đź“– Chapter 32: Eggs, Roads, and Small Beginnings
June 1965 — Heat Before Rain
The days had become longer, but not in a good way.
Heat stayed even after sunset.
The air felt heavy.
And for Akshy—there was no real break anymore.
Morning — Work Before Thought
Before the sun rose, he was already awake.
The oil press had to be checked.
Workers had to be guided.
Even small things—like uneven crushing or wasted seeds—now bothered him more than before.
Because now, every small loss mattered.
Mahavir came from the side, wiping his face with a cloth.
"You're checking this every day now," he said.
Akshy nodded.
"If we ignore small losses… they become big ones."
Mahavir didn't argue.
He had started noticing it too.
A Thought That Didn't Leave
For the past few days, something had stayed in Akshy's mind.
It didn't feel like a plan yet.
Just an idea that kept returning.
That morning, after the oil work was done, he sat under the neem tree.
Mahavir joined him again.
"You've been quiet these days," Mahavir said.
Akshy didn't avoid it this time.
"I'm thinking of starting something new."
Mahavir looked at him carefully.
"Now?"
The word carried meaning.
They had just taken a loan.
Rice mill wasn't even fully running yet.
"Yes," Akshy said.
Mahavir didn't agree immediately.
Instead, he asked,
"What is it?"
This Time — Full Explanation
Akshy didn't speak vaguely.
He drew a small line in the dirt.
"This road," he said.
Mahavir leaned forward slightly.
"Toward Karnal side," Akshy continued,
"There's open land. Not too far. Not too crowded."
Mahavir nodded slowly.
"I know the area."
Akshy looked at him directly.
"We start poultry there."
Mahavir stayed silent for a few seconds.
Then said,
"Chickens?"
"Yes."
It sounded simple.
But it wasn't.
Why Poultry? (Clear Thinking)
Mahavir asked the real question.
"Why this?"
Akshy answered clearly this time.
No hiding. No half-answers.
"Because it moves fast," he said.
Mahavir didn't interrupt.
"Grain takes months," Akshy continued.
"Dairy grows slowly."
Then he tapped the ground lightly.
"But eggs… come daily."
Mahavir absorbed that.
Akshy added,
"And if we keep it near the road… we can send it anywhere easily."
Now it was becoming clearer.
Mahavir leaned back.
"You're thinking about movement again."
Akshy nodded.
"Yes."
Savitri Joins — Numbers Matter
Later that day, Savitri joined them with her notebook.
"What are we planning now?" she asked.
Mahavir replied,
"Your brother wants to raise chickens."
She blinked once.
Then looked at Akshy.
"How much will it cost?"
Straight to the point.
Akshy appreciated that.
He opened a folded paper.
"Small start," he said.
100 to 120 chicks
Shed + fencing: â‚ą400
Feed (initial): ₹150–200
"Total: around â‚ą700."
Savitri calculated quickly.
"Return?"
Akshy paused slightly.
"After 2–3 months… daily eggs."
She wrote something down.
"If even 70–80 eggs daily…"
She didn't finish the sentence.
But everyone understood.
Mother's Practical View
Shanti had been listening quietly.
She finally said,
"Feed cost will increase if not managed."
Akshy looked at her.
"You'll help monitor that."
She nodded.
Simple.
But important.
Father Pushes Back (Realistic)
Mahavir wasn't fully convinced yet.
"Who will manage it?" he asked.
Akshy replied,
"We hire one man."
Mahavir shook his head.
"That's not enough."
He pointed out,
"Animals need attention. Daily."
Akshy paused.
Then nodded.
"You're right."
This time, he didn't argue.
After a moment, he said,
"I'll go every two days. You check when going toward Pundri."
Mahavir looked at him.
"You're already doing too much."
Akshy didn't deny it.
Instead, he said something simple:
"We don't need perfect work… just consistent work."
Mahavir didn't reply.
But he didn't refuse either.
Site Visit — Reality Check
Two days later, they went together.
The journey was tiring.
Heat. Dust. No proper transport.
At one point, they walked for nearly 20 minutes.
When they reached, the land looked… ordinary.
Open. Slightly uneven.
Near the road—but not directly on it.
Mahavir looked around.
"This is good."
Then added,
"But theft can happen."
Akshy nodded.
"We build fencing first."
Meeting Harbans
A local man approached them.
Medium build. Observant eyes.
"I'm Harbans," he said.
Mahavir spoke first,
"We're thinking of using this land."
Harbans asked,
"For what?"
Akshy answered directly,
"Poultry. Small setup."
Harbans didn't react immediately.
Then he said,
"If it runs well… I can supply feed later."
Akshy looked at him carefully.
This wasn't just a statement.
It was an opening.
He nodded.
"We'll see."
Back Home — Real Work Begins
Within days, work started.
Bamboo brought from nearby
Basic shed structure built
Water storage arranged
No machines.
No shortcuts.
Just effort.
Ramesh helped where he could.
But his focus was still Nissing.
"Rice mill work is also pending," he reminded.
Akshy nodded.
"I know."
This was the challenge now.
Multiple things.
Limited time.
First Mistake — Learning Begins
When the chicks arrived, things didn't go smoothly.
Some didn't eat properly.
Some looked weak.
Harbans came and said,
"5 have already died."
Mahavir frowned.
"So early?"
Akshy didn't react emotionally.
"This happens," he said.
Then he checked everything:
Feed quality
Water
Space
"Too crowded," he said.
They adjusted.
Within a few days, things improved.
Loss stopped.
Movement became normal.
Night — Quiet Thinking
That night, Akshy sat alone.
Not thinking about one business.
But about the system forming.
Oil — steady
Dairy — growing
Rice — coming soon
Poultry — fast
Different speeds.
Different strengths.
But together… something bigger.
He whispered softly,
"This is just the beginning…"
Meanwhile — Pressure Continues
Rice mill was still not fully running.
Machine installation delayed.
Money already spent.
Loan ticking.
Mahavir said one night,
"We have money stuck there… and now this also."
Akshy replied calmly,
"That's why this is small."
Everything was connected.
Savitri — Growing Responsibility
Savitri had changed too.
Her notebook now had four sections:
Oil
Dairy
Rice
Poultry
She wasn't just writing.
She was understanding.
One evening, she said,
"If poultry works… we can expand faster here than farming."
Akshy looked at her.
She was right.
Closing
By the end of June:
Poultry setup complete
First batch stabilized
Rice mill still under pressure
Money tight but moving
Nothing had exploded yet.
No sudden success.
But something important had happened.
They had taken another step.
Not safe.
Not easy.
But necessary.
And slowly…
The path ahead was becoming clearer.
đź“– End of Chapter 32