Chapter 43- A Year of Building
Kulkarni stepped forward, holding a slim folder tied in cotton ribbon.
> "Let me be clear first. These numbers reflect our internal review, not the final books. The official filing will happen by March 1984."
He looked around at the engineers, heads of departments, Bharat, Vandana, and Ajay.
> "But it gives us a heartbeat. And this heart is beating… strong."
He opened the file, the pages smelling of fresh ink and carbon paper.
> "Revenue for the year stands at approximately ₹80 crore, with net profit of around ₹30 crore—at least on record."
A collective breath filled the room. Silent, reverent.
Ajay smiled. "And the arteries feeding this heart?"
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Where the Money Came From – Departmental Pulse
Kulkarni began, in his usual calm tone:
> "Our Color Television and consumer electronics division continues to lead. Affordable sets. Local repair support. These brought in nearly ₹18 crore, with strong profit margins."
Ajay nodded. "That was our first window into Indian homes."
> "Next," Kulkarni continued, "our Hindi operating system and typing tools—not high-profit, but deeply influential. Around ₹3.8 crore in revenue, helping schools, local offices, and regional publishers."
> "And the console division?" Vandana asked, already smiling.
Kulkarni smirked. "You know already. The arcade machines and home consoles—especially after our cricket sponsorship—have exploded. Close to ₹14 crore in revenue, with impressive margins."
> "Good," said Ajay. "Because Bharat's vision for that wasn't about entertainment alone."
Then came the passion projects:
> "Our film and music equipment, built for small filmmakers and musicians, brought in over ₹4.5 crore. Modest revenue, but enormous cultural reach."
> "And the medical line," he added, turning a page. "The Jeevan monitor and allied devices...₹11 crore in hospital partnerships and upcoming tenders."
Pooja folded her arms, eyes glowing. "That's the real work."
> "In agriculture," Kulkarni said, "our Krishi Vikas tools and tractor models earned ₹10 crore. Sales rose after the October Krishi Mela and radio promotions."
Ajay added, "And don't forget—those were built for scale and simplicity."
Kulkarni looked up. "The cricket division—our hardware support for Doordarshan and BCCI—generated over ₹6 crore. That's licensing, rentals, visibility... all tied to Team India's triumph."
Bharat smiled quietly. "India winning was the best marketing plan we could've hoped for."
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Newer Departments – Seeds Just Sown
The financial head cleared his throat.
> "Our road and construction tools division is still in its infancy. Portable mixers, soil hardeners—₹2.5 crore, mostly government orders."
> "The industrial machinery team retooled traditional looms and upgraded thermal tools—₹6 crore, steady and vital."
> "And finally," he said, lowering his voice slightly, "the Defense R&D, guided by Major Arjun Singh's inputs—small, but strategic. Around ₹1.2 crore in custom supplies for field operations."
Ajay placed a hand over his heart. "Some profits aren't measured in numbers."
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But Where Did the Money Go?
Kulkarni turned serious.
> "Though profit margins are healthy, a huge portion of our earnings was reinvested—particularly in agency development."
He looked directly at Ajay.
> "As per your directive last year, we've established district-level agencies across nearly every zone. Over sixty branches now operate from company-owned land, while others lease space. These offices handle not just machine distribution, but they've become direct bridges to the farming community."
He hesitated, then added:
> "They've become a kind of middleman, but in the best way. Instead of exploiting the farmer, they now protect him. Buy crops at fair price. Help with storage. Connect to markets. Coordinate government schemes."
Bharat, sitting quietly by the window, whispered, "They don't just carry tractors… they carry trust."
Ajay turned, voice firm.
> "We don't just build tools. We build networks of trust. In every state. Every district."
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The Unwritten Finance
Kulkarni closed the file.
> "So, this ₹80 crore is not just money. It is machines on roads, lives saved in clinics, crops brought home, games in hands, voices on tape."
He smiled faintly.
> "The real value? Not in ledgers. But in letters we receive every day."
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Late Night Sketches & A Father's Realization
Later that evening, the floor was empty. Office lights dimmed to a few flickering tube bulbs. Outside, a single rickshaw bell echoed in the cold night.
In a side room, Bharat sat at a drafting table, sketching yet another design—this time, a blood testing monitor, no bigger than a lunch box. Simple strips. Analog dials. Fast readings.
Ajay approached quietly, watching him from the doorway.
> "Another invention?"
> "A smaller one," Bharat replied, "but maybe just as useful."
Ajay smiled and walked in, placing a warm cup of milk beside his son.
> "Bharat, I don't say this enough. You make us look ahead. Always."
Bharat looked up, his face calm.
> "Pitaji… what's the point of invention," he said softly, "if no one around you is healthier, happier, or freer?"
Ajay sat beside him in silence. And for the first time that day, he let the weight of the year rest gently on his shoulders—not as a burden, but as a blessing.
.