Maharaj looked disturbed.

“Tenali, my friend Mr. Cashew made a profit of 25 lakhs in his business…

yet he is struggling to pay salaries and EMIs.”

Tenali looked up calmly.

“Then Maharaj… the problem is not profit.

The problem is where the money is.”

Maharaj frowned.

“But sales are growing. The accounts show profit.

Then how can there be no cash?”

Tenali asked quietly,

“Maharaj, if a customer buys today… but pays after 60 or 90 days…

has the business really received money?”

Maharaj paused.

“No… that is only on paper.”

“And if the businessman keeps buying more stock to support this growing sales?” Tenali continued.

“It gets stuck in inventory…” Maharaj replied.

Tenali nodded.

“So Mr. Cashew’s profit is not missing.

It is sitting with customers… and lying in his warehouse.”

Maharaj grew concerned.

“But salaries must be paid this month.

Suppliers are asking for payment.

Bank is asking for EMI.”

“Exactly,” Tenali said.

“Cash goes out immediately…

but comes back much later.”

He paused, then added,

“Maharaj, I have seen many such businesses.

Profitable on paper… but constantly under pressure.”

Maharaj now understood.

“So Cashew is earning profit…

but starving for cash.”

Tenali smiled.

“Mr. Cashew measured success by profit…

but ignored the speed at which money returns.”

Maharaj asked,

“Then what should he do?”

Tenali replied,

“He must start tracking how fast cash moves, not just how much profit he makes.

Reduce customer credit where possible.

Avoid unnecessary stock piling.

And align inflows with outflows.”

Then he said quietly,

“A business rarely collapses because it is unprofitable…

it collapses because it runs out of cash.

If your profit looks good…

but your bank balance always feels tight…

Where is your cash stuck?

Customers taking too long to pay?