The Reincarnated Visionary: Arjun's Path to Greatness

Chapter 3: The Zamindar's Wrath

The morning breeze carried an uneasy tension as the villagers of Dhankhari went about their routines. Arjun had been awake since dawn, finalizing plans to expand the use of his modified plow. He felt the weight of his ambitions, but he also sensed resistance brewing—especially from the zamindar.

The village square was bustling with chatter when the familiar sound of hoofbeats echoed in the distance. A group of horsemen rode into view, led by the burly figure of Lala, the zamindar's enforcer. Behind him was a man in fine clothing, wearing a turban adorned with gold trim. His sharp eyes scanned the villagers with disdain—Raja Bhupendra Singh, the zamindar.

The crowd parted as the group approached the banyan tree. Lala dismounted first, sneering as his eyes landed on Arjun, who stood near the front.

"Where is the boy who thinks he's smarter than his elders?" Lala barked.

Arjun stepped forward, his gaze unwavering. "I'm here. What do you want?"

The zamindar's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Bold for a child, aren't you?" He dismounted, his polished boots kicking up dust as he approached Arjun. "I've heard you're stirring trouble, teaching my peasants new tricks without my permission."

"This isn't trouble," Arjun replied firmly. "We're just trying to farm better and feed our families."

"Your families belong to me," the zamindar said coldly. "Your land, your crops—they're all under my control. And I won't tolerate insubordination."

A Show of Power

Bhupendra Singh gestured to his men, who began overturning pots of water and scattering tools. Lala strode into the nearest house and emerged with a sack of grain.

"Consider this a warning," the zamindar said, his voice sharp. "For every rebellion, there will be consequences."

The villagers watched in silence, fear etched into their faces. Radha, Arjun's mother, clutched her saree tightly, tears brimming in her eyes.

"Stop!" Arjun's voice rang out, cutting through the tension. He stepped forward, his small figure standing defiantly before the zamindar.

"You can take our grain today, but you can't stop us from finding better ways to live. If we grow more, you'll have more to take. So why fight progress?"

The zamindar's eyes narrowed. "You think you're clever, boy, but cleverness won't save you. This is your last warning—stay in line, or I'll crush this village under my heel."

With that, he turned and mounted his horse, his men following suit. The villagers stood in stunned silence as the dust settled.

Rallying the Villagers

As the zamindar's entourage disappeared, murmurs of fear and anger rippled through the crowd.

"They'll destroy us if we keep this up," one elder said.

"What can a boy do against the zamindar?" another muttered.

Arjun climbed onto a raised platform near the banyan tree. His heart raced, but his Leadership skill kicked in, filling his voice with confidence.

"Listen to me!" he called out, silencing the crowd. "Yes, the zamindar is powerful. Yes, he's dangerous. But we can't keep living like this—barely scraping by, afraid of every shadow. If we work together, we can make this village strong enough to stand on its own."

"And how do we do that?" an old man asked skeptically.

Arjun took a deep breath. "We start small. Better tools, better techniques, and sharing knowledge. If we grow enough food to feed ourselves and pay the zamindar's taxes, he'll have no excuse to oppress us further. But we have to act as one."

The villagers exchanged uncertain glances, but a few nodded in agreement. Slowly, others joined in, their fear giving way to hope.

A New Plan

Over the next few days, Arjun threw himself into action. Using his new Innovative Thinking skill, he devised simple tools to improve irrigation and taught the villagers how to rotate crops to preserve soil fertility.

The cheat system provided him with periodic updates:

Skill Progress:

Farming (Novice → Basic): Understanding of advanced farming techniques increased.

Leadership (Basic): Influence among villagers improved.

New Objective Unlocked: Protect the village from the zamindar's retaliation.

Reward: +30 Karma Points

Arjun's innovations began to show results. The fields, once dry and barren, now gleamed with healthy crops. The villagers, inspired by the small victories, worked harder and more efficiently than ever before.

But Arjun knew the zamindar wouldn't sit idle for long.

The Zamindar Strikes Back

One evening, as the villagers gathered to share a meal, a sudden commotion erupted at the edge of the fields. Fires lit up the horizon, and the air filled with shouts and cries.

"It's Lala and his men!" someone yelled.

Arjun sprinted toward the chaos, his heart pounding. Lala's goons were setting fire to the newly planted fields, their laughter echoing in the night.

"This is what happens when you defy the zamindar!" Lala roared, swinging his whip.

Arjun didn't hesitate. Grabbing a bucket of water, he ran toward the flames, shouting for others to follow. The villagers, though scared, rallied behind him, forming a chain to douse the fire.

"Don't let them destroy our future!" Arjun yelled, his voice cutting through the panic.

As the villagers fought the flames, Arjun turned his attention to Lala, who stood watching with a smug grin. Picking up a wooden staff, Arjun approached him.

"This ends now," he said, his voice steady.

Lala sneered. "You're just a boy."

Arjun's system flashed before his eyes.

New Skill Activated: Combat Instincts (Basic)

Enhances reflexes and physical coordination in confrontational situations.

Arjun swung the staff with surprising precision, catching Lala off guard. The enforcer stumbled back, his whip falling from his hand. Arjun pressed forward, each movement guided by his new skill.

"Enough!" Lala shouted, retreating. "You'll regret this, boy. The zamindar won't forgive this insult."

As Lala fled into the night, the villagers cheered, their fear replaced by admiration for Arjun.

Closing Scene

Exhausted but victorious, Arjun stood before the smoldering fields. The damage was significant, but not total. The village had survived another trial.

Radha approached him, tears streaming down her face. "You're so brave, beta, but this is dangerous. What if something happens to you?"

Arjun hugged his mother tightly. "I can't stop, Ma. If we give up now, we'll always live in fear. We have to keep fighting."

As the villagers began repairing the damage, Arjun's system displayed a new notification.

Objective Complete: Protect the village from the zamindar's retaliation.

+30 Karma Points Earned

Skill Progress: Leadership (Basic → Intermediate)

Under the starlit sky, Arjun made a silent vow:

"This is just the beginning. I'll protect this village, no matter the cost. And one day, we'll be strong enough that no zamindar or colonial power will ever threaten us again."