Laying the Foundations
Date: July 12, 2009
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Nova Electronics Headquarters, Salt Lake, Kolkata
The morning sun cast long shadows across the streets of Salt Lake, where the towering Nova Electronics headquarters stood, a silent testament to the company's meteoric rise. From the top floor office, Aritra observed the bustling city below, his mind calculating the next move. The land acquisitions had been secured under various subsidiaries, all strategically positioned to avoid attention. Now, it was time to move to the next phase—construction.
He picked up his desk phone, dialing a number he rarely needed to repeat. Ishita answered instantly, her voice crisp as always.
"Yes, sir."
"The land acquisition is complete. We move to construction now. I want everything finalized today," Aritra said, his fingers drumming against the desk.
"Understood, sir. I'll set up a meeting with the construction company immediately," Ishita replied.
"We are not negotiating timelines. Work must begin this week," he said firmly.
"I'll push them, sir."
"There's one more thing," Aritra continued. "The new large-scale factory—it needs to be in Newtown, Kolkata. The Eastern Metropolitan Bypass ensures great connectivity, and industrial expansion is inevitable there. It's close enough to our main offices but far enough for uninterrupted large-scale operations. I want the best available land."
"I'll have my team begin scouting immediately. Do we have a budget ceiling for land acquisition?"
Aritra paused for a moment. "We will pay what's needed. But don't let them know that. Get the best deal possible."
"Noted, sir."
"I also want all projects segmented—no one should be able to connect them as a single expansion," he added.
"It will be handled," Ishita confirmed before the call ended.
Date: July 12, 2009Time: 2:00 PMLocation: Ishita's Office, Nova Electronics Headquarters
Ishita sat at her large oak desk, flipping through reports while Aman from logistics and Vivek from finance sat across from her. Her laptop screen displayed the latest budget breakdowns, and several legal documents were scattered across the desk.
Aman leaned forward, pushing a file toward her. "We have the initial construction estimates from Highview Construction. The total cost will be around $900 million, factoring in all the high-rise buildings, security infrastructure, and the research facility."
Vivek adjusted his glasses. "If we include the Newtown factory, the cost jumps to $1.2 billion. That includes state-of-the-art automation, AI-controlled production lines, and smart energy grids."
Ishita sighed, rubbing her temples. "We need to distribute the expenses across subsidiaries. If we push everything through Nova Electronics, it will raise red flags."
Aman nodded. "We can divide it into five smaller contracts, each routed through different corporate entities."
Vivek scrolled through the finance report. "The land in Newtown is priced at $60 million for the 400 acres, but we can push for a lower valuation. If we negotiate well, we can bring it down to $50 million."
Ishita glanced at him. "Make sure the sellers don't realize how valuable the land is. If they catch on, the price will skyrocket."
Aman chuckled. "Understood. We'll play it smart."
She exhaled, leaning back. "Alright. We meet with Highview Construction in two hours. Let's finalize the negotiation terms."
Date: July 12, 2009Time: 4:30 PMLocation: Highview Construction Company, Kolkata
The conference room was sleek and modern, the walls adorned with architectural blueprints and past project images. The executives from Highview Construction sat on one side of the table, while Ishita, Aman, and Vivek sat on the other.
Mr. Roy, the Managing Director of Highview, leaned forward, studying the expansion plans. "You are requesting one of the largest construction projects in the country, and yet, you want discretion. That's not an easy combination."
Ishita met his gaze calmly. "We aren't asking for easy. We're asking for results."
Mr. Chatterjee, the Chief Architect, adjusted his glasses as he examined the blueprints. "You want multiple high-rises, a research facility, and an industrial-scale factory in Newtown. Given the materials and automation required, this will cost no less than $1.2 billion."
Vivek tapped his fingers on the table. "We expected that. We are willing to pay, but only if you meet the deadlines."
Roy folded his hands. "We can have the headquarters and the subsidiary buildings completed within eighteen months, but the factory will require twenty-four months."
Ishita's expression didn't waver. "You'll have eighteen months for everything. No exceptions."
Mr. Chatterjee sighed. "We will need double shifts and an expanded workforce, but we can do it."
Aman leaned forward. "What about the payment structure?"
Ms. Sen, the Chief Engineer, flipped to the financial breakdown. "Thirty percent upfront, the rest in phased payments based on completion milestones."
Ishita nodded. "Fine. But there's one more condition—we want full architectural autonomy. No external firms should be involved."
Roy raised an eyebrow. "That's unusual."
Ishita smirked. "So is building a billion-dollar empire quietly."
After a long pause, Roy extended his hand. "You have a deal."
Ishita shook it. "Start immediately."
Date: July 12, 2009Time: 7:00 PMLocation: Industrial Land Survey, Newtown, Kolkata
Sandeep and Rahul, two senior members from Nova Electronics' expansion team, stood in the middle of a vast open plot, the land stretching far beyond what the eye could see. 400 acres, with potential expansion to 700 acres. The location was perfect—close to highways, with railway access within twenty kilometers and industrial zoning laws that would favor mass-scale manufacturing.
Rahul checked his GPS coordinates. "This is it. The infrastructure will expand in five years, making this the ideal hub."
Sandeep nodded, making notes. "The soil testing reports will take time, but we can lock in the deal before prices rise."
Rahul glanced at the horizon. "Boss really doesn't waste time."
Sandeep smirked. "That's why we don't get to waste time either."
Date: July 12, 2009Time: 11:00 PMLocation: Aritra's Study, Jadavpur
Back in his private study, Aritra reviewed the reports from Ishita and the expansion team. The contracts were signed, the construction was ready to begin, and the Newtown factory land was secured at $50 million—a price far lower than projected market values.
He leaned back, fingers tapping the edge of his desk, staring at the city lights beyond his window