Nagaraju paused for a moment, then continued.
"And one more thing… this investment."
Everyone looked at him again.
"The money I'm putting in will be mine. You will have shares—but not for free."
That line immediately created tension.
He stayed calm.
"Since I am investing, I will hold more authority… and a larger share of the profit."
The elder brother nodded slightly, expecting it.
"You both will get 20% each," Nagaraju said. "But understand this clearly—it won't be free."
He looked directly at them.
"I've learned one thing. If something is given for free, it loses its value."
The younger uncle's wife hesitated, then asked,
"Do we need to invest money?"
Nagaraju shook his head.
"No. Not immediately."
"I will invest on your behalf first."
They looked surprised.
"When we start earning profits, I will deduct the amount I invested for your shares," he explained. "I won't charge any interest. So don't worry about that."
The room relaxed slightly.
"But…" he added firmly, "once profits start coming, don't compare and think you should have gotten an equal share."
Silence returned.
"If you feel that way, you may call me selfish," he said plainly. "And I'm fine with that."
His voice didn't shake.
"From my experience, being a little selfish is necessary."
"This is my investment. So I will take a larger share."
"You will earn according to your share—and this will not change in the future."
He then laid out the numbers clearly.
"I will invest a total of 3 crores."
He pointed slightly as he spoke.
"Out of that, 1 crore will be allocated for both of your shares together."
"That means 50 lakhs each—invested by me on your behalf."
The younger uncle nodded slowly, trying to process it.
Then he asked,
"What about your share?"
Nagaraju replied without hesitation,
"I will take 50%."
The elder brother frowned slightly.
"Then what about the remaining 10%?"
Nagaraju smiled.
"That 10%… will not stay with us."
They looked confused.
"It will be given to fourth person who will join us and help run the company."
He leaned back slightly.
"Mumbai is a city full of talent. The right people just need the right opportunity."
"We need individuals who can actually execute this plan—people who understand the industry better than us."
He paused, then added with clarity,
"When people have a stake, they work with commitment."
"That 10% will ensure they don't just work for salary…"
"…they work with heart."
The room fell into silence again.
This time—
Not from doubt.
But from the realization that this was no longer just an idea.
It was becoming a structured plan.
Nagaraju paused for a moment, then added calmly,
"And one more thing…"
Everyone looked at him again.
"If in a few years you feel confident enough… and you think you can start your own business using your own experience…"
He nodded slightly.
"That is also good. In fact, I would support that."
He continued in a firm but balanced tone,
"I don't want anyone to stay dependent forever."
"This is not meant to create permanent attachment to me or this company."
"It is meant to give you a foundation."
"So if you grow from it and later build something of your own… that is still a success."
He looked at them directly.
"But only if it comes from real experience… not from escape or laziness."
Then he added quietly,
"Because in the end… everyone must build their own path."
Nagaraju looked at both of them and said calmly,
"Take your time and discuss it with your family."
He paused for a moment.
"Whoever wants to come with me… can let me know now."
His voice remained steady.
"I will be leaving early tomorrow morning."
The elder brother agreed almost immediately.
There was no hesitation in his voice. After hearing everything, he gave a simple nod and said he would come.
Seeing this, the younger uncle felt a sudden discomfort. The thought of being left behind while the others moved forward made him uneasy.
For a moment, he looked at his wife, then back at Nagaraju.
If his elder brother was going, and this opportunity was real… then staying back didn't feel right either.
After a brief silence, he also agreed.
"I will come," he said finally.
The decision was made.
Both brothers returned to their respective homes and discussed the proposal with their families.
The younger brother was still uncertain. He told his wife that if things did not work out, he could always return to their hometown. In his mind, there was nothing major to lose—so trying at least once felt acceptable.
The elder brother's family had a slightly different approach. They discussed it calmly and decided that it was worth a try. He would go, observe the situation firsthand, and then make a final decision based on reality rather than assumption.
By the end of the discussion, both families had reached their own understanding—but the path forward had already begun to take shape.
Her father looked at her for a moment, slightly surprised by the sudden request.
"You want to come?" he asked.
Akshatha nodded quickly. "Yes Appa. I'm bored at home. All my friends have gone on holidays. I won't disturb your work or business. I'll just stay quietly."
He didn't answer immediately.
His instinct was protective.
The trip was not a picnic—it involved important discussions, travel, and uncertainty. Mumbai was not a simple place to take a child along, especially when business decisions were involved.
After a pause, he spoke more calmly.
"This is not a holiday trip, Akshatha."
"I will be meeting people, discussing work, moving between places… it may not be comfortable for you."
She didn't back down.
"I'll manage, Appa. I'll stay quiet. I just want to come."
He looked at her again.
Something about her confidence made him hesitate.
Finally, he sighed lightly.
"Alright," he said. "But you will listen to me properly. No running around. No disturbance."
Her face lit up immediately.
"Yes Appa."
That night, while everyone else rested, Akshatha lay awake.
But she wasn't just thinking like a child joining a trip.
She was planning.
Mumbai was not just a city to her—it was a system of opportunity.
She silently recalled everything she had observed about television shows, production houses, and TRP patterns. She remembered which types of stories worked, which actors gained popularity quickly, and how small production teams suddenly rose to success.
She also thought about her father's plan.
Film investment was risky.
Television was stable.
But both together… could open multiple doors.
Her mind moved quickly.
"If they are going there… then it should not just be observation," she thought.
"It should be positioning."
She wasn't fully clear yet—but she knew one thing:
This trip would not just decide her father's future.
It could decide the family's entire direction.
The next morning came quietly.
The house was unusually calm, as if even the walls understood something important was about to begin.
Bags were packed.
Her father prepared the final things with focus and silence.
Her mother moved around the house, doing small last-minute preparations, her expression steady but thoughtful.
The elder brother and younger uncle arrived with their families.
There were no loud conversations—only measured words and quiet glances.
This was not just a trip anymore.
It was a step into uncertainty.
A step into change.
Akshatha stood near her father, holding her small bag, watching everything carefully.
No one fully realized it yet—
But she was already observing the city she was about to enter… not as a visitor.
They decided to travel by train to Mumbai.
It would take almost an entire day to reach, but Nagaraju preferred it for this journey. Since the plan was made at the last minute, he opted for sleeper-class tickets so the travel would be a bit more comfortable.
For a brief moment, he had considered flying.
But with four members traveling together, and the need to keep expenses practical in the early stage, he decided it was better to stay grounded and travel by train.
It also gave them time—to think, to observe, and to mentally prepare for what lay ahead.
So the journey began by rail, carrying not just luggage…
but expectations, uncertainty, and the beginning of a new direction for the family.