Chapter 10:
His fingers traced the face on the photograph that his close aide had brought in. The pictures were taken four weeks ago and the man and woman in that picture were oblivious to everything evil in this world. Come to think of it they were actually oblivious to everything else apart from themselves. There were at least three dozen photos in the envelope that was delivered to him. He sighed looking at the smile on the man's face in photograph and wondered why he had never seen it before. All their encounters had left a bitter taste in his mouth and a heavy feeling in his heart.
Dileep Khurana was a sad old man who yearned to see his youngest son smile but knew that he had been two decades late in doing so. He sighed deeply.
"They look good don't they?" He asked Venkat who was sitting next to him. Venkat was one of the oldest associate the chairman had.
"Pratap's daughter turned out how he often dreamed her to be," Venkat added looking at a picture where Maan and Geet were buying some trinket off the street.
"Do you think Geet will forgive me when she finds out the truth?" Dileep asked, broken. Venkat didn't respond. They already knew the answer anyway.
"How is Vikram taking in the setback?"
"He is screams blood when the BSE drops two hundred points sir and he has lost a major investor for Khurana Capital. Mitalee on the other hand is taking in very calmly." Venkat replied.
"A calm Mitalee is even more dangerous than an angry Vikram. Is she planning to finance Khurana Construction from her own company?" Dileep asked.
"No moves in that direction has been made sir. I don't think that it is improbable at the moment. She can become the prime investor via her mezzanine company, JCI, indirectly becoming a general partner if she wishes to." Venkat replied.
"It also depends on the affiliate to approve her decision. They are the next largest stock holders and she needs their approval whether she likes it or not." Dileep replied.
"I am sure Mitalee will give them an offer which they will not be able to refuse – either bribe or threat. The two have always worked," Venkat said frankly.
"There is something else you should know." Venkat hesitated. Dileep Khurana looked at him. "Maan is trying to find out what happened to Pratap Handa. He requested the legal team to get him investment records for past two decades. He made copies of records till Pratap was with us and six months later." Venkat said softly. Dileep Khurana was suddenly exhausted.
"What do you want me to do sir?" He asked politely.
"Don't stop him. But I need to know everything that is happening Venkat." The order surprised Venkat. He sighed along with the chairman about things that were about to unleash in slow progression.
"I think you should announce your heir sir. It's time," Venkat added noting Dileep's silence.
"I would have done so Venkat but now the scene is completely changed. I will see how this one plays out. I will not interfere unless I have to," Dileep said in a final tone. "I need daily update on all four of them Venkat. Make arrangements." He retreated back to his room. Venkat waited till Dileep left his study.
"It's me," Venkat said placing a quick phone call. "The decision of heir has been postponed." He paused. "You will know when I know." Venkat hung up and stared at the phone for a long time. He wondered yet again if he was doing the right thing.
-- o00o --
"So, how is it?" Maan asked Satya. At the end of the day Maan met Satya for a brief daily update. It was one of the most essential meetings of the day as it impacted the business decisions he took the next day.
After the quarterly results were broadcasted the share value of the two companies he was looking into had fell. Varun was hyperventilating and he had ignored his brother's phone calls for three days. Varun had finally landed at office in sheer panic only to see that everyone was going about their day just fine. His panic had turned into anger when Maan refused to meet him citing meeting with new vendors and subcontractors as his ruse. Three days later Varun went back to the outdoor movie shoot after his lead actress called him seven times.
"We are green for the first time in four weeks." Satya said quite happily and handed him a sheet. The dip had finally stopped and there was a small inclination towards and finally the numbers were written in green. The share price had finally risen. A grin spread on his face and he looked at Satya.
"I hope the trend will continue next week too. If this goes on for rest of the month, then we will finally break even." Maan said. "Do you have the report?" Maan asked.
"Here you go sir. It has list of all the customers who used to be with Khurana Heavy Transport till about two years ago. It was then we really lost lot of our customers to competition." Satya said handing him a file.
"What were the reasons? And I am not asking the ones which are here on paper," Maan said.
"There are many reasons sir; from disorganization internally in the company to the way orders were handled. We lost contract with oil refining company because we failed the quality standards and thus losing the entire sector to the competition. In this industry losing one customer would mean losing the entire domain." Satya said.
"We will start with them." Maan said.
"What will be our strategy?" Satya asked as Maan stood up and packed for the day.
"First find out our ex-customer's business model and fit it to supply chain. I want every subcontractor's name who is involved in movement of material; raw or finished goods. Petrochemical companies are extremely stringent towards quality of services given how the entire model relies on keeping the quality of the good intact. That would be our ticket to re-enter the domain." Maan said walking out of his cabin.
"There is a buzz that JCI might be investing in Khurana Capital to fill in the cash flow. It is not official yet but this is what Mitalee's team is planning. Mitalee sees any new investor as a threat given how only sixty percent of the shares are in family right now. If Vikram makes an agreement with another investor along with a huge debt, Mitalee is finished. It's not about saving company sir but it's all about who gets to be the winner in the race with becoming heir to Khurana group as the prize." Satya reasoned.
"Are there any new investors on horizon?"
"There are three sir; including a bank." Satya said. Maan looked surprised.
"If they get a bank's alliance, then the game changes completely." Satya said.
"It would depend on the price at which they would be ready for an alliance. And we wouldn't make it easy." Maan said while Satya smiled.
"I will call the mercenaries." Maan nodded and left office.
-- o00o --
"You seem to have become chubbier since we last met," Maan said peering at Geet. She rolled her eyes.
"How are you doing Maan?" Maya asked handing him a cup of warm water. "It's been more than five years since we actually met face to face," she reminisced. Maan only nodded.
"How are you doing Maya aunty? I hear a lot about your NGO." He said. Maya had taken up charity work like most socialite women did once they were on the threshold of middle age. However unlike most women Maya seemed sincere as she had invested her time and money in micro financing inspired from Grameen, a way to empower women who were poor and struggling to make ends meet. He had high respect for the woman sitting in front of him. So what made a woman like her give away her own husband?
"Congratulations on your new job Maan. Damini would have been very happy to see this," Maya said.
"Can we please not talk about her?" Maan's voice was suddenly hard. Maya and Geet looked at each other.
"She is your mother Maan." Maya replied.
"She was my mother Maya aunty." Maan didn't look up and stared at the coffee table.
"I will be going now," Maan said getting up. Geet knew that something was wrong. She knew that the reason for Maan's visit wasn't a generic social call. The motive was entirely different. She didn't like it but she didn't mind having him come to the house.
"You just got here," Maya said standing up. Maan looked restless. Bringing up his mother in conversation wasn't a good idea.
"I came here to tell you that I will be looking into Pratap uncle's past. I am going to find out about what happened and why you did the things you did. For all the things he has done to me, I owe him this." Maya paled at his words and sat down. Geet looked at him aghast.
"Don't go digging up the past Maan. It won't do anyone good – especially you." Maya said. Maan kneeled in front of Maya and took her hands in his.
"Aunty, besides Geet here nothing good has ever happened to me when it comes to people. If finding out the reason for Pratap uncle's death mean destruction of Khuranas, then so be it." Maan replied.
"Why didn't you tell me the truth about my mother aunty? Why did you like everyone else made me believe that she is dead?" Maan whispered. Maya didn't respond. Geet looked on wearily.
To be continued.
Music companion for the day: London Calling by The Clash
And: Sea Lion by Sage Francis
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
