*February 10, 1986, Mumbai, India*
The *Pragarti Venture* office in Nariman Point gleamed under the February sun, its glass facade mirroring the restless Arabian Sea. Raj Mehra sat at his mahogany desk, the weight of his 12-crore empire—bolstered by a fresh 1-crore stock market profit—settling like a crown. The market had stabilized, offering only 50 lakhs over 4–5 months, so Raj paused his stock investments, redirecting his focus to his thriving ventures. *Mehra Book House* was a global force: *A Song of Fire and Ice* sold 50,000 copies in its European launch week, while *Baahubali: The Beginning* surged to 6 crore worldwide, with 2,000 daily sales in India, 5,000 weekly in Europe, and 11,000 daily across China, Japan, and other Eastern markets. Three other European titles yielded a 60-lakh profit after costs, though their potential had peaked. *Love Train* earned 20 lakhs this week, its theater runs waning, but *Pyar Kiya*'s post-production wrapped, with its release set for next week, promising 1 crore. Yet, the shadow of D-Company's threat loomed, and Raj's mind churned with plans to outmaneuver them.
The door swung open, and Suraj Singh entered, his face a mix of determination and nerves, clutching a slim file. "Boss, I've got the list of ex-military officers you asked for," he said, his voice steady but tinged with urgency.
Raj leaned forward, his dark eyes sharp. "Show me."
Suraj placed the file on the desk, its pages detailing three candidates. "First, Sonu Sharma, 60, trained in hand-to-hand and gun combat. Second, Arjun Das, 45, a Kalaripayattu master and sniper specialist. Third, Shikhar Singh, 50, skilled in hand-to-hand, sniper, and gun combat."
Raj scanned the profiles, noting their retirement reasons and personalities. Sonu, a decorated veteran, retired due to age but had a reputation for freelancing with questionable clients. Arjun, discharged after a minor injury, was fiercely principled, with a hatred for corruption rooted in his Kerala upbringing. Shikhar, retired after a bureaucratic fallout, was loyal but lacked strategic finesse. Raj closed his eyes, summoning the ROI system. *Will Sonu Sharma be good for my mission and loyal to me?* The system flashed: [*Good for mission, but not loyal.*] Raj frowned—Sonu's skills were tempting, but disloyalty was a dealbreaker.
*Will Arjun Das be good for my mission and loyal to me?* The system glowed: [*Good for mission, yes loyal.*] Raj's pulse quickened—Arjun's martial arts and sniper skills, paired with his integrity, were perfect.
*Will Shikhar Singh be good for my mission and loyal to me?* The system responded: [*Bad for mission, but loyal.*] Shikhar's loyalty was admirable, but his lack of mission fit ruled him out.
"Arjun Das," Raj said, his voice resolute. "Set up a meeting with him tomorrow. I want him on board—fast."
Suraj nodded, relief flickering in his eyes. "I'll arrange it, boss. Arjun's in Mumbai; I'll have him here by morning."
As Suraj left, Raj leaned back, the thrill of his plan sparking like a live wire. Arjun would be his weapon against D-Company—a disciplined enforcer to gather intel for his next plan . The ROI system gave a 70% success rate, with Arjun's loyalty minimizing the 30% risk of retaliation. Raj's earlier move to allow *Sikka Taqdir Ka* in morning slots ensured its flop, buying time while he built his counterstrike.
His phone buzzed, and Priya's warm voice cut through his focus. "Raj, your production house next movie *Pyar Kiya*'s premiere is next week. The director has invited you and me to its premier. Also Jyoti's dying to show you her new *Baahubali* chapter. Dinner tonight?"
Raj smiled, the underworld's shadow fading. "8 PM, your place. I'll bring wine—and a twist for Jyoti's story."
Priya laughed, her tone teasing. "You better, Mr. Mogul."
Hanging up, Raj glanced at Mumbai's glittering skyline. With Arjun Das, *Baahubali*'s 6-crore triumph, and *Pyar Kiya*'s imminent release, Raj was a step closer to crushing D-Company and cementing his legacy. The ROI system was his edge, and the game was far from over.