đź“– Chapter 15: Planning Ahead
The winter sun hung low over the fields, casting long shadows across the dusty road to Kurukshetra. Akshy paused for a moment, adjusting the small sack on his shoulder, his mind elsewhere.
It wasn't the weight of the grain this time—it was Savitri.
She was almost 17 now, tall for her age, with a quiet determination he had always admired. She had learned fast, helping with small accounts and keeping notes of trades in her neat handwriting. But school beyond the village… that was another challenge entirely.
Akshy thought through the options.
The nearest proper university was in Kurukshetra town. Small, but safe.
Traveling alone on dusty, uneven roads would be dangerous.
A hostel? Expensive and not familiar.
Could he rely on neighbors or trusted villagers for the commute?
Timing matters, he reminded himself.
She could finish her school exams by March.
After harvest, the family could afford the tuition.
Spring weather would make travel easier.
He imagined the possible courses:
Teacher training—practical, in demand.
Literature or arts—she was good at writing.
Science? Harder, given the town's limited facilities, but not impossible.
He smiled faintly. It wasn't just about choosing a subject. It was strategy, like trade. He had to consider:
Safety.
Practicality.
Long-term independence.
And he realized: he couldn't rush it.
He couldn't just decide for her. He had to guide. Subtly. Show options. Let her choose a path that suited her skills and future.
Small steps. Observation first. Then action.
Akshy adjusted the sack and walked toward the village edge. The dirt road stretched like a ribbon between fields, flanked by low mud walls and a few scattered trees. He remembered the traders, the carts, the small stream he had crossed the week before. Everything familiar, everything predictable… if you knew what to look for.
He thought about the villagers coming today with small sacks.
Ramesh would be along in the afternoon.
Girdhari Lal likely earlier.
A few others, cautious, waiting to see if this "boy with luck" actually delivered.
Akshy had to plan carefully:
Help the village without drawing too much attention.
Build small influence slowly.
Let people feel this was normal, not a shortcut.
The future knowledge in his mind was powerful, but he didn't flaunt it.
He could foresee shortages and price changes.
He could anticipate the market's next moves.
But he had to act realistically.
Even for his sister.
He knew which towns would offer real courses.
He could predict which fields of study would matter in the next decade.
But sending her too far too early could be disastrous.
Akshy smiled faintly.
This is just the start.
Small steps today. Observation. Guidance. Planning for the future.
He set the sack down, watching the first villagers approaching.
Nothing spectacular yet.
Just everyday work.
Yet, each step, each small action, added up.
He felt the weight again—this time not just in his arms.
Responsibility.
Family.
Village.
His own vision for what could come.
And he knew one thing clearly: cheating with knowledge didn't mean ignoring reality.
Everything had to grow naturally.
Every decision had to feel earned.
Every action, subtle. Human. Real.
The villagers reached him, cautious smiles on their faces. Akshy greeted them calmly, starting with small trades, observing patterns, learning.
No rushing.
No showing off.
Just careful steps forward.
And in the back of his mind, the thought of Savitri going to university next year stayed quietly.
Not forced.
Not sudden.
But planned with care, like everything else.
He lifted the sack again and began walking.
One step at a time.
One small action at a time.
One natural decision at a time.
The road stretched ahead, familiar yet full of possibilities.
The dust, the carts, the traders, the faint smell of smoke from village kitchens—all real.
And the future knowledge he carried… still a quiet, subtle guide.
đź“– End of Chapter 15