Serge A. Storms thought to have committed suicide when Serge was a child, but during the novel "Cadillac Beach" it's discovered that he is still alive. The elder Storms had a heart attack not long after his grandson's 44th birthday, and died after a short stay in hospital. Storms' father Pablo was a Cuban American jai alai player who was more popular for his unpredictability than his skill at the sport; he died when he hurled a "pelota" that rebounded and struck him forcefully in the head. This occurred when Serge was very young, and left his mother a widowed single mother. She
Jai Singh I The latter was serving under his father, while the former was acting as his agent at the Mughal court. The Mirza Raja's invasion of Bijapur commenced in December 1665. Jai Singh now had an army of 40,000 to which Shivaji Maharaj added 2,000 cavalry and 7,000 infantry. The Bijapuris melted away before this array and Jai Singh reached within 12 miles of Bijapur city. However, the scorched earth tactics of the Deccanis succeeded, Jai Singh's food supply ran out and he was forced to begin his retreat in January 1666. At this time he sent Shivaji to the Mughal court