Lavie had secured an interview with the Aniruddh Corporation head, Mr. Chisti. Aniruddh Corporation was the company which had won the recent coal auctions. They were a new entrant in the coal mining business. Mr. Chisti was a quiet man. He spoke to the point.

‘Mr Chisti, could you tell our readers about your company?’ asked Lavie

‘Aniruddh Corporation was found five years ago by me and friend from IIT Bombay. We started as energy consultants which is our primary business. We have recently diversified into power production with our first plant is slated to come up in Jharkhand in a year. We have a strong team of hundred employees at present and we plan to quickly expand our employee base.’

‘Are the coal mines you have won at Jharkhand supposed to feed raw material into your power plant?’

‘Yes that is true. The coal from these mines will be primarily used to feed the power plant at Sindri. Some of it, we also plan to export to Australia.’

‘Why did you venture into power production through coal?’

‘We were looking to diversify the portfolio. Coal is still the dominant source of energy.’

‘You could have put your bet on solar energy, given how important renewable are in the fight for climate change.’

‘We did think about solar. But coal is still the dominant source of electricity in the country. Our investors were willing to invest in coal power to improve the energy scenario of the country. I know solar energy has attained grid parity. Yet the efficiency of the solar panels is still on the lower side. The batteries for the storage of electricity have to improve. And a developing country like India cannot depend on solar for its energy requirement.’

‘How will you tackle your greenhouse gas emissions?’

‘We will be using carbon capture and storage technology which means that the carbon dioxide emitted from burning of coal will not be allowed to go into the atmosphere, rather it will be treated and stored deep down in a safe storage.’

‘How did you bid for these auctions?’

‘We had hired a consultancy firm called Vision Consultants. It’s a new but good company who did the work for us in consultation with our in-house experts.’

‘You have connections with Anand Nehru. Did this influence your foray into the power sector?’

‘Anand and I have been friends from college. But no we keep our personal and professional affiliations completely separate.’

‘Anything else you would like to say to our readers Mr. Chisti?’

‘I would like to thank my wife and children for their constant help and support.’

‘Thank you.’

The interview came out in the paper two days later and Mr. Chisti was happy to read it.

Lavie did some digging about the consultancy firm Mr. Chisti had named. Vision consultants was based in Mumbai, formed three years ago and assisted its clients in bidding for auctions in the country. Its focus was in the auction of fossil fuel resources. It was founded by Suhasini Nehru, wife of Anand Nehru along with investments from one corporate bigwig. It was a small firm. She called Rohan to inform him about the developments.

‘Vision Consultants. Interesting. Why will Suhasini Nehru open up an auction consultancy firm? Does she have credentials for it?’

‘I have no idea. How is your connection going? Why did they remove my connection?’

‘I have made friends with my agent. You still haven’t seen what this technology can achieve. Marvellous feats! By the way your agent got murdered. They are waiting for someone else to replace her, or something like that.’

‘Hope they do not find a replacement.’

*

Boudi was ill. She was suffering from a heart ailment and had been instructed to stay at home. Even though nobody could ever stop her from staying active in household matters, she had reduced a lot of her social activities. With a height of five feet four inches and lean and thin body she did not look as old as she was. Rohan was visiting his parents in Delhi. He informed them of the personal interest he had taken in the murders and the story till now sans the technology. Both his parents were listening intently.

‘Mala was very happy to see me and she helped us a lot,’ he said.

‘She has always been forthcoming. Even as a maid, she did more than what was asked for,’ Boudi replied with a smile on her face.

‘I think you should be careful of what you are doing. From what I hear from you, there could be big people involved in this. Corruption is rampant in this country, we all have seen it,’ Shantanu Kumar turned towards his wife who was serious. ‘Just because you have a new method of seeing things doesn’t take away the fact that these people are dangerous. I would strongly suggest you take the help of an experienced man.’ Rohan was nodding his head, a habit he had acquired since childhood when his father was giving him instructions. ‘Why don’t you contact my good friend Khan at the Central Bureau of Investigation? I am sure he will help you out and keeping him in the loop will give you some security. If you do not mind, I will give him a call for you.’

‘It’s fine. I think you are right. Also, it’s difficult to get anything from the government unless you have a reach. He could help me with more information.’ Rohan turned to his mother as his father reached for his phone.

‘Why don’t you come with me to the village once you are better? They were talking about you all the time.’

‘I would love to,’ she smiled.

‘And I have a complain to make. I never knew that you had been sending money for the education of children of the village. Why didn’t you ever tell me these things Maa? I felt ashamed there, having to listen to all these things about you with a blank face.’

‘Me and your father jointly send the money. We had decided we will not speak to anyone about it. And it’s not important right now. What is important that you have connected to your roots. Some of the people you met there had baby-sitted you. You must keep your contacts in the village,’ she rose up, ‘It’s time for your father’s dinner.’ Rohan smiled. He knew that a second delay in his father’s eating schedule brings out a tsunami of emotions in him, something that his mother avoids at any cost.

