📖 Chapter 16 – Training the Army
Part 1
The following morning, Raj arrived at the college stall earlier than usual. The success of the railway station launch still buzzed in his veins, but the exhaustion of yesterday weighed heavy on his shoulders. The station crowd had been fierce, and while the profits had been high, the cracks in his team had been clear. Rohit's temper, Imran's nervous mistakes, Arjun's inexperience—these were small sparks that could ignite into a blaze if left unchecked.
As he wiped the Golden Frying Pan, the panel shimmered before his eyes.
[Reward Unlocked: Advanced Staff Training System]
Features Available:
– Skill Drills (Cooking, Management, Sales, Cleaning)
– Loyalty Enhancement
– Crisis Simulations
Raj's pulse quickened as he read the description. The system didn't just want him to hire workers—it wanted him to build soldiers for his empire. With training, he could polish their weaknesses, sharpen their strengths, and turn ordinary people into professionals who could carry his brand forward.
Later that day, when the stalls had closed, Raj gathered his team in the hostel kitchen. Imran looked nervous as always, Meena calm and steady, Arjun eager, while Rohit leaned against the wall with arms crossed, his expression skeptical.
Raj spoke firmly. "Yesterday showed us that we're not ready. We did well, but we need discipline, speed, and unity. That's why we're starting training. No more chaos. We work like a family, but also like an army."
Arjun's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Bhaiya, what do we have to do?"
Raj smiled faintly. "Cook faster, serve smarter, manage money better. And most importantly—trust each other."
The system shimmered, overlaying glowing drills across the kitchen. Raj felt like a general preparing troops for battle.
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Part 2
The first drill was speed cooking. Raj set the Golden Frying Pan to sizzle while assigning tasks. "Imran, fry the patties. Meena, prepare the chutneys. Arjun, serve the plates. Rohit, manage the line." They stumbled at first—Imran nearly dropped a patty, Rohit shouted too harshly at an imaginary crowd—but Raj corrected them patiently, pushing them to repeat the drill until their movements began to align.
By the third round, Imran's hands had steadied, his patties crisp and golden. Meena worked with quiet precision, her chutneys balanced perfectly. Arjun's serving grew faster, smoother, his nervousness fading with each plate. Even Rohit, though grumbling, kept the mock line under control, his loud voice carrying authority when he tempered it with calm.
The system chimed softly:
[Training Progress: Staff Skills Improved]
– Imran: Cooking +2, Confidence +1
– Meena: Management +2
– Arjun: Customer Handling +2
– Rohit: Discipline +1
Raj allowed himself a small smile. Progress. It wasn't perfect, but it was a start.
When the session ended, the team sat together, tired but oddly exhilarated. Imran's face glowed with pride as he said, "Bhaiya, I never thought I could cook like this." Meena added softly, "With proper training, we'll be unstoppable." Even Rohit muttered, "Not bad… for practice."
Raj looked at them, his chest swelling with quiet pride. These weren't just workers anymore—they were the first soldiers of his empire.
But in the shadows of the station, Shankar had been watching, his lips curling into a dark smile as he muttered to himself, "Train them all you want, Raj. A rotten branch will always break the tree. And I already know which one will snap first." His eyes glinted as he thought of Rohit, the boy who valued money more than loyalty.
Raj, unaware of the poison being readied against him, dismissed the system for the night and whispered, "This is only the beginning. One day, we'll run the greatest food empire the world has ever seen."