Date: June 21, 2009

  Time: 9:00 AM

  Location: Salt Lake Office, 7th Floor – Conference Room

  The early monsoon rains had left Kolkata soaked, the scent of wet earth still lingering in the humid morning air. The city, as always, was awake long before the sun had fully risen, its streets already bustling with honking cars, chai stalls serving steaming cups to groggy commuters, and newspapers spreading the test political drama across wooden stands. Inside Aritra's Salt Lake headquarters, however, the atmosphere was far more intense than the city’s usual chaos. The conference room on the seventh floor, with its floor-to-ceiling gss windows, overlooked the drenched skyline, but no one in the room had time to admire the view. Aritra sat at the head of the polished oak table, his fingers steepled as he studied the thick file in front of him—dossiers of the top legal professionals in India. Across from him, Ishita had already arranged the day's schedule, her notebook open, pen tapping against its pages. Rajat leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair as he sipped from his ever-present cup of bck coffee. "We’ve narrowed it down to twelve candidates for in-house legal positions and three external w firms for immediate consultancy," Ishita said, adjusting her gsses. "All of them have extensive corporate w experience, and some have even fought high-profile intellectual property battles. Each of them brings a unique skill set, but we need to choose carefully." Aritra nodded. “Then let’s begin.” The first interviewee was already waiting outside, the soft knock on the door marking the start of a long and critical day. Time: 9:15 AM Candidate: Ananya Sen Background: Corporate Law Specialist, Formerly with Tata Group The door swung open, and Ananya Sen strode in with practiced confidence. She was in her early forties, her sharp features framed by neatly tied bck hair, a crisp navy blue bzer perfectly fitted to her lean frame. Her resume was impeccable—over fifteen years of experience handling corporate legal battles for Tata Group, specializing in contract disputes and regutory compliance. She took her seat, pcing a leather-bound folder neatly on the table, and met Aritra’s gaze without hesitation. "Good morning, Mr. Naskar, Ms. Sharma, Mr. Roy," she said smoothly, her voice exuding authority and composure. Aritra leaned forward. “Ms. Sen, you’ve spent a rge part of your career working with one of the most influential business groups in India. What made you decide to leave?” A faint smirk pyed at the corners of her lips. “Tata Group is a legacy company—structured, traditional, and stable. But stability is not always exciting. I wanted something more… disruptive.” Rajat let out a chuckle. “Well, you’ve certainly come to the right pce.” Ananya nodded. “I know exactly who I’m sitting across from. You’re not just running a tech company. You’re challenging the establishment. That comes with its own set of legal minefields, and I’ve spent my career navigating through them. I specialize in regutory loopholes, contract w, and damage control in high-profile wsuits. If you want a legal team that can stand against the giants of the industry, you need someone who knows how to py the game at their level.” Aritra exchanged a gnce with Ishita, who subtly nodded. He turned back to Ananya. “You’ve managed teams before?” “Large teams. Multi-city operations. I’ve handled legal compliance for cross-country mergers, fought government regution battles, and negotiated settlements worth hundreds of crores. If you’re asking whether I can build an in-house legal team from scratch, the answer is yes.” Aritra leaned back, considering her words. Ananya Sen wasn’t just qualified—she was aggressive, strategic, and well-connected. She knew how to operate in the shadows while keeping things legally airtight. “Welcome to the team,” he said simply. Ananya’s smirk widened. “Good choice.” Time: 10:30 AM Candidate: Manav Mehta Background: Intellectual Property Specialist, Formerly with Wipro The second candidate entered with a more rexed demeanor—Manav Mehta, a man in his te thirties, dressed in a tailored grey suit with an easy smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. His specialty? Intellectual Property (IP) w, a crucial asset considering the groundbreaking patents Aritra’s company was filing. Manav took his seat and adjusted his cufflinks before looking up. “I hear you’re shaking up the industry, Mr. Naskar.” Aritra remained expressionless. “Depends on who you ask.” Manav chuckled. “I’ve worked in IP w for over a decade, most recently handling software patents for Wipro. I know exactly how big corporations operate when they feel threatened. They won’t compete fairly. They’ll try to bury you in legal battles—false cims, loopholes, patent infringement wsuits. I’ve fought all of them, and I know how to counteract their tactics.” Ishita raised an eyebrow. “How do you know they’ll try that?” Manav smirked. “Because that’s what I used to do for Wipro.” Aritra exchanged a gnce with Rajat. “You’ve worked on the offensive side?” “Absolutely. Corporate espionage, intellectual property sabotage, patent trolling—I’ve seen all the dirty tricks companies use to slow down emerging competitors. But here’s the thing—I know how to beat them at their own game.” Rajat exhaled. “That’s… concerning and reassuring at the same time.” Aritra’s fingers tapped against the table. “If I hire you, how do I know you won’t sell us out like you did for Wipro?” Manav’s smirk widened. “Because Wipro only pays for safe games. You? You’re building something revolutionary. I’d rather be part of that than spend my life defending old money from new ideas.” Aritra studied him for a long moment before nodding. “You’re in.” Time: 3:00 PM Finalizing the Legal Structure By the end of the exhausting interview process, the legal team had been assembled. Ananya Sen was pced as Head of Legal Affairs, overseeing everything from compliance to corporate governance. Manav Mehta was put in charge of Intellectual Property Protection, ensuring that their patents, trademarks, and proprietary technology remained untouchable. Alongside them, Aritra also hired three junior legal associates and brought on a top-tier external w firm, Verma & Associates, for ongoing legal counsel on government dealings and international w compliance. As the team wrapped up for the day, Aritra stood by the tinted window of his office, looking down at the bustling streets below. The war had already begun—but now, he had an army to fight it.