📖 Chapter 15 – The Railway Station Launch
The railway station bustled like a living creature, thousands of footsteps echoing across the platforms, vendors shouting, trains screeching in and out. The air was thick with the smell of chai, roasted peanuts, and sweat. To Raj, it felt like standing at the crossroads of the city's heart. If the college stall was his beginning, this place would be his expansion into the veins of Mumbai.
Arjun stood beside him, eyes wide with awe. Behind them, Imran clutched a sack of supplies nervously, while Meena adjusted her sari and checked the money box she would manage. Rohit leaned lazily against the wall, smirking as if the chaos of the station didn't bother him at all.
The new cart gleamed in the sunlight, larger and sturdier than the first, designed with the system's guidance. Painted boldly across the front was the name: Raj's Fusion Eats. A crowd was already gathering out of curiosity.
Raj took a deep breath and turned to his team. "This is more than just another stall. This is our first step into the city. Today, we prove we can survive anywhere."
The moment the frying pan hit the flame, the aroma of spiced patties spread through the air, cutting through the station's mix of odors. Commuters on their way to trains slowed, curious. A man in a suit sniffed the air, stepped closer, and bought a pav. One bite, and his expression melted into delight. He nodded approvingly and beckoned to his colleagues. Soon, others followed.
Within half an hour, the line stretched down the platform. Arjun worked like lightning, handing plates with practiced speed. Meena handled the money and kept things organized, her calm presence anchoring the chaos. Imran darted between tasks, fetching water, clearing trash, eager to prove himself. Even Rohit, with his booming voice, drew in customers, shouting, "Raj's Fusion Eats—taste the food that won at the festival!"
The panel blinked furiously with updates:
[Second Stall Operational]
[Sales: 183/2000 Daily Goal]
[Customer Attraction: +25% due to festival fame]
Raj's chest swelled with pride. It was working.
But as the rush thickened, so did the problems. The station crowd was different from college students. Here, time was short, tempers ran hot, and people wanted food fast. A commuter snapped, "Hurry up, I'll miss my train!" Another grumbled about prices, demanding a discount. The pressure was relentless.
Arjun's hands trembled as he tried to keep up. Imran nearly spilled a tray of pavs, and Rohit cursed loudly at a customer who pushed the line. Raj's heart tightened, but he moved swiftly, calming tempers, frying with precision, and ensuring no one left dissatisfied. He knew one angry commuter could spoil the reputation of the entire stall.
By late evening, their bodies ached, but the money box overflowed. Meena counted carefully, her tired face glowing with pride. "Bhaiya, we sold more than we ever imagined. If this continues, the stall will pay for itself in days."
Raj leaned against the cart, sweat dripping down his neck, but a smile tugging at his lips. The second stall was real. His empire had doubled overnight.
But in the shadows of the station, Shankar watched with cold fury. He had followed Raj, studying every move, every worker, every flaw. His eyes lingered on Rohit, who shouted too aggressively at customers and scowled when Raj corrected him. A dangerous smile crept across Shankar's face.
"Every empire," he muttered, "falls not from enemies outside… but from betrayal within."
Unaware of the storm forming in his blind spot, Raj looked at his team and declared, "Today was only the beginning. Tomorrow, we conquer more."
And above his head, the golden panel pulsed with promise:
[Expansion Milestone Reached]
Reward: Advanced Staff Training System Unlocked.