Chapter 14: First Sparks, First Storms
Delhi — February 27, 2009 — 5:30 AM
Shiva's phone buzzed violently against the wooden nightstand.
He blinked groggily, then grinned.
Three new messages.
Three more strangers asking about Rickshaw Rush.
It's starting.
The first little waves were forming.
But Shiva knew — the ocean wasn't calm for long.
Success attracted storms.
Today, they would ride the first big wave.
Or get crushed under it.
---
6:00 AM – Setting the Stage Online
Shiva booted his ancient laptop, cracked knuckles, and got to work.
First Task: Build a Rickshaw Rush Facebook Page.
He kept it simple:
Profile Picture: A colorful cartoon rickshaw.
Bio:
> "Experience the craziest Delhi traffic ever! Drive, dodge, and dash through chaos in Rickshaw Rush. Coming soon to Android! Beta testers welcome!"
First Post:
> "Beta Version 1.1 live! DM us to join the madness. Play early, shape the game!"
Then he shared the page in three gaming groups:
India Mobile Gamers
Android Apps Delhi
Gamers of Kamla Nagar
And waited.
Waiting was the hardest part.
---
7:30 AM – Morning Epiphanies
While eating parathas, Shiva realized something crucial.
Rickshaw Rush wasn't just a "game."
It was a Delhi thing.
An Indian thing.
A cultural thing.
If they leaned into Indian humor, Indian chaos, and Indian frustration, the game would feel personal.
People didn't just want entertainment.
They wanted relatability.
They wanted to see their lives reflected — potholes, cows, angry aunties — all squeezed into their tiny mobile screens.
Make it theirs, Shiva thought. Make it feel like home.
---
8:00 AM – Rohit Brings a Warning
At the school gate, Rohit rushed up, face serious.
"Dude," he hissed, "you need to see this."
He showed Shiva his cracked phone screen.
In one of the gaming groups, someone had commented:
> "Looks like another cheap Temple Run copy. Indian devs can never be original. lol."
Shiva's gut twisted for a second.
But he forced a smile.
"It's starting," he said quietly.
"Haters?" Rohit asked.
Shiva nodded. "Exactly."
---
10:00 AM – The Hater Playbook
During free periods, Shiva wrote in his journal:
How to Handle Haters:
Don't argue in public. You look weak.
Thank them for feedback. Kill with kindness.
Use criticism to improve. Maybe there is some truth hidden in the poison.
Stay visible. Hate fades when you outwork everyone.
Success wasn't about avoiding haters.
It was about outlasting them.
---
1:00 PM – First Organic Boost
While scrolling Facebook under the desk, Shiva noticed something.
His Rickshaw Rush page had 5 likes already.
Two random students from Kirori Mal College had shared his poster photo.
They joked:
> "Bruh this game looks hilarious. Imagine auto ride ka simulator lol."
But they weren't mocking.
They were laughing — and tagging friends.
Exactly what Shiva wanted.
Laughter was viral.
---
4:00 PM – Fueling the Fire
After school, Shiva rushed home and uploaded a 30-second gameplay video on YouTube.
Title:
> "Rickshaw Rush – Official Beta Gameplay! (Indian Traffic Madness)"
Description:
> "Experience potholes, cows, angry passengers, and crazy Delhi chaos — all in one game! Play Rickshaw Rush today. Beta invites open!"
He shared the link on every group, page, and chat he could find.
Small moves.
Small sparks.
But sparks set cities on fire.
---
6:00 PM – Unexpected Allies
By evening, two small gaming bloggers — "MobileDesi" and "AppBeat India" — messaged him.
They wanted to review Rickshaw Rush!
Shiva replied instantly:
Sent them APK links.
Shared promo images.
Offered exclusive early access to the next beta.
Professional.
Gracious.
Hungry.
You treat small bloggers today like kings...
Tomorrow they'll crown you.
---
8:00 PM – Planning for Scale
Shiva scribbled furiously in his notebook:
He wasn't just thinking about this week anymore.
He was building momentum curves.
Every action had to stack, amplify, roll into the next one.
No wasted motion.
No wasted time.
---
10:00 PM – Letter to Himself
Before sleeping, Shiva wrote a short note:
> "Dear Future Shiva,\nIf you are tired, remember this night.\nRemember these tiny sparks.\nOne stranger played your game today.\nOne.\nThat's where revolutions begin.\nKeep going."
He tucked the note under his pillow.
Dreamt of flashing rickshaw lights.
Blaring horns.
Laughter.
Dreamt of a city — a world — buzzing with the chaos he had created.
And when he woke up,
he was ready to make it real.
---
[End of Chapter 14]