May 1–May 15, 2017
"Behind Closed Doors"
---
Scene 1 — The Blow Lands
Washington D.C., May 2
The press release was blunt:
> "Effective immediately, the United States is imposing trade restrictions on the export and sale of semiconductor components manufactured by Shakti Semiconductors Pvt. Ltd. The move is in the interest of protecting U.S. national security and ensuring fair competition."
On Wall Street, semiconductor stocks spiked. But in Delhi, the mood soured instantly.
The decision effectively blocked Shakti from selling directly into North America. Within hours, the European Union issued a similar 'precautionary review.'
---
Scene 2 — Emergency Call
At the estate, MC sat in the control room with Aarya projected beside him. The screen flickered with headlines:
"US Bans Indian Chips."
"Tech Cold War: India vs West."
"Is the World Ready for a New Superpower?"
Aarya's voice was calm but edged with warning.
> Aarya: "This was expected. The more you disrupt, the more they push back. Question is — how will India itself respond?"
Just then, MC's encrypted phone buzzed. A short message flashed:
> From: PMO-India
"Delhi. 11 May. Bring no one."
---
Scene 3 — South Block Shadows
Delhi, May 11
The South Block building loomed at night, its sandstone walls lit by floodlights. Inside, in a private chamber rarely used except for wartime councils, Prime Minister Modi sat at the head of a long table.
Across from him, MC placed a slim folder, filled not with papers but with a small Shakti chip sealed inside a transparent block.
The Prime Minister picked it up, weighing it like it was more than silicon. "The Americans are cornering us," he said quietly. "They don't want India to lead."
MC replied evenly, "They can't stop us unless we allow them to. I don't need their markets. Asia, Africa, Latin America — they're hungry for technology, and they don't have alternatives."
A silence stretched. Then Modi leaned forward, his eyes sharp.
> PM Modi: "But you're not just a businessman anymore. You're holding something bigger than defense, bigger than oil. Chips and AI are the new weapons. And the whole world knows only you control them. That makes you a target."
---
Scene 4 — The Countermeasure Plan
MC outlined his counter:
1. Shell Companies: Establish proxy distributors in Singapore, Dubai, Mauritius. Shakti chips will enter markets under neutral labels.
2. India First: Divert mainline production to Indian defense, telecom, and infrastructure. Ensure no foreign leverage exists.
3. Technology Sovereignty: Begin groundwork for a fully Indian-owned supply chain, from rare earth mining to fab tools.
He said it flatly:
> MC: "No foreign investors. No partnerships. No back doors. This remains in Indian hands — mine."
The PM studied him. Finally, he nodded slowly. "Your independence is… unusual. But it may be exactly what India needs. Just be prepared: they won't forgive this."
---
Scene 5 — POV: A Western Lobbyist in Delhi
In a five-star hotel bar, David Cohen, a U.S. trade lobbyist, downed his whiskey. He had spent weeks trying to convince Indian officials that joining the "Western technology partnership" would be better than letting MC dominate.
But the mood in Delhi was shifting.
He texted his Washington contact:
> "They're backing him. This won't be business — it'll be a sovereignty issue now. Prepare for long fight."
He deleted the message immediately. Even here, he felt watched.
---
Scene 6 — Personal Undercurrent
Back at the estate, Ananya noticed the exhaustion in MC's face. He rarely showed it, but tonight, after returning from Delhi, his steps were heavy.
Over dinner, she asked softly, "Are you afraid?"
He paused, then answered with brutal honesty.
> MC: "Not for myself. For the country. If I fall, it won't just be me. It'll be India's chance at freedom from dependency. That's what they'll really try to kill."
Her hand hovered over the table, almost reaching his, but she pulled back at the last second. The air between them held unspoken words.
---
Scene 7 — Closing Montage
In Washington, the Senate Finance Committee drafted bills to punish "entities aiding Shakti."
In Brussels, EU lawyers discussed "collective IP lawsuits."
In Beijing, a PLA colonel smirked. "If the West weakens him, we won't need to fire a shot."
In a dusty African telecom office, an engineer held up a Shakti-powered server and whispered, "This is our revolution."
And at the estate, under the starlit sky, MC walked alone in the garden. Aarya's hologram floated beside him.
> Aarya: "They've declared war in silence. Now we choose how loud our answer will be."
MC looked up at the constellations, his jaw set.
The storm had only just begun.
---