by Deva,Mukul
‘Is the PM planning to take action against anyone to appease the RIP?’ several had asked. Anxiously.
‘Just remind the PM that if he takes action against anyone from our party, we will not take it lying down. You can rest assured we will bring a lot of you guys down also.’ The more brazen Tiwari had threatened. ‘And don’t forget that we ignored Bofors and all those other scams you guys pulled off when we were in power, otherwise most of your party would be rotting in jail today.’
Whatever else they may have done, the RIP had certainly united the political establishment for once; not something that happened often. Recognizing the irony Karunakaran laughed. It did not make him feel any better though. Now scowling angrily again he picked up the phone.
‘What the hell is going on Bedi? You guys are sitting on your . . .’ he spluttered, running out of words.
‘We are trying our best, sir,’ Vinod replied with all the calm he could muster. ‘These guys are very good and we have no way of knowing where they will strike next. There are just too many possibilities. Especially amongst the politicians.’
‘Well, the field is narrowed down now. They have already murdered a judge and a politician.’ Karunakaran confronted him angrily. ‘There are not that many arms dealers.’
‘I agree, sir. There aren’t too many arms dealers the RIP would be gunning for. Yes, the number of targets is far more manageable now.’
‘Nice way to look at it, Bedi.’ Karunakaran made no attempt to mask his anger. ‘And don’t you forget this is also your last chance. You cannot fail. Find these bastards and stop them.’
His angry tone lingered disturbingly in Vinod’s head long after the call ended. It took a while for Vinod to collect his thoughts again. Running over the list of arms dealers he began to prioritize.
Afzal Hassan! Seems to be the most likely candidate. Certainly the most high profile one of the lot. But cannot ignore the others either.
Hauling out Nanda he briefed him to enhance security on all the likely targets.
‘I’m planning to oversee operations in Mumbai personally.’
‘You?’ Nanda looked surprised. Fieldwork was definitely well below his boss’ pay grade. I guess the pressure is telling on him too.
‘Yep. I don’t know why but I have a feeling he’s the one they will try to knock off.’ Vinod did not bother to add that Hassan’s proximity to several top politicians and his recently featuring in the media so much had a lot to do with his hunch. ‘So that’s where I’m headed. You hold the fort here.’
With that Vinod went home to collect his overnighter. Namrata had still not returned home. He thought of calling her, then unwilling to add to his must-handle list of things, he headed for the airport.
*
‘I know it’s our last chance, sir.’ Raghav replied. ‘We will get them this time.’
‘For your sake I hope so,’ Karunakaran grated angrily. ‘What’s your plan?’
‘If you see the pattern, sir, these guys have targeted those who were most recently in the news. The judge was all over the papers last month when his decision to free that model’s killer was overturned by the high court. There were also all those media reports about the several houses and bank deposits that his family and he owned. In Kalpana Kumari’s case also the income tax department had filed the disproportionate assets case against her just seven or eight weeks ago. Likewise the land scam in NOIDA also exploded at about the same time.’
‘What are you saying?’ Karunakaran asked irritably.
‘Keeping that in mind I think these guys will go for Hassan, the arms dealer in Mumbai, since he was involved in the latest defence scam and has also been in the media’s gun sights of late. My gut says he is the one they will target.’
‘I see.’ Karunakaran hummed a bit. ‘How come Bedi has not thought of this?’
‘Who knows? Maybe he missed it.’ Then, unable to resist the jibe, Raghav added, ‘Or may be he did, but forgot to share it with you.’
The second part of Raghav’s statement fuelled Karunakaran’s irritation. ‘Well, let me tell you what he has thought of,’ he spewed out without thinking. ‘He is investigating your dead shooter’s known associates . . . so you and your men better watch out.’
‘You can rein him in,’ Raghav pointed out.
‘I cannot. Cops will be cops. He has to do his thing.’
‘Cannot or will not?’
