Calling Sehmat

by Harinder Sikka

  Sarfraz had helped transferring many similar messages in the past. But after Hidayat’s death, this was the first time he had been called upon for such an errand. He took possession of the folded sheet and started putting chickpeas into a paper bag. As he was doing so, he noticed another burka-clad woman approaching Sehmat. Sensing danger, he hurriedly shoved his right hand into his side pocket, firmly gripping the concealed pistol he carried.

  ‘Hi Sehmat, 411 has sent me. Can I have the info? I am in a hurry and need to get out of here. It is getting riskier as we talk.’

  It took some time for a bewildered Sehmat to understand the woman’s message and deduce her real identity. Sarfraz, though, was quick to follow the developments. He placed the folded sheet of paper with the handwritten instructions at the bottom of the paper bag and filled it with chickpeas.

  Handing it over to the woman, Sehmat said, ‘Please deliver this info urgently and be careful. The safety of my countrymen is in your hands now.’

  ‘Yes, indeed. But you took a grave risk, Sehmat. They are all over the place. Be careful. I have been told to request you not to communicate with us any more and, if possible, go back to India. If you agree, then leave the lights of your room switched on after midnight tonight.’

  Before Sehmat could respond, the woman had already stepped out of the shop and was in the process of sitting in a waiting rickshaw.

  Sehmat saw her depart and heaved a sigh of relief, while Sarfraz filled another paper bag. From the woman’s voice, it was apparent that she was the First Secretary’s wife, Anjali, whom she had met at a party. Sehmat stepped out of the shop and boarded another rickshaw. Later, she walked back to her car.

  As they exited the market, Sehmat noticed a vehicle with the Indian flag surrounded by police vehicles. When she looked carefully she saw that in the centre of the commotion was Gaurav Ghei, the First Secretary of the Indian consulate, explaining his presence at the wholesale vegetable market to a large number of Pakistani intelligence officials who looked nonplussed at the long list of groceries in his possession. Sehmat smiled under the cover of her veil.

  She soon reached her doctor’s residence and chatted with her till she was sure that her tracks were well covered. Dr Huma Siddique was a middle-aged woman. She was respected amongst the elite for being a successful gynaecologist. She had the country’s who’s who on her list. Though she did not meet patients at her residence, Huma knew that she could not ignore the daughter-in-law of the second in command of the dreaded ISI.

  ‘It’s so very kind of you to have taken out the time, Doctor. I was very nauseated and uncomfortable throughout the day. But it appears my worries have vanished by just talking to you,’ she said and slung her bag on her shoulder, indicating that she was ready to leave. ‘I must get going now. My husband has to resume duty tonight and General Sahib is leaving tomorrow. Thank you once again, Doctor. I appreciate your personal care,’ she said smiling.

  Huma did not have much to offer. After examining Sehmat, she was sure that there wasn’t any reason for her to worry. But she was also sympathetic to Sehmat’s emotional stress caused by the two unfortunate deaths in quick succession. ‘I understand, Sehmat. It is not easy to cope with what you have been through. Please feel free to call me if you need anything.’

  Back in the car, Sehmat rested her tired and aching head on the backrest, planning her next move. She was uncertain of her future and needed time to introspect. Once she was in her room, she threw off her burka and dropped on the bed. But the intercom buzzed before she could close her eyes.

  ‘Sehmat, could you please quickly come to the study?’ the General’s voice was stained with alarm. Sehmat knew instinctively that there was trouble. Confident that she could not be homed in on, she rushed to the study and saw two officials standing in front of the General. On the table in front lay small pieces of wires, nuts, bolts and the two metal pieces that Sehmat knew were the parts of her listening device. Bloodstains were clearly visible on the pieces that were wrapped in cellophane paper. A note lying on the side accurately identified the pieces as parts of some Morse code equipment.

  Feigning ignorance and wearing an expression that almost dismissed the presence of the officials, Sehmat gave her father-in-law a hard but emotional look. ‘You shouldn’t be working at this hour, Abba Huzoor. You have an early flight tomorrow. All these matters are not more important than your health, especially after what we have gone through.’ She then turned her attention towards the officials. ‘Would it be possible for you to meet him some other time? Hopefully you’ll appreciate that he too needs some rest?’

