Chapter 58: chapter 58

SHIVAIt is been three days since uncle Bala informed me of the plight of our company. But we have not yet found a solution.“Uncle, any replies for the emails we send?” I ask.“We got two replies but both telling us that they can't invest now,” uncle Bala answers.“Why can't they invest now?”“They say that they don't have enough trust in our company. But you know what Shiva, they are afraid of investing here. It would mean going against our previous investors who are the top investors in the state. I am ninety-nine per cent sure, that no investor in the state would invest in our company any soon.”I sigh, “Then we will try the investors from other states and national level investors.”“Ok, I find the list of it,” uncle tells leaving the room. I rake a hand through my hair. FREAKING BUSINESS POLITICS.I know exactly why my former investors did this. They can't tolerate me. Because to them, I am a boy who came from nothing. They think it was due to sheer luck that I brought the company to a top position. They want to show me that business is not easy.But The Joke Is On Them. Because it was no fluke that brought this company to this position. It was hard work of me and the employees. I worked my butt off for the past five years to bring this company to its current position. If they think they can take that away easily then they are wrong. Because I won't give up. Not yet. I will fig-My phone ringtone interrupts my thoughts. I look at the screen. Aravind calling. I pick up the call.“Hey,” I say trying to keep my voice cheerful.“Is it true?” he asks in a grave tone without bothering the greeting.“What is true?” I ask though I know what he is speaking about. News spreads like wildfire among the business circles.“That the investors withdrew their investments?”“Yes,” I say dropping my cheerful tone.“How are you doing?” he asks. I smile. Aravind is a good friend. He knows exactly how much strain this would have on me. I want to tell him how I really feel. But I can't. Though he is my best friend, I couldn't bring myself to confide what I am feeling to him. Maybe it is because I don't want him to look at me with pity. “Good. We will soon find a way,” I say in the confident tone that I have been using the whole day.“Well, th-” he starts but someone knocks on my office door.“Can I call you later?” I ask.“Sure,” he says and hangs up.I allow myself a moment of weakness before calling out aloud, “Come in.”Five employees enter the room. I give them a polite smile. They look nervous and each has a sheet of paper in his hand. GREAT!THEIR RESIGNATION LETTER.“Shiva,” Uncle Bala enters the room but stops short as he takes in the other five employees. He gives me a questioning look. I nod and he comes and stands near me.“So, what do you all want?” I say calmly.They look at each other before one employee whose name is Naveen steps forward with the letter. He places it on my table. I take it in my hand. Uncle Bala peers at it over my shoulder.Ah!No Doubt.It Is Indeed His Resignation Letter. “You are resigning?” uncle Bala asks in a shocked tone.“Yes, Sir,” he replies not meeting my eye. “But you can't resign just like that. What will your family do? Wait, no, do you have another job lined up?” uncle asks in a severe tone.Naveen doesn't have to answer the question. His guilty look gives him away. “I am sorry sir. But I have a family to take care and I am the only person who works in my family. Staying in this company is hopeless.”“Why do you say that?” I snap. I respect his choice to resign but he has no right to judge my company.“That is the truth, sir. Everyone knows it. Many companies have collapsed because it was taken over by inexperienced and unskilled sons of the founder.”“What do you mean Naveen?” I ask in a hard tone.“Isn't that the truth,” says another employee stepping in front. He goes by the name Jagan. “You came into the company and straight away took the CEO position. You lack experience and you are not wise as you think. I am in this field for the past twenty years and I have more experience than you and I am telling you this company will not survive this setback. No one will be interested to invest here and this company will go bankrupt. So, what is wrong with resigning. We have a family to take care of. We are not born with a silver spoon like you.”I take in two deep breaths. I look at the other three employees who are standing mute.“Why don't you three throw in some more insults about me before resigning?” I ask.“It is not insulting. It is the fact. You have less experience than most of us yet you keep ordering us like you know everything,” says Dinakar.Oh! Super! People are really good at holding grudges and I always thought I was a good leader.“Mind your words,” snaps uncle. “Don't forget it was Shiva who brought the company to this position.”“It was luck. Besides, he was not the only one who worked hard for the company,” argues Naveen.“But luck doesn't work every time. You will know what it is to start from scratch when this company shuts down,” says Jagan with a sneer.Uncle Bala opens his mouth to argue but I interrupt him. There is no arguing with these people. They are speaking boldly like this because they already have secured a job somewhere and think that this company will not survive. “ENOUGH. I am signing all your resignation letters. All the very best for your future. You can leave this office now. Thank you for your contribution to this company's growth. Irrespective of what you told me, this company will continue to grow. I will make sure of it and of course, my employees have struggled and contributed a lot more to this company's growth than I have. I thought you people always knew that fact. But anyway, goodbye,” I say with a calm and sweet smile that shocks not only the employees but also uncle Bala.🍀🍀🍀🍀‘Staying in this company is hopeless.’‘Many companies have collapsed because it was taken over by inexperienced and unskilled sons of the founder.’‘You lack experience and you are not wise.’‘No one will be interested to invest here and this company will go bankrupt.’‘It was luck.’I increase the speed of my car and drive fast on the deserted road. My mind keeps going to the conversation with my former employees. Maybe they are right, it was only because of luck, I brought this company to this position. Come on, Shiva. Don't think like that. But they were the employees of the company. If they think like that, then that must be the truth. It is been already three days. But I have not yet found any investors. Maybe as everyone said, my company will not survive this crisis and will be shut down forever. I jam on the brakes and the car comes to a screeching stop. I pick up my phone and power it on. Yes, I am the kind of person who switches off the phone when my life gets hard. But now, I want to speak with someone who would reassure me that I am being a pessimistic person. I scroll through my contacts. My finger hovers over my mother's name. But guilt claws me. I feel like I am a bad son because I ignored my mother when I was well off and now when faced with a dilemma, I am calling her. My mother wouldn't mind it but I feel guilty.I sigh. Call Aravind.No. I can't bring myself to be vulnerable before him. Why does society call a crying man weak? Why are emotions only exclusive to women? For God's sake, men are humans too but they shouldn't weep or show vulnerability when faced with problems. They have to stand strong and face it because they are men.I mean WHAT THE HELL?I close my eyes and tears threaten to come. There has to be a way. But what if there is not? What if this is the end of the company? What if I can't save the company?No! Stop! Don't overthink. Head home. Get some sleep.I sigh and power off my phone again. I don't think I will be able to sleep or eat with my company's fate hanging over my head.🍀🍀🍀🍀