Next day, It was December 15, 1991. The soft winter sunlight filtered through the curtains of the suite overlooking Lake Zurich. Adil slowly opened his eyes and instinctively glanced toward the other side of the bed. Madhuri was still sleeping peacefully. Not wanting to wake her, he quietly got up and looked at the clock. It was already six in the morning.
Today is an important day. After taking a quick bath and changing into a charcoal grey suit, he sat beside the table and wrote a short note.
"Good morning, sleepyhead.
I'll be busy with some work today. Enjoy yourself and don't wait for me.
Love, Adil."
Leaving the note beside the bed, he quietly left the room.
An hour later, his car stopped in front of Helvetia Privatbank AG, one of Zurich's prestigious private banks. Eight months had passed since his previous visit, but the elegant building looked exactly the same. As he entered, the receptionist immediately recognized him and greeted him warmly before escorting him upstairs.
Hans Müller was already waiting. Seeing the young Indian man again, the experienced banker stood up with a smile.
"Mr. Ali. Welcome back." Hans said.
"It's good to see you again, Mr. Müller." Adil replied.
A few moments later, Richard Weber entered carrying a thick file. The senior trader looked at Adil and said with a smile. "Well, our mysterious client returns."
After exchanging greetings, the three men sat down. Coffee arrived, and after a few moments of casual conversation. Afil asked them to closed his investment. Richard looked at him and asked. "Mr. Adil, Are you sure. Our team analysed that there is still roam for declining." Adil nodded and replied. "I am sure Mr. robert please do it."
After discussing financing charges, interest expenses, and brokerage fees accumulated over the past eight months, Richard made several calls to the trading desk.
The process itself took nearly thirty minutes. Orders were confirmed, positions were squared, and final calculations were made. Finally, Richard returned carrying a fresh statement.
For several seconds, he simply stared at the document before looking at Adil. Richard Weber then explained.
"When you entered this position in April, the ruble was trading at 27.6 rubles to the dollar. At the time, there were concerns about the Soviet economy, but very few expected events to unfold this quickly. The August coup attempt, inflation, and the political developments over the last few months have changed everything."
He pointed toward the latest charts. "As of today, December 15, 1991, the closing price is 97 rubles per dollar."
Hearing it, Hans Müller smiled slightly. "You know, Mr. Ali, when you first walked into this bank eight months ago, I thought you were just another rich teenager trying to play businessman. when you insisted on 100 times leverage, I thought you were just a spiled rich brat. I must admit, Mr. Ali, You've proved me wrong. "
Richard nodded and said. "And what surprised me even more was your patience. Over the last eight months, you never once called to reduce your position or ask for daily updates. You simply instructed us to maintain it."
Adil smiled faintly. "There was no reason to change my view." Richard chuckled. "I wish more clients had your conviction."
After reviewing financing charges and commissions accumulated over eight months, Richard contacted the trading desk and gave instructions to close the position.
Nearly half an hour later, he returned carrying the final statement. "Congratulations, Mr. Ali."
He placed the papers before him. And said. "Your initial capital was $55,000. With 100 times leverage, your total exposure reached approximately $5,500,000."
He pointed toward another figure.
"Entry price: 27.6 RUB/USD."
"Exit price: 97 RUB/USD."
"Gross profit before expenses: $13,962,500."
"After financing costs, interest charges, commissions, and taxes, your net profit amounts to $13,800,000."
For several moments, silence filled the room. Even Hans Müller looked impressed. "In twenty years of banking," he said quietly, "I've seen industrialists and businessmen spend decades building fortunes. I don't believe I've ever seen a nineteen-year-old turn $55,000 into $13,800,000."
He looked at Adil curiously. "I've wanted to ask you something for months. What made you so certain?"
Adil merely smiled. "Let's just say I had faith in my analysis."
Richard and Hans both shook their heads with admiration. Richard said. "Whatever the reason, Mr. Ali, today you've earned the right to call yourself a genius investor."
