The morning after Aarav received his first investment, he didn't sleep in, celebrate, or post anything online. Instead, he quietly went to the local Registrar of Companies with Aanya and his father.
With trembling hands and a heart full of quiet pride, he filed the paperwork for Rootlink Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
His father, usually the silent, skeptical type, patted his back afterward. "Now you're a company man," he said, with the ghost of a smile.
Aarav chuckled. "Let's hope I'm not just a man with a company, Papa. Let's make it count."
The Certainty System chimed.
Company Registration: CompleteNew Feature Unlocked – Enterprise Tools– Client & Supplier Dashboard Templates– Invoice Generator– Business Compliance RemindersUpdated Goal: Prepare for Public Beta Launch (User Target: 50)
Things were falling into place. But Aarav knew something else was brewing.
Two days later, Aarav received a message from a friend in another coworking space:
"Hey, bro. Weird – came across this new B2B sourcing app called 'SupplyEase'. It looks just like what you showed me last week. Even the lemongrass oil vendor is on there??"
Attached was a screenshot.
The interface was a rushed copy of Rootlink's MVP. Same layout. Same color scheme. Even the pitch line was eerily close.
And on the "Team" page? There he was.Kunal Verma – Founder & Head of Product.
Aarav's jaw tightened.
System Alert:Duplicate Detected – High Similarity Rate (82%)Urgency: HighSuggested Action: Do Not Engage PubliclyInitiate Legal Defense via Proof of Original IP + Feedback TestimonialsOptional Bonus Objective: Beat Launch Window by 7 Days
Aanya, standing behind him, read the message over his shoulder.
Her voice was calm but sharp. "He thinks this is a race he can win by copying you. Let's prove otherwise."
For the next five days, Aarav barely slept.
He finalized Rootlink's supplier contracts—short-term MoUs, clear terms, and opt-in exclusivity for 3 months.
He integrated Stripe and Razorpay for smooth payment flows.
He upgraded the UI with Aanya's help—sleeker, more intuitive, and mobile-first.
He sent out early invites to 50 carefully selected users: home-based sellers, Ayurveda product makers, handmade soap brands, candle sellers, and even small spice farms. All connected. All verified. All people he had spoken to personally over the last month.
The system helped every step of the way—fine-tuning copywriting, fixing logic flaws, and optimizing onboarding flow.
By the end of the fifth day, Rootlink was ready.
The official launch was set for Monday.
But Aarav pulled the trigger on Saturday.
Rootlink Beta v1.0 is Live
Live Users (within 48 hours): 63Orders Placed: 21Repeat Inquiries: 14Total GMV (Gross Merchandise Value): ₹42,600Error Reports: 0Client Retention Prediction: 93%
Congratulations. You have BEATEN SupplyEase's planned launch.You now have the First Mover Advantage.
Aarav exhaled deeply, staring at the dashboard lighting up with real users and real transactions. This wasn't just an idea anymore.
This was business.
On Monday, Kunal launched SupplyEase with a shiny paid ad campaign.
But the early reviews were brutal:
"Feels like a cheap copy.""Glitches everywhere. Switched to Rootlink instead.""Not a fan of someone trying to ride on another guy's work. This guy Kunal is shady."
Rootlink had already taken the ground Kunal was trying to walk on.
The system chimed.
Threat Neutralized:SupplyEase's growth potential capped below Rootlink's trajectoryCompetitor Watch Mode: ActivatedContinue focusing on value delivery & expansionNew Goal: Reach 500 Verified Users (Milestone: Seed Round Readiness)
That evening, Aarav returned home early.
His mom was resting in the other room. Aanya was sketching a poster mock-up for the Rootlink website. His sister had just made chai.
They all sat in the dim glow of the living room, the fan creaking above.
His father looked at him. "You've changed," he said. "Not just working. You're… carrying something bigger now."
Aarav smiled. "Responsibility, maybe."
His father sipped his tea, then added, "And purpose. That too."
The system chimed silently in the background.
Internal Stat Boost:– Self-Worth: +30– Family Stability: +10– Founder Confidence: +25
Next Challenge Coming Soon… Prepare for Scale.
But for tonight, Aarav allowed himself to rest.
Because tomorrow, the real race would begin.Not against Kunal.
But against time, chaos, and the chaos that comes with scaling a dream into reality.