Sometimes, Boudi and Rohan would talk to each other after dinner. This would be a personal talk at a time when he was sure his father was sleeping and hence would not interfere. Today, while they were sitting in their drawing room, Rohan was narrating his experience of his visit to Bokaro. In the midst of the conversation, the name of the politician Mr Tudu came up. The name immediately brought a hint of repulsion on the face of Boudi, which Rohan noticed.

‘Mr Tudu and I have known each other for a long time. He is a big reason why our people are not staying happy. Since his younger days, he has been a corrupt goon.’

‘All politicians are like that Maa. Today it is difficult to find a politician who is not corrupt.’

‘Yes, that is true. But because I know him from close quarters,’ she sighed, ‘such people should be behind bars.’

‘Did you know Prof. Rameshwar?’

‘Yes, of course. He was your father’s friend from college. Both of them had studied together.’

‘I find it really difficult to understand Maa. How can a man who is so well read and had a posh job leave everything to live in those forests?’

Boudi smiled at him, while looking intently, ‘It’s the call of your fate beta. In one way, or the other, you have to pay for the resources you use. If his forefathers had used the benefits of this earth more than what they were allotted, their son has to come and pay back.’ Now it was Rohan’s time to smile. She continued, ‘I know you do not believe in arguments like this. You have your science. But remember, nature calls you back and will take from you what you have taken from it. Maybe that is why this case has fallen upon you. You have to pay back to your people by helping them out here. We had deliberately kept you away from all this politics till now and let you lead the life you wanted in the best of schools and colleges. But fate has caught you by the tail.’ He was listening intently. He knew his mother was once the leader of a local movement in her village. He had never inquired with her about it, this fact being way below in his priority list of things to be known about. Now he wished to know more about it. And she spoke.

‘All this cannot be sheer coincidence. It was Mr Tudu, who had brought you and my father together. And now you are up against him.’ There was a big surprise on his face.

 ‘We are not up against him,’ he said.

‘Not yet. But you will be. I think it’s time I should tell you about it,’ she readjusted the folds of her sari, something Boudi had the habit of doing after every few minutes, while she was sitting.

‘You know some of the story of my younger days, while I was unmarried. Those days, I was leading the movement to get better facilities for our people. We were fighting against corruption by the local politician, who would use government money for his own personal needs and was unconcerned towards the plight of the tribals. The movement gained support very soon. I used to sing songs which were written by me and put to music by Jalaram. We used to travel over different hamlets to spread our message to people. The local politician did not like it. Tudu, who was a young member of his party, was given the orders to crush our movement. He threatened and beat up a number of male members with a warning to stop the movement or face dire consequences. It was he who tried to do something wrong with me that day I had to run away from home to take shelter at your father’s house. If it was not for your father, Tudu would have destroyed my life.’

A thick veil of silence spread over the room, like thick fogs in cold Delhi winters. His mother was looking down as if she had been transported into the times of her younger days. He was playing with his fingers, waiting for her to speak.

‘And now he has made a good name for himself. But his progress has been at the expense of many people’s wishes and deaths. Someday he will pay.’

‘What happened to your movement?’ he asked her.

‘It stayed, but we did not mass mobilize. We changed it into a social trust which promoted the education and welfare of the children of the village. The trust has many prominent members now and we regularly provide scholarship to needy students. Prof. Rameshwar was the Director of the trust and he oversaw fund allocation. The members of the movement who did not accept this transformation joined more violent protests and became a part of the Naxal movement.’

‘I met Jalaram Majhi. He was spearheading the anti-mining protests.’

‘Yes, he worked for our trust. He was Prof. Rameshwar’s secretary. That is why Mala would have taken you to him,’ Boudi rose up, ‘Do you want coffee?’

‘Yes. Do you think somebody would be interested in killing Prof. Rameshwar?’ He had to turn towards the kitchen to ask. She did not answer for a while, fearing that her husband would wake up, if she spoke loudly from the kitchen. She spoke while handing over the coffee mug to Rohan.

‘Many people. But it was not easy to kill him, he was very popular both among the tribal and people around the world who care for Mother Nature and us. I was very heartbroken to listen to the news of his death.’

‘Yes, so were the people of the area. I still can’t get it. What exactly did he do to win the hearts of tribal people?’

‘He was the voice of the people of the area. He gave them the arguments. He channeled their anger and prevented many of our young men to join the Naxal movement and take up arms, ’Boudi adjusted at her seat and Rohan knew she really wanted to speak what she was going to, ‘when a person is angry, chances are something wrong will happen. The tribal were angry at the politicians and policymakers for how their lands were being used without any benefits coming to them. Prof. Rameshwar taught them why resources of mother earth are important not only for the tribal but for the people of the world in general. He asked them to put forward the arguments of the harmful effects of emissions from coal and other minerals to stop mining. He taught them about solar and wind energy. He updated them about the acts of parliament which concerned with forests and tribal rights which the mining companies and local politicians were ready to violate. He also took their concerns to International forums which irked the Government of India. He kept them away from violence. He stayed with them. He was not an outsider who preached and went away. Hence he had their trust.’

