The rain in Kolkata never felt this cold before.
Ashar pulled his thin shirt tighter around his body as he stood outside the brightly lit grocery store. Water dripped from his hair onto his worn-out slippers. Inside the shop, people were buying snacks, fruits, expensive chocolates—things that had slowly become strangers to his life.
His stomach growled.
He ignored it.
He had learned long ago that hunger doesn't kill you instantly. It just stays… like an unwanted roommate.
Ashar checked his phone again.
Balance: ₹23.50
He let out a dry laugh.
"Twenty-three rupees…" he muttered. "Not even enough for proper dinner."
Once upon a time, he had dreams.
Big dreams.
He wanted a good job. A peaceful life. Maybe even his own small business one day. But life had a strange habit of crushing dreams before they could even learn to fly.
Boss shouting.
Salary delayed.
Expenses rising.
It was always the same story.
The rain grew heavier.
People rushed past him, umbrellas open, shoes splashing through dirty water. No one noticed the thin young man standing quietly under the flickering streetlight.
No one ever did.
Ashar opened a grocery app on his phone out of habit. Blinkit. Zepto. Instamart. He compared prices automatically, his eyes moving quickly.
Milk — cheaper on one app.
Bread — discount on another.
Eggs — different price everywhere.
A faint smile appeared on his tired face.
"If only life also had a price comparison…" he whispered.
"…maybe I could choose the cheapest path too."
Thunder roared.
The streetlight above him flickered violently.
For a brief moment, the world went completely white.
Then—
SCREEEEEECH!!!
Ashar turned his head.
Too late.
Blinding headlights.
A horn screaming through the rain.
And then—
Darkness swallowed everything.
…
Silence.
Heavy. Endless silence.
Ashar felt like he was floating… drifting in a vast empty space.
Am I… dead?
The thought came calmly, strangely without fear.
Then—
DING!
A crisp mechanical sound echoed inside the void.
[System Initializing…]
[Compatibility Check: SUCCESS]
[Binding Host…]
Ashar's eyes snapped open.
"…What?"
But what he saw… was no longer Kolkata.
Above him stretched an unfamiliar sky painted in deep violet.
Two moons hung in the distance.
And in front of his eyes, a glowing blue screen slowly appeared.
Welcome, Host.
Quick Mart System Activated.
Ashar's heartbeat stopped for a full second.
"…Quick… Mart?"
The screen flickered again.
One Search. Best Price. Absolute Power.
Your journey to becoming the Cheapest King begins now.
Ashar swallowed hard.
Somewhere deep inside his chest—
—for the first time in years—
hope… ignited.