February 26 – April 15, 1989
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The Republic Day weekend of 1989 became a turning point for Bata Shoes Pvt. Ltd.
Raj had planned the launch meticulously. On February 26, exactly one month after Republic Day celebrations, one hundred new Bata stores opened simultaneously across India—from bustling markets in Delhi and Kolkata to smaller towns in Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Rajasthan. The rollout was synchronized to the minute: red ribbons cut at 10:00 AM sharp in every location, accompanied by marching bands, free balloons for children, and massive banners proclaiming "Bata: Shoes for Every Indian."
TBF dedicated its front page that morning to the event: "From Kerala Roots to National Pride—Bata Marches Forward." Full-color advertisements ran for a week prior, featuring **Mehra Productions** stars in everyday settings—walking rural fields in durable Bata chappals, striding city streets in sleek leather shoes. The tagline: "Affordable Quality, Made for India."
Priya, now officially Mrs. Priya Mehra but retaining her maiden name for business, stood at the flagship store in Kochi's MG Road. Kishanlal Menon, visibly moved, cut the ribbon beside her. The crowd cheered as the doors opened, and within hours, queues stretched around the block. In Mumbai, Raj watched live feeds from multiple cities, a quiet smile on his face.
The numbers came in fast. First-day sales across all stores: over 50,000 pairs. By week's end: 300,000. The combination of aggressive pricing—30-40% below competitors—modern designs adapted from European trends but manufactured locally, and relentless TBF promotion proved unbeatable.
Kishanlal called Raj that evening, voice thick with emotion. "Beta, I thought the factory would die with me. Today, workers are smiling again. Overtime shifts are full—everyone wants to be part of this."
Raj replied softly, "This is just the beginning, Uncle. By year-end, we'll have three hundred stores. Bata will be India's name for footwear."
A shadow emerged mid-March. Liberty Shoes, a major northern competitor, launched a whisper campaign: newspaper plants alleging Bata used "foreign influence" to undercut local brands, hinting at shady funding. Sales dipped 5% in Punjab and Haryana.
Raj acted swiftly. He instructed Ravi Sharma at TBF to investigate Liberty's books. Within days, a damning exposé ran: "Liberty's Hidden Debts—How Tax Evasion Funds Smear Campaigns." Documents showed Liberty defaulting on loans, evading duties on imported leather. The rival's stock tumbled; public sympathy swung to Bata as the "honest Indian upstart."
By April, Bata reclaimed momentum. Quarterly profits hit 50 crore—more than double projections. Priya was named CEO outright; Kishanlal shifted to honorary chairman, spending more time with family.
As Bata marched across the nation, the Shiv Temple prepared for its first grand test: Mahashivratri on April 14-15.
The complex, now 40% complete, had transformed the barren site into a sacred oasis. The central Nataraja shrine gleamed under floodlights, the pushkarani tank reflected the stars, and the beginnings of the thousand-pillar mandapam rose like ancient sentinels.
Raj estimated two million pilgrims. Vishal Singh's team worked round-the-clock: temporary shelters for 500,000, water points every hundred meters, medical camps, and sanitation facilities built to handle the surge. Mehra Construction hired 5,000 extra workers; local economies boomed.
Security was paramount. ASUR layered rings: visible police and volunteers outside, plainclothes operatives in the middle, JS-1 enhanced elite closest to key areas. Raj attended incognito, dressed as a simple devotee in saffron kurta, accompanied by Priya and Jyoti—both in traditional sarees, veils drawn for privacy.
The night of April 14 began with silence, broken only by temple bells. As midnight approached, chants of "Om Namah Shivaya" swelled into a roaring ocean. Raj stood near the Nataraja shrine, watching families pour milk over the lingam, sadhus in trance, young couples praying for blessings.
Donations poured in spontaneously: cash boxes overflowed, gold ornaments piled high. By dawn April 15, preliminary counts showed 100 crore collected—enough to fund the next two phases without dipping into reserves. Also from nearby Hotels and restaurant 2 crore profit generated.
Raj ordereded to buy more land around the temple he has already bought 300 acre of land around the temple.
BP workers moved discreetly among the crowds, distributing prasad packets wrapped with small cards: "Bharatiya Pragati—Serving Faith and Nation." Volunteer teams registered voters on the periphery, adding 80,000 names across Maharashtra and neighboring states.
Trouble brewed near dawn. Intelligence from ASUR scouts revealed a small terrorist cell—six illegally entered immigrants linked to cross-border networks—had infiltrated the pilgrim crowds. Their plan: detonate low-yield explosive devices near the main shrine and food distribution areas to cause maximum panic and casualties, aiming to destabilize the "Hindu revival" symbol and inflame tensions.
ASUR struck first. Elite operatives identified the suspects through facial recognition and behavioral patterns. Silent takedowns occurred in the outer zones—no gunfire, no alarms. The explosives were located in hidden bags, disarmed on-site, and the perpetrators extracted quietly into waiting vehicles.
Official reports later described it as "a foiled theft attempt by pickpockets—quickly resolved by vigilant security." No injuries, no panic. The festival continued undisturbed.
The celebration ended at noon on April 15 with a grand aarti. Two million pilgrims departed peacefully, many vowing to return. TBF's coverage dominated for days: "Mahashivratri Miracle—2 Million United in Devotion." Editorials praised the seamless organization and security, subtly crediting BP's support teams.
Raj returned to Mumbai exhausted but triumphant. Bata had conquered markets; the temple had conquered hearts—and survived its first real test. Profits flowed, influence deepened.
That evening, as the household settled, Priya found Raj in the study. She stood in the doorway for a moment, her hand resting lightly on her stomach, a soft smile playing on her lips.
"Raj," she said quietly, stepping closer. "I went to the doctor today. The test came back positive."
Raj looked up, his eyes searching hers. "Positive…?"
She nodded, eyes shining. "I'm pregnant. We're going to have a baby."
For a rare moment, the empire-builder was speechless. Then he stood, crossing the room in two strides to pull her into his arms. He held her tightly, one hand gently cradling the back of her head, the other resting protectively over her abdomen.
"Our child," he whispered, voice thick with emotion. "The first of the next generation."
Priya laughed softly through happy tears. "Jyoti's going to be thrilled—and probably demand her turn next."
Raj chuckled, kissing her forehead. "Let her. This family grows stronger every day."
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