The Succession Plan

The meeting began at 7:03 AM.

Aditi 2 had called it.

This was concerning.

Aditi 2: I'd like to discuss business continuity.

Aditi 1: Oh no.

Aditi 3: That sounds expensive.

Aditi 2: Neither of those responses make sense.

Aditi 1: And yet.

Aditi 3: Here we are.

Aditi 2 opened a folder.

The folder was labeled:

SUCCESSION PLAN

Aditi 1: Absolutely not.

Aditi 3: Hard pass.

Aditi 2: You haven't even heard it.

Aditi 1: I don't need to.

Aditi 3: Neither do I.

Aditi 2: Why?

Aditi 1: Because succession plans are for retirement.

Aditi 3: Or death.

Aditi 1: Or both.

Aditi 2: This organization is exhausting.

Aditi 3: Proceed.

Aditi 2: The question is simple.

If one of us disappeared for a week, what would happen?

The room became quiet.

Aditi 1: Interesting.

Aditi 3: Dangerous.

Aditi 2: Let's start with me.

Aditi 1: Okay.

Aditi 3: Okay.

Aditi 2: If I disappeared for a week?

Silence.

Aditi 1: We'd get fired.

Aditi 3: Immediately.

Aditi 2: Thank you.

Aditi 1: You're welcome.

Aditi 3: You're carrying the entire calendar.

Aditi 2: Fair.

Aditi 1: And most of the consequences.

Aditi 2: Also fair.

Aditi 3: And all of the passwords.

Aditi 2: Very fair.

She made a note.

Aditi 2: Now.

If Aditi 1 disappeared for a week?

Aditi 3: We'd survive.

Aditi 1: Rude.

Aditi 3: Technically survive.

Aditi 2: Emotionally?

Aditi 3: Bleak.

Aditi 1: Thank you.

Aditi 2: No curiosity.

Aditi 3: No excitement.

Aditi 1: No unnecessary investigations.

Aditi 2: That part sounds amazing.

Aditi 1: You'd miss me by Wednesday.

Aditi 2: Tuesday.

Aditi 1: Thank you.

Aditi 2: You're welcome.

Aditi made another note.

Aditi 2: And finally.

If Aditi 3 disappeared?

The room immediately grew uncomfortable.

Aditi 1: I don't like this one.

Aditi 2: Why?

Aditi 1: Because I know the answer.

Aditi 3: Me too.

Aditi 2: Proceed.

Aditi 1: Everything would still work.

Aditi 3 nodded.

Aditi 1: But it wouldn't feel like ours anymore.

The room became quiet.

Aditi 2 looked down.

Aditi 3 looked away.

Aditi 1: The business.

The studio.

The flowers.

The ideas.

The future.

You're the reason all of it exists.

Nobody spoke.

Aditi 3: Well that's upsetting.

Aditi 1: A little.

Aditi 2: A lot.

The room sat quietly.

Then Aditi 2 closed the folder.

Aditi 1: That's it?

Aditi 2: That's it.

Aditi 3: What was the point?

Aditi 2: I wanted to know whether this organization could survive without any one of us.

Aditi 1: And?

Aditi 2 thought about it.

Then smiled.

Very slightly.

Aditi 2: No.

Aditi 1: Oh.

Aditi 3: Oh.

Aditi 2: We're annoyingly interdependent.

Aditi 1: That's kind of sweet.

Aditi 3: That's kind of horrifying.

Aditi 2: Both.

Narrator:
The succession plan was officially abandoned.

The board unanimously agreed that replacing any of its members would be impossible.

Which was deeply impractical.

And strangely comforting.

End of Chapter 18.