  Sehmat’s words were soft but cold and the officers apologized. Their faces fell and they looked embarrassedly at the General, expecting to be dismissed. Despite the tense moment, Sayeed smiled under his breath and waited for their conversation to end. He looked at the officers’ tense faces and then at the metal pieces.

  ‘I think there is nothing that can’t wait till tomorrow. Anyway, Abdul is not alive to justify the existence of these wires and bolts in his room. I still can’t believe he was a traitor. In fact, I can vouch for his loyalty. It nevertheless needs to be fully investigated. Please come and see me in the office sometime next week. And take prior appointment when you do that.’

  General Sayeed’s words were music to Sehmat’s ears, forcing the two officers to beat a hasty retreat. She noticed that her father-in-law was uncomfortable holding the metal pieces in his hand. He realized that his name was being linked to a possible act of treason. He knew for a fact that the intelligence agencies would not have come to his doorstep unless the officials were more than sure of some wrongdoing. Worried, he looked at Sehmat.

  ‘Do you think Abdul could have been involved in some way in this espionage activity?’ he asked. Sayeed’s eyes shifted skywards as he spoke, thinking of the far-reaching consequences. Sehmat noticed the traces of fear in his voice. He was not an ordinary General and ISI was no run-of-the-mill organization. There was no one in Pakistan, not even politicians, who wasn’t scared of the dreaded ISI. Sayeed was more than respected. Being the second in command, he was feared. And here he was, shaken and worried about his reputation.

  ‘No, Abba Huzoor. It is impossible. Not Abdul. Anyone else, but Abdul. Even though he did not quite like me, I can vouch for his integrity and loyalty. Besides, these wires, nuts and bolts could belong to any equipment. These officers just want to justify their existence and earn some brownie points in the bargain. You should have seen their faces. They knew that they were caught on the wrong foot. I can bet this matter won’t show up in their files first thing tomorrow morning.’

  ‘I hope so, Sehmat. I sincerely hope so, at least for the sake of our family’s reputation,’ Sayeed said and stood up, putting his hands on Sehmat’s shoulders. ‘I have my hands full already. Hopefully, Allah will spare me from further difficulties. Thanks for all your good work. You have come like a blessing from the heavens to our family. I owe all this to my good friend, Hidayat. May his soul rest in peace.’

  Sehmat watched him leave and then withdrew to the safety of her room. Entering her bathroom, she closely examined the panels. There were enough telltale signs to put Sehmat in a tight spot. She opened one of the panels and saw electric wires passing through the ceiling. A mysterious smile appeared on her face. She went back to the room and bolted the door from inside.

  Half an hour later, when she emerged from the bathroom, her face looked relieved at what she had achieved. The screws were back in place, sealing the cavity from where Abdul had uprooted the Morse code machine. A long cable ran along the side wall, the end of which was fixed to a bracket. A small hairdryer was firmly fixed to the bracket, positioned in such a manner that it hung parallel to the front mirror.

  Pleased by her handiwork, Sehmat undressed and stood under the shower. She then commissioned the newly fitted gadget by drying her hair. Tired and relieved at the same time, she fell asleep as soon as she lay down on her bed forgetting to switch off the lights in
her room. She was also blissfully unaware of the search squad, led by sniffer dogs, scanning the backyard of the haveli.

  Outside, in the chilly autumn air, one of the officers in charge of the search squad stood at the rear doorstep. He was holding the broken tile beneath which Sehmat had planted the duplicate key. With a puzzled look on his face, he inquiringly glanced at his other teammates, seeking an answer. That the tile didn’t break on its own was evident from the manner in which it was hammered out. The squad had come to inspect the house of the Deputy Chief of the ISI and that too without his knowledge. And they all knew the consequences of their actions.

