Chapter 7
"…It seems Dhananjay's actions for most part of this week is a true testament of the changes the party is intending to bring or it's the party's imperative in its entirety. It is however interesting to note that no other partisan from Samaj Kalyan Party is seen in the field except for Arnav Raizada – a close aide to Dhananjay Rathore. The volunteers and the rescue workers didn't know the man who landed here four days ago with a truck full of supplies; supplies which included fresh water, food, first aid, blankets and tents. When we spoke to few volunteers here, we were told that Dhananjay asked them to refer to him as 'DJ' and was here just to help. The answer was accepted and like everyone else he works in this area, eats and sleeps with the other volunteers. This incident became public by sheer accident; when a local newspaper took a picture of rescue operations, it also captured Dhananjay who was carrying two children in his arms in the background of a Red Cross tent. While this incident has come as a surprise to both local and ruling parties as Samaj Kalyan Party has no seat in the state or even traces of presence for that matter, few speculate about the authenticity of this action. The arguments about speculation becomes weak when the media involvement is considered; it's important to note here that media – be it the print or the visual, had no idea that Dhananjay was working here. The absence of the media, at least till date, has the pundits wondering the truth behind the true motive. Dhananjay hasn't spoken to media let alone comment made on him. The party hasn't released an official statement but Vikramaditya Rathore did say and I quote – 'Dhananjay is doing what he feels needs to be done at this time'. No further comments were made by the party spokesperson nor were any follow-ups acknowledged. The question in our studio is similar to that of any newsroom which is running this story – Is this a ploy to digress the attention of public from rape charges filed on Dhananjay or it's his redemption from life of drugs and alcohol. With cameraman…"
Khushi changed the channel then and saw the same news was carried in that one too. She had gotten a fair idea of what was going on in Orissa and was impressed by the entire design. The photo printed in local newspaper was no accident. It was a strategically calculated shot which was chosen from hundreds captured that day. Dhananjay didn't know the entirety of the strategy and Arnav had coached him few lines and had maintained a strict distance from media after the news broke out.
They had, for four days, worked sincerely in a coastal village with population higher than most villages in coastal areas that were destroyed due to floods. It was Dhananjay's first time working without dozens of cameras clicking his pictures or recording his every muscle movement. He had protested of course but to be only shut off by Arnav. After four days of grueling work in rain and still water, Arnav made his move.
Arnav had received a packet containing photographs of the day. After spending one hour looking through them, he decided on one and had placed a phone call. Ten hours later, the photo was printed on the front page of a local newspaper. Three hours later, local news channel had come to the field and had tried to get an interview out of Dhananjay. With coached and practiced apathy towards self-glorification in the time of tragedy, Dhananjay brushed off the media and continued to perform the work allocated to him. Two hours later, state run news channel ran a one minute segment on the flood affected area which showed Dhananjay carrying a woman to her husband.
It had taken less than fifteen minutes for the news go national then.
"Khushi, your father is on line three," Keerti said walking in. Khushi muted the television and picked up the phone.
"I need to talk to you. Can we meet?" Her father asked without exchanging pleasantries. It had been three months since they last spoke yet the man had made the conversation centered on him.
"I have to check my appointments. Talk to Keerti and she should be able to put you in sometime later this week," she replied with indifference.
"It can't wait. It's not going to be rumor anymore." He said allowing the words to weigh the importance of the meeting request.
"How early can we meet?" Khushi asked, serious.
"As fast as the elevator takes me to your floor. I am coming up to your office now," he replied and hung up. Khushi stared at the receiver for a moment and shook her head. Her father was already in the building.
Her father entered her office six minutes later which had given her just enough time to shove all confidential files on her table to the nearest cupboard.
"When is it going to break out?" She asked as soon as her father entered her office.
"In less than two days it's going to be national media circus again." Her father said sitting down on sofa. "I spoke to Sampat last night and told him about it. Your firm will get a head start of one day while you get almost two days," he said.
"You told my boss's boss who happens to be a partner in this firm and the one who is going to work on this problem. And I get to know about this in advantage because…" she asked staring her father down.
"It's because of Rathore," he replied.
"Rathore gets an entire staff to work on his people, father. Why does he want me to know it in advance when I am not even on that team?"
"Frankly, I don't know the relevance but I think it's Arnav behind that message. I, Rathore and this firm's partners' had a meeting last night. This firm which mostly specializes in strategic risk management will be handling the blow out of the scandal under close media watch. I know that a WAR room has already been set up, staffing has been done and prepping is already in progress. Day after tomorrow, a statement will be issued by the committee that is currently handling the special incentive program for coal miners."
