📖 Chapter 43 – The First Pillar: Farmers
Morning broke over Nashik with a haze of mist rolling across the vineyards and sugarcane fields. The air smelled of damp earth and ripening fruit. Raj woke early, the golden panel glowing faintly beside him:
[Mini-Quest: The Three Pillars of Nashik.]
First Target: Farmers – Secure direct alliances for supplies.
Threat: Local Cartel Influence Over Agriculture Markets.
Raj stood at the window of the small hostel room, watching carts of produce roll down the road. Farmers feed this city, he thought. If they stand with us, the cartel cannot starve us.
Journey to the Fields
Raj and Meena set out at dawn, their tempo rumbling along dirt roads leading into the countryside. Arjun had begged to come too, but Raj insisted he stay to guard the stall. Rohit grumbled but agreed to shadow the stall in case of cartel trouble. Imran, wide-eyed, promised to keep serving no matter what.
As they drove, Meena flipped through her notes. "Nashik's farmers are proud. They don't trust outsiders easily. Most sell through middlemen tied to the cartel. Breaking that chain won't be easy."
Raj nodded. "Then we won't break it with money. We'll break it with respect."
The road opened into vast vineyards, their grapes glistening in the morning sun. Beyond them, fields of onions and sugarcane stretched endlessly. Farmers worked with calloused hands, their faces weathered by sun and hardship.
The First Meeting
Raj approached a group of farmers unloading onions at the roadside market. He introduced himself politely, offering to buy directly. The farmers exchanged wary glances. One elderly man, his white dhoti stained with earth, stepped forward.
"You're the Mumbai vendor," he said slowly. "We've heard of your stall. Students like it." His tone sharpened. "But why should we sell to you? We already sell to the traders."
Raj bowed his head slightly. "Because traders profit from your sweat while you remain poor. I want to pay you directly. No middlemen. Fair price, honest trade."
Murmurs spread among the farmers. One younger man scoffed. "You speak well, but do you know our struggle? The traders may cheat us, but they also protect us. If we stop selling through them, we risk angering the cartel. And their anger is not small."
Meena whispered urgently to Raj, "They're afraid. The cartel has roots here deeper than we thought."
Raj's jaw tightened. He stepped closer, his aura flaring softly. "I don't deny your fear. But fear should not chain you forever. In Mumbai, I saw farmers like you cheated every day. I promised myself that when I rose, I'd build a chain of honesty. Stand with me, and I will prove it. You will not be alone."
The farmers studied him in silence. His aura flowed, not commanding, but strengthening. A few eyes softened, but doubt lingered.
Cartel Interruption
The sound of motorbikes shattered the moment. Five men roared up, their engines growling, gold chains glinting. They dismounted with swagger, eyes cold. The leader, a broad-shouldered man with scars across his cheek, sneered.
"What's this? Outsiders trying to stir trouble?" He glared at the farmers. "Don't listen to him. He's a city boy with city lies. Sell through us, or don't sell at all."
The farmers fell silent, fear etched into their faces. The cartel man stepped close to Raj, shoving his chest. "Leave, before we teach you what happens to outsiders here."
Meena tensed, whispering, "Raj, they're dangerous—"
But Raj stood firm, his aura surging. He looked the man in the eye, voice calm but sharp. "You think fear makes you strong. But strength comes from trust, not chains. You can scare them today. But tomorrow, they will remember who spoke to them with respect."
The scarred man growled, fists clenching, but Raj didn't flinch. The tension stretched, a knife's edge between violence and retreat. Finally, the man spat on the ground. "We'll see how long your words last. This city belongs to us." He signaled, and the bikers roared away, dust clouding the air.
A Farmer's Decision
Silence lingered. The farmers shifted uneasily, torn between fear and admiration. Finally, the elderly farmer stepped forward again. His eyes, clouded by years, now burned with quiet fire.
"You stood your ground," he said. "Most outsiders run at the first threat. Maybe your words are not just words." He turned to the others. "I'll sell him my onions. If he cheats me, we'll know. But if he pays honest, then maybe he is different."
The younger farmers muttered, but one by one, they nodded reluctantly. Raj bowed deeply. "You will have no regret."
The panel flared:
[Alliance Formed: Farmers of Nashik.]
Benefit: Direct Onion and Grape Supply Secured.
Progress: 1/3 Pillars Complete.
Trust Level: Moderate (must be proven with fair trade).
The First Delivery
That evening, a cart piled high with onions arrived at Raj's stall. Customers gathered curiously as Raj displayed them proudly. "These come directly from Nashik's soil, from farmers' hands—not from cartel greed."
He cooked with them that night, the taste richer, fresher, authentic. Customers noticed instantly. "This tastes different—better!" Social media posts spread: "Raj supports Nashik's farmers directly!"
The farmers came quietly to watch. When they saw customers cheering, students praising, and Raj handing them full payment without delay, their eyes softened further.
The panel pulsed warmly:
[Trust Level with Farmers: High.]
Farmers now consider you an ally.
Shankar's Shadow
But elsewhere, in a dark den, the cartel leader slammed his fist on the table. "The farmers sold to him? Already?" He bared his teeth. "So be it. If they won't fear us through words, they'll fear us through fire. Tomorrow, their fields will burn if they keep siding with him."
His men nodded grimly, engines already prepared for the night's ride.
Raj's Resolve
That night, Raj stood on the roof of the hostel, the cool Nashik breeze brushing against his face. Meena joined him, her voice soft. "You made a stand today. But tomorrow… they'll come harder."
Raj nodded. "Then tomorrow, I'll stand again. Farmers gave me their trust. I will not let anyone burn it away."
The panel glowed faintly in the night:
[Next Quest: Protect the Farmers.]
Threat: Cartel Retaliation
Failure Penalty: Alliance Broken
Reward: Stronghold of Farmers Secured
Raj clenched his fists. If this empire is to stand, its roots must be as strong as its branches. And roots grow in the farmers' soil.
The first pillar had been raised—but shadows already circled it.