The title should sum up this business world scenario for even the most gullible amongst us all. The Microsoft – yahoo takeover saga may finally come to a conclusion with Yahoo’s august shareholder meeting.

Carl Icahn and the current Yahoo board seem to go hammer and tongs at it, be it in private or in public. This veil of acrimony seems to have cast a pall of gloom and despair amongst the investors, so much so, that contrary to all expectations, the Yahoo share is currently trading at one of its lowest rates. The entire episode of the Microsoft takeover has been unpredictable with no end in sight. Even at this very moment, with the crucial Yahoo shareholder meeting slated to take place on August 1st, things can play out in any number of ways. If the shareholders side with Carl Icahn in the belief that Icahn’s nominees will see the Microsoft deal through in the blink of an eye, there is the counter fear, that Microsoft will see the opportunity for what it is and take over Yahoo at a discounted rate. Let us not forget for a moment that Microsoft built its reputation by being unscrupulous and ruthless, so those who expect Microsoft not to take advantage of the current scenario are living a fool’s dream. But then again, the current Yahoo board may well prevail, in which case, Icahn will soon find himself isolated and more frustrated than he is at the moment.

With all the pieces yet to fall, one can only hope that the August 1st meeting will throw up some answers and not more questions. To be a fly on the wall when this meeing gets underway, now that would indeed be something!