18

"This is the situation! We must take a decision now!" said Shondeep gravely after explaining the facts of the Nanded project of Sahakaar Spinning Mill. They all had gathered in Papaji's room. Papaji had assumed his favorite chair behind his study table. But this time the light above the table was switched off. But the other lights illuminated the room adequately. The other four had gathered around the round table in the room. 

"This situation is we already have incurred a loss to the tune of 156 crores and it is still under assessment, though adequately covered under insurance. This blow at this stage is hard to absorb. We have the ownership of the mill by paying 450 crores. The loss plus investment is around 600 crores. The blast will reduce the production capacity by 50% which again a loss of another 100 crores a year. It will take around 2 years for installation and commissioning of new machinery which we have ordered. Only 50% workers can be offered some work but not the full shift." Shondeep said.

"Do we have a possibility of selling the entire unit? Since the privatization process is complete?" asked Arnav.

"Workers may be a problem. We can issue them pink slips. There is no point keeping everybody if we do not have work to offer" said Raj. His American culture did not see the difficulties in sending people home, jobless.

"I suggest, keep the mill closed for some time, install the new machinery and then start production. We may lose interest on investment for two years but we can make it up with improved productivity later on." Said Arnav.

Khushi and papaji were only spectators.
"Sometimes, its better to take a U turn before we reach the dead end!" said papaji seriously.
"Actually we have a taker for this. A politician is interested in buying this factory in ‘As Is’ condition! I met him the other day!" said Shondeep.

"In fact, we may have a marginal profit on this deal"

"That is great! I feel we should think about the proposal! We can recover our investment!' Said Arnav and Raj nodded. Papaji refrained from opining.

"But why is he buying this sick unit? When we cannot revive it!" asked Khushi.
"We need not bother about it, Khushi!" Said Raj and Arnav nodded.

"Actually he has no intentions to run the mill. He will sell the assets in knock down condition and use the real estate for different purpose!" said Shondeep.

"If we look at our investment, the labour problem, the attitude of people there, the gestation time  in installing machinery and the loss of interest on investment, I feel we should try and recover our money and may be invest somewhere else!" said Raj. Arnav and Shondeep nodded.

They looked at papaji. He was expressionless. Khushi too understood the importance of recovering money first. She was listening to the conversation. She had started understanding the economics of business and importance of funds. She too nodded. "Yes, its better to turn back at this stage before the loss increases!" she thought to herself. 

"Ok then Arnav and Raj will go ahead with the negotiations with that politician for the sale!" said Shondeep. 

He knew how poor he was in negotiations. Raj and Arnav nodded in acceptance.
It was a new business lesson for Khushi. She was learning finances, the dynamics of business.

********** **********

"Knockdown everything..... demolish building.... Build township..... real estate... " khushi was blurting in her sleep.

"Shut up, Khushi!" Arnav said turning in his sleep.
"Loss..... money....investment.....interest....!" she continued ...
Arnav turned. "Khushi, stop it!" he shook her vigorously. She stopped and turned in her sleep.
“Huh…”  Arnav sighed…!

………….

"Papaji... papaji...!" Khushi was banging on his door.

"What is it Khushi?" he asked opening the door.

"I want to call another meeting, this morning!" she said. 

"Ok! Do it!" he said trying to close the door.
"No!" she said putting her foot in the door. "I want to talk to you before that!"

"If it is regarding the spinning mill, then I am sorry, Khushi! No talks on business!" he said.
She made her way into the room. "Why? I need to understand!" she said.

"No Khushi! I will not talk about it!" he said with determination.

Khushi came back thinking. She called up Shondeep and scheduled the meeting in papaji's study. Papaji had agreed to attend the meeting.

"I have some doubts!" said Khushi. They had gathered for the meeting. Arnav looked away. "I know, I ask stupid questions..!" she said angrily looking at Arnav's face.

"Then why do you ask?" he asked her.
"To prove my stupidity!" she retorted back. "You need not answer and I am not asking you! I am asking Shondeep Sir!" her face contorted with rage.

"Ok! Go ahead!" said Arnav giving up.

"Shondeep sir, we worked on that project. I know four ginning mills supply us cotton bales. There were more than 1000 workers in the mill working in two shifts before the accident!" Shondeep nodded.

