December 1985, Mumbai, India*
Next Day
After a quick breakfast of Kamla Aunty's idli-sambar at his villa, Raj climbed into his Hindustan Contessa, the car's engine roaring to life as he navigated Mumbai's chaotic streets toward the newly established office of *Pragarti Venture* in Nariman Point. The building was a modern high-rise, its glass facade reflecting the bustling harbor below. Raj stepped into the lobby, the cool air-conditioning a relief from the humid December morning. Suraj Singh, the efficient CEO, greeted him at the entrance with a firm handshake, his IIT-honed sharpness evident in his crisp shirt and tie.
"Boss, good to see you," Suraj said, leading Raj to his spacious corner office. The room overlooked the Arabian Sea, furnished with sleek wooden desks, filing cabinets, and a large whiteboard already scribbled with potential investment ideas. "We've been flooded with proposals since *The Bharat Front* ran that article. Twenty solid ones so far."
Raj nodded, settling into his leather chair. "Excellent work, Suraj. Bring me all the files. I want to review them personally."
Suraj signaled to his assistant, and within five minutes, a stack of 20 folders was placed on Raj's desk, each containing detailed pitches, financial projections, and founder bios. Raj leaned back, summoning the ROI system in his mind—a tool that had transformed his 3-crore inheritance into 7 crore in mere months. As he flipped through the files, the system's interface glowed with predictions, analyzing each startup's potential with ruthless precision.
The first was *TechNova Solutions*, a Bangalore-based firm developing affordable personal computers for Indian offices, seeking 20 lakhs for prototype production. The system flashed: [*TechNova Solutions*: Invest 20 lakhs, returns 0, time indefinite – Loss due to high competition and supply chain issues].
Next, *GreenHarvest Farms*, an agricultural startup in Punjab aiming to introduce drip irrigation systems, requesting 15 lakhs. [*GreenHarvest Farms*: Invest 15 lakhs, returns 5 lakhs, time 2 years – Minimal Profit, but sustainable; however, weather risks lead to net loss]. Raj marked it as a potential, but the system clarified the long-term risks.
*AutoRick Innovations* proposed electric auto-rickshaws for urban transport, needing 30 lakhs. [*AutoRick Innovations*: Invest 30 lakhs, returns 0, time 1 year – Loss from regulatory hurdles and battery tech limitations in 1985 India].
*MediCare Labs*, a Delhi pharma startup for generic drugs, sought 25 lakhs. [*MediCare Labs*: Invest 25 lakhs, returns 0, time indefinite – Loss due to patent disputes and market saturation].
*EduBright Academy*, an online education platform (via correspondence courses), asking for 10 lakhs. [*EduBright Academy*: Invest 10 lakhs, returns 50 lakhs, time 1.5 years – Profit from growing literacy demand and low overheads]. This one lit up positively—Raj's first winner.
*Surya Solar Panels*, focusing on solar energy for rural homes, requesting 40 lakhs. [*Surya Solar Panels*: Invest 40 lakhs, returns 0, time 3 years – Loss from high initial costs and slow adoption in India's grid-dependent market].
*FashionWeave Textiles*, a Kolkata-based apparel exporter, needing 18 lakhs for machinery. [*FashionWeave Textiles*: Invest 18 lakhs, returns 0, time 1 year – Loss due to fluctuating cotton prices and international trade barriers].
*HealthFit Gyms*, a chain of fitness centers in Mumbai, seeking 35 lakhs. [*HealthFit Gyms*: Invest 35 lakhs, returns 0, time 2 years – Loss from low urban fitness culture in 1985 and high real estate costs].
*BioFertil Organics*, developing organic fertilizers, asking for 12 lakhs. [*BioFertil Organics*: Invest 12 lakhs, returns 0, time indefinite – Loss from farmer resistance to new methods and chemical industry dominance].
*SwiftCourier Services*, a logistics firm for e-commerce precursors, requesting 28 lakhs. [*SwiftCourier Services*: Invest 28 lakhs, returns 0, time 1 year – Loss due to unreliable infrastructure and competition from Indian Railways].
*InnoSoft Software*, creating accounting software for small businesses, seeking 22 lakhs. [*InnoSoft Software*: Invest 22 lakhs, returns 0, time 2 years – Loss from limited computer penetration in India].
