The Tycoon's Odyssey

"Next-Gen Innovations."

A simple yet elegant name that encapsulated the core principle of what Evan wanted to achieve.

It had his vision, his goal and dreams which he wanted to convey through the name.

"That's a great name," Aria nodded, impressed by the promising future it suggested.

Though she felt that the name was a bit long, she respected Evan's ambitions and sincerely wished for the company's success from the bottom of her heart.

With everything in order and the name decided, Evan contacted the legal team.

He hadn't completed all the registration procedures yet, as they needed some details like the company name, location and other things.

The following week was hectic for Evan.

During this time, Evan bought a new house, a villa worth 45 million rupees.

He then finished the necessary preparation and secured a start-up loan of 20 million rupees from the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises at an interest rate of 9.75% per annum.

He also ordered new buildings for setting up the coffee shops.

Meanwhile, issues with the Tea Box cafe started to escalate.

The FSSAI had sent a notice to revoke the license, which felt more like a blatant threat.

Akin to a weapon used by someone, however, Evan had expected more drastic things to happen.

And as expected, two days later Evan received a call for a meet-up.

_____

The FSSAI had directly sent a notice to revoke their license and food certificate, which seemed blatantly unfair.

Subject: Notice of License Revocation

Mr. Evan,

I hope this message finds you well.

We regret to inform you that, following a thorough investigation, we have discovered significant irregularities regarding the beverages sold under your license. It has come to our attention that these beverages do not meet the required standards and contain foreign substances that may pose a health risk to consumers.

In light of these findings, we have no choice but to revoke your license with immediate effect. The safety and well-being of consumers are of utmost importance, and we cannot allow products that do not meet the quality standards to be distributed under our license.

We understand that this decision may have serious implications for your business, and we sincerely regret any inconvenience caused. However, we must prioritize consumer safety and uphold the integrity of our licensing agreements.

If you have any questions or require further information regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Yours sincerely,

Dr. (Tmt) Bella Dame, IAS

Health Secretary & Commissioner Food Safety

Office of the Commissioner of Food Safety

5th Floor DMS campus, 359,

BBSR-600006

_____

Evan frowned on opening the email, wondering what he should do next. It wasn't just a penalty; it was a complete threat to shut him down.

"FUCKKK!"

"Is this a joke? You found many expired products in the hotels, but they never shut down. There are fertilizers and pesticides in protein powder, whitewashing powder in eating wheat, and additives in drinks, yet you do nothing. But you come here to gobble my head."

"DAMN!"

Evan cursed in fury.

As Evan and everyone else wondered what to do, his phone rang.

Evan wanted to ignore it, but seeing that the call was coming from Maria, he picked it up reluctantly.

But in the next instant, his expression took an abrupt change.

Maria had received a call from an anonymous number. After the conversation, the caller informed Maria of the solution, so she called Evan to ask what she would do.

For this, they needed to meet someone, but fortunately, it wasn't in an abandoned shelter or a secret spot.

Weighing the pros and cons, Evan agreed to the meeting.

_____

A few hours later.

Evan and Maria stepped into the luxurious lobby of the 3-star hotel, greeted by the scent of luxury and the soft hum of conversation.

As they made their way towards the grand staircase, they spotted a familiar face seated at a table near the fountain.

Evan and Maria checked up on the meeting spot in shock, wondering if they had come to the right place.

Cause, in front of them sat a person with a huge standing.

Raj, a member of the Indra National Party. He was known for his characteristic pot belly and wide, infectious grin.

Raj waved them over. "Evan! Maria! Don't be surprised! You came to the right place. Come, join me."

Evan and Maria exchanged glances before heading their way to Raj's table.

"Sir Raj, it's good to see you," Evan said, extending his hand for a shake.

Raj clasped Evan's hand warmly. "Likewise, my friend. Please, have a seat. Can I get you something to drink? Perhaps a refreshing mocktail?"

Maria smiled politely. "Thank you, Sir Raj. That would be lovely."

As they settled into their seats, Raj leaned in with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "So, what brings you two to this fine establishment? Business or pleasure?"

Evan frowned for a moment.

Didn't you call us?

So what did he mean now?

Did they come to the wrong place, or did this guy have some memory problem?

Noticing Evan's darkening expression, Maria's senses screamed in horror. She knew Evan's temper. Fearing that he might go crazy, Maria pinched him lightly, as if asking him to restrain and whispered.

'He is the right one!'

Hearing this, Evan understood what kind of game this guy was playing.

'I always hate these politician bastards.'

Raj's previous words meant that they came looking for him, not the other way around.

Evan hesitated for a moment before deciding to speak, "Sir Raj, we're here to discuss a rather delicate matter regarding our business. It seems we're in a bit of trouble."

Raj leaned back in his chair, a knowing look crossing his face. "Ah, I see. Well, you've come to the right person. I have some connections that might be able to help you out."

Evan's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You do?"

Raj nodded enthusiastically. "Of course! But, you know, these things don't come for free. There might be a small... a very small donation required to grease the wheels, so to speak."

Maria frowned slightly, but Raj quickly added, "But don't worry! It's all for a good cause. We use those donations to fund projects for the benefit of the common man. Schools, hospitals–you name it, we do it."

"After all, what are we?"

"What are you?" Evan blurted out, causing Raj's expression to crack a bit.