The week following the submission of "Bio-Waste Management for Rural Infrastructure" passed in a blur of nervous energy and final exam preparation. For Aarav, the intense focus on academic tasks was a welcome distraction from the looming threats of Rajat and the ticking clock of the flyover. He occasionally saw Rajat from a distance—usually surrounded by his usual arrogant entourage—but the other rival made no direct move, a calculated, unsettling silence that Aarav correctly interpreted as a deep-seated threat, not an acceptance of defeat.
On Friday morning, an email landed in Aarav and Ayushi's inboxes.
Subject: Congratulations!
Selection for the Final Round of the 2025 University Business Plan Competition
Their pitch was selected!
Ayushi found Aarav in the library, radiating excitement. They were among the eight teams chosen to present their final business plans live to a panel of expert judges.
A quick scan of the other selected teams confirmed Aarav's expectations: their direct rivals, Rajat and his partner Vanya, were also on the list. The stage was now set for the ultimate showdown.
The Grand Arena
The competition was held the following Saturday in the university's main auditorium, a massive, tiered hall usually reserved for graduation ceremonies. Today, the space felt transformed into a corporate arena.
The stage itself was a dramatic backdrop: a giant LED screen displayed the competition logo—a stylized, soaring hawk—and was flanked by tall banners proclaiming the event's sponsors.
The hall was packed. Students, faculty, and local business leaders filled the seats. The air was a mix of intense corporate seriousness and nervous anticipation, buzzing with murmured speculation about the favored teams.
On a raised dais to the side sat the Judges Panel: three formidable figures whose reputations preceded them. There was Mr. D'Souza, a sharp-eyed venture capitalist known for his ruthless interrogation of financial models; Dr. Shanti Verma, a renowned social entrepreneur whose focus was purely on scalable impact; and Mr. Rakesh Singh, a university alumnus and CEO of a major tech firm, whose primary interest was innovative technology. Their collective presence was enough to intimidate any presenter.
The Anchor, a charismatic former student named Maya, took the stage. She was dressed impeccably, her energy bright and professional as she introduced the first team.
Support and Strategy
Aarav and Ayushi were seated with their laptops, running through their pitch deck one last time. Sitting directly behind them, in a seat he'd strategically reserved, was Akash, Pooja in tow. Akash was wearing a suit, a rare and alarming sight.
"Relax, guys," Akash whispered, leaning over the chair. "Your plan is brilliant. Just remember what I told you: charm the tech CEO, don't piss off the VC, and make the social lady cry happy tears."
Ayushi chuckled nervously. "Thanks, Akash. But where is the real you?"
Akash struck a pose. "This is me being a supportive friend! My strategy is Minimum Disruption, Maximum Morale. Pooja is here to ensure my energy remains optimized and my commentary stays below a conversational volume."
Pooja, seated beside him, simply nodded, a stopwatch in her hand, timing the current speaker. "He's right. Focus on the core mission. The current presenter is failing the Q&A due to lack of a defined value proposition."
The first three teams presented, offering conventional ideas—a food delivery app, a student rental service, and a minor improvement on a campus service. They were good, but lacked the innovation or heart of Aarav and Ayushi's plan.
Then, the fourth name flashed on the screen. The entire hall shifted slightly, the atmosphere instantly darkening.
Team 4: Rajat Sharma and Vanya Sen
Business Plan: 'Veritas - The Campus Reputation Manager'
The Showdown Begins
Rajat walked onto the stage with the confidence of someone who had never had to work for anything. He was dressed in an expensive, perfectly tailored suit that screamed wealth. He took center stage, a shark in tailored wool.
"Here we go," Aarav muttered, straightening up. This wasn't just a business pitch; it was a performance designed to intimidate.
Rajat's plan, Veritas, was immediately clear in its malicious intent. It was an AI-driven platform designed to "manage and curate" the online reputations of high-net-worth individuals and organizations, effectively silencing negative press and amplifying positive spin. It was the antithesis of everything Aarav and Ayushi stood for—a system designed to increase the "drag" on truth for the powerful.
Rajat began his pitch with smooth, practiced eloquence, selling a product built on secrecy and spin.
"In today's interconnected world," Rajat announced, his voice carrying easily through the auditorium, "your reputation is your most valuable asset. We provide a firewall of sophisticated AI to ensure that minor indiscretions and inconvenient truths never become major liabilities."
He glanced dismissively toward Aarav and Ayushi's corner, a cold, smug look in his eyes. He didn't have to say their names; the contempt in his posture was clear. This is how you do business, scholarship boy.
Rajat finished his presentation with a flourish, detailing a highly aggressive revenue model based on exorbitant subscription fees for elite clients. He then turned to face the judges, basking in the silence that followed.
Aarav watched him, his jaw tight. Rajat's idea was technically strong, well-funded, and deeply cynical—a true reflection of the danger he represented.
Mr. D'Souza, the venture capitalist, cracked a small smile, clearly intrigued by the profit potential. Dr. Verma, the social entrepreneur, looked utterly disgusted. The battle lines were drawn.
Rajat stood tall, awaiting the Q&A. He had delivered his opening salvo.
Aarav knew that whatever came next—the judges' questions, Rajat's answers, or the next team's pitch—the competition was now officially fierce.