Chapter 34:
"How do you know this?" Maan asked his mouth dry. Geet looked at him surprised.
"I may be a Doctor Maan but my family is well integrated into world of finance. It popped during dinner conversation with my mom in the past. Why do you look so surprised?" She asked the three.
"No…it's just that…" Maan stalled.
"What? You don't think I don't follow what happens in the world of finance? I do have access to newspaper you know," Geet was amused. Maan shook his head.
"Sorry about that Geet. It's just that your profession mars the fact that you are generally well read in areas outside your comfort zone." Maan replied hastily. Geet shrugged.
"You should probably talk to Damini aunty and find out more about Deshmukh and what is his interest in Khurana Group," Geet said.
Maan didn't respond. Geet knew that it was something Maan had to decide completely on his own and it was completely his decision. His decision would be supported irrespective of what it was going to be.
"I'll talk to mom tonight and see if Deshmukh's intentions run much deeper."
Emily and Satya breathed a sigh of relief at this. Geet patted his hand discreetly supporting him.
-- o00o --
"How do I know Deshmukh?" Damini asked mildly surprised at Maan's question. Maan nodded. "Why do you want to know that?"
"He wants an alliance with Khurana Transport which will in turn lead to an investment in Khurana Capital."
"How big of an investment are you talking about?"
"Something that may prevent impending bankruptcy and improve stock value," Maan replied. Damini hummed and appeared thoughtful.
"I know Deshmukh via Pratap. They used to be good friends." Damini said taking a sip of wine. Maan cast his eyes down.
"Was that before or after you met father?" Maan asked slowly.
"After," Damini replied without any hesitation in her voice. "Dileep hated Deshmukh even though Pratap tried to break the ice between them many times, the two never went anywhere with their discussions. They are two alpha males with too much ego to have a grain of patience and listen to someone else. Both were supremely defensive in other's presence. Their unnecessary politically correct conversations drove me to madness," Damini mildly ranted.
Maan wondered how many such contacts his mother had.
"Back then Pratap wanted me to do some investments and Deshmukh was the obvious first choice outside Khurana Group. That's how I ended up having substantial amount of shares from Deshmukh's group. How is this relevant?" Damini asked.
"I only want to know about the man, mom."
"What do you want to know?" Damini expected questions to which she could give a categorical answer.
"To be honest, i have no idea." Maan sighed. "I am getting Varun to agree for the alliance Deshmukh is looking for and literally cross my fingers and wait for him to perform the next step which is investment in Khurana Capital."
"You have doubts there?"
"Last time the deal went flat when I was looking over Khurana Transport. It was public humiliation of sorts when the board decided against the contract reversing their decision in a matter of ten hours. I brought that up on him mom," Maan said twisting his palms.
"So you want to know if he is capable of vengeance." Damini asked without beating around the bush.
"I want to know if he is vindictive enough to get that deal with Varun and leave me hanging," Maan replied.
"It's possible," replied Damini after moments of silence. Maan simply nodded. "You expected that already, didn't you?" She asked.
"I do. I have no backup plan though," Maan replied breezily.
"I don't believe you," Damini replied. Maan raised an eyebrow at her, amused.
"You don't know what sort of a man I am now mom, no offense. If Deshmukh deal doesn't come through then I have no idea what to do next," Maan explained.
"I may not know the man that you are now but the man is not really all that different from the boy I once knew," Damini said with a smile.
Maan threw his head back and laughed gaily.
"In worst case scenario I am going to do capital injection by liquidating my personal inheritance," Maan replied casually.
Damini bit back a surprise gasp and leaned front in her chair.
"Are you out of your mind?" She hissed angrily.
"Nope. Besides that I don't have any other go. With my money flowing in, I can hold off the fort for another quarter wherein I will have to harder to find a new investor," replied Maan.
Damini was too stunned to speak.
"That's stupidity," she exclaimed a moment or two later. He didn't bother replying as he knew she would launch a rant which would take up rest of the dinner duration.
"Mom, please stop." Maan retorted dropping the spoon a little hard on the table seven minutes later. As expected, Damini had launched into a monologue that he had tuned out after listening to it for ten seconds.
"Well your plan sucks," Damini said, resigned.
"Boo-hoo for me. It's going to be alright mom. Worst case scenario is that I will ask you to give me monthly pocket money. That's all," Maan replied.
"Don't do it Maan. If it comes to bankruptcy, then file for it. Don't invest your entire inheritance to Khurana Capital. It isn't worth it," Damini practically begged him one last time.
She was met with silence and hated herself for distancing him so much that she couldn't even bring herself to emotionally push him.
She was having a bad feeling about the whole thing.
-- o00o --
"We need to talk," Emily said as soon as the door was opened by Geet.
"Emily? Is everything alright?" Geet asked allowing Emily to enter the house. Emily didn't respond.
"Sit down Geet," Emily said flatly. Geet sat down in sofa opposite to Emily and looked on. Emily placed three folders on the table which shook a little due to the applied force. Geet wondered what had gotten Emily this angry.
"Maan asked me to research everything about investors for Khurana Capital for the last decade. He just wanted me to give him half a dozen names which he can pursue. I was surprised when my team handed me a folder with your name red flagging you as an investor who Khurana Capital has lost over the years," Emily said staring down at Geet.
"What are you getting at Emily?" Geet asked her voice betraying tiniest hint of emotion.
"Why is that I find you being a potential investor along with Deshmukh who can easily overcome the current crisis in Khurana Capital isn't doing a thing about it. Especially when you know everything that is going on in that company," Emily pressed. Her voice lacked the usual warmth that Geet was accustomed to and she saw the glimpse of the business woman Emily truly was.
"It is because I want to destroy Khurana Capital completely." Geet replied serenely.
Emily didn't know how to respond to that. She only sat there dumbfounded.
To be continued.
Music companion for the day: All the things she said by T.A.T.U
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