It was night and Boudi had to wake up early for her morning walk. She went to sleep. The agent had already connected while he was talking to his mother. He had conveyed it to her with his thoughts that he was in conversation with someone else. She disconnected and connected back after thirty minutes. He was thinking about his conversation with his mother.

Are you alone now?

Yes.

Who were you talking to?

My mother.

Great. How was your day?

It was good. Listen, can we call it off today? I have to think about something and then sleep.

You know I may get caught and punished if I do so.

Please. Please. Please. Let go of me today.

I cannot do it. We have to stay connected.

Rohan knew it was difficult for her to stay disconnected. The time duration of each connection was saved in the software IAMGED. Sophia used to check her connections regularly and if she found out that the agent was disconnected, she would need a convincing explanation. If the agent could not give one, she was liable for a strict punishment.

Rohan had noticed that the agent had hardly given the important details to him. By now, she knew a good deal about him, but he hardly knew the finer details of her job sans the most important one. He had decided to mention it to her.

You know so much about me and my job. I feel I hardly know about you and your job.

You know enough, my dear. I have told you much more than I am supposed to tell you.

What did you do before you joined the profession?

I was a call girl. You know that already.

How many people have you been connected to yet?

None of your business my dear.

I make it my business. How else will I know better?

Hmm..how does that information help knowing me?

It gives me the devil in you. OK, just tell me where you connected to an old professor?

Oh Oh Oh. This is going too far.

Leave it then. At least show yourself to me.

She pressed the virtual connect button and appeared in front of Rohan sitting on a chair. She was wearing Salwar Kameez with a yellow sweater. She had done her hair. It was open and flowing behind her back.

Now tell me something interesting, he said.

Interesting? she put a finger to her lip and struck a thoughtful prose. Nothing interesting to offer here. Are you in Delhi?

Yes, at my parents place in Greater Kailash.

I wish we could meet, she thought. He heard it and asked, are you in Delhi too?

No, we are at a place which looks shabby. It’s not a big city.

Oh. What city is it?

It’s called Mussorie. Oh god, I should not have revealed.’ She put her hand to her head.

Don’t worry. I won’t spill your beans.

I have seen you in Salwar Kameez for the first time. You look beautiful, I must say. He extended his hand, she did too to take his.

Thank you so much, she smiled.

Come lie over me. Let’s talk.

He adjusted himself on his bed. She watched Rohan lying down with his hands below his head. She lay above him. He put a hand on her head and brought her close to his chest. They talked for about an hour. He was feeling sleepy and realized that she too was feeling the same. Then she said something which brought him to attention.

I was with an old fellow. Sometime back. Nice fellow.

What did he look like?

He had a beard. His eyes were wide and he wore a village dress.

Did he think about climate?

Yes climate. I remember, he thought about it regularly.

His name was Prof. Rameshwar?

You got it right.

How did you kill him?

We did not kill him. He committed suicide.

But what did you do to him?

Some other day. Let me go to sleep in your arms while we are connected.

In a few minutes, both of them were in deep slumber.

*

Next day Rohan went to Mr Khan with a short presentation. Mr Khan was intently listening to him speak.

‘And as I explained, the number 2319 matches the last four digits of the winning bid. The winning bid is by Aniruddh corporation, a new entrant in the mining business. This number is predicted by the statistical model. Aniruddh corporation has created four Special Purpose vehicles to bid for different mines in these auctions. These different SPV’s have colluded with each other. They have the same last four digit number in all their bids. Strangely, three big players who had announced their intentions to bid and had submitted their technical bids were absent from the bidding. The technical bid is submitted to the concerned Ministry before the auctions start by each firm willing to take part in it. Most probably they backed out of the auctions making it easier for Aniruddh corporation to win.’

 ‘How did they keep the big players out? To be more precise how did they know who the big players were? The technical bids, which the Ministry checks for a guarantee that the firm is technically qualified to carry out the services, are sent through sealed envelopes only to be opened by the relevant officer. Nowadays they may be sent through internet but I am sure the control is in the hands of a senior officer of the Ministry. How can somebody get access to it unless an employee of the Ministry is involved!’

‘That is something I want to know from you. Is there someone in the auction committee who leaked information?’

‘I will find it out for you Rohan. But keep it a secret for now. Let me tell you this will be on my reputation. I am only doing this because of your father, he has helped me in some important situations. Otherwise, your story does not have enough meat in it to go ahead. But I will stress again, let’s keep it unofficial for now.’

‘Sure.’ Said Rohan.