To say that Durga Prasad was taken aback, was putting it mildly. But years of practice helped him pull on his mask more quickly before his family or the other board members realized. The last time he had laid his eyes on the man, sitting in front of him right now, he was merely a boy. He was the smart, hardworking but loyal prodigy that he himself was grooming. Today, the man sitting before him, resembled the boy only physically, to some extent, but there was an edge in his man that made him narrow his eyes and try to delve deeper into who he was facing.

"Mr Maheshwari, sir" Mr Mehra said addressing Sanskar, "I have just been told by Mr Durga Prasad Maheshwari that he along with his family and the remaining board members, hold 51% stake making them the majority owners. He has offered to buy the stake owned by Vincere"

Sanskar looked at Mr Mehra, before turning to Durga Prasad with a confident smile "But that isn't accurate, is it?" He stated rather than asked, directing the comment to Durga Prasad. He leaned back in his chair comfortably, his elbows resting on the chair-arms, his fingers pressed against each other as he spoke "Vincere owns 49% stake in Maheshwari Industries. Combining that with the 5% stake that I own personally, it equates to a 54% stake in the company. I would presume that would be a majority stake, wouldn't you?"

Durga Prasad remained quite, his expression unchanged, evaluating this new opponent who was once on his side.

One of the board members, Mr Jain, cut in at this time, unable to hold back his curiosity "Sanskar, where have you been all these years? You went missing for so long and now you are back taking over the company?"

"I have been away trying to make my own mark, Mr Jain" he said with a comfortable smile and calm tone "I have been following Bade Papa's advice in this. I am after all his prodigy; someone he has been grooming to take over the business ultimately. I have been trying to prove worthy of the position. Bade Papa had asked me to prove to him I was ready by taking majority ownership in the company, on my own. Isn't that true Bade Papa?" Sanskar said with a mocking smile, challenging Durga Prasad to counter him, knowing fully well that Durga Prasad wouldn't be willing to bring out family skeletons in the public.

As he had expected, Durga Prasad gave a tight smile but didn't counter him. But his youngest son, Laksh, wasn't as rational or cool headed. "Sanskar!" He roared, ready for some verbal and if possible physical fight with his cousin. But Durga Prasad stopped him "Laksh. Sit down" he said firmly, ending any further conflicts.

"So what does this mean? Would Sanskar be taking over Maheshwari Industries now?" another board member asked, directing the question to Durga Prasad.

But Sanskar replied even before Durga Prasad could "Of course not. This was merely to prove I am ready. Not to actually take over. Bade Papa will continue in his position. Isn't that right Bade Papa?". Durga Prasad gave another tight smile

His prodigy had started a new game, against his own teacher. Durga Prasad, smiled in his mind, he would observe what his prodigy was up to. Sanskar was smart, he had to give it him, Durga Prasad had trained him well. But the prodigy sometimes forgets that the teacher doesn't always share all his secrets with the student. He always sets some aside for precisely such times when the student starts thinking he knows best. And then then the teacher hits back and really shows the prodigy who the true guru is.

"So what do you plan to do?" the same board member asked

"I plan to improve the business. There are things we are doing wrong, that I want to correct. Like we buy all our raw materials from China and pay them in dollars. But we sell everything in Europe and get paid in Euros. With the current fluctuations in the currencies, we are exposing ourselves to currency losses that can be easily avoided"

His words had clearly left the board a lot more confident. They had known him before when he was active part of the business. While the board meeting was fairly short, in the context of the upheaval that had happened, a lot of the board members had come over and had quick positive conversations with Sanskar. They had after all always been presented with Sanskar as the future heir for Durga Prasad. While his absence had been confusing for them, his explanations about his return and the acquisition of the majority stake on advice from Durga Prasad was something that had accepted with equal ease as his disappearance. They had after all know Durga Prasad to run his clan with an iron fist and felt this wouldn't be completely unlike him to expect this.

Durga Prasad had been looking at these proceedings with cautious and intense eye. He was observing each and every one of Sanskar's moves.

Soon the board left and only the family was left in the boardroom, Laksh blew up in his usual style "What is the meaning of this?" he screamed at Sanskar, almost ready to charge at him.

