HALF WAY IN LOVE (CHAPTER 4 )
Chapter 4
Some months back.
"Chief minister will be here anytime now"
Joy, the firebrand MLA, and a long time friend, whispered sitting next to Dev.
He smiled in reply. Though he could feel adrenalin pumping up on the entire dais, Dev was abnormally calm.
A calmness, which engulfs a battle field, after the last drop of blood has been shed, after the last breath has been taken, after the battle has been won.
Calmness of a warrior who wins the deciding battle.
The cuts and bruises didn't ache any more. He knew he had grown in cult, larger enough to rope in the Chief Minister himself for inaugurating his Shopping mall. The biggest in Palakkad. And infact the second largest in whole Kerala.
The Emerald Mall.
A pet project, of the Emerald Builders, found by him.
Total retail space of 19,00,000 sq ft and 250 plus stores. And a hypermarket. It had one of the largest indoor entertainment zones in the country, multilevel car parking space for more than 3,000 cars and a food court with a capacity for 2000 people serving various regional, international and specialty cuisines. To top it all, it boasted of an 8 screen Multiplex including 4DX screen. Huge indeed.
It was inside Emerald Project, a luxurious villas project spread over hundred acres of prime land, bordering NH 544.
Even Dev never expected it to be so huge.
But the success of luxury villa projects, gave him the necessary funding for going this big.
Every Emerald project has been a grand success since their launches. This one bordering the NH was ninth of them.
Almost all of the luxury villas in this particular project, One hundred fifty of them, sold like hot cakes. He himself lived in one of the largest one. Sprawling over two acres of land.
Villa No. 45.
Now, the mall, to be inaugurated today.
It was jam packed already.
District police had a hard time controlling the crowd and the heavy traffic volumes. Their headache increased, as the chief minister was attending the function along with two other ministers.
Dev thanked Joy, the third time MLA, in mind. Without him, all these arrangements could never have been made.
He was the one who was instrumental in getting the Chief Minister's date and all the police support.
There was heavy media presence since eight in the morning.
Now it was almost nearing eleven.
It is time. Dev muttered to himself.
And CM's barricade arrived in usual pomp and splendour.
The band, started playing, as Chief Minister got out from his Toyota Crysta.
The crowd erupted into cheers and applause on seeing his face.
He waved at everyone, and walked among tight security to the dais.
Dais was set up in the central hall, with all the floors having a view of the dais. All floors were jam packed.
Chief Minister reached the dais. All stood up in respect. He wished every one with a namaste, and a wonderful smile. He reached Dev.
His smile broadened in appreciation.
"You are too young to be building this, Dev. Amazing hard work. My best wishes".
Dev's eyes now got moist.
He uttered a thanks with folded hands and a grateful smile.
The inaugural function started.
With prayer.
The event management company was spot on. Their anchors, ushers, program managers and everything else. Everything was so perfect.
The anchor announced the Chief Minister to formally inaugurate the Mall now.
He got up and walked to the mic with steady steps. He adjusted the mic and started.
There was pin drop silence now in the crowd.
"Good morning all, and a big namaste".
He then continued with formal acknowledgements of the dignitaries sitting on the dais. Each in turn returned their gesture standing up and folding their hands in a namaste.
"And coming to the founder of this Mall."
Everyone got silent once again. Dev sat tight in his chair. He was overcome with emotions.
"You all know Dev, Devanarayan. He is a familiar face now. I am proud of him as he is too young to be building a mall of this size. I appreciate his hard work and dedication."
Dev, tears in eyes, folded his hands in acknowledgement.
"But, what I want all to know is, how he reached the position that he is in now"
Dev now looked at CM in disbelief. How could he know?
He looked at Joy. He smiled in affirmation.
Dev understood why he is CM after all.
He does his homework. And he had taken pain to know about him, research on him, before coming here.
Dev now looked earnestly at CM, for taking in his words. How much did he know??
CM continued in a sober voice now.
"It all started with a tight slap. When he was just twenty"
He continued, in detail, how Dev became Devanarayan of today.
And the crowd sat in utter disbelief. Listening to his words, with their eyes fixed on Devanarayan.
Dev sat, physically rooted to his chair. But his soul travelled back in time, to that dingy office room, of a knitting company, somewhere in Tirupur, Tamilnadu.
He stood there, in front of ruffian of a boss, rubbing his cheeks.
"…and I have the honour to formally inaugurate the Emerald Mall."
CM was concluding now.
"Congratulations Palakkad, and thank you Dev, for being what you are and doing what you can, for this state and the country. Thank you all..
Crowd erupted again.
Dev mechanically followed the CM, to the battery cart, with other ministers and Joy. And they rode forward, to have a round of the mall.
But his thoughts rode back, at lightning speed, to that dingy office.
Author : Vijay Nair
Cont .. Chapter 5 on 6/04/2024.
