Feb 1–Feb 15, 2017
"Whispers of Doubt"
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February 1, 2017 – Estate, Early Morning
The fog over the forest was still heavy when MC rose. He sat in the study with Aarya's holographic projection glowing faintly beside him. On his desk: a dozen global newspapers spread out like battle reports.
Financial Times:
> "India's 2nm Processor Claim — Revolution or Mirage?"
Wall Street Journal:
> "Shakti Semiconductors: The New Arms Race Begins."
MC sipped his tea, unbothered. To him, this was noise — necessary noise.
Aarya leaned forward, her voice calm, almost teasing:
> Aarya: "Sentiment index is split. Forty percent of analysts call it impossible. Thirty percent say it's exaggerated. Only twenty percent believe. The rest? Waiting to see the chips."
MC smiled faintly. "Good. The longer they debate, the more time we have to consolidate."
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February 2 – CNBC Studio, New York
The studio lights were blinding, but the analysts around the table weren't focused on cameras. They were locked in a heated argument.
> Analyst 1 (skeptic): "India doesn't have the cleanroom infrastructure for this. Two-nanometer requires EUV lithography no one outside ASML can provide. This is marketing, nothing more."
> Analyst 2 (optimist): "But look at their press release! The die shots are real, not stock images. If they've built custom deposition tech, it could be a breakthrough."
> Host: "So — scam or shockwave?"
The panel dissolved into cross-talk as stock tickers for Intel, TSMC, and Samsung flickered red at the bottom of the screen.
Millions of viewers watched, confused but intrigued.
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February 3 – Delhi, Ministry of Electronics
Inside a conference hall at Shastri Bhawan, senior bureaucrats argued in low tones.
> Official 1: "We cannot endorse this openly. If it collapses, we look like fools."
> Official 2: "But if it succeeds, and we did not support, we will look even worse. The PM wants to know what resources are required to accelerate this sector."
At the end of the table, a younger IAS officer whispered, "Sir, foreign embassies have already sent requests for site visits to Shakti fabs. They're circling like hawks."
The senior-most secretary leaned back in his chair. "Then let them circle. They'll find fog, not substance."
He had no idea just how well hidden MC's fabs really were.
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February 4 – Palo Alto, Law Firm Boardroom
Stacks of legal files covered a polished mahogany table. A dozen patent lawyers hunched over them, hunting for blood.
> Senior Lawyer: "If this is real, they've bypassed at least four critical lithography patents held by US firms. We can file preemptive injunctions in WTO court."
> Another Lawyer: "But sir, they claim to have developed original process flow. If that's true, we have nothing."
The senior lawyer slammed his fist. "Then we make something. Find a gap. If India thinks it can leapfrog us, we'll tie them down in court for a decade."
For the first time in years, American law firms felt they were at war not with each other, but with a rising nation.
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February 6 – Estate Balcony, Evening
Ananya stood on the balcony wrapped in a shawl, watching the forest sway in the cold wind. MC joined her quietly, a cup of steaming coffee in his hand.
> Ananya: "They doubt you."
> MC (smiling): "They're supposed to. Doubt is better than blind belief. It buys us time."
She turned toward him, eyes searching. "But why reveal anything now? You could have waited another year, until you were untouchable."
He looked out into the distance, voice low.
> MC: "Because revolutions don't wait. And sometimes, the world needs a storm before it can see the sunrise."
For a moment, she simply watched him — realizing, again, how far beyond her world he thought.
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February 8 – London, Tech Journalist POV
Claire, the journalist who had covered the launch, now found herself bombarded with interview requests. She sat in the Guardian newsroom, exhausted.
Her inbox was split evenly:
Half were Western analysts calling India's claim "fraud."
Half were Indian students writing heartfelt mails: "Thank you for telling the world we're capable of this."
She typed her next article slowly:
> "Whether real or exaggerated, India has shifted the center of gravity. Even doubt can change markets, redirect billions, and inspire a generation."
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February 10 – Beijing, PLA Cyber Division
Colonel Zhang's team presented new findings.
> Analyst: "Sir, their fab locations remain unknown. Satellite sweeps show no large-scale cleanrooms matching the required footprint."
> Zhang: "Then either they're bluffing — or they've built underground."
The colonel's lips thinned. "Both options are dangerous."
He ordered his men to escalate. If necessary, they would hack India's power grid to sniff out hidden facilities.
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February 12 – Bangalore Hostel, Student POV
The three students from last month were still buzzing. This time, Priya had convinced her professor to let her present on "India's Semiconductor Future."
She stood nervously in front of 60 classmates. "Even if it's hype, it means something. It means the world believes India could do this. And if we could, why not us? Why not you? Why not me?"
The room erupted in applause. For the first time, engineering didn't feel like a job hunt — it felt like a mission.
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February 14 – Valentine's Day, Estate Library
The estate was quiet. Ananya found MC buried in blueprints for next-gen fabs. She teased lightly:
> Ananya: "Everyone else gets roses today. I get semiconductor diagrams."
He looked up with a rare grin. "Roses wilt. These will last decades."
She laughed softly, but a warmth spread in her chest. For him, this was as close to a love note as she could expect.
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February 15 – Closing Scene
Back in the study, Aarya floated above the desk with a holographic map.
> Aarya: "Prediction: Within 30 days, US and EU will file coordinated patent injunctions. China will accelerate espionage attempts. Global media sentiment is 55% skeptical, 30% cautiously hopeful, 15% hostile."
MC folded his hands. "Then we move to phase two. Investor preview. Let them see what doubt cannot silence."
The camera would close on his face, calm and unwavering — as the storm outside the estate rolled louder.
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