"You haven't changed one bit Laksh. Still haven't picked any manners yet" Sanskar commented sarcastically with a mocking smile on his face that drove Laksh to be more aggressive. He rushed towards Sanskar, ready to beat him up when Durga Prasad got up from his chair "Laksh" he warned his youngest, raising a hand to cut the objection that was coming up. Laksh was left fuming glaring at Sanskar as he brushed past him and left the boardroom in a huff.

Ram walked over to his son at this time "Sanskar, son, what is going on here? What are you trying to do and why? Isn't what happened enough?" he asked almost pleading. He had lost his son five years ago after Sanskar had left the family following that incident. In his heart, he had missed his son immensely. It was a big hit for him, emotionally, then that his son had returned back but in such unfavorable setting.

Sanskar got up from his chair. Opening his jacket up, he bent down, taking the blessings of his father. "Aren't you happy I am back, Dad?" Sanskar asked, smoothly avoiding the questions that had been thrown at him.

Durga Prasad walked over to Sanskar. His face still evaluating the man challenging him. Sanskar may have waylaid the board and could even mislead his father Ram, but Durga Prasad hadn't been fooled by the act. But Durga Prasad wasn't a man of rash actions, no, he was someone who understood his opponent and then squashed him in one brutal blow. He firmly believed that an injured opponent was more dangerous, and right now this man in front of him represented exactly one such opponent. He had no delusions about it.

"Sanskar" he said walking over "You and I both know there is more to this that proving your worth. We should not kid ourselves with such flimsy excuses when it is just us"

"I did not intend to, Bade Papa, but I felt that the rest of the board didn't need to know about it. Or is it that you feel differently about that?"

Durga Prasad gave him a nod at this "So now that it is just us here, tell me, why are you here? It cannot be that you have realized your mistake and have come begging for forgiveness"

"No, you are right, I am not here begging for one. But I felt that the rest of the family doesn't need to be dragged into the mud fight, when this is more between us"

"So you are here to reconcile with the family?" Durga Prasad probed

"You can say that. After all, it would be natural that I miss my family, would it not?" Sanskar replied nonchalantly

"Why do I not believe you?" Durga Prasad stated, looking him in the eye

"I am not asking you to. I am just stating the facts" Sanskar said, not one to back off from a challenge.

"Sanskar, do you really miss the family?" Ram asked, hoping against hope that there would be some healing for the parents whose son was estranged from them

"Of course I miss my family, Dad. I have been away from you and from mother for so long" Sanskar said sincerely. He had missed his parents and his sister and even his Badi Maa. How could he not? Was he not human?

Ram hugged his son close to him. He had tears in his eyes. He patted him on his shoulders and then moved back. He looked at Durga Prasad "Bhaisa"

Durga Prasad had predicted this to happen. In fact, he had hoped for it. His brother had given him the opening that he needed to understand his enemy better, and to do it in a manner that would not raise red flags in the mind of his enemy. After all, didn't they say keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.

"Very well Ram. I cannot forgive your son, but equally I cannot put you and Sujata through further separation from your only son. He can stay at the Maheshwari Mansion provided he stays within his limits" Durga Prasad offered, making it clear that he was going out of the limb for his brother.

"Thank you Bhaisa. I assure you, he will not repeat what happened before. You wont, right, Sanskar?" He asked looking at his son, almost pleading.

"No, I wont Dad" Sanskar assured him

"Very well. You can come back home" Durga Prasad informed Sanskar. Looking at his eldest son Adarsh, who had been quiet as always, he said "Adarsh, go and inform the family of this"

"That wont be necessary, Bade Papa" Sanskar cut in calmly "My assistant should already be reaching the house with my things"

Durga Prasad who was already on his way out of the boardroom, stopped for a minute at the very spot. His enemy was either too confident of his own abilities or there was something more that was going on here than met his eyes. He would have to closely observe Sanskar from now on. Yes, very closely.

"Should we go home, Dad, Bade Papa?" Sanskar asked with a smile on this face, making his way out of the boardroom without waiting for their reply, leaving them to follow him out.