20th May:

Anand was busy involved in his work, when his mobile beeped and he answered. It has been a fortnight since Anand's company and Rish's company started working together on that government contract, after Anand's meeting with Rish.

"Sir.. this is Rakesh" - said the person on other side.

"Hmm.." - said Anand.

"Sir you know, I have found where the specs of the tender are from and who initiated the tender" - said Rakesh.

"Oh is it..? - Who is it..?" - Anand asked.

"Sir.. it is this XYZ limited" - said Rakesh. "My information is authentic. I got it from the corridors of power. Here that's what they are talking. Mr. Sen himself told me that this was his information. It seems he has verified it with both Mr. Suresh and Mr.Johnson. You know, Suresh is so close to Minister."

"I suspected it " - said Anand "Thanks for confirming it. We will have to act on it now. I am sure we stand no chance"

"What do we do now..?" - Rakesh asked.

"Let me sleep on it" - said Anand "Rakesh, this is a very vital input for our business. I appreciate it. Till now I was working on such a possibility. Now you have confirmed it absolutely. Good job done..".

*************
21^st May

"Thanks Mr. Sen" - said Rakesh "Boss really appreciated my input."

"Actually you know this is no confidential information. It is all on open secret" - said Mr. Sen. "I am not a party in this deal. When Mr. Suresh told me in CMD's party that XYZ influenced this tender, I couldn't believe it. Suresh is so close to Minister and CMD. He is never wrong"

"Sir, I want another favour from you" - said Rakesh " I want you to introduce me to Suresh. I will look after you sir but.."

"Common Rakesh " - said Mr. Sen "Our relationship is not like that. I know you will be with me till my retirement. I will definitely do that". Saying that Mr.Sen winked at Rakesh.

********
21st May

"Hello Gautam" - said Suresh. Suresh is a middle-man of sorts in this place. He is really a high-profile character, rich and having good contacts at top levels. He is in a way a switch for the rich and powerful. A person who connects politicians, bureaucrats, industrialists, star-artists and other top-guns of our society.

"Hello Sureshji" - said Gautam. "Did not see you in the golf course for long.." Gautam is one of those waiting to become the boss for that Government organization.

"I have been travelling international" - said Suresh "And spending much of my last month in Delhi. But I should tell you something..".

"What ?" - asked Gautam..

"That scoop was really a good one. In fact everyone was wondering who was behind it. That it was the XYZ guys was a wonderful scoop from you. When I said it, people were surprised. I also verified it through my other high profile contacts" - said Suresh."You see I am not the only channel to minister. Ministry is like an ocean and I am just one of the rivers emptying into it"

Though Suresh said he verified it, actually he didn't. For he knows people like Guatam are very capable of sniffing which deal is happening where. After all, that is what they have been learning in government for all these years.

"Sureshji, this should be nothing for you. I work in government. But so many things I learn from you only. This XYZ tender relationship I knew first-hand. That XYZ played with ministry and minister was well known. I also came to know of it from the top-most person of its competitor." - said Gautam

Almost he would have said the name as "Rish". But at the last moment, he controlled his tongue and didn't tell the name.

"That's great Gautam Sir" - said Suresh " I am going to put a strong reco to minister on your promotion. I will definitely work for it"

Gautam smiled and kept quite. He needs the support of many people if he has to reach the top slot. In fact just 10 days before, when he met Rish, Rish complained to him of the undue influence that XYZ is having on ministry and minister. And that is the same information he passed onto Suresh.

**************
5^th May

"So.. you people are in this..?" - asked Rish.

Anand seated himself comfortably in his chair. He spread the napkin on his lap. "Well.. We want to.." - he said.

Their conversation started veering around a whole lot of things in life including economy, stock market, business tidbits, forex, politics and the inevitable in any male business talk, "women". After all this, it came back to where it started.

"We can explore a partnership. I think we will be open.. How about you.." - asked Rish

"Why not..? But are you the guys who triggered the specs..?" - asked Anand.

"No. But do u have any problem in that..?" - asked Rish

"Well u know.. If you have not triggered a tender, then you won't win it.." - said Anand. "While we can comply with the spec, we have not triggered it. So I don't know who is going to win it.."

"It was a surprise to us too.." - said Rish "I thought you would have triggered it and inserted your specs"

Anand sat in a meditative posture for few seconds. "I think it should be that XYZ limited" - he said.

"You think so..?" - Rish asked

"Yes.. they are the only other guys apart from you and me who can do this.." - said Anand. "It could be them.".

"True.. True.." - Rish acknowledged. He fell silent for sometime. "Let me put in a word to Gautam on this" - he thought to himself. "May be Gautam can help me"..

**********

-TBT