  After their futile attempts to find any other clue, the squad directed the dogs back to the waiting truck and drove away. Minutes later, a shadow emerged from the bushes across the road. The figure lowered his tiny binoculars, scanned the area and flashed once. Two lights lit brightly, indicating that a big car was now on its way. As it came closer, a small flag fluttering on its right side became visible. The car stopped near the shadow. Without wasting a moment, the man sat in the vehicle which sped in the same direction. As the car picked up speed, its occupant fished out a small radio from below the seat and pressed a button.

  ‘Tango sierra tango, sierra papa,’ echoed from the transmitter.

  In the safety of a hotel room in the city, two men sat with their headphones, listening and jotting down the transmitted message. While one acknowledged the transmission by releasing a short beep, the other picked up an intercom and pressed the buzzer.

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘Tomorrow same time, same place.’

  ‘Thanks’.

  Switching his set off, Mir secured the radio and rested his head on the headrest. ‘Go easy, Sehmat, go easy. You are in grave danger now,’ he muttered to himself as the car exited the cantonment.

  15

  Sehmat woke up to the sound of loud knocks on her door. She opened her eyes and immediately looked at the wall clock and then at the brightly glowing bulbs she had left switched on.

  ‘Oh my god!’ she exclaimed and rushed to switch them off. She then unlocked the door and pulled the handle of the latch till it rested against the wall. Her vision was still blurred. She hadn’t fully recovered from last night’s fatigue, and there was carelessness in her body language. Rubbing her eyes gently, she looked up. Major Iqbal Sayeed stood at the entrance in battle gear, with two cups of tea in his hands. ‘Good morning, Sehmat. How’s this for a surprise?’ Iqbal smiled, hoping to cheer her up.

  ‘When did you come and what are you doing in this full rig?’ Sehmat didn’t seem impressed by his act.

  Putting on a brave front, he said, ‘I have been given two days special leave. Have to join my battalion thereafter. We are moving to the border. War looks imminent. My Commanding Officer has granted me a short break considering the tragedy in the family. Abba Huzoor has also postponed his departure by a few hours. He’s not got over all this as yet.’

  ‘Where’s he? Has he woken up?’ Sehmat’s mind suddenly became alert, exploring different possibilities of what could have gone wrong. Iqbal observed that her face bore expressions of worry.

  In an effort to put her at ease, he quickly remarked, ‘No, I think he slept very late. He told his Staff Officer to delay his departure. They are all waiting for him to come out.’

  ‘Who are these people?’ Sehmat was now struggling hard to keep her composure, fearing that the inquiry on the metal pieces had resurfaced.

  ‘Oh, it’s his staff and some outsiders whom I haven’t met before. But why do you ask? And may I enter, please?’

  ‘Oh, sure. And thanks for this. I am impressed,’ Sehmat said and moved away from the door. ‘Yesterday two people came over with some funny metal pieces and a report suggesting that Abdul was possibly involved in some kind of espionage.’

  ‘Involved in what? Abdul? Are they out of their minds?’ Iqbal looked visibly shocked. But Sehmat could not help noticing that his expressions were not genuine. She instinctively felt that Iqbal knew more but was feigning ignorance. Her mind began racing. What are you trying to hide, Iqbal? But her thoughts died down without translating into words. Instead, she decided to play along.

  ‘That’s what I felt and shooed them away. I wonder if they have come again?’ Sehmat quipped while carefully observing Iqbal’s body language. She was beginning to suspect foul play.

  ‘In that case, would you please get ready quickly and meet these people? They are all sitting in the office. Meanwhile, I’ll change.’

  While Iqbal unzipped his jacket, Sehmat washed her face and brushed her hair. Just before leaving the bathroom, she switched on the hairdryer and left the bathroom door ajar so that Iqbal could observe the new arrangement. She then walked out, taking brisk and long strides. Her heart was pumping blood, fast enough to give her a haemorrhage. She entered the living room through the back door and glanced at the five people present. She was relieved to see unfamiliar faces.

  ‘Good morning to you all,’ she said while taking a hard look at all those present around the large office table. Her face was still tense, but she did not try to put on an act. She felt justified in behaving like a family member who was struggling to come to terms with a horrific tragedy. Stepping closer to the table, she continued in the same vein, ‘Sorry to have kept you waiting. I am afraid we are going through some hard times. Hope you all understand. Is there something serious that can’t wait?’