*PureWater Filters*, water purification tech for households, needing 16 lakhs. [*PureWater Filters*: Invest 16 lakhs, returns 0, time 1.5 years – Loss from counterfeit products flooding the market].
*TravelEase Tours*, a tourism startup for domestic packages, asking for 30 lakhs. [*TravelEase Tours*: Invest 30 lakhs, returns 0, time indefinite – Loss from economic uncertainty and seasonal demand].
*NutriFoods Processing*, healthy snack manufacturing, seeking 25 lakhs. [*NutriFoods Processing*: Invest 25 lakhs, returns 0, time 2 years – Loss from supply chain disruptions and consumer preferences for traditional foods].
*ElectroMech Robotics*, early automation for factories, requesting 45 lakhs. [*ElectroMech Robotics*: Invest 45 lakhs, returns 0, time 3 years – Loss from high tech barriers and skilled labor shortages].
*HerbalHeal Remedies*, Ayurvedic medicine line, needing 14 lakhs. [*HerbalHeal Remedies*: Invest 14 lakhs, returns 0, time 1 year – Loss due to regulatory approvals and modern medicine dominance].
*UrbanRide Bikes*, bicycle rental service, asking for 20 lakhs. [*UrbanRide Bikes*: Invest 20 lakhs, returns 0, time indefinite – Loss from theft risks and poor urban planning].
*SmartHome Devices*, basic home automation like timers, seeking 32 lakhs. [*SmartHome Devices*: Invest 32 lakhs, returns 0, time 2 years – Loss from electricity unreliability in India].
*VegaVeg Farms*, vertical farming in cities, requesting 38 lakhs. [*VegaVeg Farms*: Invest 38 lakhs, returns 0, time 1.5 years – Loss from high energy costs and land scarcity].
Finally, *QuickPay Fintech*, a startup for simplified banking transactions via early digital ledgers, asking for 25 lakhs. [*QuickPay Fintech*: Invest 25 lakhs, returns 1 crore, time 1 year – Massive Profit from rising banking needs and low competition]. Raj's second winner—perfect for India's evolving financial landscape.
Out of 20, only *EduBright Academy* and *QuickPay Fintech* promised strong returns, totaling a projected 1.5 crore profit from a 35-lakh investment. The other 18 were duds, riddled with 1985-specific challenges like infrastructure gaps, regulatory hurdles, and market immaturity. Raj set aside the two winners, instructing Suraj to schedule meetings with their founders. "Focus on these," he said. "The rest, politely decline. We're building winners, not experiments."
Suraj nodded, impressed. "You've got an eye for this, boss. I'll handle the outreach."
Satisfied, Raj left *Pragarti Venture*, his Contessa gliding toward Rajnath Gupta's brokerage office in Fort. The BSE was abuzz, traders shouting bids amid ticker tapes. Rajnath welcomed him warmly, handing over a file with 15 company profiles curated for high returns—blue-chip stocks like Reliance Industries, Tata Steel, and emerging players in chemicals and textiles.
Raj scanned the list, the ROI system analyzing swiftly. Most offered modest 5–10% gains over months, too slow for his tastes. But three stood out: *Reliance Petrochem* (invest 50 lakhs, return 1.5 crore, 25 days – Profit from oil boom speculation); *Bombay Dyeing Textiles* (invest 50 lakhs, return 2 crore, 25 days – Profit from export surge); and *Hindustan Lever Consumer* (invest 50 lakhs, return 1.5 crore, 25 days – Profit from rising consumer goods demand). Total investment: 1.5 crore for a 5-crore return in 25 days.
"I'll go with these three—50 lakhs each," Raj told Rajnath, who raised an eyebrow at the boldness but nodded, processing the trades. "You're playing aggressive, Raj. The market's volatile, but if anyone can pull it off, it's you."
As Raj drove back to Karma Productions, he reflected on his journey. From a grieving orphan with a failing production house to a mogul with films like *Love Train* on the verge of release, a newspaper influencing the Sensex at 600 points, and ventures like *Pragarti* and *Mehra Book House* taking shape. Jyoti's *Baahubali* book was progressing, her enthusiasm growing during their session yesterday. Priya's film premiere loomed, promising not just profits but a deeper bond. With the ROI system guiding him, Raj felt invincible, his 7-crore fortune set to multiply. Mumbai's skyline blurred past, a canvas for his ambitions, and Raj smiled— the best was yet to come.