That evening, Shalini Patel sat on the couch in their Pali Hill apartment, the air thick with tension from her earlier exchange with Smita Nair. To mend their brief cold war, Shalini opened a bag of gourmet biscuits from the D-Mart haul, offering them to Smita. "I'm sorry for snapping earlier," she said, her voice soft. "These are from Sharma ji's shopping. Try them." Smita, her expression softening, took a biscuit, crunching thoughtfully. "Alright, we're good," she said, a small smile breaking through. "These are fancy." Their roommate harmony restored, they settled into an easy chat, the biscuits bridging their earlier quarrel.
Smita, nearing 36, sighed, her frustration bubbling up. "I'm done with blind dates, Shalini. The last guy—some boring uncle—was a total letdown compared to my old suitors." Unaware she was dismissing Arjun Sharma, whom she'd met and blocked, she rolled her eyes. Shalini frowned, her tone gentle. "Smita, maybe lower your expectations a bit. Not every guy's a dud." Smita scoffed, unconvinced.
Shalini hesitated, then shared, "Sharma ji's different. He spent ₹15,500 on snacks for his family and me at D-Mart, and he covered a ₹20,000 gym merchandise fee to support me. He's generous, not flashy." Smita's eyebrows shot up, suspicious. "Sounds like he's showing off his cash. What's his deal?" Shalini shook her head. "It's not like that. He's just… solid."
Smita leaned in, her tone advisory. "You want to spot a rich guy, check their gear—Gucci T-shirts, Rolex watches, or cars like a Mercedes G-Class or BMW X7. Not some basic Maruti 800 like your Sharma ji drives." Shalini bristled, defending him. "His character's worth more than a fancy car. He's responsible, not a showboat." Intrigued by Shalini's praise, Smita softened, unaware Arjun was her failed blind date. "Generous and reliable, huh? Maybe I've been too picky," she mused, her standards wavering. Shalini clarified, "He's just a friend, Smita. Nothing romantic." Her words were firm, but a flicker of warmth lingered in her voice.
Meanwhile, Arjun returned home, his skin itching from a temporary allergy diagnosed at a clinic en route. Struggling with heavy D-Mart bags, he messaged Priya to help carry them. "Priya, got snacks downstairs. Can you grab some?" No reply came, her defiance typical. Suspecting she was glued to her phone, he texted Ananya instead. "Ananya, need a hand with bags. Downstairs." Ananya, ignoring Priya's protests—"Why do you always help him?"—headed down, her loyalty unwavering.
Ananya, impressed by the lavish snacks—roasted cashews, chocolates, gourmet biscuits, and mangoes—mostly for her, grabbed two heavy bags, each about 10 kg. "Sharma ji, you went all out," she said, hoisting them with ease. Arjun, carrying the rest, grinned. "Thought you'd like these. Next time, I'll pick stuff you love." He noted her smile, realizing gifts worked better than cash, her favorability ticking up 14% to 16%. As they climbed the stairs, the system buzzed: "Task Progress: Efficient reading ongoing. Continue for 19 days to unlock full rewards." Ananya's help and the lively Bandra streets anchored Arjun's resolve to keep his connections strong.
Attribute Panel:
Height: 185 cm (+)
Physical Age: 42 (-)
Wealth: ₹31,01,390
Strength: 72 (+)
Spirit: 64 (+)
Props: Knowledge Scroll=7, Electrolyte Drink=8, Protein Shake=2
Daily Tasks: Nutritious breakfast, gym check-in, Ola rides, Efficient reading
Ananya's Favorability: 16%