“There is buzz in Silicon Valley that WTA is waiting for us to fail so they can make their next move,” Zail added.

“Yeah, I kind of figured,” Ajay said. If he was in WTA’s shoes, he’d wait for Bharat to fail, too, before trying again to take over the company. “What do you need from us?”

“I need Sahar back, but since you won’t agree to that, I need time. I don’t know if I’ll get that, either. Essentially, we’re screwed without Sahar.”

As if he couldn’t stand the idea of failing, Zail paced the living room until he stood under the pull-up bar that was built into the hallway doorframe. He reached up to grab it and started smooth, easy reps. He had to be over two hundred and fifty pounds of muscle, yet he made those pull-ups look as easy as breathing.

“Your role at the company depends on that patent, too,” Hem said, pointing at Ajay. “If the company can’t deliver the software, you’re going to lose the support of the board and major shareholders when Dad announces his retirement and names you as his successor.”

Ajay looked back and forth between his brothers. “I’m going to need a backup plan, then. Something that gets buyers, investors, hell, shareholders out of their seats and cheering.”

Hem poured milk into the boiling tea water. The pot sizzled for a second before calming. “How are the rest of the businesses in HAZ Industries doing? The vineyard, the hotels, the clubs, the rental properties? Is there something there we’re doing differently?”

“Not a thing, Hem. Everything is status quo.” Which meant that it was time to shake things up, Ajay thought. He made a mental note to review their other businesses with the executive team.

Hem rounded the counter and shoved Zail so he let go of the pull-up bar. “Hut, yaar. Move. I’ll show you how it’s done.” He gripped the handles and started to do pull-ups twice as fast as Zail. As he lifted his knees to form a ninety-degree angle, he looked over at Ajay and spoke as if taking a stroll in the gardens instead of lifting his body weight.

“Maybe we can get Dad to take a vacation in California. He could help with the software.”

“I don’t think he’s ready to travel,” Zail said. “And his health is still too fragile for us to work on it here.”

The sound of sizzling erupted from the stove, and Ajay vaulted out of his chair. He pulled the chai pot off the burner just as it overflowed.

“Dammit, Hem! You’re not supposed to leave the pot once you put the milk in.”

“Oh, relax,” Hem said as he continued to do pull-ups. “It tastes better when tea’s boiled like that. No sugar for me.”

“Me, either,” Zail said.