After the selection Raj decided to go home and went to his station.He checked timings and started journey in the bus.After a whole he reached his hometown.Raj stepped off the bus with a duffle bag on his back, a glowing system window in his mind, and a calm smile on his face.
He was home.Maibadh hadn't changed. The cracked sidewalks, the chai stalls, the calls of vendors it was all the same. But Raj? He wasn't.He had trained with the best.Earned a wild card entry into the state talent pool.
And more importantly his brand name, RajCraft, was no longer just an idea.It was becoming a presence.As he walked through the school gate the next morning, a few juniors whispered. Some smiled. One even said, "That's the guy from the blog!"Raj paused."What blog?".Uday ran up, waving his phone like it was on fire. "Bro! You were mentioned in the CricketZone Weekly. Look!"On the screen was a short article:
"Warangal Wild Card: RajCraft Rising"
"A lesser-known player from Maibadh stunned coaches at the Warangal district camp,not just through performance, but for his calm presence, creative gear fixes, and leadership instincts. Nicknamed 'RajCraft' by fellow players, the boy's influence was felt even off the pitch."Raj blinked.He hadn't expected this.System window popped out.
[System Update: Brand Popularity Spike Detected]
RajCraft Brand Level: 2/10
New Feature Unlocked: "Audience Reach Tracker"
You are now being watched by scouts, students, and school competitors.
Raj smiled,until he heard the next line.
"Hey," one junior whispered. "Did you see the flyers Suraj put up?"
Raj turned."What flyers?"
Pinned across the school wall were printed pages — designed like posters.
"Cricket Custom Kits by RAJ-KRAFT™ — Coming Soon."
Raj walked closer.The logo? Nearly identical.Same flame. Same font.
Just slightly twisted.His name. His brand.
Stolen.Uday's mouth fell open. "That snake! He literally copied you!"
Zayed joined them, angrily. "Is this legal?"
Raj stayed silent.
[System Alert: Brand Identity Conflict Detected]
New Quest Unlocked: "Protect the Flame"
Objective:
– Expose the false brand
– Defend your name without causing scandal
Reward:
– Brand Trademark Protection (Lv.1)
– Unlock Business Reputation Path
Note: Public response will affect long-term perception.
Raj clenched his fists.Not because of the theft,but because of how casually it was done. Like he didn't matter. Like anyone could wear his effort and call it theirs.
At lunch, Raj walked up to Suraj, who sat under the banyan tree with a few students nodding along to his pitch.
"We'll start small grips, wristbands, maybe even custom bat stickers. I already have suppliers lined up."Raj stood there silently.
Suraj looked up. "Oh. The real RajCraft himself."
"Why?" Raj asked simply.
Suraj smiled. "Because the name's catchy. And catchy things spread. You never registered it."Raj remained calm. "It's still mine."
"Prove it," Suraj said, louder than necessary. "You don't own words, Raj."Several students nearby stopped to listen.Raj took a breath. "You're right. I don't own words. But I own my journey."He walked away.
[System Quest Update: Stage 1 Complete]
You avoided public escalation. +1 Respect from Observers
Next Step:
Create your first Official RajCraft Product Sample.
Present it within 72 hours.
System Bonus: Design Efficiency +15% for next item
Raj gathered Uday and Zayed that evening.
"We're making a glove," he said.
"From scratch?" Uday asked.
"From recycled foam, cloth scraps, and repurposed wristbands. It won't be pretty, but it will be ours."They worked in silence for three hours.Cutting, Stitching, Testing.
By the end, they made a item not fancy but functional glove.
RajCraft 1.0.
The next day, during assembly, Raj walked up to Principal Sharvani Iyer and handed over a sealed box."What's this, Raj?".
"My first official prototype. I'd like to present it next week during the local youth expo."
She raised an eyebrow. "You made this yourself?"
"With help," he said. "But the idea is mine."
She smiled faintly. "Then we'll support you."
The posters came down.Suraj didn't speak.
But he looked at him.Raj didn't complain. He just worked.
System window popped out:
[System Quest Complete: Protect the Flame]
Reward Unlocked:
– Trademark Protection (Lv.1): RajCraft name now registered at local level
– New Path Unlocked: "Micro Tycoon – Phase I"
Your product is now officially recognized as your intellectual property.
Next Goal: Sell 10 custom items — Brand Level 3 Unlocks
That evening, Raj sat with his mom in the kitchen.She held the glove. "You made this?".
"With my team."She ran her fingers over the stitching.
"Your father would've said it's a waste of time."Raj looked at her quietly.She smiled.
"I think it's a legacy."Raj got some confidence with her mom's words and he will continue this.
To be continued.....