Feb 16–Feb 28, 2017
"The Man Who Doesn't Exist"
---
February 16 – Estate, Pre-Dawn
The underground lab shimmered with sterile white light. MC stood before a figure seated in the center — not quite alive, not quite machine.
Aarya's voice, calm as ever, filled the air.
> Aarya: "All systems optimal. Facial micro-muscle algorithms tested. Speech cadence tuned to human imperfection. He will pass as real."
The figure looked to be in his late 30s, with neat black hair just beginning to gray at the temples, a calm, assured gaze, and a confident jawline. His name, freshly minted and legally registered across dozens of documents, was Vikram Malhotra.
> MC: "Today, you become the face of Shakti."
The humanoid blinked, pupils adjusting like a living man. When he spoke, his voice carried warmth and weight:
> Vikram Malhotra: "I am ready."
---
February 18 – Mumbai, Investor Preview
The ballroom buzzed with anticipation. The world's financial elite had gathered — sovereign funds, Silicon Valley VCs, Wall Street bankers. Billions waited to be invested.
The curtains parted. Instead of a wunderkind, a composed man in a charcoal suit walked to the podium.
> Vikram Malhotra: "Good evening. I am Vikram Malhotra, Chief Executive of Shakti Semiconductors. What you are about to see is not just a product, but a revolution."
Screens behind him came alive: laptops powered by Shakti's 2nm processors, drones hovering endlessly without recharge, servers running at negligible energy draw. The crowd gasped.
Applause built, investors nearly salivating at the possibilities — until Vikram raised his hand.
> Vikram Malhotra: "Let me be clear. Shakti will not be accepting investment, partnerships, or foreign cooperation. We are self-funded. Ownership remains unified, indivisible."
The room froze.
> Investor 1 (whispering): "What did he just say?"
Investor 2: "He's shutting us out. No equity, no IPO?"
Vikram's tone remained steady.
> "We do not lack money. We do not lack technology. What we demand is independence. In a world run by greed, we will remain incorruptible."
---
February 19 – Estate
MC and Ananya watched the livestream replay.
> Ananya: "You turned away trillions. Do you realize how dangerous that is?"
MC (smiling faintly): "Dangerous, yes. But so is surrender."
---
February 20 – New York, Goldman Sachs HQ
The atmosphere was toxic with disbelief.
> Exec 1: "No investors. No partners. He's untouchable."
Exec 2: "If we can't own him, we'll break him. Attack his supply chain. Lobby Washington."
But MC's fabs were vertically integrated — unbreakable, invisible.
---
February 21 – Beijing, PLA Cyber Division
Colonel Zhang frowned at the footage.
> Zhang: "This Malhotra rejects capital. That means no leverage. We'll use smear campaigns. Discredit him, seed doubt."
---
February 22 – Delhi, Prime Minister's Office
PM Modi watched the speech, advisors buzzing around him.
> Advisor 1: "Sir, foreign investors are furious."
Advisor 2: "But the public… they're celebrating. The internet is calling him 'Sovereign Silicon.'"
Modi's eyes twinkled.
> "Good. Let the world rage. If this Malhotra delivers, India wins."
---
February 23 – Bangalore, Student POV
Hostel students crowded around a phone.
> Priya: "He rejected billions. Just like that."
Ravi: "Either he's a fool… or the bravest man alive."
National pride swelled in their voices.
---
February 25 – San Francisco, Google HQ
The boardroom was in crisis mode.
> Exec 1: "Closed ecosystem. Search, silicon, servers. He's building a wall around India."
Exec 2: "Then we drown him in scandals. We can't let a ghost company dominate the market."
But the "ghost" was more real than they knew.
---
February 26 – Estate, Midnight
Vikram Malhotra, powered down, sat in silence in the underground lab.
MC rested a hand on the humanoid's shoulder.
> MC: "You will be the lightning rod. They'll fight you while I move unseen."
Aarya's hologram shimmered beside him.
> Aarya: "The world now believes in Vikram Malhotra. No one suspects you."
MC smiled faintly. "Exactly as planned."
---
February 28 – Global Headlines
"Who is Vikram Malhotra? Shakti CEO Rejects Billions in Investment."
"India's Chipmaker Goes Solo: A Nationalist Dream or Delusion?"
"Wall Street Shut Out: The New Tech Order."
But in India:
"For the first time, India says No Sale."
"Shakti Belongs to Bharat."
MC read the headlines in silence. Outside, snow fell softly across the estate gardens.
The world was searching for Vikram Malhotra.
No one knew he didn't exist.
---