A/N: Should Deva be involved in Bahubali movie, like VFX side of it?
Date: September 16, 2013
In his spacious bedroom on the first floor, Siddanth stood in front of the full-length mirror, making the final adjustments to his attire.
He was dressed in crisp, immaculate formal wear. He wore a perfectly tailored, bright white button-down shirt, the cuffs neatly buttoned at his wrists, paired with slim-fit beige trousers and polished brown leather loafers. He looked sharp, understated, and incredibly professional.
He checked his watch, picked up his phone and wallet, and walked downstairs to the kitchen.
His mother, Sesikala, was standing by the stove, pouring a fresh cup of filter coffee. She looked over her shoulder as he walked in, her eyes scanning his outfit with a critical but approving maternal gaze.
"You look very handsome today, Siddu," Sesikala nodded, handing him the cup of coffee. "Where is this meeting? You usually just wear a t-shirt when you go to your office."
"It's not at the office, Amma," Siddanth replied, taking a careful sip of the hot coffee. "Arjun and I have been invited for lunch at KTR's house in Banjara Hills. It's just a formal meeting to discuss a few things."
Vikram Deva, who was sitting at the dining table going through some agricultural ledgers, looked up over his reading glasses.
"KTR? Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao?" Vikram asked, a note of genuine surprise in his voice. "You are going to the TRS leadership's house for lunch? The political climate in the city is very hot right now with the separate statehood announcements, Siddu. Be careful what you promise them."
"It's just a courtesy lunch, Nanna," Siddanth smiled reassuringly, setting his empty cup down on the granite counter. "We made a corporate donation to their party fund recently, and they wanted to host us to say thank you. We aren't picking sides in public; we are just securing the future of our company's infrastructure. I'll be back by the evening."
"Alright. Speak respectfully, and eat whatever they serve you," Sesikala instructed, lightly patting his cheek. "Drive safely."
"I will. Bye, Amma. Bye, Nanna."
Siddanth walked out to the garage. He walked towards his Audi R8 V10. He slid into the low driver's seat, the rich leather contouring to his back, and pressed the ignition. The engine roared to life with a deep, resonant growl.
He pulled out of the estate and took the Outer Ring Road toward Hi-Tec City. The drive was smooth, the supercar eating up the kilometers effortlessly.
Twenty minutes later, he pulled into the underground VIP parking of the NEXUS headquarters.
Arjun Reddy was already standing by the private elevator banks, holding a sleek leather folio. Dressed in a light blue formal shirt and dark trousers, Arjun looked entirely composed and prepared, standing with the professional posture that befitted a young CEO.
Siddanth rolled the passenger window down. "Get in."
Arjun opened the heavy door and dropped into the low passenger seat, settling in as Siddanth navigated the car back out onto the sunlit streets toward Banjara Hills.
"I reviewed the lobbying parameters this morning," Arjun started, his tone focused and analytical. "We should keep the dialogue strictly to infrastructure today. The Congress is currently in power, so if the sitting government finds out NEXUS is having private lunches with the TRS leadership, it could invite unnecessary audits. We need to be diplomatic."
Siddanth merged onto the Jubilee Hills checkpost road. "I agree. We aren't picking sides publicly. I just want to get our company a permanent foothold in Telangana before the new state is officially carved out."
"Right now, the TRS needs corporate allies to legitimize their upcoming government," Arjun nodded in agreement. "Once we establish ourselves as an anchor for the tech industry juggernauts, we won't have to worry about which party forms the government. We secure the foundation now, and we negotiate the SEZ permits later."
The Audi R8 turned into the affluent, heavily shaded, winding roads of Banjara Hills. They pulled up to a large, highly secured residence. There were no massive political banners outside, but the presence of local police made it clear who lived there.
Siddanth parked the car near the gate. As they stepped out, a senior security officer respectfully ushered them up the driveway.
Standing on the front steps of the modern house was K.T. Rama Rao, universally known as KTR. He exuded a polished, urbane charm that bridged the gap between regional politics and the corporate world.
