Capítulo 4: The first cabinet meeting
The early morning light entered through the large windows of Animesh's residence, casting shadows across the room.
He sat alone at his desk, looking at the bundles of papers in front of him, untouched since the previous night. The events of the day before still weighed heavily on his mind—the oath-taking ceremony, the press briefings, and the endless stream of congratulatory messages. He hadn't even had time to breathe.
But now, in the morning, there was silence. The enormity of his new role had fully settled in.
He stood from his chair, moving to the window, his eyes glancing at the lawns outside. It was still early, the air cool and calm, but in just a few hours, his first cabinet meeting would take place.
He knew that he had to impress them with his ability. Even if they wanted him to be a puppet government, he still had to fight.
After that thought, he said "system" in his mind, and a blue holographic panel appeared in front of his eyes.
"Ding"
The task of becoming the Prime Minister of India has been achieved.
"Reward has been completed by the system, and the host has gained 500 points in the system mall."
"Ding" A new task has arrived.
Hold the first cabinet meeting with the ministers of parliament.
"System mall points?" His eyes glanced at the 500 points given by the system. He saw the system mall, but it wasn't actually working; it was locked, and he couldn't access it.
After that, he quit the system.
Animesh took a deep breath and returned to his desk, opening the file he had left. Inside were notes for the day ahead—briefings on economic reforms, rural development, defense, and foreign policy. The issues he would discuss with his cabinet were vast and complex, and the challenges they posed were real. He couldn't afford to falter.
There was a knock at the door.
"Come in!"
Mahesh Verma entered quietly. "Good morning, Prime Minister. Your first cabinet meeting is in two hours. I've prepared some additional notes."
Animesh nodded, taking the file from Mahesh. "Thank you, Mahesh. Have the ministers arrived?"
"Yes, most of them are already at their offices. They'll be here shortly."
Mahesh paused for a moment. "Prime Minister, I know today is a big day. But remember, you've prepared for this. The ministers respect you—they wouldn't be in your cabinet if they didn't believe in your vision. Trust yourself."
Animesh met Mahesh's eyes and gave a small, appreciative nod. "Thanks, Mahesh. I'll need that."
After Mahesh left, Animesh stood up, walking toward a small framed picture on the wall—his parents, taken a few years ago, standing in front of their small home in the village where he grew up. They had sacrificed so much for him to reach this point. His father's quiet pride and his mother's endless support came to his mind as memories.
He knew that beyond the political backdrop, beyond the media scrutiny and the international pressures, it was their trust—and the trust of millions of ordinary Indians—that mattered the most. That trust was sacred, and he would not fail them.
With that thought, Animesh straightened his kurta, checked his watch, and prepared himself. Today was the beginning of his leadership—his first real test.
---
Two hours later, Animesh entered the cabinet room, where quiet conversations were taking place between the ministers who had gathered. As soon as he stepped inside, the room fell silent. The senior ministers looked at him expectantly, while the newer members of his team seemed eager but unsure of what to do.
Animesh took his seat at the head of the long table, where a placard that simply read "Prime Minister" sat before him. It still felt strange to see that title attached to his name, but he pushed the thought aside.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Animesh began, his voice steady but quiet, "we are here today not just to govern, but to lead. The people of India have entrusted us with this responsibility, and it is our duty to honor that trust with integrity and commitment. We have many challenges ahead—economic reforms, social inequality, external threats—but I believe we have the right team in place to face them."
The ministers listened intently, some nodding in agreement. Animesh could see a mixture of curiosity and respect on their faces. They were watching him closely, waiting to see how he would command the meeting.
"Could it be because of the system's 75% functionality?" Animesh wondered in his mind.
"We must begin by addressing the most immediate concerns," he continued. "First, the state of the economy. Inflation is rising, unemployment remains a significant issue, and we need to provide relief to the sectors most affected by recent economic downturns. Finance Minister Rao, I'd like you to brief the cabinet on the current state of our finances and propose the initial steps we need to take to stabilize the economy."
Minister Rao, an experienced hand in the finance sector, cleared his throat and started speaking about the challenges India faced—declining GDP growth, the need for agricultural reforms, and the imperative to attract foreign investment. As he spoke, Animesh listened carefully, making notes. He knew these issues all too well, having campaigned on many of them, but hearing the details laid out by his ministers brought a new level of urgency.
"We'll need to act quickly," Rao concluded. "Our budget will have to be revised, and I recommend immediate measures to reduce unnecessary government spending."
Animesh nodded thoughtfully. "Thank you, Rao. We'll discuss these measures in more detail after we hear from the other ministers."
He then turned to his Minister of Defense, Colonel Ajay Kapoor, a former military leader with extensive experience in handling border security and defense strategies. "Colonel Kapoor, our defense budget and the current tensions along the border with Pakistan are top priorities. How do we plan to address them?"
Kapoor's face was grave as he spoke. "Prime Minister, our forces are well-prepared, but we need to modernize our equipment and strengthen our alliances, particularly with nations that share our regional concerns. We also have ongoing issues with China's increasing presence in our northern territories."
Animesh listened, thinking about the balance between defense and diplomacy. The tensions with both China and Pakistan were delicate and could not be approached recklessly. He made a note to meet with Kapoor one-on-one after the meeting to further discuss these matters.
The meeting continued, with each minister presenting their assessments and proposals. Education, healthcare, rural development—each area needed immediate attention. The sheer scope of the issues could have been overwhelming.
As the meeting neared its end, Animesh leaned forward, addressing the entire cabinet once more. "I believe that together, we can lead India toward a brighter, more equitable future. But it will take hard work, and it will require us to be united, not just in our policies, but in our purpose."
The room was silent for a moment as the ministers absorbed his words. Then, one by one, they nodded in agreement.
Somewhere, in the hall, his parents also nodded in approval of Animesh's actions.
With that, the assembly was adjourned.
---
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[Well, to be honest, I don't know much about the parliamentary sector, Lok Sabha assembly, and many other things, so I will not go deep. Most of the decisions made by Animesh will be with the president and other top leaders. As for choosing certain ministers, it will be done by the president at the request of Animesh or the prime minister.]
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