19. Shivayya warns Minister Manohar

CHAPTER 19

Shivayya warns Minister Manohar

MLA elections were announced. Minister Manohar visited Bhaskaraiah. He welcomed him with respect.

Manohar said, “Bhaskaraiah, in this elections too, you must took an active part for our sake.”

“I am always neutral because I don’t know much about politics. My part is only to give you money during elections. Since last 4 terms, you have been wining. There is no one to challenge you. The opposition is only for name.”

Manohar touched his mustache proudly. “True.”

One follower said, “Whatever you say is true. There is no one in this jilla who has challenged our Manohar brothers and survived. He will win in this election also.”

Manohar said, “I am getting old now.”

Another follower said, “Your son is ready. You have even made him MPP.”

“Yes. My son Naga will have to save the jilla after me.”

Bhaskaraiah gave him a suitcase full of money. Shivayya entered the room and sees this. He got angry. “Papa, you must stop giving him money. They are winning only through rigging and making the people scared. They work on the weakness of men by distributing wine and money.”

Manohar looked at him seriously.

Bhaskaraiah said, “Shivayya, don’t interfere in all this.”

Shivayya said seriously, “We always keep clear of politics and that is the reason why these criminals have grown powerful and are looting the country.”

Manohar’s followers got angry. “What are you talking against our brother?”

Another follower asked angrily, “Do you know that people shiver on hearing the name of our brother?”

Mahohar said, “Eh! Cool down. Do you know who that boy is? He is Bhaskaraiah’s son.”

Bhaskaraiah looked at his son sternly. “Shivayya, you go away. You must not talk to elders like that.”

Shivayya said, “Our weakness has made them powerful.”

Manohar stared at him.

Shivayya said angrily, “If you do rigging in our area, just watch.”

He clicked his fingers.

Manohar asked, “What will you do?”

Shivayya warned, “I will make you lose your deposit. My gang is there.  We will see that there is no rigging here.”

Shivayya left.

Bhaskaraiah folded his hands in front of Manohar. “Forgive him. He has been reading some Gandhi & Subash books and that is why he is talking like that.”

Manohar climbed his jeep with his gang. He thought, “Still young boy. He has not even grown a good mustache. But once he grows up, he might be a big problem.

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Manohar was going in his jeep with his followers.

One follower said, “That boy looked very dangerous. If you had just given a signal, I would have cut him down there itself.”

Manohar said, “He is just a small boy. His father has been giving me money for elections since last 20 years. That is why I remained silent.”

Another follower said, “There is no one who can challenge your monopoly in this jilla. How dare he stand in front of you and speak so courageously like that?”

Manohar said seriously, “I have put a point on him in my mind already. Keep an eye on him.”