Date: December 19, 2008
Time: 9:00 AM
Location: Salt Lake Office, Kolkata
The winter sun glinted off the polished windows of the Salt Lake office, casting long streaks of gold across the sleek conference room. The faint aroma of freshly brewed Darjeeling tea lingered in the air, mingling with the faint hum of laptops booting up. Aritra sat at the head of the large oval table, his sharp gaze resting on the core team members as they filtered in, each carrying a different piece of the empire they were about to build.
Arnav, Priya, Leena, Rajat, and Sameer took their seats, with Ishita gracefully placing thick folders in front of each of them. The room buzzed with silent anticipation, the tension palpable yet charged with excitement. Aritra broke the silence with his signature calm authority.
"Good work with the first round of recruits," he began, his fingers steepled under his chin. "But this was just the beginning. Now, we need to structure the organization—departments, hierarchies, and operational flow. We're not just hiring employees anymore. We're laying the foundation for an empire."
He stood, moving towards the whiteboard, where yesterday's scribbles were replaced with a fresh outline—circles representing different departments interconnected like neural pathways.
The Department Structure
Aritra began sketching lines, connecting departments with arrows, creating a web of synergy.
"Arnav," he said, turning slightly, "the Software R&D Department will be divided into three teams—Application Development, System Architecture, and AI & Machine Learning. Each team will have a lead reporting to you directly. I want 20 people, but make sure at least five are senior-level developers capable of mentoring others."
Arnav nodded, already thinking about code structures and architecture diagrams.
"Rajat," Aritra continued, "the Hardware R&D Department will be split into Microprocessor Design, Circuit Development, and Prototype Testing. I expect you to recruit engineers with a deep understanding of semiconductor physics, not just textbook knowledge."
Rajat's face lit up slightly, the prospect of building cutting-edge tech stirring his passion.
"Priya," Aritra shifted focus, "the Finance & Strategy Department will need specialists in Investment Analysis, Budgeting, and Risk Management. Your team will control the financial arteries of this company. No decision leaves this room without your department's green light."
Priya tapped her pen thoughtfully, already mentally filtering potential candidates.
"Leena," he said, meeting her keen gaze, "the Marketing & Sales Department will handle Branding, Digital Marketing, and Global Strategy. You'll need creatives who understand consumer psychology, not just fancy jargon."
Leena smirked, confident as always. "I know exactly who to call."
"Sameer," Aritra's voice grew slightly more serious, "the Cybersecurity & IT Infrastructure Department will be divided into Network Security, Data Encryption, and Ethical Hacking. Your job is simple—make sure no one, not even God, can breach our systems."
Sameer gave a subtle nod. "Consider it done."
The Recruitment Strategy
Aritra circled the departments on the board. "Each department will have 20 members. That's a total of 100 new hires. I expect the first batch within two months."
Ishita stood, handing out detailed recruitment plans. "I've booked flights and accommodations for your next recruitment trips," she said, her voice calm and efficient. "Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, and Hyderabad. This time, we're targeting top-tier universities, corporate talent pools, and niche tech communities."
Arnav flipped through the papers. "What's the budget?"
Aritra didn't hesitate. "Unlimited. But hire wisely."
Journey Begins
Date: December 20, 2008
Time: 7:00 AM
Location: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata
The team gathered at the airport, dressed in casual attire, blending in with the morning crowd. Ishita handed out the tickets, her clipboard never leaving her side.
Leena glanced at her boarding pass and groaned, "Middle seat? Really, Ishita?"
Ishita didn't flinch. "You'll survive."
Arnav chuckled. "Think of it as character development."
Leena rolled her eyes but smiled nonetheless.
As they boarded their respective flights, Aritra stayed behind in Kolkata, his mind already working on the next phase of operations.
Bengaluru: The Code Capital
Date: December 21, 2008
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru
Arnav stood in a packed auditorium, addressing a group of final-year students. He wasn't the charismatic, suit-clad corporate recruiter they expected. Instead, he wore his signature hoodie, hands in pockets.
"No PowerPoint, no sales pitch," he began. "I'm not here to tell you what we do. I'm here to ask—do you want to build something that scares the competition?"
The room grew silent, curious.
Arnav continued, "We're working on projects five years ahead of anything out there. If you think you're good enough to handle that, meet me after this session."
Later, in a small classroom, a student named Ananya Rao approached him, her laptop covered in coding stickers. She handed him a USB drive. "My résumé is on there."
Arnav plugged it into his laptop. It wasn't a résumé—it was an algorithm that optimized neural networks with 30% higher efficiency than current models.
Arnav looked up, impressed. "When can you start?"
Mumbai: The Financial Frontline
Date: December 22, 2008
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), Mumbai
Priya navigated through the bustling financial district with precision. Her interviews were unconventional. She met candidates in cafes, not offices—believing you learn more about people when they're comfortable.
In one interview, she asked a candidate, Siddharth Jain, "If I gave you ₹1 crore to invest today, how would you double it in six months?"
Siddharth replied confidently, "I'd short-sell during market corrections, leverage forex volatility, and diversify into emerging tech stocks."
Priya smirked. "Wrong."
He looked confused.
She leaned forward. "The correct answer is—you'd hire me to manage it."
They both laughed. She hired him on the spot.
Delhi: Marketing Mayhem
Date: December 24, 2008
Time: 11:00 AM
Location: JNU Campus, Delhi
Leena set up an impromptu marketing challenge in the university's open-air theater. She gave random students bizarre products—like "invisible sunglasses" and "waterproof teabags"—and asked them to sell the idea to the crowd.
One student, Zoya Ahmed, grabbed the mic and pitched the invisible sunglasses with such charisma that people actually applauded.
Leena approached her after the event. "Want to sell real products for real money?"
Zoya grinned. "Do I get business cards?"
"No," Leena replied. "You get the future."
Back in Kolkata
Date: December 26, 2008
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Salt Lake Office
The team returned, exhausted but exhilarated. They gathered around Aritra's desk, sharing stories, laughing at travel mishaps, and reflecting on the whirlwind of recruitment.
Aritra listened, his expression unreadable until the very end when he finally smiled—a rare, genuine one.
"Well done," he said quietly. "Now, let's build something the world will never forget."