📖 Chapter 14 – The Recruitment Drive
The next morning, the stall opened as usual, but there was a nervous excitement in the air. Raj had spread word through a few contacts in the market that he was looking for workers, and by noon, three people had appeared before him, each carrying their own story.
The first was a boy no older than sixteen, his shirt two sizes too big and his hair messy from lack of care. He introduced himself shyly as Imran, a tea-boy from a small stall that had shut down when its owner fell ill. "I can clean, I can serve, I can run errands," he mumbled, his eyes darting to the ground. "I… I just need work to send money home."
The second was a woman in her thirties, wrapped in a faded sari, her hands rough from washing clothes for others. She spoke in a low but steady voice. "My name is Meena. I lost my husband last year. I have two children to feed. I can cook, I can manage money, and I won't complain about long hours."
The last was a tall youth named Rohit, his chest puffed out and his voice loud. "I worked for a catering service before they kicked me out. I know how to handle customers, and I'm fast with my hands. Give me a chance, and you won't regret it."
Raj studied them carefully, while the system shimmered faintly in his vision.
[Potential Staff Detected]
– Imran: Loyalty 65/100, Work Efficiency 5/10
– Meena: Loyalty 80/100, Work Efficiency 7/10
– Rohit: Loyalty 50/100, Work Efficiency 8/10
Arjun leaned closer, whispering, "Bhaiya, Meena looks honest. The boy looks hardworking. But that Rohit… I don't know if we can trust him."
Raj didn't answer immediately. In his past life, he had trusted the wrong people and paid dearly for it. This time, he would choose wisely.
He began with simple tests. Imran was asked to clean the utensils. Despite his nervous hands, he worked quickly, leaving the dishes gleaming. Meena was given a small batch of gulab jamuns to fry, and though she hesitated at first, the sweets came out golden and perfect. Rohit, asked to handle a mock crowd of students, boomed his voice with confidence, but Raj noticed how easily his temper flared when Arjun corrected him.
By the end of the day, Raj sat them down. He spoke not as a vendor, but as a leader. "This isn't just a job. If you join me, you're joining a family. We work together, we share the burden, and we rise together. If anyone here thinks they can cheat, lie, or betray us—they can leave right now."
Imran's head shot up, his eyes burning with determination. "I'll work harder than anyone, bhaiya. I just need a chance."
Meena's voice was steady. "I don't want charity. I want to earn, honestly."
Rohit smirked. "I don't betray anyone who pays me well. You give me money, I give you loyalty."
Raj's eyes narrowed slightly at that answer. He didn't dismiss Rohit outright, but in his heart, he knew the youth's loyalty would always be shallow. Still, strength had its use, and in war, even dangerous allies had their place.
The system chimed softly:
[Staff Recruitment Successful]
– Imran recruited (Trainee).
– Meena recruited (Cook/Manager).
– Rohit recruited (Customer Handler).
[Team Capacity: 4/10]
Arjun grinned, his eyes shining. "Bhaiya, we have a real team now!"
Raj allowed himself a small smile, but deep down he felt the weight of his choices. An empire was not built on food alone—it was built on people. And now, he had the beginnings of his army.
But in the shadows of the lane, Shankar had already caught wind of Raj's recruitment. His lips curled into a bitter smile as he muttered, "So he's gathering strays and widows now? Let him. I'll turn one of them against him—and when his empire rots from within, I'll be there to crush it."
Raj, unaware of the venom circling his camp, looked at his new recruits and felt a surge of pride. The second stall no longer seemed like an impossible mission. With these people by his side, it was only a matter of time before Raj's Fusion Eats spread across the city.