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T-Series might just be one of the most interesting men alive. He wasn't a fan of boasting... Well no that was a lie. In the privacy of expensive dinner parties and the like, Bhushan Kumar found plenty of time to brag about his corporation's achievements, making his rich friends green with envy. Every day was something new. A day never passed in his life where he isn't doing something out of the ordinary whether it be planning something crazy or partaking in it himself. Bhushan wasn't sure he could live another day unlike it.

On his side of the world, it was already the evening. Just as American icons began their day, Bhushan was yawning as he prepared to end his. He hadn't slept the night before leaving the CEO incredibly tired. The nondescript office tower he worked in was rather bland but to him, it didn't matter where he worked. Instead, it was the meaning of his work. Being his father; Gulshan Kumar's successor, left a lot of pressure on his shoulders. That night, in particular, the weight was crushing. It bent his spine and made the bones in his body crumble. He hadn't been able to get funding for the movie he wanted to make so he was pretty down in the dumps but he knew what to do when the world felt just a bit too heavy. He could always just visit his father. Dad never minded the company.

The roads were quiet, almost fully empty. He worked longer than most of the average Indian population, thereby the drive was basically at his own pace. Streetlights doing more to guide him than the pale moonlight, he weaved his way through stores and homes and towers and shrines before pulling into a parking lot. Bhushan smiled.

Most people found cemeteries awful and cold, but he personally found this one at least comforting and warm. It's where his dad lived, so he could always find some sort of homely feeling. And there he was! The stone door was one he was grateful he didn't have the key to quite yet. He had no desire to chase it until he was old and gray. But he was still sure he could hear him.

"Hey, dad! ...Yes your movie is coming along great. We might've not gotten the funding we wanted but we're fucking T-Series! We can get whatever money we need from any investor... I just want enough to tell your story in full you know? Maybe some of that wretched mafia could come to justice too... You know dad, you kind of are an idiot. If you were more subtle about your values, maybe you could be happily retired right now... If I could just hear your voice-" Rustling in the bushes startled the CEO. In silence, he observed his surroundings before promptly taking a seat on the headstone. However, he noticed just how unstable it was. It's been so many years after all. "Damn, guess even the animals think I'm a lunatic." What Bhushan didn't expect after that was a response.

"Nah, it's just me." Fabric suddenly over his mouth, panic quickly turned autopilot as he managed to tear through the thin washcloth. Facing his attacker, he seemed to tense up now that his main weapon is gone.

"You're alone, aren't you?"

"Uh..." Fumbling with his pockets, the attacker pulled out a knife which Bhushan retorted by trying to find a weapon near him. Although Bhushan may not appear physically strong, in the wake of his father's untimely assassination he did train. So despite the struggle, he managed to pull the loose headstone of his fathers and bashed it across his attacker's head, sending them to the ground and at the bare minimum, giving them a concussion. He had decided the newfound red complimented the gray stone rather nicely. Poking the attacker with his finger, he flinched slightly and Bhushan took advantage of his awareness.

"You are going to tell me who you work for and you are going to tell me now. I won't buy you being stupid enough to think you could kill me all by your lonesome."

"D..."

"SPEAK UP!"

"D..." They began coughing and Bhushan suddenly had a horrifying thought. What if...?

"D what...? Is it D-Company? Nod your head if yes." Upon seeing a nod, all Bhushan could do was run. He had no clue where he was running or if it was a good idea. But he was right to be scared. D-Company was the largest crime syndicate in India, D-Company was the mafia group that assassinated his father for pushing Hindu values in his music which the group did not appreciate. He had toned down the religious side of things extremely... so what the fuck could they want with him now? He should've somehow caught wind of this. Reaching the cemetery parking lot, he noticed a black van and realized that's probably where his attacker was going to take him. Before he could think, two men jumped out of the van, apprehending him. Fear in his veins, he attempted to struggle, but these two were significantly stronger than his original attacker. Dragged into the van, someone sat on a stool, doing a rather good job of appearing menacing in the dimly lit interior. To his side, another man sat on a shorter stool. He was expressionless, eyes meeting the ground instead. It was the one centered in the back of the van that spoke up.

"Perfect, just as planned. Bhushan Kumar Dua care to tell me what happened to the subordinate I sent to knock you out?"

"He's probably almost dead." He answered honestly.

"Very well. You two, go fetch him. He's gonna rat us out if he's still alive and be evidence if he's dead."

"But sir-"

"But sir nothing, I'll be fine. I couldn't have become the boss if I couldn't protect myself." At that, the duo left, closing the van door behind them.

"So... if you're the boss, that must mean your Dawood Ibrahim."

"The one and only! Also if you try anything, please remember we know where your wife and son live. Same with your sisters and your mother and your uncle." Putting on his businessman front, he forced himself to remain composed.

"I'll take that into consideration." He forced the emotion out of his face as the van started moving. "So, care to explain what you want with me? After I took hold of the company, I fixed the problems that led to my father's death."

"Ah well, it's nothing related to that. We just... are in a bit of a bind right now."

