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“She is right,” Aksh bhai adds. “I’ve the same feeling. Ayaan must have bribed someone for these details.”
Dad clenches his jaw.
“We need to find that rat then,” Dad asserts.
“We will,” Aksh bhai agrees. “But before that, we need to ascertain our next moves after the elections, uncle. Funding can still be taken care of from here and there, and I’m confident you’ll win the election regardless of any allegations against you. But have you considered how to garner the majority support in the party to become the Chief Minister after the election?”
Yep. That’s a concern now, as Dad’s earlier majority is now shaken. Most of his party members are unsure whether to let him take the seat of the CM because of the allegations that Ayaan has openly accused him of. They don’t want to mess with people’s trust in their party.
Dad has finished his food, so he wipes his lips with the napkin before leaning back on his chair and looking at us.
“Asha Devi, from the United Bhartiya party (UBP), can help us with this,” Dad says.
Though I have heard this name on the news, I’m not very familiar with who she is. Aksh bhai slows down his eating. Devika bhabhi is, so far, the silent spectator. I was also like her, having no idea about the head or tails of politics. But now, I’m much more knowledgeable and involved.
“Asha Devi?” Aksh bhai inquires. “You mean…”
“Yes,” Dad replies. “You must have heard that she has the majority support in her party, and for some time, she and two-thirds of the members of the UBP party are ready to merge with either our party or the opposition. They are yet to take the decision, though. If we get Asha Devi in our NEP party, her two-thirds members will be in my support, and then the majority will be mine again to bag the CM’s role after the election.”
Dad further explains how Asha Devi has been having some factional disputes within her party over differing views and interests, leading to internal divisions and conflicts over the party’s direction and leadership. These conflicts have weakened their party’s effectiveness and electoral prospects. Despite various internal negotiations, bridging the differences to maintain the UBP party’s unity is difficult. The split is inevitable.
“The opposition is trying their best to get them to merge with their party, but we can have the upper hand here,” he adds. “Even though I pitched to Asha Devi that joining the NEP party would benefit her, she is currently exploring all of her available options. But one thing is for sure, whichever party she veers towards or chooses, her supporters will accept that without any questions. She has that kind of influence over them. That woman is a ruler!”
“But how can we ensure that she joins the NEP party and not the opposition?” I ask innocently.
Dad smirks. From the look on his face, I can sense he has a foolproof plan this time.
“What’s the plan, uncle?” Aksh bhai asks, but Dad shakes his head.
“Sorry, kids, but I am not sharing the plan with any of you this time. I trust you both, but I also believe that if I share it, Ayaan Shergill will somehow again get a whiff of it, and he’ll turn up first thing to ruin it for us.”
Aksh bhai nods in agreement.
“Fine, then,” Aksh continues. “You can tell us whenever you think we are ready to meet Asha Devi.”
“Not us. Only Meher is going to meet her,” Dad replies.
“Me?” I’m stunned. “I meanonlyme?”
“Yes. Aksh and I have to go to Delhi this weekend, so you and Vishnu will be going to Panchgani, where Asha Devi resides and meet her. I’ll tell you what you have to do once you reach there.”
This is terrifying.
“Dad, I don’t think sending me to meet Asha Devi alone is a good idea. I’m no good at convincing or pitching about mergers like this.”
“She is right, uncle,” Aksh bhai intervenes. “I think you are making a mistake. I’m ready to go there and do the talking based on whatever your plan is. Meher is no match for this job.”
“The decision is made,” Dad rises up from his chair. “Meher will be going to Panchgani.”
Saying that Dad makes his way back to his room. Aksh bhai and I look at each other in bewilderment at how Dad could make such a wrong decision. One wrong move from me, and he can lose every chance to gain the majority in his party. He is definitely playing a gamble with his luck this time, and it’s a huge risk.
AYAAN
Weekend – Panchgani
“Ayaan, c’mon. You need to be out of that room right now,” Krish screams through my Bluetooth earpiece.
I hurriedly close the bedside drawers and toss aside the duvet, hoping to find any clue that could help me.
