Chapter !9: The Meeting’s Aftermath

The next day dawned crisp and cool, with the sun barely peeking through the window blinds. Haari woke up feeling unrested, his mind haunted by the Old Man’s words from the previous night. He shuffled through his morning routine, brushing his teeth and dressing with mechanical efficiency, hardly registering his actions.

At the office, Haari slumped into his desk chair, feeling exhausted.

I couldn’t get to sleep last night. My mind kept replaying everything the Old Man said, Haari thought, stifling a yawn.

Rafta approached, breaking into Haari’s thoughts. “Hey, the meeting is about to start, so prepare for it.”

“Already?” Haari replied, yawning.

“What's the matter? Didn’t you get any sleep last night?” Rafta asked.

“Yeah,” Haari muttered, still tired.

In the conference room, the team gathered for a critical project meeting.

“Alright, team, let’s get started. We’re here to address the current status of Project Nexus. This is a high-priority initiative, and we’re facing significant challenges,” Ms. Patel said.

“We’ve encountered major compatibility issues between the new CRM and our existing systems. The data migration process is causing significant delays,” an employee reported.

“What exactly is the problem with the data migration?” Ms. Patel asked.

“The CRM software isn’t syncing properly with our legacy systems. This is leading to data corruption and inconsistencies, affecting the system’s performance and causing delays,” the employee explained.

“If we’re facing these technical problems, we need a plan to manage the client’s expectations. They’ve been promised a seamless transition, but that’s not what we’re delivering,” Ashi said.

“Exactly. We need to address these issues quickly. Rafta, what’s our current estimate for resolving the compatibility problems?” Ms. Patel asked.

“If we don’t find a solution soon, we’re looking at a potential delay of at least two to three weeks. This would push our launch date back and might incur penalties,” the employee replied.

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“A two-to-three-week delay is unacceptable. We need to explore alternative solutions. Can we bring in additional resources to expedite the process?” Ashi suggested.

“We’re already stretched thin. Bringing in more consultants would significantly increase our costs. We need to be mindful of the budget,” Ms. Patel said.

“Another option could be a phased rollout of the CRM. We could implement core features first and roll out additional functionalities in stages. This could help mitigate immediate issues,” the employee proposed.

“A phased rollout could work, but it requires careful planning. We’ll need to ensure that the client understands this is a temporary measure and not the final solution,” Ms. Patel said.

“How will we communicate this to the client? We need a clear strategy to manage their expectations and ensure they are on board with the phased approach,” Ashi added.

“That’s a valid point. We’ll need a detailed communication plan to explain the situation and reassure them of our commitment to resolving the issues,” Ms. Patel agreed.

“Additionally, we should consider increasing our testing protocols to identify and resolve potential problems before they impact the client,” the employee suggested.

“Agreed. Let’s prioritize developing a phased rollout plan and a client communication strategy. Rafta, work on addressing the technical issues with the team. Haari and Ashi, start drafting the communication plan for the client,” Ms. Patel instructed.

“What?” Rafta said, looking surprised.

“You’re on this project, aren’t you?” Ms. Patel asked.

“Yes, but there are more employees who could handle this better than me,” Rafta replied.

“You’re right, there is one, but she’s not here right now. That means you’re the most experienced person available on the project team,” Ms. Patel said.

“Really!” Rafta said, a bit taken aback.

“So, everyone understands what they need to do?” Ms. Patel confirmed.

“Understood. I’ll get started on the plan right away,” Ashi said.

“Remember, everyone, this project is crucial for our company’s reputation. We need to resolve these issues swiftly and efficiently,” Ms. Patel reminded them.

As the team filed out of the room, Haari continued to yawn.

“You still look half-asleep,” Rafta observed.

“Hm,” Haari grunted.

“Did you even remember what Patel said in this meeting?” Rafta asked.

“Nope, no clue,” Haari admitted, putting his feet up on the table.

“What’s wrong with you? It’s not like you to be this out of it. You’re usually the one who takes note of everything. Is it because you didn’t get enough sleep last night?” Rafta asked.

“Maybe you’re right,” Haari said.

“You’re lucky you’ve got company in your work,” Rafta said.

“Company work? What are you talking about?” Haari asked, confused.

“Really? You don’t remember the work assigned to you?” Rafta said.

" How should I know I don't even know that what was the meeting about. " Haari said.

" Really?" Rafta explained about the meeting. "You’re supposed to work with Nicawa-san to address the technical issues.”

“Ooo,” Haari responded, finally understanding.

“And here I am, alone. I hope Oki arrives soon to help me; I die if she doesn’t come on time,” Rafta said.

By lunchtime, Haari sought refuge at his desk, trying to regain his composure. Ashi, noticing his distress, approached cautiously. “Kichiro-san, you’ve been pretty quiet today. Everything alright?”

Haari forced a smile. “Yeah, everything is fine. Don’t worry about it.”

Later that evening, Ashi noticed that Haari hadn’t eaten his lunch.

What? Kichiro-san didn’t eat his lunch today. He’s acting unusually. I wonder if everything is okay with him, Ashi thought.

To be continue..........