📖 Chapter 12 – The Marketing Game
The next morning, Raj awoke with a fresh sense of purpose. The festival trophy gleamed on his desk, the new sign Raj's Fusion Eats had given his stall an identity, and now the system had offered him something even more powerful: the Marketing System. As he walked with Arjun to the lane, the golden panel flickered faintly, displaying options he had never seen before.
[Marketing System – Level 1 Unlocked]
Tools Available:
– Word-of-Mouth Boost
– Loyalty Perks
– Simple Promotions
Raj's eyes glimmered. This was more than just cooking now—this was strategy. If he could master these tools, he could attract not just the students, but office workers, families, even tourists. His stall could stop being just a local secret and start becoming a city-wide phenomenon.
As they opened for business, Raj whispered to Arjun, "Today, we try something new. Watch and learn."
When the first group of students lined up, Raj smiled and said, "Here's the deal: buy four pavs, and the fifth one is free. Same goes for gulab jamuns." The students exchanged wide-eyed grins, pulling money out of their pockets before Raj could even finish. "We'll bring friends!" one of them shouted, already texting on his phone.
By noon, the difference was clear. Students weren't just coming to eat—they were coming to collect loyalty points, dragging along classmates who had never visited before. Some even began competing, joking about who would get the most free pavs. Raj's stall buzzed with a new energy, and the panel glowed:
[Loyalty Perks Activated]
Customer Retention: +15%
Raj's grin widened as he served another Italian Masala Pav. This is how businesses grow, he thought. Not just with food, but with loyalty.
By late afternoon, the effects of his marketing experiment had multiplied. Arjun was nearly breathless from handling the crowd, and Raj had to double his pace at the frying pan. Students returned in groups, proudly holding their loyalty cards—scraps of paper Arjun had stamped with makeshift designs—and cheering when they earned their free item. Some took photos of the cards, posting them online with captions like "Raj's Fusion Eats—Mumbai's best street food deal!"
But it wasn't just students anymore. Office workers from nearby buildings began showing up, curious about the buzz. A few mothers with children wandered in, drawn by the stories of chocolate gulab jamuns. Raj welcomed them all with his usual warmth, offering samples of masala fries that had kids squealing in delight. The golden panel chimed repeatedly, reporting progress faster than he could process.
[Word-of-Mouth Boost Active]
Reach Expanded Beyond College Circle.
Potential Customer Base: +30%
Raj leaned against the cart for a brief moment, wiping sweat from his forehead, watching the line stretch down the lane. He had dreamed of this once—of being more than a vendor, of creating something people recognized and sought out. Now, with every customer who laughed, snapped a photo, or promised to return, the dream was becoming real.
That night, as they wheeled the cart back, Arjun looked at him with awe. "Bhaiya, it feels like the whole city will know us soon. What happens when this lane can't handle all these people?"
Raj smiled faintly, glancing at the panel that still glowed in his vision. "Then we'll expand. One stall is only the beginning. A brand needs branches." His voice dropped lower, carrying a weight that made Arjun shiver with excitement. "Raj's Fusion Eats will spread across Mumbai—and then beyond."
But across the street, Shankar watched from the shadows, his stall nearly deserted. His workers had already left him, but his eyes still burned with venom. He muttered under his breath, "Spread all you like, boy. The higher you climb, the harder you'll fall. And I'll be the one to push."
As Raj lay down that night, exhaustion giving way to dreams of glowing signs across the city, the golden panel pulsed with a new message:
[Expansion Mission Generated: Open Second Stall within 14 days.]
Reward: Advanced Staff Training System.
Raj's heart thudded. The empire was calling again, faster than ever.