Part 1: The Weight of Expectations

The bus screeched to a halt as it neared the holy city of Rishikesh, kicking up a thin cloud of dust. A young man stepped off, clutching a small, worn-out bag. His thin frame, tired eyes, and messy hair made him look far older than his years. His unkempt beard and the defeated droop of his shoulders told stories of struggles and pain. The air was thick with the smell of incense, and the distant murmur of the Ganges mixed with the sounds of temple bells and chanting sadhus. For a boy who once solved equations with ease, life had now become an unsolvable puzzle.
This was Arjun. But soon, the world would know him as "The monk from IIT."