"That's the trigger then," Khushi said. "I don't know how you are involved in this nor do I care about it but I still want to know if your involvement is going to bring any hassles that I should be aware of," Khushi asked nonchalantly. Her father, if pissed, didn't show.
"I am not involved in this. I am not associated with this bill in any form," he said shrugging.
"Yet, you were there with the partners who are going to handle the mess and their premium client. I wonder why," she asked.
"I am not going to lie about my association with the partners or Rathore Khushi. I have known them since I was in late teens and Sampat much before. Don't forget I am a corporate lawyer who was the most billed lawyer in the country who quit the job when P.V. Narasimha Rao changed the mixed economic model of Nehru to a market driven one. And I quit because I was on advisory committee to then finance minister who launched India's globalization angle of the reforms that implemented IMF policies to rescue the country from an almost economic collapse. I think I still got some game in me," he added the last part boyishly. Khushi didn't contest the smartness of her father or the influence his name carried in economic committees but she still couldn't understand his non-involvement in the scandal.
Her father may be brilliant but he was as corrupt as any street politician.
"Thank you father," she said and stood up ending the meeting. Her father nodded.
"Did Rathore really give you this message father?" She asked sitting down and pulling files. Senior Gupta stopped in his tracks and turned around to see his daughter ignoring his presence.
"Are you telling me that you really didn't know the scandal which is about to go public in two days? Sampat was particularly happy about the review you wrote for the statement which is yet to be issued to the public," her father said with a hint of smile.
"If you want to talk, improvise on the ruse to find me," she said not looking at him. She had played along the charade after hearing the tiredness in her father's voice. Though they had a strained relationship, she owed and was thankful for a lot for influence he had had in her life.
"Okay," he said, grinning and walked out. Keerti came in almost immediately.
"You have a phone call," she said handing her a cellphone. Khushi nodded and took the phone from Keerti and waited till her secretary closed the office door behind her.
"Yes?" She said on the phone knowing who would be on the other end.
"I didn't find anything," Payal said. "There is nothing in their books which could tie them to CMSEC – Coal Miners' Special Economic Commission. It's almost as if they tried very hard to stay ten miles away from everything that was related to this commission. Rathore, Dhananjay and Arnav are off the hooks for this one." Payal said. Khushi didn't refute the comment.
"Is there anything else I should know?" Khushi asked anyway.
"There is another thing Khushi." Payal's voice had grown serious suddenly. Khushi waited for a response. "The NGO which kept a watch on the commission is driven by severe right-wingers. This NGO acts as a front to anti-corruption and the people who appear on pamphlets, brochures or in any form of media aren't the one running the show. They are just pretty faces with good acting skills and decent qualifications."
"What are you talking about? They were vetted by several media houses and government agencies when they started talking about corruption in leading PSUs."
"It's a bogus NGO which is primarily designed only to deal with this scandal and they have been preparing for it for a very long time." Payal replied.
"How easy is it to find out about their authenticity? No one has found out about it, so it should be okay, right?" Khushi asked, her heart suddenly picking up pace.
"I don't think anyone has looked them up seriously. If high court decides to intervene and investigate this NGO, which in this case it will since ruling party is going to be in deep shit, it's possible that the real players of NGO might be exposed." Payal replied. "Indian judiciary if allowed to use their authority can be deadliest force against anything illegal." Payal added.
"Who did you trace it back to?" Khushi asked dreading the answer.
"Bhanu Pratap Rathore," Payal said. Khushi cursed.
"Is it possible to…digress, somehow?" Khushi asked.
"I cannot fully fix it Khushi but I can give it a shot. It will only stall the process," Payal said. Khushi knew where this was coming from. Arnav had assumed that the leak had come from someone high up the government. He had no idea that the entire set up was done by the party he represented.
If Bhanu Pratap was indeed the one behind the scandal expose, Rathore being a neutral party to the dealings of the CMSEC would be out of question. Rathore would be seen as a villain who orchestrated the dent and political slander on current government. The ruling party would start digging up things that she and her firm tried very hard to bury for more than fifty years the outcome of which wouldn't do anyone any good. It would be a full on war between political parties and Dhananjay's case would now be dealt with more steam and momentum than she had the capacity to keep up with it.
She placed a call to Arnav's private number to summarize the latest mess they were getting into as everything he had built for two years was now looking ready to be demolished.
The storm had indeed come.
Pati Patni Aur Panga
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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