Chapter 71
Shaurya got ready for the meeting, but he held it in the outer section of the living hall — the space he usually used to meet acquaintances he preferred to keep at a professional distance.
"Hi Shaurya, nice to see you. Thanks for your time," Meera greeted him warmly.
"Hi Meera. No time for formalities. What is it that you wanted to discuss urgently?" Shaurya asked, maintaining strict professionalism.
"Look at fate. You keep telling me you have no time to give me appointments until the elections are over, but you keep meeting me anyway," she said lightly.
"I don't think you're here to prove me wrong," Shaurya replied.
"No, I'm not. I'm here to discuss what's happening in your party — and the chaos surrounding it," Meera said.
Shaurya waited for her to continue, but Meera didn't rush into the point. She leaned back with ease, her eyes lingering on Shaurya with a familiarity that politics had never quite erased.
Political funders had begun to retreat one after another.
Nearly half the party's traditional backing had come from networks aligned with the leaders who had recently been denied tickets, and their withdrawal had left a visible dent.
Shaurya hadn't reacted publicly. He knew political money followed power, and once the tide turned, the same people would return willingly.
But before that could happen, the gap remained.
Meera Pathak had chosen her moment carefully.
Earlier, the Pathaks' contributions had been steady but limited, rarely exceeding five percent of the party's total funding. It had always been support—never leverage. Tonight felt different.
"Shaurya... I'll be honest with you," Meera began, her voice steady but deliberate.
"Before all this chaos, your approval ratings stood at a record high.
Even after your parents' arrest and the corruption and fraud allegations on the party, the damage never really touched you.
Maybe your popularity dipped a little...
but never enough to threaten your position. "
She paused briefly, watching him.
"But the restructuring... and denying party tickets to senior leaders — that changed things. It did a lot of damage to your reputation."
Shaurya remained silent, letting her continue.
"Till recently, everyone believed you would win the upcoming elections. Not just win — they predicted a landslide. People talked about your government lasting not just this term, but four more elections. Twenty years in power, Shaurya."
A faint, almost wistful smile touched her lips.
"But you don't enjoy that certainty anymore. Now people aren't even sure whether you'll win this election... let alone the next four."
Her tone softened, but the calculation behind it remained unmistakable.
"And with the recent drastic cuts in party funds and most of the funders backing out, your party is in an even deeper crisis."
She leaned slightly forward.
"But as always... I trust your potential."
The words carried more weight than simple political faith.
"And that's why I want to increase our contribution," she said. "From five percent... to fifteen."
The number hung between them — not just an offer, but a statement of influence.
Meera held his gaze steadily. For years she had stood just outside his life, never fully stepping away, always waiting for the moment when she might matter again. Election funding had simply given that waiting a legitimate shape.
Now she watched for his reaction, as if the answer meant far more than money.
"Fifteen percent? That's very generous, Meera. But why do I deserve this much kindness from you?" Shaurya asked, raising a brow.
"Come on, Shaurya, you know the reason, don't you?
" Meera said. But when Shaurya didn't ease his expression, she understood.
"Fine, you want me to say it? I will. My father and I, for the past thirty years, have been supporting you and your party.
In that process, we've antagonized every other party in the state.
And now, God forbid, if you lose power, it will be the toughest time we've ever faced.
I don't want that to happen, and I want to do whatever I can to change how this is going to end up.
But why did you do something so reckless, Shaurya?
Why?" Meera blurted out, while Shaurya simply smirked.
"I knew everything you just said about having confidence in me was bullshit.
I just wanted to hear the truth. Now that I have, let's talk, hm?
" he said. She nodded, knowing she wouldn't like what was about to come out of his mouth, yet she waited patiently.
"In the past five years that I've been in power, you and your company have profited.
Your profits reached record highs, your share prices surged immediately after I was elected Chief Minister, and not to mention the number of projects Pathak Realty & Properties Ltd.
secured in these five years. All of this amounts to nearly 500% more than what you contribute to my party.
Want more statistics? I can provide them—with full balance sheets and P&L statements.
Don't forget, I was once the CFO, and I've handled balance sheets far larger than your net revenue," Shaurya said.
"Don't get me started—you'll regret it," he warned her.
"Shaurya... I..." she started.
"I'm not done, Meera..." he said. His tone didn't rise even a decibel, but he made sure Meera Pathak understood that he could never be fooled.
"When you talk to me about funding, don't speak as if you have the upper hand.
You fund my party because a pro-government stance works in your favor," he said.
"Shaurya, you do realize that you've never spoken to me like this, don't you?" Meera said sharply.
"Oh, do not remind me of my mistakes, Meera," Shaurya countered in his ever-calm tone.
"Okay, I don't want to fight with you, Shaurya... All I'm saying is we help you when you're in need, and you help us when we're in need," Meera said.
"Fair point. But if by help you mean supporting you or your business in wrongdoing, I'm certainly not up for it.
I'll support you the way I always do, and since you've committed, the party will accept your generous funding.
And as always, you'll get to attend my oath ceremony—if I get elected.
I think that's enough to show people that you have my support," Shaurya said.
"What if I don't want to triple my funding just to get what I would anyway receive by donating my usual share?" she asked.
"Well, then you can look for a new party to accept that donation, because I won't. And you won't have my support either," Shaurya said, and Meera raised her brows at his audacity.
She knew he desperately needed funding for his party, yet here he was, negotiating as if he had multiple options—she knew he didn't. She had her sources, and she had been tracking Shaurya's options.
Only when she was certain she had leverage did she come here.
She had expected Shaurya to speak softly, even bend some of his rules for her, but the situation turned out to be the complete opposite of what she had anticipated.
Not only did he not sweet-talk her into increasing her contribution, he spoke as though he were doing her a favor by accepting it.
And in truth, he was—and she knew it—but she hadn't expected him to throw that fact in her face like this.
"Shaurya, you can't afford that at this point. So why don't we both explore some realistic options instead of making decisions based on ego?" Meera said, and Shaurya shook his head.
"I have always had the best interests of the people and my party at heart, and I still do. But if you think I would bend my principles just to secure more funding from you, then I would say—you never really knew me," Shaurya said sternly.
"And what other options do you have? Why would anyone invest in you, Shaurya?" Meera asked.
"The same reason you're going to," he answered confidently.
"Well, to be honest, my reason isn't just you—it's the opposition leader, Dev Bisht, as well.
I have nothing to lose at this point, so I'll be frank with you.
Despite all the chaos in your party and the state because of your decisions, you're still the most popular leader here—and the reason isn't just you, but Dev Bisht too.
That man had one of the top media houses in the country in his hands, yet he didn't use it to its full capacity to drag you down.
And for me to go to him and offer funding—like I said, my father and I have antagonized them for decades, so we stand no chance.
The best we can do is bet on you, Shaurya.
And if I'm sitting in front of you and admitting this to your face, think about how much your popularity has fallen in just the past few weeks," Meera said.
"I didn't know you were this stupid, Ms. Pathak," Akansha said, walking in.
"Excuse me? I'm talking to Shaurya," Meera said with a fake smile, trying not to antagonize Akansha.