The Thunderbird
It is considered a supernatural bird of power and strength. The thunderbird's name is said to originate from the belief that the beating of its enormous wings causes thunder and stirs the wind. The Lakota name for the thunderbird is Waknyn, from wakhn, meaning "sacred", and ky, meaning "winged".
Centaur Pharmaceuticals- blessing from the God or enemy of the states?
By : Avik Das #
Shakespeare Lane, 22/12/1990 : It's hard to miss the advertisements of Centaur Pharmaceuticals painted on the streets of Kolkata these days.
Opened nearly 2 years ago, the then small budget company, which started in a shabby old hut in Shakespeare lane, made a buzz when it started giving out medicines for malaria 40% lower rates than rest. The founder, Durga Prasad Maheswari, a second generation Marwari immigrant became an overnight God for the poor in those dark times, saving them from the clutches of money hungry medicine companies and Death.
Those days are far behind now, one would understand if they go to Shakespeare Shoroni *1
today. The outbreak is long gone, there are no refugee camps, no smell of decomposed bodies, no paniced faces. There is no Durga Prasad Maheswari in a shabby old hut too. Now, he has a two storied office, 3 warehouses filled with supplies, and many connection throughout the state. His rest of the family has migrated from Bikaner, Rajasthan, and they are now living in a mansion like house situated on the posh area of Park Street. He used to be someone who run around in his old, ragged sandals, the soles had a possibility of coming out any moment. Now he has a 1960 Fiat.
So, what's behind this sudden meteoric rise? How a man who gave away rare malaria medicines in the crucial time, who had nothing 2 years back except for his clothes on his back, become one of the wealthiest Man in Kolkata?
The answer is not easy.
Experts, who have noticed the growth of Centaur Pharmaceuticals, says that after the Malaria outbreak, other Pharmaceutical companies were crushed. Public was outraged at their nonchalance and hunger for money when death was knocking at their door. Till this day, they have not forgiven them. Disha Medicines Supply, who used to dominate Kolkata, now struggles to make its ends meet; same is with other local companies. Durga Prasad Maheswari is a legend among the citizens and his new found company exploits it.
But not everyone supports this theory. An employee of the company, who had refused to give his name, raised some legitimate questions to the correspondent. "Our company sells medicine in a much lower rate than market price. We should run in losses, but we don't. Our turnover in this year alone is 30 Crore, and expected to reach 50 next. I don't understand how this is possible that not only we make money, but also we are expanding every year?" This employee also voice out his concern that the company might be giving out counterfeit medicines to cheat people. At the time of printing this Article, he is expected to write to the Department of Medicine, Nilratan Medicial College*2 in the hope of persuading the Head of DoM for a surprise quality check. "I am confident that there is something wrong with the supplies we send out, and hopefully if and when, DoM head comes here it will be proven right. Mr. Maheswari is a powerful Man, he has friends in high places and he will use everything to get out of this mess. I have faith in the Judiciary system that he won't once it's established that Centaur Pharma is nothing but a fraud. He has been cheating with people's sentiments for 2 years now, it's time he is stopped."
This is a big accusation, and if DoM of Nilratan Medical College does visit and finds something wrong with the medicines, it will the biggest scandal West Bengal has ever seen. Till then, amidst the whispers and cheers, the chariot of Centaur Pharma and Durga Prasad Maheswari remains unstoppable. Only time will tell if it's God's blessing to the citizen of Kolkata in dark days, or just another fungi sucking our blood for profit.
Durga Prasad Maheswari closed the file and kept it on his desk, focusing on the Man sitting in front of him. Dressed in rich colors, dark green kurta and black suit pants, he was a far cry from the man on streets two years back, who had only a pair of worn out sandals and dirty Kurta- Pajama.
"Nice article, Mr. Das. Quite elaborate and intriguing. I love the headline, a touch of drama. Just what readers want." He removed the glasses, took out a white handkerchief and started to clean it, occasionally giving puff of air for condensation.
