At Skand's Residence
Excited murmurs filled the air.
Suvana (eagerly):Should we begin executing the plan?
Outside Skand's haveli, a large group of merchants had gathered. All of them had one thing in common—they had once been harassed or destroyed by Seth Dhanpala, and now, they all wanted revenge.
A confident smile danced on Skand's face as he stood at the window, overlooking the growing crowd.
Flashback – 9 Days Earlier
Utkarsh (panicking):Skand, you've declared war on Dhanpala by stepping into the textile industry.But how are we going to survive this? We have neither the time nor the plan!
Skand (calm, confident):Who says we don't have a plan?And trust me—we have plenty of time.Dhanpala's pride will keep him from reacting right away.
Scene Shift – Suvana's Chamber
Skand (respectfully folding hands):Pranaam, Seth Suvana.
Suvana (leaning back arrogantly in his chair):Well, what is it that you want from me?
Skand:Do you want to see your greatest rival—Seth Dhanpala—crushed in business?
At this, Suvana looked up, genuinely surprised for a moment.
Suvana (laughing):Now you're going to teach me how to fight a business war?
Skand (smiling):Absolutely.You've heard of the new clothing store that's been challenging Dhanpala's sales, right?That store… is mine.
Suvana raised an eyebrow and looked at Skand with new interest.
Skand:Right now, I'm in open conflict with Dhanpala.If you support me, we can bring him down together.
Suvana (curious):Alright… tell me what you have in mind.Then I'll decide whether it's worth my time.
Skand's Strategy
Skand (strategically):Dhanpala's greatest strength is his position in the Merchant Guild.To destroy him, we need to take that seat away from him.
To do that, we'll gather every merchant he's ever bullied or ruined,And bring their complaints directly to the royal palace.
Once Emperor Ashoka hears the voices of many, he'll be forced to remove Dhanpala from power.
Suvana (skeptical):Are you mad or just very clever?Do you really think Ashoka will dethrone Dhanpala so easily?
Skand (with a smirk):What if… the Queen supports us?
Suvana (interested):And how do you plan to win the Queen's favor?
Skand:Leave that to me.All I need from you is help finding and uniting those merchants who are against Dhanpala.
Suvana studied him closely.
Suvana (thinking):This boy is no ordinary lad.He's the same age as my daughter, but his strategies are like those of an old fox.
Suvana's Counter-Offer
Suvana (seriously):Very well… I'll help you.But I want something in return.
Skand (curious):What is it?
Suvana (bluntly):You will marry my daughter.That way, I'll know my investment is secure and that I'm backing the right man.
Skand was stunned.He had never even considered marriage after his regression.
Suvana (thinking):This boy is sharp—he'll go far.It's better to tie him to my family before someone else does.
Skand (thinking fast):Marriage…I'll have to do it someday. I'm already 20.And marrying into Suvana's family means gaining the support of the second most powerful merchant in the empire.If I refuse, my entire family could suffer.This… could actually be a profitable alliance.
Skand (clearly):Alright.I agree to marry your daughter…But I have three conditions of my own.
To be continued...