He them stood up and extended his hand. "Congratulations." As Adil shook his hand, he glanced once more at the statement lying on the table.
Initial capital was: $55,000.
Net profit is: $13,800,000.
Total account value: $13,855,000.
At the current exchange rate, that was nearly ₹41 crore, Adil calculated in his mind and check the statement in detail.
For a few moments, Adil quietly studied the statement in front of him. Adil remember there is above 50% tax he need to oay if he transferred them directly. Whcih are more than half of his profits. It's not that Adil not want to oay tax, but right now he need this capital. This is his foundation for his future.
He looked up at Richard Weber and Hans Müller and asked. "Suppose I want to use this money in India," he asked calmly. "What options do I have?"
Hans knew why he asked this question, he adjusted his glasses and said. "A direct transfer is possible, but moving such a large amount to India would involve regulations, disclosures, and potentially significant taxes. There are several ways to structure your wealth."
Richard nodded. "You could leave the funds here and transfer them gradually. You could establish overseas entities. Or, perhaps the simplest option, you could use the assets in your Swiss account as collateral."
"Collateral?" Adil asked.
"Exactly," Hans said. He further added. "Your funds remain here with us. Against those assets, our Indian branch can extend you a rupee-denominated loan. This way, you gain access to your wealth in India without immediately transferring the funds."
Hans stopped for a while then added, "However, because of the currency exposure and the nature of the facility, the interest rate would be higher than a normal commercial loan."
"What rate?" Adil asked.
"Fourteen percent per annum."
Adil smiled and said. "Gentlemen, I brought your bank a client account that grew from $55,000 to $13,855,000. Surely I deserve better than fourteen percent."
Hans laughed. "This is banking, Mr. Ali, not charity."
"And I intend to remain your client for many years," Adil replied. "That should count for something."
Hans and Richard exchanged glances before leaving the room for several minutes. After consulting senior management, Richard returned.
"We can reduce it to twelve and a half percent." Adil shook his head and quoted. "Eleven percent."
Richard laughed again. "You negotiate harder than some industrialists."
"And you're still making money," Adil replied.
Another round of discussion followed. Finally, Hans extended his hand. "Eleven and a half percent. Final offer."
Adil thought for a moment before shaking his hand. "Deal."
The arrangement was finalized. His Swiss account now contained a total of $13,855,000.
At the prevailing exchange rate of approximately ₹29.70 per US dollar, his assets were worth nearly ₹411,493,500 (₹41.15 crore).
Against these assets, Helvetia Privatbank's Indian branch agreed to extend him a rupee credit facility of ₹410,000,000 (₹41 crore) at an annual interest rate of 11.5%.
As the final documents were signed, Hans Müller once again said. "You know, Mr. Ali, when you first entered this bank in April, I thought you were just a wealthy young man experimenting with investments."
Richard chuckled. "And I thought you were reckless."
Hans raised his coffee cup. "Today, I think we both underestimated you."
Richard stood up and extended his hand. "Congratulations, Mr. Ali. Not many people turn $55,000 into $13,855,000 in eight months."
Adil smiled and shook both men's hands. "Thank you, gentlemen."
With that, he picked up his briefcase and walked out of Helvetia Privatbank AG. Outside, snow continued to fall over Zurich. Eight months earlier, he had entered this bank with $55,000.
Today, on December 15, 1991, he walked out with assets worth $13,855,000, and access to ₹410,000,000 in India. Including his previous balance he now had approximately 42 crores in his bank account
And at just nineteen years old, Adil Ali had quietly become one of the wealthiest young men in both India and Indian cinema.
By the time Adil returned to the hotel, it was almost noon. Snow continued to fall softly outside, covering Zurich in white. As he entered the suite, he immediately noticed the shopping bags scattered around the room. Sitting on the sofa with her arms folded was Madhuri, who looked at him with an expression that was trying very hard to appear angry.
"There you are," she said. "Mr. Superstar finally remembered that he has a girlfriend."
Adil smiled and placed his briefcase aside. "I left a note."
