Chapter 45 - 45 : Maria

Chapter 45: Chapter 45 : Maria

While thinking about the college and his graduation, Das reached the Reddy family villa on his Enfield. Without waiting for anyone, Das went directly inside the main hall of the villa.

Inside the hall, the patriarch and the old man are in a deep discussion with Mr. Rao about the party arrangements. Several businessmen were also seated on the sofas surrounding it.Strangely, young master Richard is not present in this discussion.

"Haha... Das, come on, why are you standing at the door? Come... come inside." The patriarch invited Das with a loud laugh. Das slowly walked inside the hall and sat on a small chair behind the round sofa.

"Das, you are insulting me by sitting in that corner. Come, sit here." The old man pointed towards the sofa across him. Without thinking much, Das sat on the sofa where the old man pointed his cane.

"Patriarch, who is this teenager... why are you allowing him to sit along with us?" A stout middle-aged man questioned who sat among the business people.

"Haha... Mr. Mishra, first tell me this. Before yesterday, you used to work under the Shetty family. But now, you came for my family's support. Why?... Tell me the exact reason." The patriarch directly asked the stout man who questioned about Das.

"Of course, because the Reddy family got support from the chief minister and several political figures and the Shetty family lost a major supporting group because of this. In order to protect my business, I choose to support your family." The stout man answered directly.

"Haha... Das, did you hear what he said?" The patriarch asked Das with a happy smile, instead of giving a reply to that stout man. Das nodded his head in agreement.

"Patriarch... Why are you not replying to my question?" The stout man asked with a little seriousness as the patriarch completely ignored him.

"Cool down, Mishra... cool down. This young man's name is Mohan Das. He is the one who proposed the idea of setting my son's marriage with the chief minister, and because of that, today, you are sitting before me." The patriarch explained to the stout man with a playful smile.

After listening to the patriarch's explanations, the stout man did not ask any more questions about Das. As the stout man was observing Das carefully, Das turned his head and gave him a mysterious smile.

Das sat silently until the meeting is over with the new businessmen around. Later, the patriarch sent everyone away after dealing with different business matters.

"Patriarch, Luna said you asked for me. Is there anything I need to do?..." Das asked with a casual tone.

"It's not a big deal. My father wants to ask your opinion about the posters and advertisements. But Luna said you were sick. So, I already made arrangements for that." The patriarch explained while lighting a Cuban cigar.

"Then, is there anything I need to do?..." Das asked back as he can leave for college if he has no other work to do.

"Das, you have to do an important task before going." The old man replied from the side.

"What is it?..." Das asked with a curious look. The old man signalled the patriarch to explain the situation to Das.

"Das, in the last three days, more than forty percent of the Shetty family supporters has joined my family. Because of the chief minister's support, my family almost got major control over this city. But we are worried about the next move of the Shetty family."

"Because of these drastic changes, we are expecting that the Shetty family might take severe steps against my family. Tell me, Das, what do you think the Shetty family will do in this situation?" The patriarch questioned Das after explaining the present situation to him.

Das thought for a long time before replying to the patriarch. The old man and the patriarch were waiting curiously for his reply.

"Sir, I think the Shetty family won't dare cause any harm to your family members as your family can also do the same thing. In the present situation, the Shetty family has only two ways to counter this situation." Das stopped talking after saying that sentence. The old man gave a meaningful smile towards the patriarch.

"Continue..." the patriarch said in an appreciative tone while drinking a glass of water.

"The best option before the Shetty family is to collaborate with other two powerful families in Mumbai, and the second option is to target your major business market. If my guess is correct, the Shetty family might have already contacted the other two families." Das explained with a thoughtful expression. After listening to his explanation, the old man and the patriarch were staring at Das with an astonished look.

"Das, your guess is hundred percent correct; the Shetty family gained the support of the Mittal family by offering a large share in the ornament business." The patriarch spoke while staring at Das.

"Then what about the Patel family?... As far as I know, the Patel family is also one of the four families that control the business in Mumbai." Das asked back with a straight face.

"Nah, the Patel family always maintained a neutral relationship with other families." The patriarch replied back.

"Then what are you worrying about? ... With just the Mittal family, the Shetty family is not going to cause any big damage to your family." Das said after thinking for a moment.

"Das, you are missing an important point. Before this marriage proposal with the chief minister's daughter, my son Richard had a relationship with the daughter of the Patel family. So, we are afraid that the Patel family will support the Shetty family because of this issue." The patriarch explained the actual situation with a bothersome face.

"Then what are you planning...?" Das asked back with a questioning look.

"At first, we want to check the situation with the Patel family by sending Luna with an invitation to the chief minister's party." As the patriarch continued to explain, the old man beside him signalled for him to stop.

"Das, you also accompany Luna to the Patel house to see the actual situation and, if possible, figure out a way to gain the Patel family's support." The old man said it with a stoic face. After listening to the old man's suggestion, Das nodded his head in the form of approval.

"But I need to know about the family details of the Patel family." Das asked with a curious look.

"The family situation of Patel family is quite simple. The entire Patel family is run by single women. Her name is Maria, and Richard loved her only daughter. Maria's husband died in the same year of her marriage."

"Later, Maria successfully took total control of the Patel family. Because of that 33-year-old widow, today the Patel family is at the top of the business circle in Mumbai." Patriarch explained it in detail.

While the patriarch is explaining the Patel family details, Luna came walking towards the old man and sat beside him with a sweet laughter. nOVe-1b/1n

"Das,.... Luna will explain other details about the Patel family."

"Luna, Das will accompany you to the Patel house." The patriarch said while looking at Luna.

"Father, I can go on my own..." Luna said in a complaining tone.

Das felt awed by her acting. She is behaving like Das is a touch-me-not plant.

"Luna, it's ok. Take him along with you." The old man gave the final ordinance.

"Hmmhh..." with a loud smirk, Luna walked outside the villa without looking at Das.

"Das, I've pampered her too much; forget about her harsh behaviour."

After talking about a few more things, Das left to meet with Luna. As he reached the parking lot, Luna was already waiting for him before a luxurious Rolls-Royce car.

"Are you not coming on my bike?" Das asked as he stood before Luna.

"Nah, I prefer a car today... You are taking advantage of me with that bike." Luna said, pouting.

"As you wish..."

Das took the car keys from her hands. It is a two-seater car with an automatic gearbox in the centre with a classic setup inside.

"Where is the house of that Patel family?..." Das asked after occupying the driver's seat.

"Juhu..." take the beach road... we'll get there faster that way."

Luna replied while checking her makeup in the rearview mirror. Das immediately pulled the gear rod and accelerated the car with whroom-whroom sounds.

"Hey..." Luna cried out as Das touched her thigh while pulling the gear rod.

"Sorry... sorry... You sat too close to the gear rod... I'm really sorry." Das quickly apologised with cunning laughter.

"Don't act like a gentleman... I know that you did that intentionally." Luna complained with an aggrieved tone. With a loud laugh, Das drove the car away from the Reddy family villa.

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