‘Assume what you will. But this time make sure you don’t miss the RIP. It won’t be good for you otherwise.’ The finality in his tone was scary. Karunakaran cut the call.
Curbing his frustration and anger Raghav forced himself to focus on the task at hand, aware that Karunakaran could be a fatal foe. He scrutinized the list of arms dealers again.
Yes. His instinct told him. It has to be the guy in Mumbai. Whoever these guys were, he was starting to get a feel of the way they were thinking. It was the way that he too would have executed this mission if he had to. Wouldn’t be surprised if they turn out to be Spec Ops guys too.
He ran through the options once more and decided on an action plan. Then powering his laptop he logged in to MakeMyTrip.com and booked himself onto the next flight to Mumbai. It would depart at 1950 hours. He checked his watch, enough time to reach the airport if he moved fast. Getting onto the phone he began checking and re-checking with his team.
They all knew. This was the final target . . . at least until RIP’s next salvo. If that happened. The pressure on the government to act was massive now. Cracks had already begun to show.
The end game had begun.
*
Reena found Vikram impatiently waiting for her when she left the set and returned to her office.
‘Mumbai.’ He waved a paper at her. ‘That swami who had been arrested for threatening to go on hunger strike regarding the black money stashed in foreign banks has agreed to give us an interview.’
‘He has? Great!’ Reena had been trying to get this going for a while now; she sensed it had all the makings of a mega story. She was so excited that she could not stop beaming. ‘Is that my ticket?’ She took the proffered printout and checked the time of her flight. ‘Darn! That’s cutting it close.’
‘Best we could do.’ Vikram spread his hands. ‘A camera team is already in Mumbai on another assignment. I have told them to link up with you at the hotel.’
Realizing time was short and she still had tons to take care of, Reena quickly started winding up her stuff. She had just shoved her iPad into her bag when Payal walked in.
‘I hear you’re off to Mumbai.’
‘That’s right. Am just rushing home to pack some stuff and drop Azaan off,’ Reena mused aloud. ‘Where should I drop him? Mom or mom-in-law?’ Despite her separation from Raghav, she had a great relationship with his mother and ensured that Azaan spent some time with his paternal grandmother regularly.
‘Why not with me?’ Payal offered. ‘Sachin is also staying with me since Krishna is travelling. The boys will have fun.’
‘You’re sure you can manage both of them?’
‘One. Two. What’s the difference?’ They both laughed. A yeah-right laugh. ‘In fact they’ll keep each other busy and make my life easier.’
‘Okay then. Thanks a ton. Let me pack some stuff for the night and drop him off to your place on my way to the airport.
I’m sure he will be excited to stay over with Sachin . . . and you.’ Reena definitely was.
I just want Azaan to make new friends, she told herself as she headed home. It’s nothing else.
*
Cursing the flat tyre that had delayed him Raghav ran for the boarding gate clutching his overnight case. He just made it and was amongst the last ones to board the aircraft.
The flight was full. Several people were standing in the aisle waiting for the others to clear the passage.
Raghav was walking down the aisle and had crossed the business class section when he heard her laugh. It was not a laugh that he could forget in a hurry
. Turning he saw Reena sitting in the front row of economy, talking animatedly to a good-looking man sitting beside her.
Recognition was instant.
Colonel Krishna Athawale.
Not a man he would forget in a hurry. Life had brought them together briefly. But it had been an encounter likely to linger in both their memories.
Raghav’s mind fled back to that fateful day. In Srinagar. He had then been with the 11th and Krishna with the 19th Para Commando.
Both officers had been on standby, with their teams of eight men each, when the call from Intel came in. Mohammed Ansari the Hizbul-e-Mujaideen chief had been spotted. They had been summoned to Corps HQ.
‘He is here.’ The Brigadier General Staff tapped a village on the map, close to the LOC (Line of Control). ‘Apparently there’s a high level meeting taking place and several Hizbul commanders have gathered there. It is very rare that he comes across the LOC so we cannot allow this opportunity to go waste. And we need him alive . . . it would not only be a PR coup, there is tons of info we can get from him.’
