1. The Bombay touch

CHAPTER 1

The Bombay touch

Background: Raidu, a leading builder from Hyderabad was a man who will do anything to succeed in his work. Jaidev, once a friend and a business partner to Raidu was now a deadly enemy. Raidu tried his level best to kill Jaidev at Hyderabad itself using contract killers or Mafia gangs. But each time he failed as Jaidev was also a leading builder and a powerful person at Hyderabad. As a last effort to kill Jaidev, Raidu, through Mafia mediator contacted Bombay’s Mafia king called Don Abu. Now, at present, Raidu was in Bombay along with mediator Amjad.

It was Dadar in Bombay. A car came and stopped in front of a big bungalow. Raidu and Amjad got down. Raidu looked at the huge bungalow. The compound wall itself was 12 feet high. He was very much surprised.

Amjad asked, “Why are you so surprised? This is the house of Don Abu. One must be very brave to even enter this road.”

They moved to a small gate near the big one. One security guard came from inside.

Amjad said, “Salam vale kum.”

Guard said, “Salam vale kum.”

 He opened the gate and looked at Raidu.

Amjad introduced Raidu. “This is Raidu. He has come from Hyderabad to see Boss. He has taken appointment with him.”

Guard said, “Ok. I will check him. Follow me.”

He took Raidu to a nearby room. There were 4 or 5 men standing alert holding AK47 guns. They made him sit in a machine. The machine checked Raidu and gave an ‘ok’ signal.

Security said, “Ok. You may go in.”

Raidu followed Amjad into the huge compound.

Raidu said, “Amjadbhai, I am scared to see the security guards. They all look like criminals.” He turned and looked back.

Amjad said, “You are in danger zone. Don’t look back. If they become suspicious, they will follow you.”

Raidu said with worry, “Eh, Amjadbhai, will the Boss really give me an interview?”

Amjad said confidently, “Raidu, I don’t worry. I have told him everything. In his company, punctuality is very important. The watch may stop but he will not miss any appointment. If he does then he is not the Don.”

Raidu said seriously, “I have come for the final settlement. My job must be done.”

Amjad looked at him seriously.

Raidu said, “That competitor, Jaidev, who is spoiling my business, must be eliminated.”

Amjad said, “You are lucky that he has agreed to give you an appointment. If he says ok, Jaidev’s body will blow into pieces at Hyderabad. But he has to say ok.”

Raidu said seriously, “Through Hyderabad Mafia, I have made two attempts but failed. That bastard, Jaidev escaped each time. But now, he has become very alert and has even appointed security guards. The intelligence is also keeping an eye on my movements.”

Amjad said, “Mr. Raidu, there is much difference between the panchayat level and the parliament level. Now you are touching the Bombay Mafia and that too Don Abu. His rate may be high but his aim is perfect. If he puts supari into his mouth, it means that your job is as good as done.”

Raidu said seriously, “I have come to Bombay only to be free from the tension and to see the dead body of Jaidev.”

Amjad said, “Raidu, don’t talk like that in front of Don or else you are finished.”

Raidu was shocked. They entered the hall. There was a security guard there. He asked them to sit on a sofa. But Amjad said to Raidu, “Raidubhai, you sit here. I will go in and see the Boss.”

Amjad entered the room. Raidu sat on the sofa and looked all around him. He thought, “This is Indra Bhavan. All the money I earned in 10 years is not enough to even decorate this room. Just for the settlement, he charges crores of rupees. Public problems are money spinning for him.”

Amjad came out of the room. “Come with me.”

They both went inside the room. They stood in front of a room with a banner “Supari Room”. On the door there was a figure of Supari leaf and nut. A gunman, who was standing at the door, opened the door. Both of them entered the room. There was a glass table with two chairs. The room was beautifully decorated. Raidu looked around in amazement.

Amjad said, “Mr. Raidu, this is settlement room. If you tell your problems to Boss, and if he agrees, he will put supari in his mouth. This means that the deal is settled.”

Raidu said with fear, “I am very scared. You only tell everything to Boss and settle the deal.”

Amjad said, “I have already told him everything. But now, you have to talk to him. Actually, I must not be with you. You sit here. Boss will be here in few minutes.”

Amjad went out of the room leaving Raidu alone in the room. Raidu sat down on a chair. There was complete silence. Raidu waited anxiously for the Boss. Suddenly, he heard the sound of the door. He immediately stood up full of fear. A beautiful lady entered with a tray in her hand. On the tray she had a bottle of wine and wine cups. Also there was a silver cup on the tray. Raidu stared at her. She approached him with a smile and kept the tray on the table.

