đź“– Chapter 28: The Man Who Watches
Early 1965 — Just before spring
Business was growing.
But not everyone was unaware.
Suraj Pal's POV — Realization
Suraj Pal stood inside his small office near the mandi.
A worker spoke hesitantly:
"Akshy hasn't been bringing grain like before…"
Suraj didn't react immediately.
He had already noticed.
"Then what is he doing?" he asked.
The worker replied,
"People say… oil press… and something in Pundri."
Silence.
Suraj leaned back slowly.
"So he changed direction…"
For the first time, he didn't feel angry.
He felt something else.
Respect.
Thinking Like a Rival
Suraj walked toward the window, looking at the road.
"If he left trade… it means trade was never his final plan."
He muttered quietly:
"He's building something bigger."
This time—
He didn't plan to block roads.
He started thinking.
Information Gathering
Over the next few days, Suraj quietly collected details:
Oil production started in village
Dairy collection beginning in Pundri
Land being checked in Nissing
Each piece added pressure.
"This isn't random," he said to himself.
"He's placing businesses."
Parallel — Akshy's Day (Balance)
Meanwhile, Akshy's routine had changed completely.
Morning:
Check oil production
Afternoon:
Travel or planning for Nissing
Some days:
Visit Kurukshetra for college admission process
Evening:
Sit with Savitri → accounts
Discuss with Mahavir → dairy progress
It wasn't easy anymore.
Dairy Begins — Reality Hits
In Pundri, the first milk collection started.
Day 1:
Only 32 liters
Mahavir returned slightly disappointed.
"Less than expected," he said.
Shanti replied calmly:
"Trust takes time."
Next day:
41 liters
Slowly… it grew.
Suraj's Decision Changes
Back in town, Suraj called one of his close men.
"We're not blocking him anymore," he said.
The man looked confused.
"Then what?"
Suraj replied:
"We watch. We learn."
He paused… then added something unexpected:
"And if needed… we talk."
First Indirect Contact
A few days later, Ramesh returned with news.
"Suraj Pal asked about you," he said.
Mahavir immediately reacted,
"Stay careful."
But Akshy didn't seem worried.
"What exactly did he ask?"
Ramesh replied,
"He just said… 'Your friend is doing something different.'"
Akshy gave a small smile.
"That means he understood."
Savitri's View
Savitri wasn't comfortable.
"People like him don't just observe," she said.
Akshy nodded.
"Yes. That's why he's dangerous."
Then he added calmly:
"But also useful… if handled right."
She looked at him sharply.
"You're not thinking—"
Akshy interrupted:
"Not now. But maybe later."
Suraj — Respect Grows
That night, Suraj sat alone, going through his own accounts.
His business was stable.
But not growing like before.
He spoke quietly:
"That boy… is not just earning."
"He's building systems."
For the first time—
Suraj didn't see Akshy as a problem.
He saw him as a benchmark.
Future Possibility (Seed Planted)
Suraj thought:
Fight him… or learn from him?
He didn't decide yet.
But one thing was clear now—
This was no longer a simple rivalry.
This was:
Competition
Observation
Strategy
And maybe one day…
Something more complicated.
Closing
In one part of the region—
Akshy was building quietly.
In another—
Suraj was watching carefully.
Both were thinking.
Both were changing.
And soon—
Their paths would not just cross as rivals…
But as two men who understood each other too well.
đź“– End of Chapter 28