The Aftermath of the Grand Auction
Leela Palace, Bengaluru – February 10, 2010, Late Evening
As the last of the executives and representatives left the grand ballroom, the air of intensity that had filled the room dissipated. The murmurs of high-stakes negotiations, the rapid-fire bidding, and the collective gasps at the astronomical figures had given way to a rare silence.
Sonu de Souza remained seated at a polished mahogany conference table, the glow of the chandelier reflecting off his glasses. He exhaled deeply, glancing at the thick document in front of him—a detailed breakdown of the auction results.
After double-checking the figures, he stood and walked towards a side chamber, where Varun Chaturbedi, Oasis Pharmaceuticals' strategic director, was waiting.
"Mr. Chaturbedi," Sonu said, handing over the statistical list. His tone carried a mix of exhaustion and satisfaction. "The statistics have been compiled."
Varun took the file, flipping through the pages. He scanned the numbers carefully, though he already had an idea of what to expect.
"This time, the bidding for the agency rights brought in $12.2 billion in fees, which exceeded our initial projections by 40%."
Varun's lips curled into a small, knowing smile. "Not surprising," he muttered, placing the document on the table. "After all, I was there. I saw how desperate they were."
Sonu nodded. "We've explained everything clearly to the agents. The shipping prices for the products have been set:
• Whitening Liquid – $299 per bottle
• Freckle & Acne Cream – $329 per unit
• Female Secondary Development Drug – $2,000 per dose
Each region has agreed to the minimum annual purchase requirements. Contracts have been signed."
Varun leaned back in his chair, exhaling in relief. The minimum order quantities were a crucial safeguard—ensuring that once an agent acquired the rights, they couldn't simply sit on them or sell passively.
"Good. And the minimum sales targets?"
Sonu tapped the report. "For East Asia, the agency must purchase at least 1 million units of the breast enhancement drug annually, in addition to the required quotas for the whitening liquid and acne cream. Other regions have their own benchmarks."
Varun nodded approvingly. "It's just like how car manufacturers regulate their dealerships. As long as they meet the minimum sales quota, we don't interfere with their retail pricing. Whether they mark up the drugs by 50% or 500%, that's their business."
This model was strategically brilliant. Instead of Oasis Pharmaceuticals having to build marketing teams and distribution networks in every country, the burden was shifted to the agents. Oasis only had to produce the drugs, ship them to the designated ports, and let the agents handle everything else—marketing, retail pricing, local approvals, and logistics.
The brilliance didn't stop there.
Each agent had a strict timeframe—six to ten months—to secure regulatory approvals in their respective countries. If they failed? Their agency contract would be revoked, and the multi-million-dollar fee wouldn't be refunded.
A ruthless but necessary clause. Oasis Pharmaceuticals was not here to waste time.
Varun glanced at Sonu again. "Follow up with all agents. Make sure they transfer the agency fees within 30 days. If they don't pay, we replace them. There are plenty of companies waiting in line."
Sonu gave a small nod, making a mental note to deploy the finance team for follow-ups.
With the contracts secured and fees rolling in, there was only one thing left to do: ensure production could keep up with demand.
Varun called in the head of production.
"Start the process of expanding the factory," he ordered. "Now that we have the funds and the market is secured, we need to scale up manufacturing. Double production capacity and recruit additional workers immediately."
The production director nodded. "I'll draft a plan and begin hiring."
Satisfied, Varun picked up the phone and dialed the personal secretary of Krishna Deva Raya, the man behind Oasis Pharmaceuticals. Within moments, the call was transferred to Krishna's office.
"Varun," Krishna's voice came through, sharp yet composed. "How did the auction go?"
Varun smiled. "Better than expected. $12.2 billion in agency fees collected. The contracts are signed, and agents are transferring funds as we speak."
There was a moment of silence on the other end. Then, Krishna laughed—deep and satisfied.
"Oasis needed funding," he said, "and you've handed me a war chest."
"Consider it a down payment for the empire we're building," Varun replied smoothly.
Krishna was silent for a few seconds before speaking again. "Take $2 billion from the agency fees and invest it into strategic Internet projects in India and the U.S. Target Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Uber—companies with global potential."
Varun made a note. Krishna had a sharp eye for investments. If these companies grew as expected, Oasis would not only dominate the pharmaceutical industry but also secure stakes in the rapidly expanding tech world.
"Consider it done," Varun confirmed before ending the call.
With the expansion in motion, Oasis Pharmaceuticals launched an unprecedented hiring campaign.
Recruitment notices flooded major job portals, newspapers, and local employment offices. The offer?
• Monthly salary: 3,000 Varaha (Equivalent to ₹42,568 in Indian Rupees at 2010 exchange rates)
• Overtime pay: 20 Varaha per hour
• No educational qualifications required
• Open to all genders, ages 18-50
In Vijayanagara, this was one of the highest-paying jobs in the manufacturing sector. The wages surpassed salaries in most Asian countries, making Oasis Pharmaceuticals a dream employer.
The only downside? The company did not provide free accommodation. But with salaries that high, most workers didn't mind.
Within a week, tens of thousands of people applied.
The HR team conducted extensive screening, and after careful selection, 5,200 new employees were hired—bringing the total workforce to over 6,000.
In reality, the factory didn't need that many workers. Oasis Pharmaceuticals could have automated most of its production.
But Krishna Deva Raya had other plans.
By deliberately keeping manufacturing semi-automated, Oasis Pharmaceuticals created thousands of jobs, boosting employment in poorer regions.
Higher employment rates meant:
• A stronger economy
• Social stability
• A loyal workforce
Instead of hoarding wealth, Krishna Deva Raya was distributing it—turning Oasis Pharmaceuticals into an engine for national prosperity.
As the factory expansion began, as workers flooded into new job roles, and as billions in agency fees poured in, it became clear—Oasis Pharmaceuticals was no longer just a company.
It was an empire in the making.
And this was only the beginning.