Avik Das, the reporter of Kolkata Songbaad,*3 gulped once, a drop of sweat rolling down his temple and cheek as he met the former's eyes. His eyes were red and had dark circles underneath, as if he was dragged out his bed.
"Now, I have no issue with you." Durga Prasad started once again, putting on his glasses, "It's your job to write things. I won't condemn you for doing your job."
"Then why am I here?" He shivered a little.
"I want to know," He intertwined his fingers together and leaned forward, "who is this employee of my company writing to DoM of Nilratan?"
Avik exhaled a breath deeply, answering and bracing himself at the same time, "I can't tell you."
A fist collided with his nose two seconds later, making him cry out pain.
Durga Prasad merely looked at the person in mild irritation, "Let us talk first, Shekhar. Don't be so brute."
Shekhar, his right hand man and close friend, raise his hands in the air, giving a faux-innocent look. He was the total antithesis of Durga Prasad. In loose retro pants and printed shirts, every inch of his being screamed cruelty and darkness. Subtlety was not his forte, Shekhar Gadodia.
Shaking his head a little, the former turned to the reporter. "As I was asking Mr. Das, the name of my employee?"
Avik panted a few times, then gritted out, "Go to hell."
"Every one of us is destined for eternal damnation, Mr. Das. You know what is the catch? How fast we reach there." Durga Prasad said dryly, "From where I am sitting, the chances of you being there faster than the rest of us is quite . . . disturbing."
"Why don't we get down to torture?" Shekhar looked irritated now, "I am sick of words."
"Mr. Das is a reporter, Shekhar. He won't survive your interrogation tactics."
"Then he should really start talking, no?" He took a handful of the reporter's hair and pulled behind, making him cry out. Durga Prasad stared intently at the man, testing how far they needed to go before he cracks.
Turned out, it didn't take much time. He had never been proven wrong to judge a man's character, and truly, Avik Das was not the one who stays fiercely loyal when it's his life on the line. He gave up the employee's name, and soon after that, just when a flicker of hope had been rising in his chest, Shekhar Gadodia took out a knife swiftly, hidden under his shirt, and slit his throat.
An undisclosed time later, a few men can be seen cleaning up the blood off the floor as Shekhar scrubbed his knife clean in a bucket filled with dirty water. He addressed Durga Prasad as he stood up, tucking it under his shirt.
"Swaraj Bose will be in Office soon. We should start moving."
"The employee?"
"I will take care of it."
The duo walked out of the room and headed for the former's 1960 Fiat. A security guard who stood just under the banner 'Centaur Pharma- Godown 4 under construction', saluted them as they drove off.
21st February, 2015
"Let's give the man a big round of applause, ladies and gentlemen! Mr. Durga Prasad Maheswari!"
The loud cheers and claps of appreciations jolted Durga Prasad out his reverie. Giving a polite smile to his wife, Annapurna, who sat beside him, he stood up, folding his hands to greet the crowd. The host of the award show shook hands with him, then let him take over the stage.
"Thank you, ladies and gentlemen." Durga Prasad laughed slightly at the continuous claps, "I am humble, truly. Please be seated."
Annapurna lifted her chin, her smile small yet the eyes gave away her excitement and pride at the man. Beside her Sujata, her Sister-in-Law, looked mildly affronted, but covered it up quickly and clapped with a little bit more force than necessary.
"Thank you, to the members of the jury. It's the highest honor you can give me, Sera Bangali Somman*4, despite me being an immigrant." Durga Prasad sobered up, "This city has given me much. It's been my home for . . . "
"Yawn." Sitting in midst of the crowd who listened to the man itself with rapt attention, the young guy whispered, "I hate Dad's speeches, so long and boring." He tapped his foot on ground in impatience, "When can I get out of here?"
Beside him, a pretty girl in dark red one- shouldered gown shook her head, looking at him with a mixture of adoration and exasperation, "Lakshya, you should be up there."
He rolled eyes, "Yeah, and I am never getting out of here."
"You are his family." She insisted. Lakshya checked his watch once again, desperate than ever.