Krishna and Raghav leaned forward, studying the terrain. A tiny village, midway on the mountain slopes. One, barely jeep-able, track going up to it from the east. Another, much smaller foot track going up to the village from the southwest.
‘We can expect some heavy-duty security. Intel is not sure but we estimate at least twenty men, including the four or five commanders. Both tracks to the village are likely to be guarded so we suggest coming down from the top.’
He checked to see if either officer had any questions. None. Para commando officers were used to operating with minimal instructions. Krishna and Raghav were no exceptions.
‘Both your teams will be dropped here.’ Another tap on the map, at a flat piece of ground on the reverse slope. ‘To mask the approach of your choppers we are going to be carrying out supply drops here, here and here.’ Three more taps, at three Indian army posts along the LOC. ‘Aerial supply drops are routine in this area so they should not raise any eyebrows. And will be enough to cover your approach. Questions?’
He dealt with them and an hour later both teams were airborne.
It was still broad daylight when the MI-17s landed them on the designated Landing Zone.
Krishna could hear the drone of low-flying AN 32s carrying out supply drops. Sure enough the sound filled the valleys around and would easily have masked the choppers. Far in the distance, parachutes flared open, slowly floating down with their precious cargo of mail, food, fuel, arms and munitions.
Before the sounds faded, both commando teams had cleared the area, heading upslope. An hour later they went to ground. With the target village spread out below them. Then they settled down to wait for darkness. Darkness that would allow them to close in on the targets silently. And capture. Or kill.
‘I’ll take the left flank.’ Krishna pointed, as the final dregs of light faded. ‘Your team can come in from the right.’
‘Okay.’ Raghav nodded. ‘We will put down stops there and there.’ He indicated two features.
The sun dropped behind the mountain. They waited till the darkness was deeper. Down below lights sprang to life in the village. Not too many, and none too bright. In this rugged part of the country electricity was still a scarce resource.
Then they were off. Not a soul heard them. Not even the twelve sentries that had been deployed around the village by Ansari. All twelve forfeit their lives.
The four Hizbul commanders were shocked when the door blew open and Krishna raced in with three of his team.
‘I wouldn’t dream of it my friend.’ Raghav stepped in from the second door. One of the HeM commanders was slyly reaching for the pistol in his waistband. The terrorist started guiltily, jerking his hand away.
‘Much better.’ Raghav, still with that sardonic smile on his face, shot him straight between the eyes. One of the others screamed as the man fell dead. A ragged, terrified scream.
‘What the hell did you do that for?’ Krishna could not believe Raghav had shot the man in cold blood.
‘No point taking these bastards alive. They either escape or their group kidnaps someone or hijacks a plane and then our fucking government lets them loose.’
Two more shots rang out from his weapon. Two more terror commanders fell.
It had happened so fast that Krishna had had no time to react. He was still trying to come to terms with it.
‘We will take this one.’ Raghav pointed at Mohammed Ansari, the Hizbul commander, who was watching him with petrified eyes. ‘He will tell us what we need to know.’ Raghav gestured to his teammate backing him up. ‘Tie his hands and get the fucker along.’
Momentarily distracted, none of them noticed the two terrorists slowly creeping up to the open door. This was the final set of sentries, still alive because they had goofed off to sleep and so been missed by the para commandos.
By the time Krishna spotted them they were already at the door, their weapons raised, ready to fire. Raghav stood right in their line of fire. He was as good as dead.
Krishna did not think. There was no time to. Displaying the speed and lethality the Indian para commando is famous for he unleashed two rapidly aimed bursts. Both scored. Both men went down.
Raghav spun around when Krishna fired. Saw the danger he had been saved from. Was suddenly sheepish. But his arrogance returned rapidly.
‘I will not die at the hands of these scum.’ He laughed. But the laugh was a trifle shaky. And much as he loathed that, his eyes acknowledged the debt he owed Krishna.
