Next evening, as I pored over the information I had gathered, my eyes landed on a company called Android Inc. The name itself sent a jolt of recognition through me. They were developing a smart user interface for digital cameras, a niche market that seemed harmless enough on the surface. But my future memories screamed otherwise. This was the company Google would acquire sometime this year, a seemingly minor deal that would become the foundation of the world's most dominant mobile operating system.
I didn't have the money, the technical skills, or the resources to develop an operating system myself, but I never planned to. All I wanted was a share of the wealth, a small piece of the pie. So, I started to devise a plan to get it. I spent the next few days gathering as much information about the company as I could, drafting a business plan that was more of a grand scheme. I even decided to leverage my first investor: my mother.
The opportunity arose during dinner next evening. The three of us sat together, a comfortable silence punctuated by the clinking of cutlery.
"Mom, I need your help," I said, looking up from my plate.
She raised an eyebrow, a clear signal for me to continue. "What is it?"
"I need as much information about this company as I can get," I said, handing her a few printouts I had meticulously prepared. The pages contained everything I had found so far about Android Inc.
Mom's eyes scanned the pages. "'Android Inc.,' she read aloud, a curious tone in her voice. "What do you want to do with it?"
"It's my first business target," I replied, my voice firm with a confidence I didn't know a seven-year-old could possess.
"What do you plan on doing?" she pressed.
"I can't tell you now." The less they knew, the safer this all was. My future memories had made me wary of revealing too much, too soon.
She didn't push, simply looked at me with a look of impressed curiosity. "So, what specifically do you want to know?"
"Their market valuation, their investments, and their financial status," I rattled off. "And anything you can find on their major investors and key shareholders."
A small smile touched her lips. "Fine. I'll give it to you before you leave."
The day of my departure, February 6th, arrived. My travel plans were now a reality. Dad introduced me to his friend, Raghu, a kind-looking man with a warm smile who was also traveling to India. I was reassured knowing I wouldn't be completely alone. We boarded the plane together, and as I settled into my seat, I couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement. I had everything I needed to begin my next chapter. The future was waiting.
Raghu POV
I waited nervously for Rakesh and his family at the gate, checking my watch every few minutes. The flight to Chennai was about to start boarding, and I hoped they hadn't run into traffic. Just as I was beginning to think they might miss it, I spotted them. A quick, hurried exchange of greetings followed as Rakesh introduced me to his wife and his son, Ryan. The boy was small for his age, with an air of composure that seemed out of place. Without a moment's hesitation, he took my hand, and we walked down the jet bridge together, boarding the plane just as they were closing the doors.
After we settled into our seats, I looked over at Ryan. He pulled out a neat stack of papers from his small backpack and began to read, his brow furrowed in concentration. The boy was quiet, not fidgety or loud like most kids his age.
The flight took off, and soon, the boredom began to set in. Out of curiosity, I leaned over to see what was so engrossing. My eyes widened in surprise. They weren't comic books or a game, but what looked like a financial report. As I squinted, I could just make out the name "Android Inc."
I unconsciously scanned the documents, years of professional habit taking over. My mind immediately went to the numbers and the long-term viability of the company. Without thinking, I muttered my analysis aloud.
"Their prospects are good, theoretically, but they don't have the financial capacity to implement their plans," I said, not realizing the boy was listening.
Ryan turned his head sharply. "What did you say?"
"Sorry?" I asked, taken aback.
"Can you repeat what you just said?"
I felt a slight flush of embarrassment but repeated my assessment. "Their prospects are good, theoretically, but they don't have the financial capacity to implement their plans." I couldn't help but ask, "Is that something you should be reading?"
I mean, I knew Rakesh's son was supposed to be a genius, but this seemed a little over the top. How did a seven-year-old even get his hands on documents like these?
The boy didn't even flinch. "Yes," he said simply. "By the way, what do you do for a living, Mr. Raghu?"
The question was so direct, so... professional, that it caught me off guard. "I'm the financial manager for the lab your dad works at."
"I see. How did you know my dad?"
"We went to school and college together," I explained, a wave of nostalgia passing over me. "We even work in the same place now. We grew up only about a mile away from each other."
"I see," Ryan said again, his eyes still fixed on me, calculating. "What do you think about the long-term prospects of 'Android Inc.'?"
His questions were sharp, targeted, and unnervingly mature. It felt less like a conversation with a child and more like an interview.
"They might be somewhat capable, but they don't have the capacity to stand alone in the market," I said, my own professional instincts kicking in. "Even if they succeed with their current project, they lack credibility and the channels to support their financial endeavors."
"What you said feels right," he replied, a note of satisfaction in his voice. "You must be paid handsomely, with how capable you are?"
"It's quite good," I said, feeling a hint of defensiveness. "Though there's not much room to display my analysis abilities in my current position."
Ryan leaned closer, his eyes fixed on mine. "Then how about you come work for me?"
"Say what?"
"Hmm?" he repeated, completely unfazed by my shock. "I said, how about you come work for me? I'm thinking of starting a company."
I just stared at him, my mind reeling. What did he just say? A company? At seven years old? Is the world so competitive nowadays?