Foresight

Chapter XXVIII

"For not much profit, you guys are having a spacious office" a voice booms from the door, causing the trio's attention to their screens, break. A dark silhouette, standing on the door, makes its way in. As the man enters the office, his face, starts to come into view to the trio. "You are the guy who prodded into our financials and stuff. What are you doing here?" Tarun asks with a tone of anger. Rajesh turns around, gesturing Tarun to calm down a little bit.

"How can I help you?" Rajesh asks politely.

"I was impressed by the unity you guys showed in our office today morning. Any other guy would have taken my option without much thought because let's face it, we are a huge firm. Anyway, I have a business proposition for you. Care to listen?" the guy explains.

"What's in it for us?"Neeraj chimes in.

"Recognition, money etc." that person trails off.

"Ok. Lets discuss. I am Rajesh Khuranna. This is Neeraj Patel and that's Tarun Shetty" Rajesh introduces, pointing to his friends.

"My name is Mr. Ashok Subramaniam. COO of SIDCO. The old man who was barking orders to you was my father. Sidco is everything to him. So excuse him if he was little harsh. He doesn't give fresher's a chance very easily." He explained himself.

"That is ok. So what business proposition do we have between us?" Rajesh asks, crossing his arms, defensively.

"The game you guys developed and released was really good. It gained lot of traction in less time and you guys didn't miss out on quality in the second update. Of course it was a mobile application so I guess it was not much an investment" Ashok explains himself.

"Well that is partially true." Tarun answers the query.

"Yeah. I have been bugging my father to expand to computer games, but he is reluctant, owing to reasons best known to him. But I am keen in expanding the company. So I am here requesting you guys to program a computer game. Need not be very big. A simple one will do." Ashok puts down his proposition.

The trio just look at each other and turn back towards Ashok, who in the meanwhile has lit up his cigarette.

"I am guessing your father does not know a thing about this." Rajesh asks little bit hesitantly.

"You guessed correct. He doesn't know about this. And I would like to keep it this way."

"What kind of game you are looking for." Tarun chimes in, the willingness to accept the preposition is clear in his voice.

"I don't want a big game. Something like solitaire or stuff like that. I don't want to take risk with a big project and it will be difficult for you guys too" Ashok explains, as he dusts his cigarette on the ashtray on Rajesh's desk.

"Sounds ok to me. We can tell 'Sun Software's' that we have hit a speed bump and are currently not taking any projects. We risk losing them forever, but then again, they were never up to date on payments." Neeraj gives his point of view.

"Yeah on the payment matter. Since it is a secret venture, I have to keep it under drapes on the matter of payments too." Ashok opens up.

"What do you mean by under drapes?" Rajesh asks with a genuine concern and doubt in his voice.

"Well I will give you guys a signing bonus. But the main payment, I cannot divulge a huge amount in cash or settlements. It will come in the books and my father checks the books very carefully. So we will get caught and shut down" Ashok explains the situation.

"Why do I smell an offer in the air" Tarun asks, imitating sniffing.

"Shares." Ashok announces. "I will pay your payment individually as shares of the company. That way we stay under the drapes, have an unofficial understanding agreement, we both make money for long and lastly, my father doesn't suspect a thing. What do you say?" Ashok asks, quite confidently.