"Mom is there, that's enough." He let out a low growl at the length speech of his Father, startling the people sitting in the front row. The girl flashed them a smile quickly, but then Lakshya got up and started walking out of the event.
The girl ran behind him, catching up only when he was about to open his car-door, "Lakshya!" She called out, one hand carrying her dress as she ran toward him, "Are you really sneaking out?"
He turned around with a smirk, cocking head, "What does it look like, Ragini?"
There was something in his voice, the way he called out her name. It made her flush.
"Others will mind."
"Are not you a perfect little girl?" He took a step toward her, eyes boring holes into her. His eyes roamed over her, taking in her black heels, the red dress which made her look like a seductress, stopping slightly at her bare shoulder, then going over on her lips. Painted in a dark red, in the exact same shade of her dress.
"You look beautiful, Ragini."
She looked up, her cheeks flaming, "Sach?"
"I don't compliment ugly girls, you should know that." He didn't notice the flash of anger at his words, too busy to play with a strand of her hair, "I was thinking to go the new club on the other side of town. You should come."
"That's too far." She answered, trying to keep down her uneven breath. Lakshya took another step toward her.
"I will drop you home afterwards." He lowered his voice until it's just a whisper, "Please?"
Their eyes locked. Ragini could feel his hand just hovering over her hair, not quite touching, but teasing her. His eyes had a strange pull, the promise of something exciting, but not necessarily a good adventure. Dark and exciting, that's what Lakshya is.
The sudden cheer startled her and Lakshya smirked once again, pulling back his hand.
"Okay." She nodded, licking her lip once, "But drop me home before 1."
"Aye aye, Mademoiselle." He tried to mimic a French accent and failed miserably. She giggled as he moved to open the car door for her.
Inside the venue, a man with a woman hovered near the backstage, their hands intertwined. The man was placating the woman who looked worried.
"Don't worry, Pari. After we get home I will talk to Dad myself. He will understand, of course."
The woman met his warm eyes, feeling the bullshit in his words, "Don't make promises you can't keep, Adarshji."
He looked around before lowering his head and speaking quietly, "You have to trust me."
"I do trust you." Pari smiled a little, squeezing his hand once, "But I don't trust Dad. He will never let us go."
"He will." Adarsh assured her, "He will once he knows it's not just us anymore. There is someone else involved now." He gave a significant look at her still flat belly, his face softening, "There is nothing a parent won't do for his child. He will understand."
"I am trying to make you choose." She rushed, cutting off his gentle hush, "No, you should hear this. I don't want you to regret this later. Dad always had his fair share of enemies, but it's not 90s anymore. They are dangerous, you know what nearly happened with Uttara. I don't want that kind of danger around our child. I just want a little bit of peace, with you, me, and our baby."
"I understand, of course I do." He rubbed soothing circles over her back, "Tonight. I promise. And then we will go where you want to. If you want to leave the country, we can do it as well. Just trust me, okay?"
She nodded once, a real smile stretching across her lips.
Standing on the stage along with Shekhar Gadodia and The Maheswaris, Sharmishtha Gadodia looked over the crowd in concern, trying to search it for someone. Her eyes landed over a young girl in Blue anarkali who stood right near the stage, silently asking her something. The girl blinked her eyes in assurance and then walked away, trying to find this person Sharmishtha wanted her to.
And found her near Pani-puri stall. Shaking her head, she walked toward the person and tapped over shoulder.
"Ah oh." The person, a beautiful girl with sparkly doe eyes with her lip caught in between her teeth, looked chastised, "Busted."
The girl rested her hands over hips, "You had food poisoning last week. What are you doing here?" Giving the stall owner a stern gaze, she ordered, "Cut her off. Give me the bill."
"It's free, Uttara." The girl exclaimed, throwing away the plate in her hands and nearly wiping the juice on her dress, but stopping at the right time. The former took a couple of tissues from the vendor and handed it over, which she took with a quick smile, "Courtesy of Event organizer. You should have too, they are so good."
"No thanks. It's unhygienic."