"What will happen to them? When this is closed down?" she asked plainly. All three looked at each other. 

"Why do we have to bother? Once we sell it, let the new buyer think about it!" Said Arnav.
"Khushi, this is not an issue. We have decided to sell it!" said Raj.

"I want to know, before we decide to sell! What will happen to the farmers and workers?" she asked again.

"That is what we are trying to convince you, Khushi! It is not our lookout!" said Raj.
"Well, I am not convinced! Was it not our responsibility, had we not sold it? Should we not think about it? Why? Convince me!" she said folding her arms on her chest and looking at each one of them.

"Well Khushi, the farmers will have to find out another mill which is not in vicinity. The workers will go home jobless!" Shondeep gave her the facts.

She kept quiet for a while. Everyone else kept gazing at her serious face.
"Then why do we have to take a decision to sell the factory when it is not going to do good to anyone?" she asked.

"To recover our investment!" said Arnav thinking "Why is she not understanding the importance of money?" 

"Why did we buy that unit then?" she asked.

"That time the business looked lucrative!" said Shondeep.

"So, now there is a loss and we are selling the unit! We chicken out, Right?" she asked.
They all gaped in disbelief. “Chicken out? No way!” Arnav was furious

"So we are afraid of losses and instead of reviving the unit, we are selling it! Even if it will not do good to the people around! Right?" she asked.

"Umm.. I mean, there is no point continuing and waiting for two years!" said Shondeep. "Plus the investment in the new machinery will be a burden!"

"But we already have ordered those, right?" she asked.

"Yes, but we can sell them at marginal loss!" said Raj.

"Loss?" she asked raising her eyebrows. "So again we are backing out! Right?"
The three had no answer!

"Only to minimize our loss or earn marginal profit from the grim situation, are we not putting thousand others to losses?" she asked. This time her eyes reflected anger. "Well I am not convinced!" she said getting up.

"Khushi, these things are not in our hands! Try to understand! This is business, not charity!" said Arnav.

"Business? At the cost of others?" she asked furiously.
"May be we can offer them some compensation!" said Shondeep mildly.
"Compensation? What about our marginal profit then?" asked Raj.

There was a deadlock. Khushi was not convinced. The other three were firm on selling.

"What do you want, Khushi?" Arnav asked in frustration, his mind racing for solution.
"I think we need to rethink! We should think on revival!" said Shondeep. There was a silence for a while and then Raj asked

"Khushi, what will you do in this situation?" She looked at them seriously.

"I don't know! But I will think of the people associated with the Mill first!" she said looking at papaji. He stirred a bit, but refrained from reacting. 

"My suggestion is, you all think over the matter and come back tomorrow morning!" said papaji trying to break the deadlock. They all nodded.

******** ********

"I thought over the issue. I feel khushi is right. We can turn around the situation!" said Shondeep.

" I think with little patience, we can tackle the attitude of people and labor unrest!" said Raj.
"May be we start reorienting the workers for the new technology. Instead of laying them off and sending them home, we will utilize the time lag in their training keeping them on sustenance package!" said Arnav. Khushi did not understand everything but could feel that they would not sell the unit but will try to revive.

There was a very long discussion on every alternative and in the afternoon they all had a plan to revive the unit without even sending a single person home!" All of them looked victorious!

"Now you all can THANK ME!" Khushi said loudly and proudly, throwing her nose in the air!

"Shut up!" they all said at once! Papaji had a broad smile on their unanimity. Khushi stomped sulkily. "What?" she said angrily.

"Shut up, Khushi! And sign the papers when they are ready!" said Arnav and Raj. Shondeep grinned at them.

"At least a treat in Holidy Inn?" she asked. They all ignored her. 

"These three together always bully me! They are not ready even for a small treat! Haan?" she was thinking hard to trap them.

"Ok! If we have finished, I have some other work to do!" she said and went out of the room signaling that the meeting is over!

"What? What is she up to now?" asked Raj. Arnav shrugged. "BIL beware! She will trap you!" said Raj. "You too!" said Arnav. "You are more gullible!" They grinned. Shondeep could not control his laughter.

"Shut up, Shondeep! You won't understand these wives!" said Raj. 

"OK! All the best both of you!" he said and went out grinning ear to ear!!