📖 Chapter 26 – The Third Flag
The railway stall thrived, the college stall buzzed, and Raj felt the empire beneath his hands begin to pulse like a living thing. But the system had spoken:
[New Mission: Claim Your Third Stall.]
Time Limit: 30 Days.
Reward: Regional Recognition.
Raj stared at the glowing panel that night, the weight of the words heavy but exhilarating. Two stalls had already changed his world. A third would not just be growth—it would be a statement. A flag planted deeper into the city, declaring that Raj's Fusion Eats was no fleeting spark but a fire spreading across Mumbai.
The next morning, Raj scouted locations with Arjun, Meena, and Imran. The choices were overwhelming: the crowded market at Dadar, buzzing with families; the corporate district, filled with suited workers who craved quick but tasty food; and the bustling temple grounds, where devotees sought simple meals after prayers. Each location promised opportunity, but each carried risk.
The panel flickered with suggestions:
[Recommended: Corporate District – High Spending Power, Demand for Fast Fusion.]
Raj smiled faintly. If the station stall was his spear and the college stall his heart, then the corporate hub would be his banner. It would bring him into the world of office workers, managers, and businessmen. If he won their trust, his empire would no longer be seen as street food alone—it would be respected, even admired.
Back at the hostel, Raj gathered his team. "The third stall will not just be another cart. It will be the face of our brand in a new world. Suits, offices, money—they will test us differently. We need speed, precision, and image." His eyes lingered on Rohit, whose pride still flickered like a storm cloud. "And we need unity. Every hand matters."
Preparations began at once. The cart was built larger, sleeker, its wooden panels polished and painted in bold red and gold. The signboard shone brighter than ever: Raj's Fusion Eats – Taste Without Borders. Loyalty cards were redesigned, menus printed, and Meena oversaw accounts with the seriousness of a banker. Arjun trained Imran in handling crowds, while Raj drilled Rohit in maintaining composure under pressure.
Finally, the day came. The cart was wheeled into the corporate district, its wheels rattling across pavement where expensive shoes clicked. At first, the suits barely glanced at it, dismissing it as just another vendor. But when the aroma of buttered pav and sizzling fusion masala spread through the air, heads turned. A young executive tried the Italian Masala Pav, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise. "This… this tastes like home and abroad in one bite."
Soon, others followed. Men and women in crisp shirts and ties lined up, laughing as they balanced plates in one hand and briefcases in the other. Some took photos, posting online: "Street food with class – Raj's Fusion Eats in the corporate hub!" Within hours, the stall was surrounded, its fame spreading like fire through office towers.
The system chimed in Raj's vision:
[Third Stall Established.]
[Regional Recognition Achieved.]
Reward Unlocked: Supply Chain System (Level 1).
Raj's heart pounded as he read the words. A supply chain system—something he had never even dreamed of in his past life. With it, he could manage bulk ingredients, negotiate with wholesalers, and lower costs. This was no longer survival. This was business. Real business.
That night, as the team celebrated their success, Raj remained thoughtful. The third flag had been planted, his empire now stretching across three pillars of the city: youth, commuters, and corporates. Yet with every rise came shadow. He knew Shankar would not sit idle, not after his fires and lies had failed. And indeed, in a dark corner of the city, Shankar smashed a bottle against the wall, his face twisted with hate.
"So he spreads to the offices now," Shankar spat. "Fine. If he wants to rise into the world of the rich, I'll drag him down into the dirt."
Back at the hostel, Raj looked at the glowing panel one last time before sleep. Its message gleamed with promise:
[Empire Growth Stage II Unlocked.]
From stalls to chains. From chains to empire.
Raj whispered into the darkness, his voice calm and resolute. "The third flag is raised. This is only the beginning."