Chapter 9 — The First Fortune
The next day, Yaswanth's plans shifted. Since school had unexpectedly changed his schedule, he called Ananya to reschedule the meeting. She agreed to visit his home that evening instead.
By 4:30 pm, Yaswanth and Flemming were already busy. The 50 kilograms of Safed Musli were arranged neatly in sacks and stacked inside the hall. The earthy fragrance of fresh medicinal plants filled the air.
Knock, knock.
Flemming went to open the door. Standing there was a woman in her early thirties, smartly dressed, with sharp eyes that radiated authority.
"Is Yaswanth home?" she asked politely.
"Yes, come in," Flemming replied, calling out, "Yash! She's here."
The Negotiation
Yaswanth stepped out of his room, greeting her with a calm smile. "Welcome, Ms. Ananya."
Her eyes immediately fell on the stacked plants. She walked closer, examined the roots and leaves carefully, then looked back at him with open astonishment.
"This… this quality is incredible. Every root is perfect, clean, and mature. How did you manage this?"
Yaswanth just gave a small shrug. "Let's just say I have good methods."
After a short silence, Ananya got straight to the point. "Alright. I'll offer ₹5,600 per kilogram."
Flemming's jaw nearly dropped at the figure, but Yaswanth only nodded calmly. "Fifty kilograms at ₹5,600 per kg comes to ₹2,80,000. Deal."
Minutes later, Yaswanth's phone buzzed. The full payment had arrived in his bank account.
Partnership Solidified
Without hesitation, Yaswanth transferred 40% of the money to Flemming's account.
Flemming stared at his phone in disbelief. "Hey! Why are you sending me money? I didn't do anything!"
"That's your share," Yaswanth said firmly. "We're partners. Sixty for me, forty for you — remember?"
For once, Flemming was speechless. Slowly, a grin spread across his face. "Alright, alright. I won't argue. But seriously, what's our next move?"
Yaswanth leaned back. "For now, nothing. We need to finish our 12th public exams first. After that… we'll create a company."
The Bigger Deal
Just as he said that, Yaswanth's phone rang again. It was Ananya.
"Yaswanth," her voice came brisk and eager, "do you still have more stock? We need as much as you can provide."
Yaswanth thought for a moment, then answered, "Yes. Around 450 kilograms."
There was a short silence on the line before she replied, "I'll take it. I'll come right away."
An hour later, she returned with her team. Together, Yaswanth and Flemming helped pack and load the 450 kilograms into her car. Another hefty sum hit Yaswanth's bank account before she left, satisfied and impressed.
Dreams of the Future
After everything was done, Flemming leaned against the wall, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Yash, if you can grow plants like this… why stop there? Why not try something bigger? Costly seafood, exotic items — things people will pay fortunes for."
Yaswanth smiled faintly. "We can't do that now. Without a company, it'll attract too much attention. One step at a time."
Flemming nodded reluctantly. "Fair enough." With that, he headed home for the night, still grinning about the fortune sitting in his account.
The Countdown to Exams
For Yaswanth, the past 20 days had been a whirlwind. The space farm kept expanding, more acres unfolding like magic. His daily sign-ins had rewarded him with advanced knowledge in several subjects — Tamil, Telugu, English, Chemistry, and more.
It was only two days before the pre-public exams. Sitting on his bed, Yaswanth opened his notebook and whispered to himself, "This time… I'll be ready. In business, in studies, and in life."
The real journey had just begun.