Rewind Time: Same day, 11:45 AM
“Bhai, please. It’s his first match. Can’t we think of another oe?” pleaded Sahil Shah.
“No, it has all been fixed here. Money has changed hands” replied Bhai
Running the business wasn’t easy anymore. Loyalties kept shifting, double agents lurked everywhere, and each deal was becoming a headache.
Around 12:00 PM, Bhai calls up Boss in India. What kind of a name was that? Bhai smirked as the call went through.
Changing Bose to Boss may have sounded silly to most, but Boss loved it — everyone, even kingpins, had to call him Boss.
20 crore was the deal for a seat under the KJP banner for the upcoming election. Boss had managed to gather it all, but his hunger was insatiable. He wasn’t just after influence; he was thirsty for the kind of power that bent people to your will. Money had always come easy to him — he lived king size, sprawling bungalow, luxury cars, a following that bowed when he walked by.
But political power was different. It wasn’t about show, it was about control. It would give his life a new dimension, one that even wealth couldn’t buy.
And Bhai was his way to that dream. The man had reach, resources, and most importantly, the kind of muscle that made obstacles disappear. Boss knew that as long as Bhai stood behind him, his seat under the KJP banner was not just possible, it was inevitable.
Bhai had no patience for pleasantries.
He asked straight, “Where’s the money?”
Boss replied quickly, trying to sound assured, “The advance is in, the balance will clear soon.”
“Soon doesn’t work,” Bhai snapped. “I need it before the match.”
Boss hesitated only for a moment. “It will be there. Don’t worry.”
“I don’t worry,” Bhai said, voice low and deliberate. “I arrive when money doesn’t. And when I arrive, people remember.”
With that, he cut the call, leaving Boss staring at the dead line, his palms damp.
Boss was not in a good position now. He had promised 20 crore but he was short of 3. Bhai was never open to negotiation over time or money.
It wasn’t going as per plan. He needed that money desperately. Seth was the only one who could get the money at such short notice but he would need the bhang for barter.
He called up Seth, “Hello Seth”
“Urgent 3 cr”
“Bhang for exchange”
“Of course, I will keep my word, remember next election I am running. We can be of great help to each other”
At 3:30 PM, Boss’s phone rang again
“Boss, bad news, small problem in customs. Our guys are on it, but it may take another four hours.” said his agent at the other end
“F…k” said Boss
Boss was out of options. He needed that 3 crore. His final chance was to somehow negotiate with the delivery agent who had arrived right on schedule.
He knew the man well — Chandra. Seth’s right hand in these matters. A tough nut to crack, not the type to be swayed by words or favors.
“Is the cash ready?” Boss asked, forcing a steadiness into his voice.
“Yes,” Chandra replied coolly, “and the bhang?”
Boss hesitated, his mind racing. “Small problem, Chandra. Customs. Another three to four hours. I’ll talk to Seth, smooth it out.”
Chandra’s eyes hardened. His reply was immediate, final.
“No. I will speak to Seth.”
Boss’s guards began to pull out their guns.
No, not here signalled Boss
He was desperate for the money but he did not want any funny business happening in the hotel premises. He had too much at stake
“Ha, Seth, bhang another four hours, what should I do?” asked Chandra
“Deal is off” said Chandra to the Boss as he finished the call
“C’mon Chandra, we have been in the business for too long” Boss tried to reason
“I will give you a commission. I need that money Chandra”
Chandra did not like the suggestion and he was fuming now as he lifted the money bag and walked out, “Boss, this deal is off the table.”
Boss felt out of sorts.
“Sir do we chase him” asked his henchmen. Boss was thinking hard. He got another call, he listened patiently and then answered “Yes, yes, no problem” and then turned to his guards
“No, forget it, let him be. We will wait for the information from customs. If our guys can’t get our hand on the stuff in another 2 hours, I will call the deal off.” he said to his PA.
At around 7:40 PM, Boss reluctantly dials Bhai, “Bhai money could not be arranged”
Bhai remained silent, “I thought you were more capable than this”
Boss, “Bhai, next time there won’t be an issue. I hope this doesn’t affect our deal on that seat?”
“F..K off Boss” said Bhai and cuts the call.
Boss takes a deep breath and then lets out a sigh.
“I am off on a long vacation. Get rest of the cash out from here right away. Book one way tickets to Mauritius” says Boss to his PA and goes off to the bar to get a drink.
In Dubai, Bhai was not happy. The 20 cr was going to yield him the billions he required to seal the deal and he had been chasing the deal for a while now. Calling out a bet minutes before the target players would get onto the crease was not rare but it was frowned upon. He would have a lot of explaining to do to his partners since a proposed bet had been dropped at the last minute.
Bhai throws his glass of whisky at the wall and then sends an SMS out to India.
“Deal called off”
He turned around and looked at his American friend from the Consulate.
“Not happening my brother, ….so I don’t get the name of your mole in the Company and you don’t get your funding for the Senate nominations.”
“Let’s wait for the Australia ODI in September” says Bhai with an air of reassurance.
The American would’ve shown him the finger—if he hadn’t lost it the last time he tried.
Time: 8:00 PM
Comments
Post a Comment