Chapter III: MediaMania
Is being famous a blessing derived from success or a curse that condemns raising stars to fail? Find out along with Rahul on his path to the presidency.
The media frenzy surrounding Rahul’s candidacy had reached a fever pitch. Every camera click, every headline, every tweet, every IG story, every TikTok, and every other social media post was a maelstrom of drama on a grand scale. It became apparent in many political social circles that Aditi was leading the campaign for Rahul. What resulted was the least that anyone could have expected. People tapped to run for Prime Minister immediately backed out. This left Rahul unchallenged, for now at least, with Rahul’s candidacy dominating every public headline in almost every newspaper in the country, with almost every political talk show annointing him the clear favorite: in this crazy world, there were no rules or limits. Anybody in public office could file for candidacy, and it is no longer up to the Lok Sabha who would be tapped for Prime Minister. Thank the President who changed the constitution many decades ago. Despite this,despite this, there have been challenges of other kinds.
Aditi, calm and collected, stood by the window of her office, when a commotion suddenly took place outside. A group of people got into a brawl and the police were trying to break it up. There was a crowd watching what was taking place, all cheering and jeering, entertained with what was going on. Aditi couldn’t help but watch the chaos unfold, finding comfort in the struggle the group was going through. They reminded her of herself, looking for control. She also recognized one of the cops, who was on the payroll of Vikram Rao.
Aditi was well aware of the storm brewing around her campaign and remained unfazed. She understood the fundamental success in this world of polititainment, it’s all about controlling the narrative. Despite weeks of them having to sit through the memes fabricated by Amit, she remains as composed as ever. While Rahul may be going through extreme stress, Aditi knows it will pass. Amit was good. In fact, she could go as far as to say Amit was very good. But, hewasn’t the best. Aditi knew that she was the best. And besides, unbeknownst to Rahul, for now at least, their campaign was being financially backed by Vikram Rao.
Vikram Rao is a wealthy businessman with a reputation for wielding power behind the scenes. Everywhere he went, an entourage of political influence followed him, where every greeting was met with a handshake, signifying a deal or agreement they had. The most important businessmen and politicians stood up and acknowledged him when he passed by, even if he didn’t even offer a glance. Forget the President and the Prime Minister, who do you think backed their respective campaigns and brought them to their position? In short, Vikram Rao was the real person who controlled the country.
Aditi has been working with him for quite some time, and together, they have held the country by the neck. Of course, if anybody found out about this, the jig would be up. But that’s exactly what has made the duo successful, nobody has ever figured it out. Nobody would dare question the money trail because everyone else is focused on what a spectacle politics is in the country. But that attention could definitely turn somewhere else once they realize that who they voted for aren’t actually the ones that hold power in the country. What a scandal that would be, and what a story that would be. Thankfully, for Aditi, no one would know.
Aditi was in her office smoking a cigarette, browsing through the latest memes orchestrated by Amit, when Rahul came storming in.
“My God, have you seen this latest one? They claim that I’m a Neo-Nazi!” said Rahul in a fit of rage.
“Relax. They’re after the huge headline but they know it won’t stick. Besides, we have a visit to WWII veterans in a hospital, which will kill that stupid meme,” replied Aditi.
“I don’t get it. The news said that I would run unopposed, the first time in the country. I just need 50% + 1. But what’s with all the sabotage?”
You mean besides trying to annoy me? “Don’t get too comfortable. You know someone could run out of nowhere, it’s just a matter of finding out what Amit has up his sleeve.”
“But-”
“But nothing. Just calm down, focus on looking good for the camera, and lying through your teeth about how you care about these people and the country. They love that stuff. Me and Sneha are brewing something up which we will talk about in our dinner with Vikram later.”
“Vikram Rao? What’s he got to do with this?” a puzzled Rahul asks.
“All in good time. Now get going, I’m busy.”
Rahul left the room with a feeling of deflation and helplessness. He had expected that they would be able to deal with the current issues regarding the opposition, but couldn’t help but feel that he didn’t have much say in the matter.
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In her cluttered office, Karan sifted through a pile of documents and photos, connecting the dots of Aditi’s campaign strategy. She knew there was more to her than met the eye. What is the common factor behind all this? What catapulted her to success? Karan was retracing the steps.
“The facts are, that Prime Minister Tony Yogi has been in power for many years, and despite the general public eating up his façade, the country couldn’t have been in a worse state, in myopinion at least,” Karan told Vishal in her office.
“But the people love this world of polititainment as made popular many decades ago.” Vishal pointed out.
“But here’s another fact, when Yogi was running, his campaign was led by none other than Aditi Khanna. Aditi is looking to repeat history and have another candidate run under her wing. With what the news are saying that he has no opposition, it could very well go in their favor.”
Karan caught Vishal daydreaming and staring into space, paying no attention to what she said, which really annoyed her.
“Hey!” Karan said as she through a ballpen at Vishal’s forehead, “Are you listening? I’m ttrying to find the missing link that could blow this story wide open!”
She was browsing through old photos, and old newspaper clippings, trying to find something, anything. Where is the story? The story showing the country and possibly the whole world what Aditi Khanna and the rest of her associates are all about?
“Let me step out, Boss. I just need a smoke,” said Vishal as he exited the room. Karan was tempted to go to the nearest store to buy cigarettes. She saw Vishal bring out his pack as he left the room and it had brought back many anxieties from the past. She had quit for 3 years now, but during hard moments, she suddenly started craving that poison. Just as she was about to head out of her office, a particular picture she was browsing through really stood out. It was a picture of a large group, but in the middle were 3 people. Aditi Khanna, Tony Yogi, and Vikram Rao.
Vikram Rao was one of the most notorious businessmen in the country, monopolizing almost every industry, including Yogi’s famous roti. There’s always been speculation that a person that holds that much power must be involved in the political scene one way or another, but that has never been proved. Besides, the public is too obsessed with this polititainment scene that has dominated the country for many decades. Karan was staring at Vikram Rao in the picture, a husky man with a full-grown beard, dressed in an expensive luxury suit, the man just screamed wealth. She started speculating and it suddenly made sense. Who else could have the money to back Desai’s campaign, and the many campaigns led by Khanna in the past? But what was the motive? And where could she get the proof?
She tapped on her intercom calling for her assistant, “Vishal!” a revigorated Karan called out.
“Yes, Boss?”
“Get me everything you can on Vikram Rao. Background, latest news, everything.”