Madhuri stood up immediately. "A note? You disappeared for almost six hours. Do you know how boring breakfast was?"
Adil glanced around the room and then at the shopping bags. "And yet somehow you survived."
Following his gaze, Madhuri looked slightly guilty before defending herself. "I was bored."
"So you declared war on every shop in Zurich?"
Unable to maintain her expression any longer, Madhuri burst out laughing. "Don't exaggerate. I only visited a few."
"A few?" Adil asked dramatically. "Madhuri, I'm beginning to worry about the Swiss economy. You might buy the entire country."
She laughed and walked over to him before wrapping her arms around his waist. Looking up into his eyes, she asked softly, "Did your work go well?"
Adil smiled and nodded. "Better than I expected."
"Good," she replied happily. "Then get ready."
He narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "For what?"
"For shopping."
Adil sighed and looked toward the ceiling. "God really tests good men."
"Stop acting. You earn enough money."
"And you're spending enough money."
"What's yours is mine."
"And what is yours?"
Madhuri smiled mischievously. "You."
Adil laughed helplessly. "That's robbery."
"No," she corrected proudly. "That's romance."
Half an hour later, the two of them were once again walking through Bahnhofstrasse. Though they wore scarves, coats, and sunglasses, some people still recognized them. A few tourists even requested photographs, which Adil happily obliged.
As usual, Madhuri moved from one shop to another while Adil followed behind carrying bags.
Stopping outside another store, Adil sighed dramatically. "Madhuri, I have an important question."
"What?" she asked.
"Do women possess some secret power that guides them directly toward shopping malls?"
She laughed. "Of course."
"And poor men are sacrificed in the process?"
"That's because you people don't understand fashion."
"No, we understand pain."
She burst into laughter and slipped her hand into his.
As evening approached, they entered a small café overlooking Lake Zurich. Outside, snowflakes drifted through the air while soft music played inside. The two sat by the window, enjoying hot chocolate and simply watching the world pass by.
Madhuri said. "You know something?"
"What?" Adil asked.
"I feel lucky." She said.
"So do I." Adil also said.
After a few moments, she looked outside at the falling snow and said quietly, "Sometimes I wonder what would happen if all this fame disappeared one day." She paused and then smiled warmly. "I don't think I'd mind."
Adil raised an eyebrow. "Really?" Madhuri nodded. "As long as you're beside me."
He smiled. "Then I have bad news."
"What?" She said.
"I'm planning to annoy you for the rest of your life." Adil teased. She laughed so loudly that several people turned to look at them. "You're impossible."
"And yet you love me."
"Very unfortunately."
"Unfortunately?"
She laughed and corrected herself. "Very fortunately."
That night, after returning to the hotel, they sat together beside the fireplace while snow continued to fall outside the windows. Madhuri rested her head against his shoulder and quietly held his hand.
Just then, the telephone beside the bed rang. Madhuri frowned. "Who could be calling at this hour?"
She picked up the receiver. As she listened, Adil noticed her expression gradually becoming serious. After several minutes, she finally put the phone down and sighed.
"What happened?" Adil asked.
"It was from Bombay," she replied. "Rakesh Nath from the production office. They want me back immediately. There's a schedule problem, and they need to start shooting earlier than planned."
Adil smiled. "Work calls." Madhuri pouted slightly. "I hate work."
"Really? The queen of Bollywood hates work?" Adil said. She leaned against him again. "This was our first vacations. I wanted to enjoy them with you." Adil didn't reply just gently stroked her hair.
After a while She looked at him, asked. "Are you coming with me" Adil shook his head and said. "No, i still have work to do here." Madhuri just nodded.
Seing her depressed look, Adil smiled mischievously and said. "Then let's do something to remember this night" He carried her in princess carry and went to bed.
Snow continued outside, while in the room temperature is high and a great battle is ongoing. This battle continued for hours before it calmed down. Then they went to sleep.
The next morning, Adil personally accompanied her to Zurich Airport. After seeing her off. He himself went to Italy to fulfill his commitment to Monica Bellucci.