Arjun Sharma leaned against the railing of their modest Bandra apartment's balcony, the Mumbai skyline a dazzling array of twinkling lights under a starlit sky, the faint melody of a street performer's flute weaving through the warm air, mingling with the distant clatter of rickshaws and the rhythmic pulse of the city's nightlife. The sting of Priya's accusations from the evening—blaming him for her mother Meera's struggles and their family's fracture—still lingered, but Arjun's resolve was unshaken. Reflecting on his college days, where his engineering focus at a local Mumbai institute left little room for humanities or social sciences, he recognized how outdated his knowledge had become in a world that now demanded broader perspectives. The Midlife Mastery System's latest task, offered a path forward: read efficiently for one hour daily for 30 days to earn mental and physical improvements and +5 attribute points to Strength and Spirit. Determined to embrace this challenge, Arjun saw it as a chance to not only sharpen his mind but also better understand his role in Priya's upbringing and the missteps of his mismatched marriage to Meera Kapoor.
Seated at the small dining table, the aroma of freshly brewed chai from a nearby vendor wafting through the open window, Arjun used his smartphone's AI assistant to curate a list of 100 books, selecting The Power of Habit as his starting point for its insights into behavior and growth. He activated one of his seven Knowledge Scrolls from the Midlife Mastery System, its virtual interface glowing briefly on his phone, boosting his reading efficiency 100-fold. With this enhancement, he devoured the 300-page book in just an hour, his mind absorbing concepts with startling clarity, from habit loops to personal transformation. The intense focus sharpened his cognition, increasing his Spirit stat by 2 points to 52, as the system's notification confirmed: "Task Progress: Efficient reading completed. Spirit +2. Props: Knowledge Scroll=8." The mental clarity helped him reflect on his past, seeing how his financial struggles had strained his marriage to Meera, but also how his dedication to Priya had shaped her resilience, despite her recent accusations.
The reading session, surprisingly, had a physical impact as well. Arjun felt a surge of energy, his body fat seemingly melting away, revealing a chiseled eight-pack and a leaner physique that made his shirt fit even more sharply. When Priya, still hobbling slightly from her ankle sprain, walked into the living room, her eyes widened in astonishment. "Dad, you're way too handsome now! How is this even possible?" she exclaimed, marveling at his transformation, though her brow furrowed as she added, "I don't even look that much like you anymore!" Her playful tone masked a hint of self-consciousness, prompting Arjun to chuckle reassuringly. Energized but famished from the intense mental and physical shift, Arjun ordered a large takeout meal from a local Bandra eatery—spicy chicken tikka masala, butter naan, and fragrant biryani—via an app, the total coming to ₹1,200. His phone pinged: "SBI: ₹1,200 debited. Balance: ₹21,17,550." He savored the meal alone at the table, the rich flavors a brief escape from family tensions, but Priya caught him mid-bite, her expression shifting to frustration. "You're eating all that without me?" she demanded, eyeing the spread. When Arjun offered her a plate, she declined, citing concerns about gaining weight, her tone sharp with irritation.
Later, as they cleared the dishes, Priya proposed an unexpected idea. "Dad, Ananya's facing eviction because her mom's been out of touch. Can she stay in our spare room for a bit?" she asked, her voice unusually earnest. Arjun, recalling Ananya Desai's kind nature and striking features from their encounter at Carter Road, appreciated her quiet strength and academic potential despite her financial struggles. Yet he was skeptical of Priya's uncharacteristic generosity, suspecting she might have ulterior motives—perhaps to deflect attention from her own emotional turmoil over Rohan Malhotra's interest in Ananya. After a moment's thought, Arjun agreed, seeing Ananya's presence as a potential help with household chores and a way to support her studies. "Alright, I'll pick her up after my Ola shift tomorrow," he said, his tone cautious but warm. His phone buzzed with another system notification: "Task Progress: Daily reading ongoing. Continue for 29 days to unlock full rewards."
Attribute Panel:
Height: 185 cm (+)
Physical Age: 47 (-)
Wealth: ₹21,17,550
Strength: 70 (+)
Spirit: 52 (+)
Props: Knowledge Scroll=8, Electrolyte Drink=10, Protein Shake=2
Daily Tasks: Nutritious breakfast, gym check-in, Ola rides, Read Books