The Day The State Split Asunder-11

Six months passed. Karthik was successfully inducted into the product development team after completing his probationary period. He received a bonus of five thousand rupees for performing better in the training and decided to celebrate this with Adarsh, whom he affectionately calls 'Arnold'. 

Even though it has only been six months since they both met each other, they behaved as if they were best friends since childhood. Whenever Karthik was late, Adarsh used to go to his office to pick him up and whenever they had gone outside to have a meal, Adarsh never allowed Karthik to pay the bill.  

Adarsh works as a technical lead at a leading multinational company and earns a six-figure salary. He is an avid reader and always keeps himself updated with changing technological trends. His dream in life is to start a company of his own and has been intensely working for two years saving as much money as he can. He knocked on the doors of several venture capitalists but all turned a deaf ear to his idea. Despite facing several refusals he always believed in the notion of  'Never giving up' in the hope that one day he will meet the perfect investor who believes in his idea. 

Karthik started early from his office and reached his room. After taking his shower he walked into Adarsh's room. When he entered, Adarsh was working on his laptop.

'Looks like you're working on something, I will come and meet you later,' said Karthik.

'Nothing important! Tell me?' Adarsh said and he shut the screen of his laptop.

'You said you have a meeting with an investor today? How did it go?'

'Unfortunately, at the last minute that person whom I am supposed to meet got some important work and he left for Germany.'

'If you don't mind, can you throw some light on your idea?'

'Basically, we will be providing analytics services. Today there is a huge amount of data available everywhere and the main concern is how to use this data. By usage of data, I mean how to pull something meaningful out of these numbers so as to use the results for improving the present conditions. For now, I can't tell you more than this.'

'No problem. But please give me a job in your company.'

'Let me get some funding first. Then I will pull you into it.'

'Arnold, you're already earning well at your job. Why take risks?'

'With great risk comes great rewards. Every person like you, after completing graduation, wants a job that provides a handsome salary of 40K. Then find a lovely girl to marry, make a family. By the time you cross sixty, you expect to save enough to buy half an acre of land, build a 500 sq ft house, get it painted yellow and green with a beautiful garden in the backyard on a reclining chair under the sun. It is then, memories start flashing back. You will say to yourself - "I wish I took risks when I was young"'

'I agree that but what if something goes wrong?'

'I think you have the answer for who is the wealthiest man on this planet. But can you tell me who is the poorest man?'

'Poorest man? I think no one.'

'Karthik, even if something has gone wrong in your plan, nobody will deprive you of food, water, and clothing. These three are essential to lead life along with the abundant wisdom that you gathered in the process of achieving your dream. I just want to tell you one thing. If by misfortune you got fired from your job? What will you do?'

'I will find another.'

'What if they also fire you after some time?'

'I… I…' Karthik was struggling to give an answer.

'If you had a dream, you would have an answer. In case you don't have a dream, partner with someone who is having a dream. Why don't you partner with me? Trust me, I am not a cheater. I don't want any financial support from you except the intellectual support.'

'Arnold, please don't talk like that. I trust you a lot. From now on, Your dream project is my dream project, Your problems are my problems, Your happiness is my happiness.'

'Except my underwear…' Adarsh burst into loud laughter. 'I am just kidding.'

'But frankly speaking, I don't think I may be of any use to you.'

'Every person is unique in this world. You may do what I cannot do, I may do what you cannot, but together, we can accomplish great things. I think we had enough discussion about philosophy.' Adarsh sighed. 'For a long time, I wanted to ask you a question. I don't understand why you decided to start your career in Bangalore? Why can't you be with your parents? Looks like you're taking them for granted.'

'No… No… I love my parents.'

'Life is short and you've to spend it only with your loved ones. I am not the luckiest person like you. Remember one thing, family always comes first.'

'Where do your parents stay?'

'My father was a soldier in the Indian Army. He died in the 1999 Kargil war with Pakistan and my mother died of a heart attack as soon as she heard the news of my dad's death. I then stayed at my maternal uncle's house in Karari, Uttar Pradesh. With the help of an army scholarship, I completed B.Tech in Computer Science at an Engineering college in Gwalior, and succeeded in getting a job on campus in an IT industry in Bangalore,' replied Adarsh in a sorrowful tone. 

'I am so sorry Arnold!' Karthik said. 

'Hey! No issues!'

'Forgot to tell you. Today I received a bonus of five thousand rupees for performing better in my training. Why don't we go and have dinner?'

'As you wish. Let's go.'