Still sickened with the way Raghav had shot down the terrorists in cold blood, Krishna gave him a withering look and wordlessly went out to call in the capture. Krishna knew he would never talk about what Raghav had done. Just as he knew that he would have acted in the exact same manner to save any other of his teammates. That was the warrior’s honour code.
But the disdainful look Krishna threw as he exited the hut had penetrated deep into Raghav.
What gives you the right to judge me you prick? Raghav had wanted to yell at him. You know I am right . . . there is no point in taking these bastards alive.
Raghav remembered that look clearly even now as he walked up to Reena and Krishna. It still rankled . . . irking him today as much as it had that night all those years ago.
Reena must have sensed Raghav’s scrutiny since she looked up. Instantly her expression altered. A guarded wariness replaced the carefree smile of a moment ago.
Krishna must have noticed the change in her since he also looked up. Despite the passage of years, he recognized Raghav. His expression altered . . . hardened . . . fleetingly . . . then he quickly forced a poker face. But not fast enough for Raghav not to have noticed. That compounded his irritation even more. Raghav again felt judged . . . judged and wanting.
‘Hi Reena. What a surprise? How are you doing?’ Fighting off his dismay at the change in her expression Raghav held out his hand. He had been meeting her once a week, whenever he went to meet Azaan, but that had been till about six months ago. It had stopped when he filed the case contesting Azaan’s custody. When that had happened Reena’s lawyer had communicated to his that Raghav was no longer welcome to come to Reena’s house. Instead he could only pick up Azaan from the gate for the mandatory visitations accorded him by the court.
Her face now expressionless Reena shook hands briefly. Then gesturing to Krishna, introduced him.
‘Raghav, this is Colonel Krishna Athawale.’
‘I know.’ Raghav held out his hand.
‘You two know each other?’ Reena was surprised.
‘We have had the pleasure of serving together in the paras,’ Raghav replied with a smile, as brittle as his tone. Whatever past the two had shared had obviously not been a pleasant one. ‘A long time ago.’ He re-focused on Krishna. ‘So Colonel, how do you know my wife?’ His tone was as unpleasant as it could get without being blatantly hostile.
‘His sister is a very dear friend of mine.’ Reena wince
d slightly when Raghav used the word wife, but replied before Krishna could.
‘Well, well. What a small world?’ Even though Raghav’s attention was still fixed on Krishna, he had noticed her wince. That added to the dark angry cloud gathering inside him.
Krishna held his peace, though he was feeling awkward as hell. He also noticed that now Reena was sitting ramrod straight, like a soldier on quarter guard duty. A marked contrast from her cheerful, carefree demeanour of a moment ago.
‘So? When did you quit the paras?’ Then Raghav tapped his forehead with a finger. ‘Ah, yes! I remember now. You quit after that hijack incident, didn’t you? If I remember rightly during that assault on IC 814 . . .’
‘Yes, I quit service then.’ Krishna cut him off quickly, uncomfortable with the direction in which the conversation was headed. Pooja and the manner of her death were still raw topics for him, and too close to his heart for him to be comfortable discussing them with anyone. Especially someone like Raghav, whom he didn’t particularly like. ‘And you?’ Then realized he should not have asked. He remembered why Raghav had been thrown out. The para commandos were a small, tightly-knit community, and Raghav had achieved more than his share of notoriety due to the scam he had been involved in.
Raghav did not reply. But his smile became even more brittle. And his eyes colder still. If looks could kill, Krishna would have perished a while ago.
Krishna continued, wanting to ensure the conversation stayed away from the hijack incident and Pooja’s death. ‘Did you serve with Colonel Grewal? He moved from 19th to the 11th.’
‘Yeah, Virgin was commanding when I joined the unit, but I was with him only for a bit.’
‘Excuse me, sir, you’re blocking the passage.’ An air hostess tapped Raghav’s arm. ‘Could you please move to your seat and allow the others to pass. We are about to take off soon.’
