Chapter 4: The Crisis and the Partner
Aarav walked out of the library, the five-page analysis of the Principle of Minimum Drag already a crisp, organized file on his laptop—a task completed with ruthless efficiency. His mind, however, was focused on the next phase: the Business Plan Competition.
He checked the college calendar on his phone. The mandatory orientation for all participants was happening right now in the Seminar Hall. He didn't need the orientation—he knew the rules, the deadlines, and the judges from his past life—but he needed the proximity.
As he neared the Seminar Hall, a sudden, sharp sound cut through the hallway chatter: the distinct, frustrated thwack of a plastic folder hitting a wall. Aarav stopped dead. It was the sound of a dream shattering, and he recognized the figure immediately. Ayushi stood near a secluded stairwell, her back to him, her shoulders slumped in a posture of defeat he had never seen before. A dozen loose papers were scattered at her feet.
He quickened his pace, his internal alarm bell ringing. This was the opening.
"Ayushi?" Aarav asked gently, his voice soft enough not to startle her, but firm enough to get her attention.
She turned quickly, her eyes wide and slightly red-rimmed. For a second, the sight of him—his black t-shirt, his concerned expression—seemed to register, but she quickly masked her emotion, trying to project a semblance of her usual composure.
"Aarav," she said, her voice strained. "Sorry, I didn't see you. Just… a bad day". She gestured vaguely at the scattered papers.
Aarav didn't wait. He knelt immediately, not to talk, but to help, gathering the pages. As he picked them up, he saw the title of the top page: "Bio-Waste Management for Rural Infrastructure - Partnership Agreement".
"Is this for the B-Plan Competition?" he asked, organizing the documents into a neat pile.
She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Yes. Or rather, it was for the competition. My partner, Dev, just informed me that he's pulling out. Apparently, he thinks my idea is 'too ambitious' and he wants to join the group focusing on mobile apps. He didn't even have the decency to tell me until the minute before the orientation started".
A flash of recognition hit Aarav. In the old timeline, Dev had pulled out, but a week later, leaving Ayushi scrambling. Aarav's intervention had pulled the event forward, creating a more immediate and dramatic crisis.
This is it. The Rescue Mission, he thought, channeling Akash's strategy.
He stood up, handing her the stack of papers. He met her gaze—a beautiful mix of frustration, determination, and hurt.
"He's wrong," Aarav said simply, his eyes not leaving hers. "The idea is not too ambitious; it's brilliant. Bio-waste management in rural areas is a massive, underserved market. It aligns with our university's ethos, and more importantly, it solves a real problem".
Ayushi blinked, surprised by his intensity and his knowledge of her pitch. "You… you know about it?"
"I know about the problem," Aarav clarified, leaning slightly against the wall, giving her space. "And I know about the competition. I was planning to enter, too. But the truth is, I haven't been able to land on a high-impact idea like yours".
He took a slow, calculated risk. "You've lost a partner, Ayushi. And honestly, I need a team leader with a vision like yours. So, this isn't charity. This is a transaction".
He straightened up, adopting the confident, focused persona of a future businessman—a man who takes charge. "I have the time, the analytical skills, and the drive to help you turn this brilliant concept into a winning presentation. I can handle the financial projections, the supply chain logistics, and the pitch deck. You keep the vision. I'll make the numbers work".
He didn't plead, and he didn't confess. He presented himself as a valuable, irreplaceable asset.
A slow smile, hesitant at first, then blossoming into genuine relief, spread across Ayushi's face. The light of her original determination returned to her eyes.
"Aarav… I don't know what to say. You would really do that? The deadline for team submission is tomorrow".
"I know the deadline," Aarav said, giving a decisive nod. "And I've already decided I'm joining the Bio-Waste team. The only thing left to decide is whether you want me to".
He extended his hand, not hesitantly like the boy who died two years ago, but with the firm grip of a partner. "Let's win this, Ayushi".
She took his hand. Her touch was warm, familiar, and sparked a jolt of fierce hope in Aarav's chest.
"Welcome to the team, Aarav," she said, her voice filled with renewed energy. "We have a long night ahead of us".