Peek into the past
He couldnt withdraw he wanted to actively explore lease options, but first he awaited a report from his private sleuths on what Jha was all about, he had encountered 1000s in his lifetime
from used car dealers in Arya Samaj Road to property dealers in Sainik farms to "lobbyists" that supplied "women" to political parties on race course road, he had met crooks of every shape size and form
He had met wheelers and dealers over lunch, he had met safari suit clad gold watch wearing "hustlers" outside Ministry of Commerce & Industry Depptt of Export Import and outside Aykar Bhavan (IT Deptt) at ITO
He had contacts in Crime Branch CBI and Revenue Intelligence, he hadnt been raided once...
many of his acquaintances were arrested for white collar crimes and had to use legal loopholes to get out
and got away, local MCD employees later turned politicians still bowed to him reverentially
He had a lot of political and financial clout, he owned and operated Swiss Bank Accounts, he paid his taxes in "full" and stayed clean for the most part
You HAD to get your hands dirty in Delhi. There was no second opinion about it
Savita was the driving force behind his ethics, she wasnt Saraswati or Lakshmi or Durga,
but would explain things to him pragmatically, she had a MA in Sociology, she said "The consequences of a quick buck can be felt long after like after shocks of a earth quake"
His son had talked with him less than 10 times in the last 4 years,
he might have spoken with him atleast five in the last month. He still avoided being alone with him in any setting'
Even at Spectrum when they both stepped out of their rooms, (Mrs Sagar was doubling up as both their admins now), Ranjan would begin to smile but arrest it, when he wouldnt see any on R&B's face, he would gently turn and go back
This scene played out many times as Mrs Sagar witnessed it, she would reverentially get up and move towards him, upon seeing him re enter his roomshe would turn to face his son
Ranjan was still"Sending their share" to their respective Bank accounts every month, salary/earnings/interest whatever it was, it was going into R&B's even before the scandal R&B rarely write a check from it, when he
last checked "most" of it was rolled over into tax deferred investments of some sort, his wealth manager had insisted "he bring his son along" for meetings
He would promise, pretending to have "forgotten" every time
If the wealth manager suspected anything... he didnt say...
Sometimes he questioned his own motives to expand recklessly into every Northern state.
He was once put on statins, he went off it based on sheer discipline, his BP shot up soon after Savita passed, he spent a couple nights at Sam's and returned
R&B was "unreachable", or wrapping up in Hong Kong, nobody knew.
He had not said a word from the moment Savita's news came and the moment he left for the airport two weeks later
Sometimes to Ranjan it felt like they had come a long way... sometimes they stood where they were on the day he woke in his underwear on that bed
Ranjan wandered by the huge windows in his room... walked out and wandered to his son's room, Mrs Sagar tried not to "look"
The general assistant/ copier chap paused wondering what the CEO was about to do
"Kaise ho beta" he asked
"Jee theek sir" he muttered
"Sir ka copy job tha" he said
He handed R&B's what looked like stacks of glossy proposals of some sort, spiral bound
Some were in French
"Mujhe deejiye" Mrs Sagar scolded the boy
"Its OK mrs Sagar, I get to move my arms and legs" he winked
She nodded politely sitting down
He went in and placed it on the coffee table. The large redwood desk gleaming... clean... a Calendar depicting Venture Capital humor sat on it
A bunch of people sat around in chairs a banner hung "Startups Anonymous" one guy was confessing "Seven companies in three years" was today's humor
Ranjan chuckled... Dry and sharp just like his son
There was a few bottles of water some half empty, the huge 40 inch Apple desktop flashed pictures of some European trek.. none featured him
The coffee table was neatly organized... with stacks of files pens and books about music...
It was impersonal, functional and clean... he wandered to the window he found his son staring out of. He saw what his son saw... the busy Spectrum intersection
10s of people tried to cross... there was honking, and people weaving between speeding vehicles, sometimes Ranjan felt like that...
He would go play tennis sometimes when he was at Modern... he would beat him in ever game, "Did u expect me to be kind Dad?" he would ask chuckling
"I expect you to win" he would say
His son usually locked his room when he went away on trips, looks like he was in today... Ranjan could give himself a tour, uninvited...
Ranjan drove to Max that evening... Samar had texted he had arrived at Delhi, Harish was going to get him,
it was after 8 ish. He had a meeting with his lawyers on Thursday, tomorrow, April 23rd to understand
the options he had, Bihar government had made announcements about his foray into the state
He pulled into the parking garage and walked over to the elevator
Went to pre natal care
His daughter in law was walking Bala's mother to the rest room
Mrs Iyer stood up and walked over as soon as she saw him, hands hoined in namaste " Arey aap, please aayiye"
He smiled warmly "Mr Iyer?"
"Oh! he went down with Bala to pay for Meds"
"how is she?" he asked
"the doctor is in there" Amma said worried
"I have people in AIIMS Mrs Iyer can we move her?" he offered
"Oh no... I think she is being cared for Sam's Doc knows the Chief Doc"
Ranjan smiled
He saw R&B wander in headphones in his ears... just as always they saw each other from across the room,
like Harish's kids he didnt come running, or touch his feet or ask about the weather or offer his water bottle
Tan came in a few moments later
"hey Dad" aap kab aaye?"
"5 mins ago puttar"
"Visitor hour ka fayda?"
Ranjan nodded smiling
"Has Samar returned?" he asked
"Yes yes" he said
"Deal kar daala aapne?" he asked
"Aisa hi kuch" he smiled
"Kab hai opening"
"Not soon" he said looking at his son
"AGM mein announce karenge is that why u are secretive?"
Ranjan laughed "Arey nahi puttar" "Its all out in the open" he said in a resigned way
"is everything OK dad"
"yes yes beta" he patted Tan's shoulder fondly
"To khareed rahe hain lease kar rahe hain?"
"Abhi to woh laut raha hai" Ranjan said
"Lease huh?" Tan winked
Tan was like R&B very perceptive and sharp, one word he could glean the entire story
"Bihar is a place that requires lot of caution" Ranjan said
"I understand" Tan nodded
Mr Iyer and Bala arrived
"How are you Mr Iyer" he did a namaste
"Good Mr Bhalla, thanks for coming
"How are u beta" he asked Bala
"fine sir" he smiled
"Please, u can call me Dad or Uncle Vandita is like a daughter"
Appa looked at him like "I GAVE THAT SON OF YOURS ONE ALREADY, LET THIS ONE BE MINE PLEASE"
"How is she?" he asked
"Better, but we hope by Sat they let her go"
Ranjan asked stats, Bala rattled them off
"Ur daughter or son will give u immense joy Bala" Ranjan said
"thanks SI... Uncle"he smiled weakly
"Where is my daughter in law" he smiled
"She was with my Amma" Bala smiled
Appa:Would you like coffee?
"No no, you must not go, Tan will go" he smiled at Tan
Tan smiled nodding
II returned... "dad" she said
He hugged her warmly... "Aap miley?" she asked
"Milaane waali to bhaag gayi mujhe dekhte hi" he smiled wickedly
"I can... now" she nodded
"Apne miya ko milaya?"
"Jee... umm.. nahi... umm abhi" she nodded "I can get him
Ranjan watched her walk away... Bala shared some reports with Mr Iyer
R&B got up, bending down by II lips to hear... she spoke animatedly, he smiled... and nodded
She spoke and spoke and spoke... he said one sentence, she held his hand
and brought him to Ranjan...
'
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