The Next Morning
As the sun rose over the lush greenery of Udharbond, Aryan was already awake. He climbed up to the rooftop of his home and began practicing his movement and techniques, maintaining perfect balance—even standing on one finger with unwavering focus.
Around 6 a.m., Aryan's mother woke up and headed toward his room, only to find it empty. A sense of worry crept in, and she began searching for him across the house. Eventually, she reached the rooftop and was stunned to see Aryan standing calmly on a single finger, his body poised like a seasoned monk.
Their home, once modest during Aryan's childhood, had since been expanded. In his father's time, only the basic foundation had been laid—a kitchen, a bedroom, and a multipurpose room that acted as a drawing space. Now, with both ground and first floors completed, the house had evolved into a spacious residence with multiple rooms and amenities.
Seeing him deep in training, Aryan's mother silently turned away, choosing not to disturb him. She went about her morning chores as Aryan continued his intense practice.
By 9 a.m., Aryan wrapped up his session and came down. After a quick shower, he got dressed and had his breakfast.
A little while later, just as he was about to leave the house, his elder brother called him.
Rohit (on call): "Aryan, wait a second."
Aryan: "Yes, Bhai?"
Rohit: "Are you heading to Silchar?"
Aryan: "Yeah, that's the plan."
Rohit: "Alright. Wait a minute. My driver is coming with the car—he'll take you to Nani's house."
Within minutes, a luxury SUV pulled up outside. Aryan hopped in and set off toward his maternal grandparents' home.
After a thirty-minute drive, he arrived in Silchar. A few minutes later, he stepped into the house. As soon as his grandmother saw him, her eyes welled up with emotion. Inside, his aunt Alpana and maternal aunt Baishakhi were already waiting. They greeted Aryan with warmth and joy, offering him sweets, fruits, and a cold drink.
Shortly after, Aryan's maternal uncle, Arjun Saha, arrived along with a lawyer. Aryan's mother, Aarti, had already informed the family of his visit.
Arjun uncle handed Aryan a document.
Aryan: "What's this?"
Arjun Uncle: "I believe your mother has already explained what's been happening over the past couple of months?"
Aryan: "Yes, she has."
Arjun Uncle: "As compensation and rental earnings, we've received a substantial amount of money. According to our father's will, you're entitled to an equal share of the funds and equity in our family company."
Aryan: "I understand."
Arjun Uncle: "You'll need to sign this agreement to formally claim your share. You can either read it yourself or have the lawyer explain it."
Aryan: "I'll read it myself. Please hand it over."
Aryan read through the contract thoroughly before signing.
Arjun Uncle (to the lawyer): "How long will the transfer of funds and properties take?"
Lawyer: "The money should be in Aryan's account within 2–3 hours. As for the property transfer, it will take 2–3 days."
Arjun Uncle: "Alright."
Lawyer: "If there's nothing else, I'll proceed with the paperwork."
Arjun Uncle: "Go ahead."
The lawyer exited, and Aryan turned to his uncle with a curious look.
Aryan: "Uncle, what about that amusement park—why were workers from Six Flags seen near Grandpa's property? Why were they helping so much?"
Arjun Uncle: "It was Six Flags Entertainment Corporation. They helped us because, without our cooperation, their deal couldn't move forward."
Aryan: "Is that the real reason? Do you truly believe that?"
Arjun Uncle: "Your aunts and cousins believe it. I tried investigating, but their higher-ups threatened me—saying if I dug deeper, it might jeopardize our deal. So I stopped looking into it."
Aryan: "Do you remember anything else about Six Flags?"
Arjun Uncle: "No, that's all. Don't ask me any more about them."
Just then, Aunt Alpana walked in.
Alpana Aunty: "You came here after months of isolation, and you haven't even asked about your cousins or me!"
Aryan: "It's not like that, Mausi…"
Alpana Aunty: "Then tell me this—do you have any investment plans for the money you're about to receive?"
Aryan: "Honestly, I haven't thought about it yet."
Alpana Aunty: "Do you know where Rohit, Anu, and Manu have invested their shares?"
Aryan: "No, I haven't had the chance to talk to them yet."
Alpana Aunty: "Well, I'll tell you. Your uncle Arjun once tried to buy the Cachar Club, but even after offering a huge sum, the deal fell through. Rohit invested in Sagarika Resort and Sagarika Regency—he's now the sole owner of both. Manu went into pharmaceuticals and real estate. Anu, with your uncle's help, has invested in hospitality across Guwahati and the Northeast—she owns a 4-star hotel and two 3-star resorts. Still, she's kept a significant portion of the funds in her account."
Aryan: "Sounds like they're doing really well."
Alpana Aunty: "They are. But Aryan, please help Anu with ideas to diversify her investments."
Aryan: "I'll do that."
A few moments later, Aryan received a notification on his phone—his account had been credited with the full amount.
Later that afternoon, Aryan decided to meet some of his old friends in Silchar. After lunch and a brief rest, he made his way to Gandhi Park around 5 p.m.
Just moments after he entered the park, a group of six people burst through the gate, shouting with joy.
Friends (in unison): "Aryan! You're back!"
They rushed to embrace him, visibly emotional.
One Friend: "Where have you been these past two months?"
Aryan (smiling): "Calm down. I'll explain everything—just come sit with me first."
Another Friend: "No, we won't sit!"
Aryan: "Why not?"
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Why are Aryan's friends upset with him?
Why did Six Flags really assist Aryan's family?
What will Aryan do with the enormous wealth now in his hands?