As Mr. Bheeshma announced my name, I glanced at my brother Bheeshma. He seemed stunned, and I also spotted Chaitra in the audience, equally taken aback. Mr. Bheeshma looked at me, and I nodded in acknowledgment. He then smiled at the public and said, "Now, I humbly invite Krishna and Bheeshma to the stage."
I stood up, and immediately, all the cameras turned towards me. Smiling confidently, I began making my way to the stage. As I walked, I noticed my brother still standing there, frozen. I waved my hand, signaling for him to join me. He seemed to snap back to reality, spoke briefly with ACP Deva, and then hurried to the stage with me.
The crowd fell silent as we reached the stage. Mr. Bheeshma continued, "As you all know, this is Krishna, the CEO and owner of Nirvana Enterprises, and the youngest CEO in India. Now, I want to address some questions. Why did I choose Bheeshma instead of Krishna? It is not because I believe Krishna is not capable. In fact, Krishna is immensely talented; he built his own company at such a young age. But because he already owns half of Bheeshma Organics, he is effectively already an owner of the company. I also want to give Bheeshma a chance to carve his path in this industry. I believe these two brothers, working together, can take Bheeshma Organics to new heights."
After Mr. Bheeshma's announcement, he turned to the audience and said, "Now I request Krishna to say a few words."
I stepped forward, my heart pounding with a mix of excitement and determination. Taking a deep breath, I approached the microphone. "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen," I began, my voice steady and clear. "First, I want to thank my grandfather for giving me this incredible opportunity. I promise you all that I will do my utmost to take Bheeshma Organics to new heights."
The crowd responded with smiles and light laughter, the atmosphere warm and encouraging.
"To achieve this," I continued, "I am thrilled to announce a groundbreaking initiative we've been working on. It's called FarmDirect—Connecting Farmers to Consumers. This platform is designed to revolutionize the agricultural market by enabling farmers to sell their products directly to consumers. This not only ensures higher profits for our hardworking farmers but also guarantees fresher produce for our consumers."
There was a murmur of interest and excitement in the audience. Reporters leaned forward, eager to capture every word.
"FarmDirect will cut out the middlemen, reducing costs and ensuring that the farmers receive fair compensation for their efforts. We will provide them with the necessary tools and support to market their products efficiently. On the other hand, consumers will benefit from access to fresh, high-quality produce at competitive prices. It's a win-win situation for everyone involved."
I paused, letting the significance of the announcement sink in. The room was silent, hanging on my every word.
"This initiative aligns perfectly with our vision at Bheeshma Organics—to support sustainable agriculture and empower our farmers. We believe that by strengthening the relationship between producers and consumers, we can foster a more transparent, ethical, and efficient market."
As I announced the details, the room erupted into cheers, and the reporters eagerly began firing off questions.
"Mr. Prasad, what is the feature set for this project?" one reporter asked, his pen poised over his notepad.
Smiling, I responded, "We have several key features planned. First, there's farmer registration and profile management, allowing farmers to create and manage their profiles easily. Second, we have product listings with detailed descriptions, prices, and availability, ensuring transparency and convenience for consumers. Third, we've integrated a secure payment gateway to protect both farmers and buyers. Fourth, we have robust order tracking and management to keep everyone informed throughout the transaction process. And last but certainly not least, a review and rating system. This will allow consumers to provide feedback, helping farmers understand their products' reception and make necessary improvements."
Another reporter quickly jumped in, "Mr. Prasad, what about customer satisfaction? What measures are you taking to ensure it?"
I nodded, acknowledging the importance of the question. "Customer satisfaction is paramount," I said. "To address this, we are arranging cold storage facilities for perishable goods, ensuring that fresh produce remains fresh throughout the delivery process. We're also focusing on timely and efficient delivery services, so consumers receive their orders promptly. Our goal is to create a seamless and satisfactory experience for both farmers and consumers."
The reporters seemed impressed, scribbling notes furiously while some nodded in approval.
Another reporter raised his hand and asked, "Mr. Prasad, what are your future plans for this initiative?"
I took a deep breath, preparing to share my vision. "As you all know, we've been sourcing masalas and other products from regional farmers and businessmen and selling them in international markets. Take, for example, our long-time partner, Mr. Satyam from Guntur. We purchase mirchi from him and convert it into various masalas that are loved worldwide. With FarmDirect, I hope to extend these opportunities to even more farmers and small business owners, allowing them to reach global markets and improve their livelihoods."
The reporters scribbled down my words, their interest clearly piqued. More questions followed, and I answered each one patiently, outlining our plans and addressing concerns. The room was filled with a sense of optimism and excitement for the future.