"Siddanth! Arjun! Welcome," KTR greeted them warmly, walking down the steps to shake their hands. "It's a pleasure to have you both here."
"Thank you, sir. It's an honor to be invited," Siddanth replied politely.
"Please, call me Rama Rao or KTR. No 'sir' today," KTR smiled, gesturing for them to come inside.
They were greeted by KTR's wife, Shailima, who welcomed them with traditional hospitality. The interior of the house was elegant and tastefully decorated. KTR led them through the hallway and into the spacious formal living room.
Sitting comfortably on a large sofa in the center of the room was Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao—KCR. The leader of the Telangana movement wore his trademark crisp white shirt and trousers, carrying a relaxed but undeniable aura of political authority.
As Siddanth and Arjun entered the room, KCR stood up to greet them.
"Namaskaram, Siddanth. Arjun, good to meet you," KCR smiled, offering his hand. "We saw your interview on Aap Ki Adalat last week, Siddanth. You handled Rajat Sharma's questions with the maturity of a seasoned statesman. Very impressive."
"Namaskaram, sir," Siddanth replied, shaking the leader's hand. "Thank you very much. I just spoke the facts as they were."
"Please, sit down," KCR gestured to the sofas opposite him.
They took their seats. For the first twenty minutes, the conversation was entirely casual. KCR asked Siddanth about his early days playing cricket in the local Hyderabad leagues, while KTR chimed in, discussing his time studying abroad.
Soon, Shailima announced that lunch was served. They moved to the large dining room. The meal was a spectacular spread of traditional Telangana cuisine—spicy country chicken curry, bagara rice, and mutton dalcha.
Once the satisfying lunch was concluded, the atmosphere shifted into business.
"Come," KCR said, wiping his mouth with a napkin. "Let us sit in my office."
KCR, KTR, Siddanth, and Arjun walked into a large, wood-paneled private office. A servant brought in small cups of hot coffee, set them down, and exited, leaving the four men completely alone.
KTR took a sip of his coffee and looked at Arjun and Siddanth.
"First of all, gentlemen," KTR began professionally. "We wanted to officially thank you. The corporate donation NEXUS made to the party fund last week was generous. It will help us organize our grassroots campaigns as we approach the elections next year."
"We appreciate what your party has done to bring resolution to the separate statehood movement," Siddanth replied evenly. "Hyderabad needs stability to attract global talent."
KCR nodded slowly. "Your father, Vikram Deva, is a very respected man in the Shamshabad rural belts. He has done excellent work with his agricultural management."
(A/N: He is not, those are false compliments)
Siddanth remained composed, letting the politician speak.
"We are currently looking for strong, principled individuals to represent our party in the upcoming assembly elections," KTR added. "We were wondering if your father would be interested in contesting for an MLA position on a TRS ticket? With his local goodwill and your popularity, it would be a very strong campaign."
It was a highly strategic offer. Bringing the Deva family into their political fold would give the TRS a massive boost.
Siddanth offered a polite smile, setting his coffee cup down.
"I am honored by the thought, KTR," Siddanth said respectfully. "But my father has no interest in politics. He is completely invested in his farming and the quiet life of the estate."
KCR and KTR exchanged a brief look. They didn't push the issue, recognizing a closed door.
"I understand," KCR smiled warmly. "Let him enjoy his farming."
The conversation drifted toward the broader political landscape and the logistical challenges of splitting the state's resources.
"If the new state of Telangana is going to develop rapidly, the local government is going to need heavy support from the central government in Delhi," Siddanth pointed out.
"That is true," KCR agreed. "The relationship between the state and the center will dictate our growth. Who do you think is going to win the next central election in Delhi?"
"The political arithmetic currently suggests that the UPA will likely return to power through coalition networks," KTR answered. "The BJP is making noise, but securing a clear majority is difficult."
[A/N: They supported Congress at that time, thinking it would win central elections.]
