The glowing text hovered in front of Raza like a living thing:
[FIRST MISSION: EARN 1,000 RUPEES WITHIN 24 HOURS]
Reward: 1,000,000 RUPEES
Special: Money can be used to increase your skills (Strength, Agility, Intelligence…)
Penalty: Failure results in continued poverty and possible death
Raza's heart pounded. One thousand rupees… in a single day? He had never earned a coin in his life.
"Am I really… going to die poor?" he whispered to himself, the cold wind biting at his cheeks. "No… I must find a way… now."
He ran through the streets, past shuttered shops and crowded markets. Every door he knocked on was slammed shut or ignored. People shook their heads at the ragged boy with nothing to offer.
Finally, he came to a small shop covered in dust, with broken windows and grime-streaked shelves. The owner, a burly man with a scowl, looked down at him.
"Can I… help you?" Raza asked, his voice trembling.
"You? You can't even carry a basket," the man snorted.
Raza straightened his back. "Please… let me clean the shop. I'll do it well. Just… give me some money."
The man laughed, a rough, bark-like sound. "Fine. If you're serious, start now. Clean everything. Don't waste my time."
Raza didn't hesitate. He scrubbed, dusted, organized—his hands raw, his back aching—but he didn't stop. Hours passed like minutes. The sun sank low, and still, he worked tirelessly.
Finally, as he wiped the last shelf, the world shimmered around him. The system's glowing letters appeared again:
[MISSION COMPLETE]
Reward: 1,000,000 RUPEES
Additional Reward: New house for your family
Raza's eyes widened. His chest heaved. "Hurray! I… I did it!"
He ran as fast as his legs could carry him, rain-damp hair plastered to his forehead, down the muddy streets, past shocked neighbors, straight to the hospital.
"Father! Father! I won… I won the lottery! One million rupees!" he shouted, breathless and laughing through tears.
His father's face crumpled. He dropped the bag of vegetables he was carrying and pulled Raza into a fierce embrace. "Beta… my lucky son… my lucky son!" he cried, tears running down his face, soaking Raza's shoulder.
Raza's mother, weak but smiling from her hospital bed, reached out. "Is it… true?" she whispered.
"Yes, Amma," Raza said, holding both her hands. "We… we won. Everything will be okay now."
For the first time in his life, the world didn't feel heavy. For the first time… hope wasn't impossible.