Varanasi - The Pathak Haveli
The heavy teak doors of the Haveli swung open, and for the first time in four years, Ashutosh stepped into the inner courtyard. The scent was exactly as he remembered—a mixture of drying marigolds, the sweet smoke of incense from the family temple, and the sharp, sneezing pungency of roasting chilies from the kitchen. It was the scent of the Pathak legacy, unchanged by the shifting tides of time.
"Dada! Nana!" Ashutosh called out, his voice echoing against the ancient stone walls.
The two patriarchs of the family were sitting on the veranda, engaged in their eternal game of chess. Dada (Paternal Grandfather), Vishwanath Pathak, looked up, his thick spectacles sliding down the bridge of his nose. Beside him, Nana Janardhan, the retired Chief Justice, stood up with a slow, dignified grace, leaning on his silver-headed cane.
"The lion has returned to the den," Nana said, his voice thick with emotion.
Vishwanath Pathak, a man who had built the family's first grinding mill with his own two hands, stood up and walked over. He had to crane his neck to look at his grandson. He reached out, his rough, weathered hands patting Ashutosh's solid shoulders.
"Vishwanath, look at him," Nana Janardhan remarked. "He doesn't just look tall. He looks... immovable."
"He feels like a pillar of the temple," Vishwanath agreed, a proud glint in his eyes. "You've grown well, Ashu. I was worried the American air would make you thin, but you look like you've been forged in a furnace."
Ashutosh smiled, feeling a profound sense of peace. His [Physique: Stage 4] was active, and the 100% Mental Processing improvement allowed him to absorb everything at once. He noticed the new carvings on the pillars, the slight aging in his grandfathers' gaits, and the specific way the evening light was hitting the courtyard—a perfect 'Golden Hour' shot that he instinctively framed in his mind.
"Come inside! The laddoos will get cold!" Savitri's voice boomed from the kitchen, cutting through the sentimental moment.
The family gathered on the large jute mats in the central hall. It was a sea of familiar faces: his parents, his grandfathers, his Nani Gayatri, and his four siblings. Ananya, now seventeen, sat right next to him, her shoulder bumping his as she tried to steal a piece of barfi from his plate.
"So, Bhaiya," Ananya said, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Now that you're a big Columbia graduate, do you find our Varanasi 'slice of life' too slow? Do you need a burger to feel at home?"
"I've spent four years eating food that tastes like cardboard, Ananya," Ashutosh laughed, taking a large bite of a spicy kachori. "I would trade all of Manhattan for one bowl of Maa's kadhi."
As the meal progressed, the tone shifted from lighthearted banter to the future of the family. Raghunath looked at his four sons—Abhishek, Aryan, Ansh, and finally, Ashutosh.
"The spice business is booming, Ashu," Raghunath said, leaning back. "Pathak Masala is now a name recognized across Northern India. We have the capital, and we have the reputation. But your brothers and I... we've been waiting for the Director to return before we make the next move."
Ashutosh wiped his hands and leaned forward. The room went silent. His Stage 4 Mental Processing was already running through the 1992 market variables.
"We are moving the base to Bombay, Papa," Ashutosh stated. "Not just for the movie, but to establish Trilogy Media City. The government is going to allow private satellite channels soon. I want us to be the first. We will have news, music, and the first Indian animation studio."
"Animation?" Vishwanath Pathak asked, tilting his head. "Like the cartoons on the Sunday morning TV?"
"Better, Dada," Ashutosh replied. "We will make stories that the world will watch. But first, we need a flagship. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge will be our calling card. It will prove that Trinity understands the heart of the Indian diaspora better than anyone else."
[SYSTEM INTERFACE - SKILL UPGRADE]
Current Balance: 52,100 Skill Points
Action: Upgrade [Scriptwriting] to Lv 5 (-10,000)
Action: Upgrade [Director's Vision] to Lv 5 (-10,000)
Action: Upgrade [Acting Coach] to Lv 4 (-5,000)
Total Spent: 25,000 Points
New Balance: 27,100 Points
'Level 5 across the board,' Ashutosh thought. 'I'm at the threshold of Professional Mastery. The actual filming of DDLJ will push me to Level 6—Expert Status.'
"Ananya," Ashutosh said, turning to his sister. "You've been practicing your expressions?"
"Every day in front of the mirror," she said confidently. "I'm ready for my debut, Bhaiya."
"Not yet," Ashutosh said with a wink. "You're going to assist me on the set of DDLJ first. You need to see how the 'King' works before you take the throne yourself."
Vishwanath Pathak laughed, a deep, belly laugh that filled the hall. "A businessman, a lawyer, and a filmmaker all in one body. Our Ashu hasn't just come back; he's brought the future with him."
That night, Ashutosh stood on the terrace of the Haveli, looking out at the shimmering lights of the Ganges. His mind was a whirlwind of storyboards and legal frameworks. He had the family's support, the capital, and the talent.
'Monday,' he thought. 'Bombay. The King is waiting.'