"One of these days, you need to experience it. Or else you will be old and with no teeth to enjoy these awesome tastes."
Uttara rolled eyes at her dramatics, "Ho gaya?" Then gave her dress a once over, displeased at the choice, "What are you wearing?"
"Don't start Tara." The girl started moving away, throwing the used tissue casually somewhere as she walked, "Maa picked it up. Ragini did the makeup which feels like 2 kilo worth of weight. This Dupatta," She fingered the dark green fabric with heavy embroidery, "never stays in the same place despite Dida putting at least 12 pins all over. I am exhausted just by walking. I want to go home and put on my pajamas."
Uttara smirked, the slight similarity with her cousin Lakshya on display as she asked, "Did you do anything?"
"I let others play dress up." Both girls burst in laughter after this comment. Sobering up, Uttara realized why she was looking for her in the first place and slapped her own head.
"Oho! I totally forgot it." She caught one arm of the former and dragged her toward the stage, "Aunty was looking for you."
"And you came to rescue."
"Swara." Uttara chided, at the same time both girls stiffened at the sound of fireworks. The Maheswari heiress stood rigid, her eyes unfocused and body tensed. Swara looked back and forth between the fireworks and her, then cleared her throat, effectively snapping her back to reality.
"Shall we leave?"
Uttara nodded quickly, and both the ladies moved toward the stage.
Somewhere in the world, a man sat in front of an old tv, the picture quality so bad that it makes you teary eyed just by staring at it. Yet the Man's gaze never moved, his jaw clenching and unclenching every now and then, the same rhythm he continued with the remote in his hands. A crow screeched loudly, shattering the chilly silence of the otherwise quiet night, following by a bolt of thunderstorm. Neither broke the man's concentration, the only thing which could tell he was reacting was his forced labor, which had little to do with the sinister darkness around him.
"It might be an unsuitable platform to announce this, but it would be me and my Partner's privilege to do so." Durga Prasad held his head high and looked right into the camera after glancing at Shekhar, who nodded, "After years of cajoling and persuading Mr. Sanyal to give in," The crowd chuckled at his tone, "Disha Health, formerly known as Disha Medical supplies, will soon be merging with Centaur Pharmaceuticals. Once paper works are over there will be a proper announcement from our team of PR."
The crowd broke into a big applause but Durga Prasad was not finished yet. His one hand raised in the air to quieten the crowd and it did, like an object under magician's spell.
"Once again, thank you for the support you people have given me over the years. Hopefully our future heir and heiresses will also enjoy your unconditional love." He folded his hands once more, talking over the surprised murmurs everywhere, "Dhanyabaad."*5
The Man looked down in the floor, as if the rough ground has answers for all his worries. The crows burst into applause inside the TV as Durga Prasad descended, shaking hands with his partner, Shekhar and whispering something to his ears which he returned with a smile. Then he greeted his wife who squeezed his shoulder softly. The camera stopped over them for a couple of seconds, then started capturing the family members nearby, Sharmishtha, Sujata, Uttara, Swara, before returning to Annapurna and Durga Prasad once again.
The Man blinked hard, then looked down at his hands. A long burnt scar on his left wrist glistened in the ray of TV and he traced it with his finger, looking back at the TV once again. This time, his face had one single emotion - Hatred.
"I will destroy you." He vowed, his voice gravelly and full of promises, "And when I do that, I will burn you all until you are nothing but ashes."
"Ashes." He whispered to himself, the thunderstorm outside bearing witness to his attestation.
#- My childhood friend's name. Whatever his fate in this story is, it's not representation of my feelings for him.😆
*1 Shoroni - Street. Shakespeare street/lane.
*2 Nilratan Medical College- A real and prestigious med college in the State of West Bengal.
*3- Songbaad - News. Kolkata News.
*4- Sera Bangaali Somman- Best Bengali award. A real award given by ABP Ananda, a news channel of WB🤣. DP is not a Bengali so it's a rare achievement for him.
*5- Dhonyobaad - Thank you.
Edited by .Avengers. - 9 years ago
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