Next day, Adil schedule relaxed. Both of his films had completed shooting and entered post-production, leaving him with nothing to do except wait for their release. For the first time in many months, Adil found himself free from cameras, dialogues, and endless retakes. However, there was hardly any time to relax. Because his Class 12 examinations has arrived.
Just like every ordinary student, Adil put aside his acting career and focused completely on his studies. Aishwarya and Sameer were doing the same. Their daily routine changed overnight. Studies, revision notes, late-night phone calls discussing difficult questions, and endless cups of tea became a part of their lives. Even though Adil had already experienced life once before, he did not take his education lightly. He knew that discipline and consistency mattered more than talent.
End of March 1991, arrived, and with it came the end of weeks of tension. One after another, the papers were completed. By the final week of March, the board examinations had finally ended.
Freedom had returned. Yet, strangely, Adil found himself with too much free time.
Madhuri had become busy with the shooting schedules of her next film. Their conversations continued, but her days were occupied by studios, rehearsals, and outdoor schedules. Aishwarya, meanwhile, had gone with her parents to visit relatives. Her modeling career was also showing small but encouraging progress. Several photographers had begun noticing her, and she had started receiving opportunities that demanded her attention.
Sameer had disappeared into his own world of cricket and college admissions.
For the first time in months, Adil was completely alone.
The mornings that had once been occupied by studies and film shoots had become empty. He tried reading novels, listened to music, and even spent time with his family, but boredom slowly crept in. He had already finished his exams, and there would still be months before his films released. Sitting idle simply wasn't in his nature.
One evening, while relaxing in his room, an idea suddenly struck him.
Why not take a vacation? The thought immediately excited him. Since childhood, he had rarely traveled for leisure. The past year had been filled with responsibilities; shooting schedules, studies, and balancing relationships. More importantly, he wanted some peace before his life changed completely. Once his movies released, things would never be the same. Success or failure, his life would move in a different direction.
Adil glanced at the calendar hanging on the wall. March 28, 1991. He seemed yo remember something. Then, a faint smile appeared on his face. Because he seemed to see a opportunity, an opportunity to fulfill his next dream. To be a business tycoon. The opportunity lies in Soviet union collapse. To fulfill it, He has finalized his vacations destination, Switzerland.
In his previous life, he had read extensively about the economic turmoil surrounding the Soviet Union and the fortunes that had been made by those who had correctly anticipated events. Back then, he had often wondered how much money someone could make if they already knew what history had in store. Now, he possessed that advantage himself.
He has ₹14 lakh in his bank account. He will prepare ₹10 lakh for this, He thought. To most people, it was already a fortune. To Adil, however, it was merely the beginning. He had no intention of spending years slowly building wealth when he already knew where a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity lay. His destination had long been decided. Switzerland.
At dinner, he casually mentioned his plans. "I was thinking of taking a short vacation abroad," he said.
His father, Arif looked up and smiled. "Europe?"
Adil nodded. "Just for a few weeks."
His father approved immediately. "Not a bad idea. Young people should see the world while they have the chance."
His mother, Meera looked less enthusiastic. "So far away?"
"Ammi, it's only a vacation," Adil said with a laugh.
"Don't forget to eat properly and call us regularly." Meera said.
"I promise." Adil nodded and said.
Later that evening, he informed Madhuri over the phone. The moment she heard the word Europe, she became jealous.
"Europe?" she repeated. "And you're going without me?"
"You have shooting schedules," Adil replied with a smile.
"You could have waited." She said. Adil knew she is not serious while saying it. After a moment, she asked, "Where are you going first?"
"Switzerland." He said.
"Switzerland?" she exclaimed excitedly. "Then you have to bring me chocolates."
Adil laughed. "Anything else?"
"Perfume. And don't forget postcards."
"I'll think about it."
"You better. Otherwise, don't bother coming back."
"Ok.ok. i will" After that the phone hung up, Adil stood near the window and looked at the lights of Bombay stretching into the distance. To everyone else, this was simply a vacation. No one knew that hidden behind the beautiful mountains and peaceful lakes of Switzerland lay an opportunity that came only once in a lifetime.
Picking up his passport from the table, Adil smiled. His European journey was about to begin. And by the time he returned to India, everything would be different.
On April 3, 1991, Adil Ali landed in Zurich after a long international flight. The moment he stepped out of the airport, the atmosphere felt different from anything he had known before. The air was cold, crisp, and unusually clean. The city moved with quiet discipline, trams gliding smoothly, people walking without hurry, and buildings reflecting a sense of order that made everything feel almost unreal. Snow still rested on distant mountain peaks, and Lake Zurich shimmered under a soft spring sky. For Adil, it was not just a new country; it felt like entering a world built on precision and silence.
