As the car glided through the bustling streets, Avantika felt a familiar thrill of anticipation prickling at the back of her mind. Karthik Bhatt—the name danced around in her thoughts like a flickering flame, both enticing and intimidating. She had heard of him, a self-made entrepreneur who had turned a modest startup into a contender in the tech industry within a few short years. Yet, with rapid growth came skepticism. She could sense the whispers in the market, the cautious investors peering through narrowed eyes, unsure if Karthik’s vision was as solid as his reputation.

“Are you ready?” Nisha asked, breaking her reverie.