‘That’s all right sir,’ said Sathyam. ‘But what am I to do now?’
‘Don’t you know,’ Nagaraju said dreamily, ‘that all eyes are on the three World Bank Tenders?’
‘How I wish your bids turn out to be L-1s,’ said Rami Reddy resignedly. ‘You know they’re all Open Tenders.’
‘But the FM has high hopes on you,’ said Nagaraju to set the ball rolling. ‘He believes you could find some ways and means to put them into his pocket. Any way, it won’t be any favor but for barter that is.’
‘How kind of him,’ said Rami Reddy, and added throwing up his arms in the air, ‘but you know the procedures are all pucca.’
‘The FM wants you to work out on the tactics,’ said Nagaraju as though to lighten Rami Reddy’s burden. ‘And he’s ready to take care of the logistics.’
‘To my mind at least, to say the least, the procedures are foolproof and are not amenable to any twists and turns,’ said Rami Reddy, and turned to Sathyam as though wanting him to second his opinion. ‘What do you say Sathyam?’
You’re right sir,’ said Sathyam, unable to find a way through the tangle.
‘Accommodation in the Limited Tenders,’ continued Rami Reddy, ‘and passing the bills out of turn, are different anyway. Aren’t we managing them for you all the way?’
‘And that’s why it’s peanuts for you, thus far,’ said Nagaraju enticingly. ‘But get us these mega projects, and have a million each.’
‘Even if we click,’ said Rami Reddy, as though to raise the stakes, ‘it might lead us to the remand in the end.’
‘Well, to cover all risks,’ said Nagaraju falling for the bite, ‘you both can have an extra million each.’
‘Don’t mistake my saying that,’ said Sathyam to Nagaraju, ‘but when it comes to settling the accounts, invariably it’s all about excuses. Why, I know people shying away from parting with farthings.’
‘I appreciate that,’ said Nagaraju as though the deal was about to be signed and sealed. ‘Show us a foolproof plan and take fifty percent in advance, and the balance will be yours after the tenders are opened, but before you leave the office. And that should satisfy you.’
‘Tempting, though it is,’ Rami Reddy thought aloud, ‘I don’t see how we can pull it off.’
‘As you’re involved with the Tender Openings for more than a year now,’ said Nagaraju to Sathyam, ‘I hope you could see us through.’
‘I didn’t apply my mind to that,’ said Sathyam thoughtfully, ‘but on the face of it, given the stringent procedures, it looks a tough ask though.’