Lady said, “This wine and ice cubes are for you. This pan supari is for Boss.”

There was pan supari in the cup. Raidu looked at it. The lady went out of the room leaving Raidu alone once again.

Raidu thought, “Ah ha! Now I understand. When the supari in the cup is over, Jaidev will disappear from this world.”

He looked around and was astonished. “Really there is a big difference between the Hyderabad system and the Bombay system. In Hyderabad, the Mafia go for a settlement at parties and lodges. But here it is different. Everything is hi-tech like in corporate companies. The Mafia companies are also branded like C company, D company, etc.”

Hearing the sound at the door, Raidu looked towards the door. Two strong gun men entered the room. Raidu got up with fear. The Boss, wearing a long coat followed them into the room.

Raidu said, “Salam vale kum.”

Don smiled and gave shake hand. “Glad to meet you. Be seated.”

Both sat down. The gunmen stood like statues on both the sides of Don.

Don said, “Ok, tell me.”

Raidu said, “I am Raidu from Hyderabad.”

Don nodded. “Ah ha. Your full name is Doraswami Raidu. A top builder dealing in crores of rupees. House No. 116, Lane no. 10, B.R.Nagar, Hyderabad.”

Raidu was shocked.

Don continued. “Two sons and one married daughter.”

Raidu asked, “How do you know all this?”

Don said, “My mafia intelligence is of that type. The CIA type. You have to just touch us and within minutes your whole bio-data will be in my hands. You have 120 crores of property, 12 complexes. Through Hyderabad mafia you got 12 murders done. Now you are trying to eliminate your ex-partner who is now your deadly enemy and a competitor. You and Jaidev have misunderstandings regarding a land deal. You tried to murder him twice but failed. He is too strong for you.”

Raidu was shocked. “Everything you say is true sir.”

Don gave him a serious look. “Jaidev has also contacted me through an agent.”

Hearing this, Raidu’s body shivered. He never thought that Jaidev was also trying to kill him. “Sir, I only contacted you first.”

Don said, “That’s why you are lucky. Otherwise the blank point would have been on you.”

Raidu took a deep breathe. “10 days back, I contacted you through Amjad, Sir.”

Don smiled. “Ah ha. Amjad is my Hyderabad agent.”

He pointed to a book lying on the table. “Please write in that book the rate of that land and the share you are going to give me for the settlement.”

Raidu wrote in the book. Rate 20 crores. Commission: 50 lakhs. Don looked at what he had written. Raidu looked at his face with fear wondering what he was going to say.

Don became serious and looked at Raidu sharply. “Sorry, Mr. Raidu. You have to be honest with me.”

Raidu shivered with fear. “What Sir, tell me.”

Don said, “That land is worth 60 crores.”

Raidu shivered. “As you wish, sir. You ask for whatever you want. I am ready to give. I am even ready to give you 50% if you wish.”

Don closed his eyes.

Raidu thought, “If I miss this settlement, my life will be in danger. The settlement will go in favour of Jaidev.”

He looked at Don, who was still sitting with closed eyes.

Don opened his eyes. “I don’t want so much. You give me 20% hard cash that’s enough.”

Raidu was relieved. “As you wish.”

Don said, “You want land clearance, that’s all isn’t it?”

Raidu tightened his face anxiously. “Sir, more than that, I want Jaidev’s dead body. His background is different. He was my partner and deceived me. He pokes his nose into all my dealings and disturbs everything. My business is going down all because of him. Sir, I want his dead body and nothing less than that.”

Don closed his eyes for a while. Raidu was in full tension, wondering what Don was going to say.

Don said, “So you are asking for bumper lottery. His life.”

Raidu nodded. “Yes Sir.”

Don said, “Ie. A permanent solution. It will cost you extra 20%.”

Raidu said, “I am ready for anything. I am giving 1 crores as advance.”

He opened a suitcase. Don put his eye on it and then looked at the supari. He took supari and put it into his mouth.

Raidu was very happy to see him do this. “Thank you very much sir.”

Don looked at the guard. Then he got up and went out. One security guard followed him and the other guard closed the suitcase.

Guard said, “Your job is as good as done. Jaidev is as good as dead. Do you have his phone number and his address?”

Raidu immediately wrote down the phone number and address on a piece of paper and handed it over to the guard. “I believe that by the time I reach Hyderabad, his dead body will reach the cemetery.”

The guard gave him a serious look. “I don’t know about that. It depends on Don. Now follow me and sit in the hall.”

Guard went out. Raidu followed him.