Chapter 7: Meeting with Uncle 2
Uncle Salar listened to Prince Raj's plan with a mixture of admiration and apprehension. He was impressed by the prince's vision and ambition, but he was also worried by the prince's optimism and impatience. He knew that the plan was fraught with challenges and dangers, and that the odds were against them. He also knew that the Nizam, his master and friend, was not keen on antagonizing the British, and that he would not approve of such a risky and radical move. He had to weigh his options carefully, and decide whether to support or dissuade the prince.
"Prince Raj, I appreciate your passion and courage, but I also urge you to be cautious and realistic," Uncle Salar said. "Your plan is not as simple or easy as you think. It involves many factors and variables, many of which are beyond our control. It also involves many risks and consequences, many of which are unpredictable and undesirable. It also involves many stakeholders and opponents, many of whom are powerful and hostile. You have to consider all these aspects and be prepared for all the possible outcomes. You have to be flexible and adaptable, and be ready to change or abandon your plan if necessary. You have to be patient and prudent, and be willing to wait for the right opportunity and timing. You have to be diplomatic and strategic, and be able to negotiate and compromise with your allies and enemies. You have to be humble and respectful, and be able to acknowledge and learn from your mistakes and failures. You have to be wise and responsible, and be able to balance your ideals and interests, your hopes and fears, your dreams and realities."
"Uncle Salar, I understand your concerns and advice, but I also ask you to be supportive and helpful," Prince Raj said. "My plan is not as impossible or hopeless as you think. It has many advantages and opportunities, many of which are within our reach. It has many benefits and rewards, many of which are worth pursuing and achieving. It has many supporters and sympathizers, many of whom are willing and eager to join us. You have to recognize all these aspects, and be optimistic and confident. You have to be bold and decisive, and be ready to act and execute your plan when necessary. You have to be innovative and creative, and be able to improvise and adapt to the changing circumstances. You have to be persuasive and influential, and be able to convince and inspire your allies and enemies. You have to be proud and dignified, and be able to assert and defend your rights and honour. You have to be brave and noble, and be able to pursue your ideals and interests, your hopes and fears, your dreams and realities."
They looked at each other and saw the contrast and the similarity between them. They were both loyal and devoted to Hyderabad, but they had different views and approaches on how to serve and protect it. They were both intelligent and talented, but they had different strengths and weaknesses on how to plan and implement their goals. They were both ambitious and aspiring, but they had different visions and expectations on how to shape and change the future of India.
"Prince Raj, I respect your plan, and I want to help you, but I also have some suggestions and conditions," Uncle Salar said. "Your plan is too ambitious and too risky. You are trying to do too much and too fast. You are relying too much on faith and fate. You are ignoring too much the reality and the consequences. You have to modify and moderate your plan and make it more feasible and viable. You have to start small, slow and build your alliance, and your strength gradually. You have to test the waters and the reactions and adjust your strategy and your tactics accordingly. You have to be more careful, more discreet and avoid attracting too much attention and suspicion from the British. You have to be more cooperative, more conciliatory and maintain good relations and communications with the British. You have to be more pragmatic, more rational and weigh the pros and cons of your actions and decisions. You have to be more open, more receptive and listen to the opinions and feedback of your advisers and your allies."
"Uncle Salar, I appreciate your suggestions and conditions, and I am willing to listen to you, but I also have some questions and doubts," Prince Raj said. "Your suggestions and conditions are too restrictive and too conservative. You are trying to limit and delay my plan. You are relying too much on caution and calculation. You are accepting too much the status quo and the compromise. You have to expand and accelerate your plan and make it more bold and effective. You have to seize the moment and the initiative, and act on your strategy and your tactics decisively. You have to be more daring, defiant, and challenge the authority and the legitimacy of the British. You have to be more assertive, demanding and seek better terms and conditions from the British. You have to be more idealistic, emotional and follow your instincts and your convictions. You have to be more independent, assertive and trust your judgment and your leadership."
They looked at each other again and saw the tension and the potential between them. They were both aware and respectful of each other's position and perspective, but they also had some reservations and disagreements on how to proceed and succeed. They were both willing and ready to work together, but they also had some expectations and demands on how to cooperate and coordinate. They were both hopeful and determined to achieve their common goal, but they also had some challenges and obstacles on how to overcome and accomplish it.
"Prince Raj, I have a proposal for you, and I hope you will accept it," Uncle Salar said. "I will arrange a meeting with the Holkars, and try to convince them to join us. But I will not do it immediately or directly. I will do it gradually and indirectly. I will first send a letter to the Holkars, expressing our admiration and friendship, and inviting them to visit Hyderabad. I will then send a messenger to the Holkars, delivering some gifts and compliments, and confirming our invitation. I will then send a delegation to the Holkars, consisting of some nobles and officials, and escorting them to Hyderabad. I will then host a reception for the Holkars, with a lavish banquet and entertainment, and welcoming them to Hyderabad. I will then have a private conversation with the Holkars, with you as my witness and partner, and discussing our plan and our alliance. I will then announce the result of our conversation, with a public declaration and celebration, and formalizing our plan and our alliance. This is my proposal, Prince Raj, and this is how I will help you. I will use my diplomatic and political skills, and create a favorable and friendly atmosphere for our meeting with the Holkars. I will use my personal and professional relations, and establish a strong and lasting bond with the Holkars. I will use my authority and influence, and secure the support and consent of the Nizam for our plan and our alliance. Will you accept my proposal, Prince Raj? Will you trust me and follow me in this endeavor?"
"Uncle Salar, I have a counter-proposal for you, and I hope you will consider it," Prince Raj said. "I will agree to your proposal and wait for your meeting with the Holkars. But I will not do it passively or silently. I will do it actively and vocally. I will first write a letter to the Holkars, expressing our solidarity and support, and informing them of our plan. I will then send a spy to the Holkars, gathering some information and intelligence, and assessing their readiness and willingness. I will then send a representative to the Holkars, consisting of myself and some loyal and brave men. I will then have a private conversation with the Holkars and persuading them to join us. I will then announce the result of our conversation, with a secret oath and a pledge, and committing to our plan and our alliance. This is my counter-proposal, Uncle Salar, and this is how I will help you. I will use my visionary and inspirational skills, and create a sense of urgency and enthusiasm for our plan. I will use my personal and charismatic relations, and establish a loyal and devoted following among the Holkars. I will use my courage and determination, and overcome any resistance and opposition from the British or the Nizam for our plan and our alliance. Will you consider my counter-proposal, Uncle Salar? Will you respect me and join me in this endeavor?"
They looked at each other for the last time, and saw the opportunity and the challenge before them. They were both confident and optimistic of their plan, and they wanted to make it happen. But they also knew that they had to compromise and collaborate, and find a common ground and a middle way. They had to balance their differences and similarities, their strengths and weaknesses, their views and approaches. They had to work as a team and as a leader, and share their responsibilities and their roles. They had to trust and support each other, and complement and enhance each other. They had to be partners and friends, and make history together.
"Uncle Salar, I accept your proposal, and I thank you for your help," Prince Raj said. "But I also ask you to consider my counter-proposal, and I offer you my help."
"Prince Raj, I consider your counter-proposal, and I appreciate your help," Uncle Salar said.
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