Crisis in the Agarwal Family

As the date approached for a meeting with Elizabeth Birla in Delhi Rakesh gave his son a list of duties to be performed in addition to his regular duties and said he’d be off on business for a few days. Ravi thought this was nothing unusual as it happened quite frequently. He had no idea this meeting concerned him and the developing relationship with Elizabeth.

Rakesh booked in at the Oberoi Hotel in the morning and attended to some regular business during the day, looking forward to the evening dinner meeting with some apprehension. However, when Elizabeth arrived and was shown to the table in a special room booked for the occasion she smiled winningly and gave him the appropriate customary greetings and respect. Rakesh was totally disarmed by her charm and professionalism as they engaged in small talk while they took measure of each other. Elizabeth was very complementary of his son Ravi and inquired why he’d not joined his father in this meeting. Was there anything further Deloitte’s could do to help the Agarwal enterprises.

Rakesh felt uncomfortable as he went over what he had to say in advance in his mind while they enjoyed an excellent meal and when they’d finished retired to the nearby lounge to deal with the business Rakesh had come to deal with. He sighed and then launched into the problems of guiding family members scattered across the nation supervising overall the companies which formed part of this huge conglomerate as the acknowledged senior of the family with the largest shareholding in combined companies. He outlined difficulties dealing with the politics of an extended family complex and how hard it would be to find someone to direct their multifaceted operations within their culture. There were many in India with the experience, talent, and education to do the job, but it would have to be from this branch of their community.

Ravi, though younger than the older uncles and cousins running the various companies seemed to be an acceptable one to take over when Rakesh could no longer shoulder the stress of this work because of their shareholding power on the boards.  But the younger generation who were in the pipeline studying at an advanced level overseas may not be as accepting of the old ways and Ravi would need all the skills, he could muster to survive constant challenges to his authority and position in future. Elizabeth listened with interest.

She’d heard her father talk about family politics and how good it was to not be involved in that, but this was quite new to her. Eventually Rakesh got to the point. Elizabeth would not fit the role currently expected of a Marwari wife despite her distant connection to the clan and her brilliance would be threatening to the egos of many of the older generation administrators in their companies. He then said after meeting her he found her to be an ideal potential partner for his son under different circumstances but could not see how this would be possible under the realities of India and their own clan.

Elizabeth listened intently and assured Rakesh she appreciated his candor and found him to be a person she could admire for his honesty. She hoped this would not be their last meeting and understood the situation now and would not pursue his son. However, if Ravi were to propose to her, she’d find it difficult to say no as she felt a powerful attraction to him but it would have to be on the understanding she’d not fit the mold of a Marwari wife as currently defined and would need to find satisfaction using the education and talents she possessed or a marriage would not work for her either. She agreed not to share this meeting between the two of them with Ravi. They departed on good terms and with Rakesh’s admiration of this remarkable woman. He understood his son’s attraction very well now.

Rakesh watched his son closely to see if this woman could be trusted to keep their confidential meeting between them and not cause a rift between father and son but while Ravi continued his daily interaction with Elizabeth the month passed, and Elizabeth returned to England for her next assignment at her head office there. Ravi continued to share some of the conversations between them which he thought his father may have an interest in and Rakesh listened and held his peace grateful his son was shaping up as competent to take his place if his health failed under the stress of administration.

Laxmi’s health took a sudden turn for the worse and she was rushed to hospital where several tests were given. They anxiously waited for all the test results as a family and her two daughters Savitri and Lalit now married flew in to give the family support, Abhishek who was Ravi’s brother was finishing his PhD in Education in America and phoned as often as possible to find out whether he should make the trip to India. Finally, the doctor called Rakesh and Laxmi to the hospital to review the test results. Laxmi was diagnosed with cancer, but the doctor indicated they felt they’d caught it in early stages and with surgery and a period of chemotherapy which would not be pleasant at her age he felt she had a very good chance of recovery over many months of treatment and rehabilitation. She’d be placed on the watch list for five years with an annual review to see there was no recurrence.

