The first day of college didn't feel like a beginning.
It felt like… a repetition.
The campus buzzed with energy—freshers walking in groups, parents giving last-minute advice, seniors observing from a distance with a mix of amusement and authority. The noise, the excitement, the uncertainty—it was all exactly as Rithvik remembered.
Too well.
He stood near the entrance gate, hands in his pockets, quietly observing.
New faces.
New ambitions.
Same patterns.
"Machan!"
Karthik's voice broke through the noise again as he jogged toward him, slightly late as usual.
"First day and you're already early," he said, catching his breath.
Rithvik smiled faintly. "Old habit."
Arjun followed behind, more composed. "He probably came early to analyze everyone."
"Exactly," Karthik said. "He's judging us already."
"I'm not judging," Rithvik replied calmly. "Just observing."
Priya joined them moments later, holding a folder.
"Orientation starts in ten minutes," she said. "Let's not be late."
They walked together into the main auditorium.
Rows of students filled the hall, their conversations blending into a constant hum.
Rithvik sat down.
And immediately felt it.
The difference.
In his previous life, this had been a place of excitement.
Now—
It felt slow.
Not because the people were lacking.
But because he had already seen what came after this.
The orientation began.
A professor stepped onto the stage, adjusting the microphone.
"Welcome to your first step toward a successful future," he began.
The words echoed across the hall.
Students listened.
Some took notes.
Some nodded seriously.
Rithvik leaned back slightly.
First step.
He had already walked miles beyond this point.
The professor continued, speaking about discipline, grades, placements, and career growth.
Companies were mentioned.
Dreams were outlined.
Paths were simplified.
Names like Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services were highlighted as success destinations.
Stable jobs.
Secure futures.
Respectable lives.
The room responded with interest.
Rithvik remained quiet.
Because he knew something they didn't.
These weren't destinations.
They were… starting points.
Or sometimes—
Comfortable traps.
His gaze shifted slightly.
Ananya sat a few rows ahead.
Listening.
Focused.
Serious.
Different college.
Same city.
Same… presence.
He looked away.
Focus.
After the session, students poured out into the corridors, forming groups, exploring classrooms, and introducing themselves to strangers.
"Bro, so many people," Karthik said, looking overwhelmed.
"That's how college works," Priya replied.
Arjun added, "We should find our department."
They moved toward the Computer Science block.
The building was older than expected, with slightly worn-out walls and basic infrastructure.
Rithvik walked through the corridor slowly.
Same smell.
Same layout.
Same systems.
Nothing had changed.
Inside the lab, rows of computers sat quietly, waiting.
CRT monitors.
Old CPUs.
Basic keyboards.
Karthik stared. "This is it?"
Priya frowned. "It's not that bad."
Arjun added, "We expected too much."
Rithvik didn't react.
For him—
This was more than enough.
Because he didn't need better tools.
He needed better execution.
The lab assistant entered.
"Everyone take a seat," he said. "We'll start with basic introductions to programming."
Rithvik sat down.
The system in front of him booted slowly.
"Today we'll start with C programming," the instructor announced.
Rithvik stared at the screen.
C.
He had mastered far more complex systems in his previous life.
Distributed architectures.
Scalable platforms.
Modern frameworks.
And now—
He was back here.
At the beginning.
"Write a simple program to print your name," the instructor said.
Around him, students leaned forward, typing carefully.
Some hesitated.
Some asked questions.
Rithvik looked at the blank screen.
Then typed.
Done.
In seconds.
He leaned back.
This wasn't learning.
This was waiting.
"Already finished?" Karthik whispered from the next system.
"Yeah."
"Show me."
Rithvik turned slightly, explaining quickly.
Karthik nodded, impressed. "You're fast."
Rithvik didn't respond.
Because speed wasn't the issue.
Time was.
Hours passed.
The session ended.
Outside, students discussed assignments and professors.
"So boring," Karthik said.
"It's the first day," Priya replied. "What did you expect?"
"Something more interesting."
Rithvik smiled slightly.
Interesting wasn't given.
It was created.
As they walked toward the canteen, conversations shifted again.
College life.
Future plans.
Random jokes.
Normal.
Too normal.
Rithvik felt it clearly now.
The gap.
Not intelligence.
Not capability.
Perspective.
While others were thinking about semesters—
He was thinking about markets.
Products.
Timing.
Execution.
While others were planning for placements—
He was planning for ownership.
That difference…
Would define everything.
"Rithvik, you're quiet again," Ananya said, appearing beside him as they stood near the canteen counter.
He looked at her.
"Just thinking."
She smiled faintly. "Of course."
They moved slightly aside, letting others pass.
"How's college?" she asked.
"Predictable."
She raised an eyebrow. "That doesn't sound good."
"It's not bad," he clarified. "Just… slow."
She considered that.
"Maybe it's supposed to be."
Rithvik looked at her.
"Or maybe we're not supposed to stay at the same pace."
She didn't reply immediately.
"You're going to do something soon, aren't you?" she asked.
Rithvik didn't answer directly.
But his silence was enough.
"I knew it," she said softly.
There was no judgment.
No pressure.
Just understanding.
"Just don't rush into something reckless," she added.
Rithvik smiled faintly.
"I won't."
But internally—
He corrected it.
I won't rush blindly.
But I won't wait either.
That evening, back at home, he sat in front of his system again.
The game project was still incomplete.
But now—
There was something new.
Urgency.
College had confirmed it.
This path—
Wasn't for him.
Not completely.
He opened his notebook again.
Updated Plan:
Complete game prototype within 20 days Test in cyber cafés Explore distribution via early web portals Begin planning monetization
He paused.
Then added one more line.
Decision Point: Continue college OR drop out
The pen stopped.
This was the real choice.
Not technical.
Not strategic.
Personal.
He leaned back.
Looking at the ceiling.
In his previous life—
He had chosen safety.
This time—
He wasn't sure.
And that uncertainty…
Was heavier than any technical problem.
For the first time—
The challenge wasn't coding.
It was courage.
Outside, the world continued moving.
Technology evolved quietly.
Companies expanded.
Markets shifted.
And somewhere in that movement—
Rithvik Arora sat in a small room, staring at a simple question.
Stay.
Or leap.
The answer wasn't immediate.
But one thing was certain.
Whatever he chose—
It would define everything that came next.