[Outside Skand's House]
Skand (smiling to himself):"You thought I was a naive boy? Today, you'll learn your lesson."
Som the Trader (thinking):"I've done my homework on this boy. He's inexperienced—easy to trap. This will be child's play."
[On the Street – The Argument Begins]
Skand (stepping forward, raising his voice):"Wait! You want to arrest me for fraud? Then answer me this—what exactly did I do wrong?"
Som (shouting in anger):"You sold me cheap goods at a high price! And insulted me in my own shop! That's more than enough reason to accuse you."
Bystanders (murmuring):"This trader is corrupt. Everyone knows he's backed by the Dandapala."
Skand (smirking internally):"A clever move… but now it's my turn."
Skand (clearly, to the crowd):"Alright. You claim the perfume I sold was cheap. So tell me—how do you know that?"
Som (irritated):"Other merchants told me!"
Skand:"Oh? So when you bought it from me, you didn't know it was cheap?"
Som (snapping):"Of course not!"
Skand (smiling):"Then it was your mistake, wasn't it? I am a merchant. My job is to sell. At what price I sell—it's my right.If you thought the price was too high, you shouldn't have bought it in the first place."
The Dandapala and the crowd watched silently, now listening closely.
Bystanders (whispering):"The boy is right. He speaks the truth."
Som (thinking angrily):"This boy… he's twisting the situation in public to win people over!"
[Skand's Countermove]
At that moment, Skand took a small vial from his pocket and walked toward the Dandapala.He carefully dropped two or three drops onto the Dandapala's hand.
Skand (softly):"This is the same perfume I sold.Please judge its fragrance and quality for yourself.If you find it worthy, I'm even willing to gift you ten bottles—for free.So that in the future, I may continue to earn your trust and support."
Dandapala (thinking):"This boy speaks with wisdom. The trader made a fool of himself.If I support Skand now, I'll gain both respect—and this extraordinary perfume."
Skand:"I sold those bottles for 20 to 25 paans each.Tell me honestly—is that price too high for something this pure and fragrant?"
Dandapala (serious, after a moment):"This perfume is exceptional. Its aroma and craftsmanship are of high quality.Som, you have no right to accuse him of fraud."
[Som's Defeat and Humiliation]
Som (fuming inside):"That bastard Dandapala… I paid him to stand with me, and he betrayed me!"
Som (gritting his teeth, reluctantly):"Yes... I admit my mistake."
(Looking at Skand, forcing a fake smile)"Skand, please forgive me. I didn't understand the true value of your product."
(Under his breath, seething):"I will not forget this humiliation. I will make you pay for it."
Skand (loudly, smiling at the crowd):"No harm done! The perfume I make is so good, it tempts even the most disciplined hearts!"
[The Aftermath]
Without spending a single coin, Skand had just conducted the best advertisement of his product.True to his word, the Dandapala accepted ten free bottles of perfume.
And after this public confrontation, the name of Skand and his perfume began to echo through every corner of Pataliputra.
"Who is this young man?""How did he create such a unique fragrance?""We want that perfume too!"
Within days, Skand's sales multiplied.From the shadows of poverty, he now stepped into the light of recognition and success.
[To Be Continued...]