answers from Sundaram Iyer.
"They say that the project cost has overrun because of non-performance by your company. You know the Hydroelectric Corporation is quite miffed with the project delay. "
"What about the ten million dollar bank guarantee that they have already encashed?"
"Calm down, Mr. Rao. You have already moved the Indian Council of Arbitration for resolving your commercial dispute. Your lawyers can always point a finger at the environmentalists, who have been hindering your work. Isn't it natural that your work gets affected for reasons beyond your control?"
"We put forth the same argument, but the metropolitan judge brushed aside our point of view."
"I'll talk to the Law Secretary. Let's see if he can be of any help."
"Everything has a price, my dear Iyer."
"Who knows that better than I? Forget about the company's revenue? What will you gain even if your company gets the money back from the government? Perhaps a few words of hollow appreciation! That's not an incentive in this cruel world, my dear friend."Sundaram chuckled. "Therefore, tonight we are going to finalize the issue in a way that will please all of us. In fact, none of you will need to serve anyone. What I'm going to tell you will make everyone sufficiently well-off."
"How much?"
"Five million dollars for each one of you!"
Somashekhar Rao nodded and Sundaram turned his attention to Parag Nanda, who seemed to be lost in his own world. "What's bothering you, Parag?"
"I'm worried about the Intelligence Bureau, which is making a mountain out of a molehill. They are exaggerating my role in the Israeli Barak Missile deal."The impatient Parag Nanda, who had always lived in the lap of luxury, could not take 'no' for an answer and so wanted a quick fix solution. "Why don't you put in a word for me to the Defence Minister and if possible the Prime Minister and get things sorted out?"
"That's out of the question. You know both are impeccable. They are not going to interfere in the work of the IB."
Parag Nanda was visibly fidgety. He picked up his glass of scotch and drank it in one large gulp. He quickly poured out another shot and stubbed out his cigarette with the other hand.
Ignoring the young Nanda's grumpiness, Sundaram Iyer continued, "Tell me if you will be able to get our remaining consignments of explosives through the Nepal border."
"That is another big problem. After the accession of a communist government in Nepal, diplomatic relations with India have taken a steep downturn. The Indian government doesn't count on inimical Nepal anymore since it is not cooperating with the extradition of the Naxalites and the Maoists, who have taken refuge inside their country. The IB and R&AW have even resorted to snatching terrorists from Nepal without taking their Nepalese counterparts into confidence. Nepal, in turn, has adopted a very hostile posture. Their Central Customs Authority is not clearing anything from its check posts even though we take care of its interests."
"Surprising!"
"Laughable too. They say fake currency notes have flooded India. So, the customs people don't trust our cash. They want payments in Euros or dollars and that too everything in advance."
"Bizarre! Anyway, talk to the Director General of Nepal Customs. You can always declare your consignment as some innocuous item like steel. I don't see why his men at the border will not clear it?"
"Even if they do so, it will raise suspicion on the Indian side."
"Why?"
"Nepal doesn't produce steel."
"Think out of the box. You may even forget the Nepalese route. More importantly, you cannot declare the consignment as UNDEX. That's the point, isn't it?"Sundaram said blandly.
"We don't need UNDEX, the underwater explosives, my dear friend,"Somashekhar Rao cut in.
"Why?"
"It won't cause the intended deluge that you have planned. Even though, the explosion will create a massive water-dome in the reservoir, causing water surface shockwaves to hit the wall of the dam with
Tanya Barnard, Sarah Kramer