Chapter 7: The First Breakthrough
Delhi – February 20, 2009 – 5:00 AM
The sun had not yet risen, but Shiva was already fully awake, humming with excitement. A strange certainty filled him this morning—something extraordinary was about to happen.
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5:30 AM – Going Live
With a racing heart, Shiva finalized his second blog post: "Top 5 Ways Mobile Will Dominate the Next Decade." Short, punchy, packed with predictions.
He clicked "Publish" and shared the link anonymously on several tech forums, leaving small breadcrumbs, strategic mentions like a seasoned fisherman baiting hooks.
Within minutes, a few curious readers clicked. One commented.
"Interesting points. Well written."
That single comment felt bigger than a standing ovation. It was proof his voice could reach beyond Delhi, beyond India—into the global bloodstream of ideas.
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7:00 AM – Unexpected Opportunities
On his freelancing portal, Shiva found a new posting:
"Need a blog ghostwriter – Long Term – $10 per article"
It was triple his previous rate.
He drafted a carefully tailored proposal, citing his two blog posts as examples.
Minutes later, he got a response:
"You're hired. Submit the first piece by tomorrow."
Another step up.
Another lever in motion.
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8:00 AM – School – Building Reputation
At school, Shiva noticed subtle changes.
More students nodded at him in the halls. Word about his "homework consultancy" had spread like wildfire.
He set clear rules: only genuine academic help—no cheating.
Integrity mattered. Reputation was a non-renewable currency.
He helped a struggling student, Aman, understand calculus fundamentals in under an hour.
Aman's gratitude was palpable. More than the few rupees he paid, Shiva valued the loyalty he had just earned.
Loyalty was interest on influence.
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2:00 PM – Rickshaw Rush Evolution
After school, Shiva and Rohit continued refining Rickshaw Rush.
They added:
Power-ups: "Turbo Boost" and "Time Freeze"
Obstacles: Police checkpoints, random cows
A hilarious "Horn" button with ridiculous sound effects
Every new feature made the game wackier, more shareable.
They decided on a tentative launch date: March 25, 2009.
A deadline. A real goal.
The clock had begun ticking.
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6:00 PM – A Mentor Appears
That evening, while researching game marketing strategies, Shiva stumbled upon a forgotten blog written by an Indian-American entrepreneur, Arjun Patel.
Patel's blunt advice hit like a thunderclap:
"If you want attention, build things people talk about. Be remarkable, or be invisible."
Shiva devoured Patel's articles—branding tips, growth hacking secrets, personal finance advice.
I need to learn from people like him, Shiva thought. Mentorship, even from afar, is a shortcut to mastery.
He bookmarked every article and resolved to send Patel an email within the month—once he had a real product to show.
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9:00 PM – The Expansion Plan
By night, Shiva mapped out a new strategy.
Immediate Goals:
Publish 5 more blog posts
Land 2 long-term freelance gigs
Launch Rickshaw Rush MVP (Minimum Viable Product)
Start building NovaEdge's first website
Medium-Term Goals:
Monetize Rickshaw Rush through ads
Offer SEO services to local businesses
Create an online course: "How to Build Your First Android App"
He drew mind maps furiously, pages upon pages of interconnected ideas.
Every stroke of his pen was a small rebellion against mediocrity.
Every plan was a declaration of war against the future he had once passively accepted.
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11:30 PM – The Night Whispered
As he finally lay in bed, exhausted but euphoric, Shiva stared at the ceiling fan whirring gently overhead.
I am becoming more than I was, he thought.
More than anyone expects.
More than even I can fully see.
The night outside was deep and infinite.
And so, it seemed, was his ambition.
Brick by brick. Byte by byte. Dream by unstoppable dream.
The breakthrough had begun.
And it was only the beginning.
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[End of Chapter 7]