For the first two days, he stayed at a hotel near the city center and moved through Zurich like any other visitor. He walked along Bahnhofstrasse, observing elegant storefronts and people dressed in sharp, formal clothing. He spent time near the lake, sitting quietly and watching boats pass slowly over the water. At one point, he took a short train ride outside the city, where green valleys opened between mountains that still carried patches of snow. Everything in Switzerland seemed balanced and controlled, as if even time itself moved more carefully there. To any observer, he looked like a young tourist enjoying his first trip abroad.
But behind that calm expression, Adil's mind was focused on something entirely different. He was not there only to travel. He had chosen Switzerland for a specific purpose, one that he had been thinking about for weeks. In his mind, the next step was already fixed.
On April 5, he walked into a private financial institution in Zurich. The building was modern, quiet, and heavily polished, reflecting the professionalism of Swiss banking culture. Inside, everything was orderly and controlled, with staff speaking in low voices and moving with precision. At the reception, Adil requested to open a business account. The request was taken seriously but with mild curiosity, as he appeared very young to be handling international finance independently.
When he was called into the office of the account manager, Hans Müller, the man greeted him politely and reviewed his documents. Hans was in his forties, experienced, and accustomed to dealing with wealthy clients from across the world. He looked at Adil's passport, then at the papers showing a deposit of around ten lakh Indian rupees, converted into roughly fifty-five thousand US dollars.
"Mr. Ali," Hans said carefully, "you are quite young. May I ask the nature of your business in India?"
Adil responded without hesitation. "My father is a businessman in India. He owns textile and export companies. I have been sent here to explore international investment opportunities and to understand financial markets."
Hans nodded slowly. The explanation sounded reasonable. As India has not yet syarted liberalization, verifying business backgrounds from countries like India was not simple, and the combination of confidence, proper documentation, and a solid initial deposit made the story acceptable.
After the account was opened, Adil moved directly to the next step. He requested access to currency trading and investment facilities. This led to another meeting, where Hans brought in Richard Weber, a senior trader who handled institutional clients. Richard reviewed the file and leaned back in his chair.
"You want exposure to foreign exchange markets?" Richard asked.
"Yes," Adil replied calmly.
"And what exactly are you looking to trade?"
"The Soviet ruble."
The room went quiet for a moment. Richard exchanged a brief glance with Hans, then looked back at the young man.
"You understand what you are asking for?" Richard said.
Adil met his eyes. "Yes."
Richard tapped his fingers on the table. "With your current capital, standard leverage would be ten to twenty times. Maybe fifty under special conditions. Anything beyond that is extremely rare."
Adil did not react. "I need higher exposure. 100x leverages"
Hans raised an eyebrow. "Higher than fifty times is not something we usually approve for individual clients."
Adil leaned slightly forward. "Then treat it as an institutional arrangement. I am not here for small positions. I am here for a directional view."
Richard studied him more carefully now. There was something unusual in the boy's confidence, not arrogance, but certainty.
After a long pause, Richard said, "Even if we consider exceptional terms, you must understand the risk. One hundred times leverage means even a small adverse movement can eliminate the account."
"I understand," Adil replied.
The discussion continued for nearly an hour. Numbers were reviewed, risk limits were debated, and internal approvals were discussed over phone calls with senior desks. Eventually, after repeated consideration and based on his initial deposit, background story, and the confidence he displayed, the bank agreed to extend a rare structured arrangement through their institutional channel.
One hundred times leverage.
When the decision was finally confirmed, Hans looked at him again.
"This is highly unusual, Mr. Ali. I hope you know what you are doing."
Adil simply stood up, adjusted his jacket, and said, "I do."
The account was activated, the funds were converted into Swiss francs and then structured for trading access, and everything was prepared. By the time Adil walked out of the office, Zurich outside remained as calm as ever. Trams moving, people walking, mountains standing silent in the distance.
Next day, On April 6, 1991, Zurich felt like any other calm European morning. Clean streets, slow traffic, and quiet efficiency everywhere. But for Adil Ali, the day carried a clear purpose. He arrived at the bank early, where Hans Müller and Richard Weber were already waiting with the final trading setup prepared.
Richard looked at him once and said, "Once we execute this, there's no undoing it."
Adil replied without hesitation, "Execute."
Hans reviewed the final confirmation. "One hundred times leverage is active. Exposure is significant. You understand the risk?"
"I understand," Adil said calmly.
Richard made the call to the trading desk. Within moments, the order went live. The shortinh price is 27.6 RUB/USD.
Inside, the room stayed silent after execution. Richard finally said, "It's done."
Hans added quietly, "From here, it moves with the market. Not us."
Adil simply stood, adjusted his jacket, and picked up his documents.
"I'll be leaving today, For now keep my position, I'll tell you on telephone when to sell." he said.
Richard raised an eyebrow. "You're not staying to watch it?" Adil gave a faint smile. "There's nothing to watch yet."
He walked out of the room without another word. Outside, Zurich remained unchanged, peaceful, precise, unaware. Adil got into a taxi and said one word.
"Airport." As the car moved forward, the position he had just taken began operating in the background of global finance, while he moved on to his next destination; Italy.