The Hindu Business Line : Every hero becomes a bore at last

AFTER Anil said that it's Reliance XI against him, spectators were at the edge of their seats, expecting that things will finally come to an end. But seasoned moviegoers are wiser; they know this may just be the intermission and that the climax is still far away. So, people are lolling about in the theatre lounge, getting some fresh air, and generally comparing notes.

Who's the hero?

Hero is the one who fights the baddies, so you must first know who the villains are. But that's relative, pun intended, you'd agree. Business games have storylines that keep changing, and players also switch roles accordingly.

Will the hero win?

It may be a mistake to consider somebody a hero. "The real hero is always a hero by mistake; he dreams of being an honest coward like everybody else," said Umberto Eco. If you show me a hero, I'll write you a tragedy, challenged F. Scott Fitzgerald. On a mundane note, "Every hero becomes a bore at last," as Ralph Waldo Emerson said.

Background score is good, uh?

As in fight scenes where you hear a lot of bashing and smashing, here too, we have contradictory statements bombarding us from telly screens. In movies, much value gets destroyed — bottles break, snake gourds are cut in half, pushcarts tumble and so on. Likewise, RIL investors lose value in the ongoing sibling skirmish.

Eleven against, or thirteen?

What Anil said is apt for a cricket-loving nation that we are. His analogy of cricket for the pitched battle between the brothers, conjures up images of bodyline bowling, menacing remarks from the keeper, and close fielding positions to foil any attempt by the batsman to score runs. But, as you doubted, there are two more people on the ground, the umpires! Since Anil said 11 and not 13, one wonders on whose side the umpires are.

He didn't sign or resign?

Lately, we have been hearing both these words. So, if you're confused, you're not alone. Anil wrote a resignation letter, signed it, and sent the same to the IPCL board. But they didn't show any sign of action, till one fine morning Anil's name was missing in the list of directors put up on the company's Web site.

A vile design?

That's what Anil thinks about IPCL accepting his offer to resign, instead of consigning it to the recycle bin. Another bad sign for markets was when he said he wouldn't sign the RIL balance sheet because there was no sign of relevant information and disclosures. This took the bickering to a new high or, should we say, low.

A recent development is that top officials of the company are to sign a format letter choosing which of the two bhais they'd work under.

Short on sentiment?

A good Bollywood formula needs fights, songs, sentiment, and running around trees. Kamath wrote a neat script but Anil is adamant that `cash' should feature in the dialogue. There was this sentimental twist with maa advising her sons, and behans trying to put sense into the bhais' heads. And people who had saved a few tears for such interludes were disappointed.

Meanwhile, shareholders are the ones singing soulfully, watching the share price graph precariously pirouette.

SayCheek@TheHindu.co.in

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Every hero becomes a bore at last

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