  There was a sudden movement of chairs in the office as the officials scrambled to stand up at the same time.

  ‘Good morning, err, Madam. Sorry to have come unannounced at this hour. There have been some developments for which we want to see General Sahib immediately. We’ll come again if it’ll take time. Once again, we are very sorry. Please accept our deep condolences. May Allah grant peace to the departed souls.’

  ‘Thank you. I do not know how long you may have to wait. General Sahib slept very late last night. If you have something to hand over, you may leave it with his Staff Officer. I am sure he will revert to you as soon as he can.’

  The visitors looked at each other. From their expressions it was clear that they were unable to decide what to do. To push her argument further, Sehmat looked at the Staff Officer who sprang to attention, waiting for instructions.

  ‘Maybe you could help them in some way?’ Sehmat looked at the young Captain who was trying hard to understand the ongoing proceedings. His main role was to assist the General and be like a messenger of sorts. He was a smart officer who did precisely what he was told.

  ‘No, no, Madam,’ replied one of the visitors. ‘We can show this file only to General Sahib. We have instructions to carry it back after he has gone through the contents. Our chairman has already spoken to the General in this regard and it is with his consent that we have come here.’

  ‘In that case, you can wait till Sayeed Sahib wakes up or you can come again after an hour or so. You can be in touch with the Staff Officer because he is scheduled to leave in a few hours. I am afraid he cannot be disturbed at this point of time as he is not keeping too well and needs rest.’

  Sehmat’s voice was firm and left an impression of authority in the air. The men looked at each other and then huddled together for an impromptu briefing. Shortly, the oldest amongst them stepped aside and approached Sehmat. ‘In that case, may we request you to keep this sealed envelope in your custody and show it to him the moment he wakes up? We are staying at the inspection bungalow not very far from here and will come back. We’ll keep in touch with Captain Sahib.’

  ‘Yes, I can do that,’ she said and accepted the heavy envelope. She then quickly exited the living room without bothering to look back at the officials. She carried the paper bag to her room and studied the seal. She glanced at the bathroom door from where she could hear the sound of running water and decided not to open the envelope in the room. She walked back into the study and bolted the door from inside. She placed the heavy paper bag on the table and closely examined the seal again
. She could not make much of its origin, but her gut feeling told her that whatever it was, it contained vital information.

  She decided to take the risk and pulled an armchair closer to the study table. With a hairpin she gently pushed the synthetic layer of glue till the edges parted. Fifteen minutes later, she was going through the contents of the file, her eyes growing wide in disbelief.

  She flipped through the annexure twice and repeatedly looked at the enclosed photographs before pushing the material back into the paper bag. She tried to glue back the seal but wasn’t very successful. She realized that if anyone took a closer look at the re-pasted end, her game would be up. But her new worry was bigger than simply getting caught.

  She pulled open her father-in-law’s personal cupboard and placed the envelope under the weight of old books. She then went back to her room and saw Iqbal changing into a new set of clothes. He looked up and smiled faintly before continuing with his routine.

  ‘Who were they?’ The tone of Iqbal’s question wasn’t convincing enough and instead increased her suspicion.

  ‘I don’t know. They came to meet Abba Huzoor and will come back later.’

  ‘So you sent them back?’

  ‘What else could I have done? They couldn’t have sat in the office forever.’

  ‘Any idea about Abba Huzoor?’

  ‘Still sleeping. Maybe I should wake him up after some time. He must eat something. He had almost nothing the whole day yesterday.’

  Iqbal looked at Sehmat appreciatingly, his love for her genuinely etched on his face. Sehmat too could feel the flow of his emotions and smiled in return. However, her mind was still racing to catch up with the possible consequences of what she had just learnt. The intelligence reports had categorically stated that there was a security breach at the haveli. It had reported unexplained transmissions and had attempted to link various jigsaw pieces. It also contained photographs of Gaurav Ghei, the First Secretary to the Indian high commission, talking to suspect agents, as well as of his wife who was extensively captured while talking to people at different locations. What was most worrying was that in one of the pictures, she was shown holding a heavy-looking paper bag.