"I'm sure, police forces globally are cracking down on organized crime. Mobsters such as yourself find it difficult to be as public as you used to."

"No, we mean money-wise."

"...So you want to extort me, is that it? You know you're so smart compared to the other folk we deal with."

"Precisely!" Bhushan was honestly in awe of the gall of this man. Dawood fucking Ibrahim decided to be a part of the kidnapping himself. Literally, anyone would say that's a stupid idea. He shouldn't even be in India if he wanted to stay safe!

"You've got guts, Dawood, coming out here and kidnapping me by your own hand."

"I've been feeling a bit bolder lately. And bored. That's a bit of a gutsy combination for someone like myself is it not? ...You know I really wanted to leave you alone. Other than a few allegations here and there, you're a rather clean CEO just trying to support his family and serve his late father's dream. And I apologize on the behalf of my men that assassinated him. What Gulshan was doing was bad... but it's not bad enough. I'm sick of dealing with you guys but I had no clue who else to go to."

"There are other people who are rich, you know?"

"Ya but... I really need this money..."

"You've softened up," Bhushan replied with an eye roll. Dawood seemed to not be a fan of that as he pulled out a gun and put it to his throat.

"I'll kill you, and I'll make it look like a bloody accident."

"Damn alright I get it, no more eye rolls ya!" The gun was lowered. "What do you even need the money for?" Dawood's eyes lit up as he leaned in close.

"Oh I wanna tell you so bad but it's not your place to know." The van kept getting faster and Bhushan felt like he was running out of time.

"Those associates, you realize you left 'em behind right? Maybe we should turn back."

"Nope, they've got another driver. Or they could Uber."

"YOU EXPECT TWO MAFIA ASSOCIATES TO UBER HOME WITH A BODY ARE YOU INSANE!"

"Hey, not so loud... say what were we talking about I'm sorry." His tone suddenly took a shift to one that was docile. 

"You were discussing your plan to extort Bhushan Kumar Dua. The man in front of you." The one to his right said, finally speaking up. The entire situation just made Bhushan even more perplexed.

"Right... my brain keeps getting confused."

"Confused huh..." Bhushan was at a loss for words at Dawood's behavior. He seemed rather sporadic. The man was older, sure, but he wasn't THAT old. He didn't know his exact age but he was certain he couldn't be older than his early 70s'. So what the hell was his deal?

"I have come to a conclusion!"

"Oh?"

"I don't wanna extort you kid, already had a bad enough time with us so why don't you help me figure out who else to extort!"

"Are you serious?"

"Yep! Come on, it'll be fun!"

"With all due respect Dawood you are acting like a child."

"I mean it's either that or we torture you until you comply with being our money mule."

"Ok fine deal."

"Well, start brainstorming!"

"Uh... What about Uday Kotak? He's some super-rich associate of mine, he works in banking!"

"No, he's heavily guarded." Bhushan could not believe he was actually helping the D-Company boss. So casually at that, the fucker was talking to him like they were best friends!

"What about Vikram Lal? He's got a good cut in the motorcycle industry, a few billion rich..."

"Same thing! Think a little smaller..."

"Have you considered going out of the country?"

"That... that might work. But our soldiers don't typically speak many languages other than Hindi."

"What about English?"

"Oh... oh ya we've got plenty who speak English!"

"Then kidnap some rich American... Maybe someone who could go unnoticed by the larger media."

"Like... a mini-celebrity?"

"Ya! What about..." Bhushan began to think. He didn't know lots of people in America but he could remember one face. A man from a few years ago who helped during the T-Series vs PewDiePie war. He found his content actually entertaining unlike PewDiePie's but he could fit the criteria so he wouldn't be blackmailed, tortured, or extorted. "MrBeast!"

"...Who?"

"MrBeast, a big YouTuber, barely in his 20s', has a shitton of money."

"I dunno who that is."

"Go Google MrBeast, all that kid does is give away money." Bhushan's heart was pulled with guilt, but he thought he was being rational. What else was he supposed to do? Let himself be extorted? Many Americans believed T-Series was a heartless corporation just like most out there. He hated having to prove them right. The van driver turned around.

"Ya here look!" On his phone were his recently uploaded videos. 'I gave people a million dollars and only a minute to spend it.' 'I survived 24 hours straight in ice.' 'I bought a private island.'

"...Alright... Gulshan-"

"Dawood, it's Bhushan."

"Right, that's what I said, Whushan." An audible sigh was let out as Dawood mindlessly spoke. "I won't kidnap you or harm you unless you make me. In return, I need you to be my bridge between my men and America. You've got connections right? Pull whatever strings I need you to and I'll let you off the hook. Just don't be a rat ya?" Bhushan felt so disloyal right now. His father would've taken whatever D-Company threw at him but he was too much of a damn coward. Would he forgive him if he let the words slip from his mouth? Thankfully, Bhushan didn't think he'd have any dignity left to lose. He was about to send some innocent 22-year-old to his own demise all to keep his company safe all while being the puppet, no longer the master he was used to being. Bhushan's eyes could hardly meet Dawood's as he offered his hand out and made the best mistake of his life.

"Deal."

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