Siddanth shook his head slightly. "The BJP is going to win the 2014 election. And they will secure an absolute majority on their own."
KCR narrowed his eyes, genuinely intrigued by the confidence of the claim. "Why are you so confident about that, Siddanth? The traditional polling data does not show an absolute majority."
"Traditional polling data relies on landlines and physical surveys, sir," Siddanth explained, laying out the facts smoothly. "It is entirely blind to the youth. But NEXUS has access to the backend trending data of Vibe and Twitter across the subcontinent. The youth are exhausted by the 2G spectrum scams and the coal allocation scandals. There is a massive, highly organized digital anti-incumbency wave building, and Narendra Modi is capturing that entire narrative online."
KTR listened, fascinated by the data-driven approach.
"I would bet on a BJP absolute majority next year," Siddanth smiled. "Just like I know with certainty that the TRS is going to sweep the assembly elections here, and you will form the government in Telangana."
KCR nodded slowly, absorbing the intelligence. "Information of that nature is invaluable. We will think carefully on what you have said."
"Which brings me to the reason Arjun and I were eager to have a lunch with your family," Siddanth transitioned smoothly. "After the TRS wins the state elections and forms the government next year, I want your administration's support."
"What kind of support?" KTR asked, pulling a notepad toward him.
"I am going to build a fabless semiconductor design company right here in Telangana," Siddanth stated.
KTR took a sip of his coffee and looked at Siddanth with interest."A semiconductor venture? That's a massive undertaking, Siddanth. Are you planning fabrication as well?"
Siddanth shook his head calmly.
"No, not fabrication for now. We're going to build a fabless semiconductor company—focused entirely on design and innovation. The manufacturing will be outsourced to global foundries. What we want to build here is a world-class semiconductor design and R&D campus."
KTR leaned forward slightly now, clearly more engaged."That makes more sense. So this would be more of a high-end engineering and research hub?"
"Exactly," Siddanth nodded. "We'll be designing proprietary processors—optimized for mobile computing, cloud infrastructure, and eventually AI workloads. Hyderabad already has the talent base. We just need to consolidate and scale it."
KCR listened quietly, his expression thoughtful.
"And how many people are we talking about?" he asked.
"Phase one, around three to five thousand engineers," Arjun replied smoothly. "Over time, that scales significantly as we expand product lines."
KTR tapped his pen lightly on the notepad."And what kind of support would you need from the state?"
Siddanth answered without hesitation.
"A large parcel of land on the outskirts of the city for a dedicated R&D campus. Strong digital infrastructure, uninterrupted power for data centers, and fast-track approvals. We're also looking at Special Economic Zone status to make the operation globally competitive."
KCR nodded slowly."That is reasonable. But my concern remains the same—employment for local youth."
Arjun stepped in immediately.
"We've already accounted for that, sir. We will commit that at least sixty percent of our workforce—especially at the entry and mid-engineering levels—will be recruited locally. Additionally, we'll establish training institutes and partner with regional engineering colleges to build a steady talent pipeline."
KTR's expression shifted into approval as he noted it down.
"That's a strong commitment."
Siddanth leaned back slightly, his tone measured but confident.
"This isn't just a company, KTR. If we execute this properly, Hyderabad can position itself as a global semiconductor design hub. That attracts not just talent, but entire ecosystems—EDA firms, IP vendors, and global tech partnerships."
KCR allowed himself a faint smile.
"And you believe companies will stay here because of this?"
"They won't just stay," Siddanth replied. "They'll expand."
There was a brief silence in the room—the kind that follows a statement carrying long-term weight.
Finally, KCR spoke.
"We will support this. Land allocation can be arranged, and SEZ considerations can be explored. But your commitment to local employment must be honored."
"You have my word," Siddanth said.
Arjun added, precise as ever,"We'll have a detailed proposal ready once the new state framework is finalized."
KTR closed his notepad with a satisfied nod.
"Good. This is the kind of vision we want associated with Telangana."
