*February 3, 1986, Mumbai, India*
The air in Raj Mehra's office at *Pragarti Venture* was thick with the hum of ambition, the glass walls of the Nariman Point high-rise reflecting the shimmering Arabian Sea below. Raj sat at his sleek mahogany desk, a stack of startup files before him, the ROI system's invisible glow guiding his every decision. His empire was thriving: *The Bharat Front* was reshaping India's investment landscape, *Love Train* was inching toward its 5-crore projection despite a dip to 29 lakhs this week, and *Mehra Book House* was making waves. *Baahubali: The Beginning* had sold 4 crore worth of copies globally, with 3,000–5,000 books moving weekly in India and new Chinese, Japanese, and Korean editions hitting markets today. In Europe, *A Song of Fire and Ice* launched three days ago, with 50,000 copies printed but only 2,000 sold, while its European debut began today. *Mehra Book House*'s other three titles had sold 15,000–20,000 copies in Europe, establishing a foothold despite slowing sales. Raj's 11-crore fortune was a testament to his calculated risks, but today, a new challenge loomed.
The door swung open, and Suraj Singh, the sharp-witted CEO of *Pragarti Venture*, stormed in, his usually composed face etched with worry. His tie was slightly askew, and his brow glistened with sweat despite the air-conditioned office. "Boss, we have a huge problem," Suraj said, his voice tight with urgency.
Raj leaned back, his dark eyes narrowing. "What happened, Suraj?"
Suraj paced, his hands gesturing nervously. "It's the film clearance body we set up, per your instructions to screen for anti-Hindu propaganda. They've blocked a movie, *Sikka Taqdir Ka*, because it portrays a Hindu pandit as a villain who commits a heinous act in a temple. Our body refused to let it show in our theaters."
Raj's expression hardened, but a flicker of approval crossed his face. "That's good. We can't let divisive content tarnish our brand or stir trouble. So, what's the problem?"
Suraj stopped pacing, his voice dropping to a near-whisper. "Boss, the film's backed by D-Company. Chota Rajan, one of their local dons, called this morning. He's furious. He's given us a one-week deadline to clear the film for release and a two-week deadline to pay 25 lakhs annually as 'protection money.' If we don't comply, he's threatened… consequences."
The room fell silent, the distant hum of Mumbai's traffic filtering through the glass. Raj's jaw clenched, his fingers drumming on the desk as fury surged within him. "Extortion?" he spat, rubbing his temples in frustration. "They think they can bully Karma Productions into submission?"
Suraj swallowed, his eyes darting nervously. "Boss, D-Company's no joke. They've got muscle, connections, and no qualms about violence. I thought you'd refuse outright, but—"
Raj cut him off, his voice cold but controlled. "We're not fighting them head-on, Suraj. That's a losing game—for now. Clear *Sikka Taqdir Ka* for release, but bury it in morning slots, 10 AM to 12 PM, when theaters are half-empty. Let it flop on its own. As for the 25 lakhs, pay it next week from the accounts. Keep them quiet for now."
Suraj exhaled, relief washing over his face. He'd braced for Raj's rage to ignite a war with the underworld, but this calculated restraint was a surprise. "Got it, boss. I'll handle the clearance and the payment. Anything else?"
"No," Raj said, his tone final. "Keep this quiet. I'll deal with the bigger picture."
Suraj nodded and left, the door clicking shut. Alone, Raj leaned back, his mind a storm of calculations. D-Company's shadow was a complication he hadn't anticipated. In his past life as Rahul Singh in 2025, he'd known of Mumbai's underworld—Chota Rajan, Dawood Ibrahim, their grip on Bollywood and beyond—but he'd never tangled with them. The ROI system had made him a financial titan, but gangsters weren't swayed by profit projections. A head-on clash was suicide; he needed a smarter play. His empire—Karma Productions, *The Bharat Front*, *Pragarti Venture*, *Mehra Book House*—was too precious to risk.
He closed his eyes, Seconds later, a plan crystallized, and Raj's lips curled into a wicked grin. He laughed, a low, menacing chuckle that echoed like a villain plotting in the shadows. "Ha ha ha… hahaha!" The sound was pure, unrestrained glee, tinged with the thrill of outsmarting a formidable foe.
The idea was audacious but elegant: he called the Suraj in his office again.
Suraj come and said : Boss, any new orders "
Raj said " Suraj, I need a man who is very powerful in fighting like a ex military officier or anything but his character must be clean.
He must be ruthless to enemy and he must hate criminals that he can kill them without any reservance. "
Suraj " Boss its very difficult to find a man like this but i will try and let you know in 1 week. "
After that Suraj come out from Raj office and called some of his friend who works in security firms. He was first account in a security firm in Bandra there he has made many friend some of them are Ex- military officier.
His thoughts shifted to his ventures. *Baahubali*'s 4-crore global sales were a triumph, its multilingual editions now tapping Asian markets. *A Song of Fire and Ice*'s slow start in India—2,000 of 50,000 copies sold—wasn't a concern; Europe's launch today would spark interest, with the ROI system predicting a 2-crore return by 1988. *Love Train*'s 29-lakh week was a dip, but *Pyar Kiya*'s March release and the three new films—*Ghar Sansar*, *Pyar Kiya Toh Darna Kya*, and *Jamna Par*—promised 3 crore in profits. His recent 80-lakh stock investment would yield 20 lakhs in two weeks, pushing his wealth toward 12 crore.
Raj's phone buzzed again. It was Priya, her voice warm and teasing. "Raj, busy conquering the world? Jyoti and I are free tonight. How about going out for dinner?"
Raj's tension melted, a smile breaking through. "Wouldn't miss it. 8 PM?"
"Perfect," Priya purred. "Bring your charm—and maybe a story for Jyoti. She's obsessed with *Baahubali*."
Raj chuckled, the underworld's shadow momentarily forgotten. Priya and Jyoti were his anchor, their fiery bond a contrast to the cold calculations of his empire. As he hung up, Mumbai's skyline glittered outside, a canvas of his ambitions. D-Company's threat loomed, but Raj's evil laugh echoed in his mind—a promise that he'd outwit them, just as he'd outwitted every obstacle. With the ROI system guiding him, the game was his to win, and the stakes had never been higher.