December 11–December 31, 2017
"The Year of Fireworks"
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1. Deepak's Estate – December 11, 2017
Snow blanketed the forest around the estate. Inside, the warmth of a crackling fire filled Deepak's study as Arya projected a holographic ledger of his empire.
> Arya: "Shall I summarize the fiscal year, Deepak?"
He leaned back, fingers steepled. "Yes, Arya. Let's see what this storm has brought us."
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2. The Ledger of 2017
Shakti Semiconductors (CEO: Vikram Malhotra)
Global market share: 50% of all advanced chips.
Revenue (Jan–Dec 2017): $180 billion
Net Profit: $82 billion
Market valuation: $650 billion
Saraswati Corporation (CEO Face: Maya Iyer)
Services: Search, Mail, Maps, AI, Varta (chat), Nava (social).
Indian search market share: 55%
Global downloads: 400 million+ across apps.
Revenue: $32 billion
Market valuation: $210 billion
TBM & Infrastructure Division
Roads, tunnels, and Himalayan projects expanding.
Revenue: $15 billion
Employment generated: 220,000 direct, 1.5 million indirect.
Saraswati Satellites (with ISRO)
20 Low Earth Orbit satellites launched successfully in August 2017.
Already powering 5G relay and high-resolution imaging.
Strategic value: immeasurable.
Stock Market & Bitcoin Accounts (run by Arya silently):
Equity trading: $3.8 billion gains.
Bitcoin wallet: 190,000 BTC (~$2.66 billion at $14,000/BTC).
Total Empire Net Worth: ≈ $1 Trillion (₹65 Lakh Crore).
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3. Deepak's Quiet Smile
He stared at the number. One trillion. The youngest industrialist in history to reach it — and yet, his voice was calm.
> Deepak: "Wealth is only a tool, Arya. The real prize is sovereignty."
Arya's tone softened.
> Arya: "And you've given that to an entire nation, Deepak."
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4. Global Reactions (Dec 15–20, 2017)
Washington, D.C.: US Senate hearings brand Shakti Semiconductors a "strategic threat."
Beijing: Orders issued for more cyber-operations against Saraswati.
London: Financial Times headline — "India's Trillion-Dollar Titan."
Africa: Telecom CEOs celebrate — affordable chips, satellites, and bandwidth had rewritten their future.
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5. Ananya's Arrival (Dec 24, 2017 – Christmas Eve)
Ananya arrived with research notes on river-cleaning. She teased Deepak about never resting.
> Ananya: "You've built an empire, Deepak. But what about yourself?"
> Deepak (smiling faintly): "If I stop, the world catches up."
Her eyes lingered on him — a mix of admiration and worry.
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6. Year-End Celebration (Dec 31, 2017)
The estate became a festival ground. Engineers, families, officials, and villagers all gathered.
Maya Iyer, the humanoid CEO, stood on stage, her speech echoing with confidence.
> Maya: "This year we proved India does not wait in line. We lead. And next year, the storm will grow fiercer — but together, we will rise higher."
Thunderous applause followed.
Above them, Saraswati satellites streaked across the night sky, visible as moving dots of light. Fireworks exploded in gold, their sparks reflecting on the frozen lake.
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7. The Balcony – Deepak & Ananya
Away from the crowd, Deepak and Ananya watched the display from the balcony.
> Ananya (softly): "The whole world is watching you."
> Deepak: "Then let them. What they'll see is India rising."
A lotus-shaped firework bloomed overhead, showering golden petals across the night sky. For a heartbeat, Ananya's hand found his.
Neither pulled away. Neither spoke.
The storm of 2017 had reshaped the world.
2018 would decide who survived it.
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