Siddanth took the lead again. "Thank you, sir. But I also want to build a stadium."
"A stadium?" KTR frowned slightly. "We already have the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal."
"The Uppal stadium is starting to show its age, and the facilities there are simply not up to modern international standards," Siddanth explained. "I want to build a new, ultra-modern, Ninety-thousand-capacity cricket stadium with world-class amenities. And I want the government to help us allocate a parcel of land directly adjacent to where the new Hyderabad Metro Rail line is currently being constructed."
KTR grasped the logistics instantly. "You want to integrate the stadium with the public transport grid."
"Exactly," Siddanth nodded. "fans can commute to the game without clogging the roads with private vehicles. It solves the traffic problem and modernizes the city's sports infrastructure."
"It would be a crown jewel for the new capital," KCR murmured thoughtfully. "If it helps in the development of Telangana, we will support you. We will find the land."
Arjun seamlessly added the final piece. "And as a gesture of goodwill, NEXUS is prepared to fund and deploy a public infrastructure project. We want to blanket key areas of Hyderabad—the new Metro stations, Charminar, Tank Bund—with free, high-speed public Wi-Fi."
KTR looked thrilled. "A Smart City initiative. That is a massive PR victory for us."
Siddanth simply smiled. Blanketing the city with high-speed internet would drastically increase user engagement for his Vibe app, but it was a flawless win-win scenario for both parties.
An hour later, Siddanth and Arjun stood up to take their leave.
"Before you go, Siddanth," KTR smiled. "My son, Himanshu, is a massive fan of yours. He would be absolutely thrilled if he could meet you."
"Of course," Siddanth agreed warmly.
A few moments later, Himanshu walked shyly into the room holding a brand-new, blue Indian national team jersey.
"Hi, Himanshu," Siddanth smiled, taking the marker from the boy.
He signed his name across the chest of the jersey and handed it back to the beaming child. Siddanth then posed for a few photographs with KCR, KTR, Shailima, and Himanshu in the center of the living room.
As they finished, KTR turned to Siddanth with a thoughtful expression.
"Siddanth," KTR said. "When the new state of Telangana is officially formed... we are going to need a face to represent its global ambitions. We would be immensely honored if you would agree to become the official brand ambassador for the state of Telangana."
Siddanth recognized the historic prestige of the offer. He offered a respectful nod.
"It would be a privilege, KTR," Siddanth agreed. "Let's make it happen when the time comes."
After final handshakes, Siddanth and Arjun walked out of the house and got back into the matte-black Audi R8.
Siddanth started the engine and pulled out of the quiet Banjara Hills street, heading back toward Hi-Tec City.
"They agreed smoothly, Sid," Arjun said, looking over his notes. "The real estate play worked exactly as we mapped it out."
Siddanth kept his eyes on the road, merging onto the main avenue. "We gave them the blueprints. The political insiders will quietly buy up the barren agricultural land adjacent to our proposed sites for pennies now. Once we publicly announce the semiconductor plant and the stadium next year, what happens to the land value around our borders?"
"It spikes overnight," Arjun agreed, "Our analysts project a massive appreciation the morning the press release hits. Developers will rush to build hotels and commercial zones around our infrastructure. The politicians make a fortune legally through real estate appreciation, without taking a single rupee in corporate bribes from us."
"It's a clean symbiosis," Siddanth nodded. "We get the infrastructure and the SEZ tax holidays we need to build our empire, and it remains entirely in their financial interest to support us."
Arjun secured his leather folio. "I'll have the legal team start drafting the shadow incorporation documents for the semiconductor campus this evening. We'll be ready when the state splits."
They drove the rest of the way to the NEXUS headquarters. Siddanth spent the afternoon in his executive suite, reviewing the engineering logistics for the upcoming software launch with his teams.
As the sun began to set over the skyline, Siddanth locked his computer and drove back to the quiet sanctuary of the Shamshabad farmhouse.
The political chessboard had been successfully arranged, and the foundation for his next expansion was officially secure.