderbolts,” he raised his shoulders, “if that’s true then I am greatly honored to be a part of the mission. Just out of curiosity, I would like to ask how many and where did you get them from?”

“There are ten people,” Justin said and got up from his seat, “you know all of them”

“Seriously Justin?” he squinted, “you are reading my mind, do you see it? Is it them? You know those who I am referring to”

“Seems like telepathy hasn’t died yet,” Justin said, “you are right, Steve and team, your group at the University”

“My goodness, I knew it,” he slapped his palm with his right hand, “but they are recruited by JAPMI, aren’t they?”

“I am from JAPMI, am I not?”, he retorted, “I will make sure they would get their professional work ship certified from JAPMI but they work under your arms and they, under your leadership will help this bird fly high. You know what I mean”

“Well I see it vividly” he smiled and looked at Malcolm.

“You both talk less and work more through your eyes, isn’t it” Malcolm commented, “well that explains about everything of Aryan past achievements”

“What’s next?” Aryan enquired.

“Before you talk more, let’s get your famished bellies some brunch”, Malcolm stood on his feet and guided them to the dining.

January’ 2004,
GCP, Nassau County, NY.

“That’s a whacking blow”, Malcolm enfolded Aryan in his arms, “you did it, and you made the guys do it. I am proud of you and the kids. I now see the worth of leaving my professional job for teaching. I have twenty odd years of industry experience but never was I entangled in mixed emotions. Being a teacher standing behind my students who achieved a milestone, the feeling is inexplicable”, tears kept rolling down his eyes and he continued talking his feelings out, “I must say, I am greatly honored to have you guys being supervised by me. You have given me something that I would cherish for the rest of my life although it may be just short. This success belongs to you all.”

“Sir, please”, Aryan did his best to placate him, “You are the real captain, without your instincts and courage this wouldn’t have been possible. You believed in us, you took management risks on behalf of the team, you were available at every hour during the course of the execution, you do share a lot of credits from the success and we will never alone take the success if not for you”

The beautiful beast, as they named it. They did finish the fabrication process in time. It took two months fifteen days to completely materialize the theory and concepts.

They ran through the contest and the beast topped the list in the competition. The college had won a huge cash prize and all the students were offered full time positions as the automotive research and development engineer at the JAPMI. The dream of each of them to have them placed in an industry, to live with the work they enjoy doing, has finally come into the picture. They stood as an inspiration to the young minds out there, revealing what a naive individual, if believed in oneself, can change the way how things would work out for them.

The university board had arranged for a colossal party, it was so stupendous that the college had never organized a fete of such a scale in its history. All the faculty and few other delegates from several other automotive companies were invited to the soiree. The beautiful beast was resting on a small decent dais, constructed for her to showcase her beauty and strength, of what she can do, to the world.

The reception was to start in an hour, after the delegates from various places arrived at their own pace. Justin Amell, sponsor for the project from head to toe, was patently expected on his arrival. While everybody engaged themselves with the ambience and partook in the celebration, Aryan had a question wandering in his mind and it only kept his heart rickety. What’s next? His mind repeated the question oftentimes. He walked out from the surroundings for some fresh air, you have been here to support the project on a daily basis compensated with the stipend, now that this comes to halt, what’s next? But this time his heart sounded out. You were not given an offer by the company because you are not a legally enrolled student at the university, He said to himself, what’s next? He was bogged down as the same question played in his mind for several hundreds of times.

“Dude, I was looking around for you and you are here”, Steve said, “come on, cheer up. You really do have a great father-in-law and Professor, Malcolm, has a great son-in-law indeed. Fortunate to have known you both.”

The appreciation from Steve sounded tantalizing to Aryan. The certain information of a fact which the inner world of the University had about him was out of his sight. Steve invoked his sensibility which made him realize that he was introduced to all of the faculty and staff, and to the students as the son-in-law of Malcolm. That’s how he squared things out for Aryan in order to keep him at the work in the project. For the outside world he was the unchanged hackney driver of Malcolm and for the professor he was the hackney driver working for him on a stipend.

The successful reification of the beast had drawn attention of the media extensively. Aryan decided to leave the soiree at the earliest before the reporters caught a sight of him. I had to go, I have to move out, and right now He said to himself as he walked alongside with Steve towards the main center.

“Steve, a minute”, he excused and wend his way towards Malcolm.

“Professor Malcolm, I would like to leave now. Family’s at home, is waiting for my arrival”, Aryan informed him, “and I would like to leave before it is any late”.

“Young man,” Malcolm called and motioned Aryan closer towards him, “this is your day, and you deserve to live in this very moment. You may not want to miss this, I will take the onus of telling your family if that is a concern,”

“You have given me enough of more than what I deserve. The time has come and I had to leave, as my stay and deal with the project comes to halt by today as per our understanding before you on boarded me.” Aryan uttered in a low tone as he waned in sounding out words with lots of emotions running through in his heart, “I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart and with due respect I tend to ask, If you may excuse and accept, I will take leave”

Looking away from him with his left hand on Aryan’s right shoulder and his right hand slid inside his right pocket of the tuxedo, “I would like to see you at your ease”, he said, “I leave the choice to you, my young man but remember you will still keep me driving to the college from tomorrow,”

“That was also part of the deal”, Aryan said with a smile, “Will talk tomorrow in the morning”. Aryan started to walk away from the center, “Young man”, he heard Malcolm calling him, “Young man, just a sec”, he approached him, “Please reach my home by ten in the morning”. “Sure”, Aryan nodded.

“Have a good night, convey my regards to your family”, he said and walked back towards the center.

I leave now before Justin or media catch hold me He said to himself and increasing his pace, careful, watch your step, keep an eye on the ambience

It took fifteen minutes for him to come out of the place. On his course way, he’s got a glance of the emblem, ‘JAPMI’ on a car that drove past him from the other end of the way. Instantly Aryan got into his car, what is your next step, Aryan His mind reeled the question. Before his mind was to take much control over the heart, he decided to drive back and disappeared in blink of an eye.