Her daughters worked with their husband’s families and were granted permission to be with Laxmi turn about one month at a time during the worst time of Laxmi’s treatment. Of course, there were ample servants in the home to care for all the routines of a household, but this was just to give their mother moral support. Laxmi urged Abhishek not to jeopardize this final year by making the trip to India, but he came anyway to be with his mother during the operation. Fortunately, the operation was successful, and doctors felt they’d removed all traces, but it was necessary to undergo preventative chemo and when that began Abhishek returned to America to work hard to catch up on time lost there in his studies.

The stress of his wife’s diagnosis impacted Rakesh and his body sent out warning signs again which drove him to the family doctor for consultations. He had to be in excellent health to deal with corporate responsibilities and give support to his wife through months of recovery. He began to think of ways to reduce part of this stress. The added burden of settling inter family disputes was getting to be too much for him.

So, at the next meeting of this branch of the Agarwal clan to fulfill legal holding company responsibilities through meetings of board and family shareholders he drew aside his next oldest brother and asked him to take over some responsibility. His brother grasped this opportunity quickly having always been jealous Rakesh had that honor by tradition and he wanted to have that authority. A letter was sent under Rakesh’s signature conferring the role of counsellor to the clan on his brother while maintaining the overall responsibility as required by tradition. All family matters should first be referred to this brother who would act on Rakesh’s behalf.

Using this new responsibility the new appointee began a careful secret mission to elevate his position in many other areas with the clan Rakesh was responsible for behind the scenes but being mindful of the enormous voting power Rakesh had through his majority shareholdings which would naturally devolve to his two sons on Rakesh’s death.

Rakesh had no idea of the undercurrent this would begin. Sensing a new power player in the clan Rakesh’s other brothers gave silent consent to the eventual plan to shift power in their direction on Rakesh’s death.

A month into Laxmi’s chemotherapy Rakesh received a phone call from a young nephew who was assisting his father running one of the textile mills in Mumbai. He wanted to meet with Rakesh and would appreciate an appointment and confidentiality about his request. Rakesh gladly made and appointment with him and the young man arrived on schedule the next week. This young man had obtained his master’s in business administration in the UK but went on to do a PhD in the US as he wanted to teach in universities in India eventually but his father insisted on him being an understudy to take over the textile mill on his retirement and he’d  agreed reluctantly to let the young man pursue his life goal as a guest lecturer at a university in Mumbai. Rakesh was quite familiar with the educational pursuits of all in the current generation of young men and happy to see them making a name for themselves.

So, he greeted this young man with open arms curious to know why he’d made this long trip to confer with the head of the holding company. It appeared the young man was seeking advice as he felt the father’s decisions in running the mill were not going to maximize wealth for the clan and his opinions were not being given consideration. He wanted to know how he might be able to make changes and bring his father in line with more modern administration without causing his father distress and then went into details over the differing philosophies in running a modern textile mill with so much international competition now.

Rakesh listened carefully and could see the young man’s ideas were in the better interests of the family. When the young man saw that Rakesh was giving careful sympathetic attention he paused wondering if he should share what he knew about Rakesh’s brother moving around the country trying to promote dissatisfaction with Rakesh’s handling of the clan’s corporate affairs. Then he decided Rakesh should know and shared what he knew.

Rakesh was shocked at this traitorous action by the brother he trusted. When Ravi returned home that evening Rakesh asked him to make a booking for an evening dinner with the young visitor and Ravi, having met him in the course of his work for the holding company, was delighted with the opportunity to catch up. The conversation was on family matters and Rakesh held his peace assuring the young man he could go back to Mumbai, and he’d think of a way to encourage change in their Mumbai company in the most tactful way. The young man returned home happy to have been listened to.

That evening Rakesh sat with his son in private conversation and disclosed what was happening behind the scenes. Ravi was shocked as he’d looked up to his uncles and now, he was furious. He waited for his father to comment further. Rakesh sat silently for a few minutes and then spoke.

“Ravi, how serious are you about this woman Elizabeth Birla?”

