"Some people inherit empires. Others negotiate for the right to rebuild ruins."
The morning heat hung over Ambattur like a warning bell. The industrial estate buzzed faintly, but the old building labeled Southern Breeze Appliances Pvt. Ltd. stood still, like a retired soldier waiting for either a medal or mercy.
Inside, a small team was packing the last of the furniture. In the corner office, a tall man with peppered hair gave instructions in measured tones. His name was Sivasankar — once a dreamer, now a man eager to escape.
He didn't look like someone ready to trust an 18-year-old.
The Unlikely Pitch
Karthik entered, formal and focused. No illusions of grandeur, no desperate pitch. Just numbers, facts, and a plan.
Sivasankar barely glanced up. "You're here about the factory?"
"I'm here to buy it."
That made the older man sit back.
"You?"
Karthik placed a file on the table. Inside: audit notes, equipment valuations, raw material prices, and a detailed relaunch plan.
"My offer is ₹1.3 lakhs. ₹70,000 upfront. The rest in installments."
The Owner's Frustration
Sivasankar didn't laugh. But his silence was almost louder.
"This factory fed 42 families once. Now I can't afford the electricity bill."
"My plan includes a low-cost product shift. I can bring it back."
"You'll be eaten alive," Sivasankar said. "Labour demands. Equipment maintenance. Sales risk. You're too young for this."
"You're right," Karthik said. "I'm too young for comfort. But I'm old enough for clarity."
The Turning Point
Sivasankar poured tea for both of them and sighed.
"I'm leaving for Coimbatore with my family. I've had enough."
"You could wait for a better offer."
"There is no better offer," he replied. "Only faster exits."
They spoke for over an hour.
Karthik stayed composed, never begging.
He made a final request:
"Give me 4 months for the balance. That way, I can use working capital for immediate development."
Sivasankar paused.
"Why?"
"To restart operations, hire more people, and produce faster. If I pay you too soon, this place stays dead longer."
The Deal is Struck
After a long pause, Sivasankar nodded.
"You have 4 months. If you miss a single date — it's all mine again. No extensions."
Karthik smiled and shook his hand.
"I'll make every date count."
Back at Celestial HQ
That evening, Karthik updated his team.
"We now own the factory," he said. "And we have a four-month runway. I'm not wasting a day."
He updated the chalkboard:
Phase 1 – Development (Week 1–2):
✅ Repair production lines
✅ Clean and repaint workspace
✅ Bring in new labor force
Phase 2 – Production (Week 3–8):
🎯 Target: 10,000 plastic table fans
Investment, Not Installments
With ₹60,000 of deferred payments now freed up temporarily, Karthik:
Hired 12 new contract workers to assist existing technicians
Installed a temporary air ventilation system to reduce heat fatigue
Upgraded two motors for improved fan testing
Purchased a bulk consignment of high-efficiency plastic blades
He kept every rupee inside the factory.
"Paying early doesn't earn trust," he told Ravi. "Performing early does."
Final Moments with Sivasankar
Before leaving for Coimbatore, Sivasankar walked through the shop floor one last time.
He watched as workers installed new tables. As fresh stock was arranged for assembly.
"I see energy again," he said.
Karthik replied, "This time, we're building with eyes wide open."
Final Journal Entry
"He gave me four months.
I turned that into firewood.
Now the furnace is lit.
This is no longer Southern Breeze.
This is the start of Celestial Breeze."