Over the next few days Bhaskar accompanied Rash all over Mumbai and the nearby suburbs. She tried to contact all the businesses which catered to the wedding.
Jeet was frustrated that she talked in private. Sometimes she disguised herself but sometimes she was the journalist.
Finally as her work concluded she locked herself in her office.
" That meeting with Home minister is due", said Guru." Both of us plus Panther. Eagle joins on his side".
" We are all set", said Jeet.
" Okay".
Next day
" Rash love you work hard", Jeet got her an orange juice and one for himself.
" I am going to meet him", she said. " Legally this time", she said
" Meet him at a public place", suggested Jeet. " I'll talk to Zeeshu. Bhaskar is shipped off to an assignment. "
" Fine", she said.
" One more thing", he said.
" Yes".
" Virat Malhotra is back", he sighed.
Rash scrunched her nose.
" He is still alive. He must die of drug overdose or some STD by now", she said.
Virat Malhotra was a socialite in high circles. His forefathers had earned enough for his worthless existence opined Rash. And all he did was waste that money.
Jeet chuckled.
He was on a world tour", said Jeet.
Rash snorted.
" What was he financing this time", she asked.
" Swimsuit models", answered Jeet.
Rash snorted again.
" He could advertise a c*ndom", she said.
" Spare me from him".
" Tough luck", he said. " We both are invited to his party. I don't want to but...", he was saying.
" Pass", said Rash. " I'll rather touch the electric pole and take my chances".
Jeet burst out laughing.
" What are you both discussing", Shaun asked as he entered. " Hello fighter", he kissed her cheeks. " I heard you declared a bounty on Guru's head".
" I am not discussing that Neanderthal ", she made a face.
" Oh yeah it was Virat Malhotra we were discussing ", said Jeet smirking.
" Ohh hell"! Rash said dramatically, " Why can't they be gobbled up my some monster and spare me"?
Both the men burst out laughing...
Rash started working right after the breakfast while Shaun quietly discussed her condition with him.
" We can use a surrogate. I got her eggs frozen. And she is still fertile even for the lack of periods. I asked the doctors to keep multiple sets though. If she wants a child.. ", he was saying
" She is not mentally ready my friend and I will not thrust my will on her. Her body her decision. "
Shaun nodded in understanding.
" So Viru is back", he said.
" And the news is not good", said Jeet seriously.
" So our suspicions are correct", asked Shaun.
" I am afraid so", said Jeet.
" Ministry", queried Shaun.
" Positive ", said Jeet. " And army too".
" Damn. Panther got proofs", he asked.
" Yeah", he said.
" Viru's throwing a party. That will bring him in spotlight", Jeet said. " Family money. Extravaganza. Kryptonite of our targets".
" The upcoming meeting", asked Shaun.
" Let's hope it swings our way", said Jeet.
Shaun prayed. " All the best", he said.
Venue: The Secretariat
Time : 10 P. M.
Guru and Jeet were seated in a secret room. Bodyguards waited outside. A young man of around 28 entered.
" Panther reporting sir".
" Take a seat", said Jeet.
In next 15 minutes another set of bodyguards arrived. An old man in his late fifties walked in. He was tall and walked with a straight back. The straight posture indicated army roots. He has with him a man of about 30.
" Sir", Jeet and Guru saluted.
" Sit Oberoi. Sit Walia. Begin", said the man.
Jeet was facing Mr. Manilal Gandhi the Central Home Minister and his party's second in command after the Prime Minister. Though Deepak Lalwani ; the PM was the face of party this man right here was the strategic genius behind it's success. To convince him of the theory Jeet was suggesting would be a Herculean task but once he is on board Jeet can move ahead with conviction.
Manilal Gandhi
Age 58 years
Home Minister of the country
Army veteran
" As we all know currently we are sitting in the midst of a volcano. The West capitalism and the far left red forces are at loggerheads with each other. Currently we have balanced a narrow edge with maintaining good relations on both sides", said Guru
" We can't afford otherwise ", said Mr. Gandhi in a stern tone.
Guru nodded.
" With our city on coast and being the economic hub we need to be extra cautious".
" Not only of the external enemy but also of the forces that work internally to weaken us", said Jeet. " Panther", he ordered.
" In his father's term Mr. Oberoi stumbled upon a few discrepancies in the work of ministry", said Panther
" What kind", enquired the HM.
" Grants to organization which do not exist" Said Panther.
" Government money embezzlement ", asked Mr. Gandhi.
" Way more than that", said Panther. " As he was speculative Mr. Oberoi asked me to investigate. The grants traced back to separatists and even red forces."
" EAGLE", Mr. Gandhi spoke a single word.
The young man looked keenly at Panther's reports.
Then he clicked a few buttons on his tablet. He looked grim after ten minutes.
" The transfers are authentic", he said.
Mr. Gandhi's face remain expression less. So was Jeet's though he was nervous. He need to convince this man. He was trained for a poker face. But his hands squeezed a squeezer a nervous habit.
" Continue", said the HM.
Panther next presented media reports. It was of attack on top businesses. And that of strikes and closure.
" A systematic method to close our incomes. Attack top businesses. Cause strikes, Attack CEO'S and internal corruption.
" We got the audit reports of three such businesses which we were able to save", said Guru.
" Red forces", asked theEagle.
" Could be western agents. We cannot trust anyone", said Jeet.
Mr. Gandhi nodded in agreement.
" Now carefully look at the dates of transfers and that of these instances with business ", said Jeet.
Nobody knew Jeet has removed one report. It was of SS entreprises. Dragon will deal with those people personally.
" You missed one crucial thing", Jeet said to Eagle pointing at one date.
" Heavens", said the Eagle showing the date to Mr. Gandhi.
" This was.. the date when he was attacked", said Mr. Gandhi.
" Right after amidst pressure he declared a neutral stance", nodded Jeet. " Increase his security. They want an internal disturbance."
" Sir this is a red alert", said the Eagle.
" Calm down", said Mr. Gandhi. " We can't have a state of emergency in the country. Those people want this very thing. "
" We have an intel of coup de etat in one of our neighbors", said Eagle.
" We leave them to their fate", Mr. Gandhi brushed off. Jeet knew he hated the current leader there.
" Anyway related to us", he queried.
" None except for refugee influx", said Eagle.
" Seal the borders ", said the HM
" Yes sir", he said.
" I believe you have a solution for this Oberoi ", asked Mr. Gandhi.
Jeet relaxed. He was on board.
A tough negotiation swinging his way..
" A suggestion ", he tested waters.
" Go ahead", he asked.
" Alert him and you sir need to order him about his security. He is callous ".
" I agree", said Mr. Gandhi.
" I need to investigate. Reports suggest the mastermind is around me and everything will start here. Let's diffuse before it begins", said Jeet.
" What do you want", he asked.
" Three things", Jeet was clear.
" Shoot".
" 1. An audience with the P. M.
2 Eagle
3. An order to investigate my ministers and other MLA's".
" Hmm Eagle you get starting now. PM is busy on world tours next month. Let's squeeze you in after that somehow. You will have something by then. Third request denied officially but use your secret machinery to investigate. Solid proofs and official permission comes your way. "
" As you say sir", said Jeet.
" I want to get to the bottom of this", said Mr. Gandhi. " Clear", he asked.
" Crystal sir".
" Dismissed ", he said and left. Panther left too.
" Hot date", he winked.
Eagle stayed back.
" Join us for a Knightcap ", asked Jeet.
" Paradise to celebrate you winning this tough negotiation".
" Paradise it is", said Jeet.
And around midnight the men walked into the paradise.