“I love her father but would never do anything to disappoint you and am conscious of our responsibility to the larger clan of Agarwal’s.”

“Son I’m more concerned about spending time with your mother than managing the clan now and I feel disappointed in what is going on behind the scenes to undermine our part of the family when we’ve given all for them. How would you feel if we divested all our shareholdings and made a cash distribution between your mother and I and Abhishek and yourself so you could follow careers you care about rather than feeling committed to a family we are going to have to fight from now on? You could feel free to ask Elizabeth Birla to marry you and if she says yes, you would be the luckiest young man in the world son.”

“I’d be very happy if you decided to do that paterji, and I’m sure Abhishek would be too.”

Elibeth Birla glanced down at her cell phone lying with the study documents being discussed and then looked around the room to see if anyone else had noticed the phone ping. It was unacceptable to take phone calls during a session with clients, so she didn’t want to have this current presentation on screen disturbed. Fortunately, the rest of the team and clients’ representatives were focused on the screen. She quickly scanned the message and placed the phone under the table where no one could observe her breaking the rule as she typed in a quick message.

It was Ravi Agarwal, and he should have known better as he knew the rules from the time, they’d sat together looking at the Agarwal project in London some time ago. She’d phone him during the break to see what had prompted this message.

Later when they were on a coffee break, she found a quiet place and phoned Ravi to caution him for messaging her during a business session. Ravi asked if she could make a stopover in India after her duties in Singapore were over as he and his father would like to consult with her. She took their address again and promised to let them know when she could fit in a quick stopover inquiring what the project was to be this time and informing them it would have to eventually be arranged with Deloitte administration before she could get further involved. Ravi said he could only discuss that on her arrival, and he’d pick her up from Delhi airport and bring her to their city where accommodation would be made in a suitable hotel for her comfort at their expense.

Three weeks later she exited Delhi airport and looked for the promised sign indicating Ravi was waiting for her arrival. She sighted him and headed in that direction fighting off taxi touts who were looking for a tourist to entrap. Ravi’s driver fought them off and took her luggage to the minivan for the long trip to the city where the Agarwal holding company office was located. She was tired and anxious to know why this request to divert to India when she wanted to get home and enjoy a quiet break for a while with her parents. Ravi carefully avoided any questions asked, pointing to the driver and his ears and they engaged in small talk along the way.

On reaching their destination an hour later Ravi saw her settled in the best accommodation the hotel provided and asked her if she could arrange a meeting or whether she needed to rest for a while, and he’d pick her up later. She settled her luggage in place and indicated she’d like to meet his father and learn more about this unusual approach which would normally be scheduled through her office in London.

So, they headed for the Agarwal mansion and servants snapped to attention as they arrived fussing over her and delivering drinks and sweetmeats as they met in the home office. Neither Elizabeth nor Rakesh let slip that they’d met before, so formal introduction was performed by Ravi and Elizabeth smiled in greeting. After the customary small talk Ravi turned to Elizabeth after ordering servants from the room and he was obviously nervous and excited.

“Elizabeth, I’ve talked with my father, and he encourages me to ask this question. Would you consider marrying me?”

Elizabeth gasped in surprise. This was the last thing she expected from the visit, and she sat staring at them both with her mouth open. Finally, she spoke.

“Ravi, you know I need to follow a career that uses my talents and education. How would this work as I’m not an Indian citizen for starters and certainly not familiar with all that would be expected of a wife in your community. I fear I’d not fit in at all.”

Rakesh then gave a long report on all that had been happening politically within the family and the crisis in their immediate family with Laxmi’s cancer recovery and his own increasing health issues arising from the responsibilities he had to meet at his age. He’d devised a plan in consultation with Ravi to divest their considerable shareholding in the Agarwal corporations and distribute the cashed in value to his two sons retaining sufficient for him and his wife to live comfortably for the rest of their life. That way both Ravi and Abhishek were free to choose their own career paths and perhaps this would make Elizabeth’s decision easier.

To be continued.

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