After what felt like hours, the press conference finally drew to a close. The reporters began to pack up their equipment, and the buzz of conversation slowly subsided. I stepped down from the stage, feeling a mixture of relief and exhilaration.
Anu and Ammu were waiting for me, their faces glowing with pride. Anu hugged me tightly. "You did great, Krishna."
Ammu nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, you handled everything perfectly."
I smiled at them, feeling a wave of gratitude. "Thank you, both of you. I couldn't have done this without your support."
As we made our way out of the conference hall, I spotted Bheeshma talking animatedly with ACP Deva and Chaitra.
Mr. Bheeshma joined us as we walked towards the exit. "You did well, Krishna. Your vision and leadership are exactly what we need to take this initiative forward."
"Thank you, Mr. Bheeshma," I replied. "I'm excited about the future and what we can achieve together."
We stepped outside into the cool evening air. The reporters, now gathered outside, continued to take pictures and shout questions, but the security team kept them at bay. I turned to Anu and Ammu, who were standing by my side.
"Ready to head home?" I asked.
Anu smiled. "Yes, let's go."
Ammu added, "I'm looking forward to some peace and quiet after all this excitement."
As we drove away from Bheeshma Organics, the events of the day still fresh in our minds, Ammu couldn't resist asking the burning question that lingered in the air. "So, Krishna, tell us what happened. How did Bheeshma become CEO of Bheeshma Organics?"
I glanced at Ammu in the rearview mirror, her curiosity evident in her eyes. Taking a deep breath, I prepared to recount the unusual chain of events that led to Bheeshma's unexpected ascension. "Well, it all started one day when Bheeshma intervened to stop some criminals who were attempting to rob a car. Little did he know that the real target was Mr. Bheeshma himself, who happened to be sitting in the vehicle at the time."
Ammu and Anu listened intently as I continued. "After the incident, Mr. Bheeshma delved into Bheeshma's background, intrigued by his courage and quick thinking in the face of danger. As he dug deeper, he discovered qualities in Bheeshma that he believed made him a suitable candidate for the CEO position."
There was a moment of silence in the car as my words sank in. Anu and Ammu exchanged knowing glances, understanding the gravity of the situation. It was a testament to Bheeshma's character and abilities that he had caught the attention of Mr. Bheeshma himself, despite the circumstances surrounding their initial encounter.
"Krishna, you're forgetting something," Anu suddenly said, her voice tinged with amusement. My brows furrowed in confusion as I replied, "Forgetting something? What could that be?" Anu's eyes sparkled mischievously as she teased, "Just before we entered the conference hall, remember encountering those reporters? You told them we're your girlfriends."
Her reminder sent a jolt of realization coursing through me. "Ah, yes, I did say that," I admitted sheepishly. But before I could dwell on the consequences of my impromptu declaration, Anu dropped another bombshell. "You know, that news has spread like wildfire. It's all over the podcast circuits. And Raji must have seen it too," she revealed, her tone laced with concern.
Panic surged within me as I scrambled to find my phone, frantically searching through pockets. Anu, always the reliable one, handed it to me with a knowing look. "Here, you left it behind. And look, there are nine missed calls from Raji," she informed me, her voice gentle yet tinged with urgency.
My heart raced as I gingerly took the phone from her, fingers trembling as I dialed Raji's number. Each ring felt like an eternity as I anxiously waited for her to pick up.
The tension hung thick in the air as the call finally connected, but Raji's silence spoke volumes. "Hello, Raji, how are you?" I ventured cautiously, hoping to break the icy barrier she seemed to have erected. Instead of a reply, her voice crackled through the line, dripping with anger. "Krishna, where are you? Coming here," she demanded, her tone sharp enough to cut through steel.
Nerves knotted in my stomach as I stammered out my response, "I'll be there in the next ten days." Raji's curt acknowledgment sent a shiver down my spine. "Okay, we can talk when you come here," she retorted coldly before abruptly ending the call.
In the background, I could hear Ramana's ominous voice, his words like a dire warning: "That Krishna, you are dead." Panic clawed at my chest as I desperately tried to plead my case. "Raji, hear me out, please," I pleaded, but she had already made up her mind. "We'll talk about it after you come here. Bye," she declared, severing the connection before I could utter another word.
Defeated, I let out a heavy sigh, feeling the weight of the impending confrontation settle upon me. Anu and Ammu, sensing my distress, exchanged knowing glances before bursting into laughter, their mirth echoing through the car.
Finally reaching my house, we parked the car in the garage and we made our way inside.
(Word's count:1770)