by UD Yasha
‘Alright, let’s get them on board,’ I said.
Rahul got up from the bed and said, ‘Let’s get those bastards.’
At that moment, my phone buzzed on the bed. It was a message from Jay.
Cracked more data. Rucha Sinha and four other children are inside the same warehouse
Chapter Fifty-Two
Big raindrops pattered against the staircase window as all of us, including Atharva, walked downstairs. The pre-monsoon showers were finally here. I had not even realized it had been raining.
Maa was sitting with Natasha on the couch. Shama was next to them with a plate in her hand, feeding Natasha varan bhaat. Natasha’s face was expressionless. I took heart from not seeing her cry.
Maa whispered something in Natasha’s ear. Natasha tapped her leg once and then maa got up. She crossed to me in a determined gait.
‘What happened?’ she asked me.
I was not going to tell her about the whole Munchausen syndrome by proxy business yet. I still could not understand how mothers could abuse their own children like this and use the Dark Web to post videos of the abuse and buy medication that could kill their children. All of this while they were learning from each other by bragging about the different methods they used to slowly kill their children.
‘We’ve made a breakthrough,’ I said, measuring my words. ‘We need to go somewhere right now. We know where Rucha is being kept.’
Maa pursed her lips. I could make out from her face that she knew I was not telling her the complete story. But she was okay with it. She smiled and put a hand on my shoulder.
‘As I told you even when you took on this case, I’ll be okay. I’m proud of you. Please go and get that girl back,’ Maa said and pressed my shoulder.
I nodded once, unable to say anything. Her courage kept surprising me.
‘I love you, maa,’ I said and turned to leave me.
‘Siya,’ maa called out my name. ‘Please be safe.’
I hugged maa tightly and whispered in her ear, ‘We’ll be back soon.’
‘I’ll stay home with her,’ Dr. Pande said, stepping towards us.
I let go of maa and all of us went out. The rain had started thundering down. The sky lit up and roared. The pre-monsoon showers had come early. Shadow always stayed in a corner when there was thunder and when people used firecrackers during Diwali. He had an aversion to loud noises. However, this time, he sensed I was going out to do something important. He walked up to me quietly, rubbed his nose against my legs and let out a low wail. I stroked his head once.
I felt bad to not tell Atharva the truth about Malini or what was happening. Before stepping out, I asked everyone to keep what they knew to themselves, and then went to fetch Atharva as we needed his skills with a gun. I still did not know how to tell him that his sister was essentially a monster. So, I only told him that Rucha was at the large warehouse, and that Jay found the address in Mule’s data.
I went back to the house to get two umbrellas. Atharva followed me inside. He pulled me to the side just as I turned to go out. He said, ‘I don’t care what’s happening. I just need to know that Rucha is alright. Everything else is irrelevant.’
I wished everything else was irrelevant. But knowing the truth about Malini was going to crush him. I said, ‘From what we know, she seems to be okay for now. But we need to move fast to get her back safely.’
We got into Rathod’s armoured car. We had four guns amongst the five of us. It was decided that once we reached the warehouse, Rahul would stay in the car and wait for us.
Rathod’s patrol team was split into two civilian SUVs. They were going to follow us. Jay had sent me the exact location of the warehouse. It was near Lonavala, a small hill station between Pune and Mumbai. We were silent for most of the trip. The rain kept hammering down on the windscreen, reducing our visibility, forcing Rathod to go slower. It got heavier as we moved away from the city.
Once we began ascending the ghat, Rathod called his team and explained what he had learned about the warehouse’s location and entry and exit points.
‘We don’t know much about the kind of security present inside,’ Rathod said. ‘However, we have the element of surprise on our side. It’s raining heavily as well and that will make it difficult for them to spot us when we approach the warehouse. I would personally have had one team patrol each of the four sides of the warehouse. Especially if an activity worth four crore rupees is going on inside. We’ll observe the warehouse for ten minutes to try and get an idea of the number of people they have and their movement pattern. We’ll take a call then.’
‘Noted, sir,’ two men said in unison across the line.
Rathod continued. ‘That being said, there are only two places where the people inside can escape to. The first is the town of Lonavala. For that, they will have to take the same road where Rahul would be waiting with our cars. Their second option is to go away from Lonavala. They would have to pass through a dense jungle for that. It wouldn’t have been a problem otherwise, but it’s been raining heavily for the past hour. The route will be dangerous. The soil would be slippery and water would be gushing down the slopes. Taking that route is like signing up for your death. So, we’ll secure the approach road.’
In less than five minutes, Rathod veered away from the highway and turned to enter Lonavala. We drove for a few more minutes, taking one turn after another. The rain became a shade lighter.
‘Look to your right, everyone,’ Radha said.
All of us turned and looked out the window. The clouds were ominous and spit thunder across the sky. But that was not why Radha has asked us to look out.
In the distance, down the hill, we could see the faint lights of the warehouse.
Chapter Fifty-Three
We could see the warehouse for a few seconds while we were descending the ghat.
It was about three kilometres to our left. But even from that far a distance, we could tell that it was massive. Its fence was lit at regular intervals by white lamps. It was not very tall but it covered a large area. It vanished amid the thick foliage when we took the next turn.
We drove for fifteen more minutes after descending the ghat and went deeper into the forest. We exited the highway and joined a town road. We turned again to join a smaller road. The dense forest towered on both sides. It was pitch black and it seemed to get darker the further we went. The warehouse was somewhere to our right. Rathod had planned to get off on the road and approach the warehouse on foot through the forest.
‘This is it,’ Radha said, looking up from her phone.
Rathod pulled over by the side of the road. The two SUVs carrying Rathod’s patrol team stopped behind us. We were still about a kilometer from the warehouse. But driving any closer to it was risky, especially as everything else around us was so still and dark. We stepped out into the cool night air and slid into our bulletproof vests. At that moment, I was glad we had Rathod’s patrol team with us. If Chief Minister Sarvate was indeed involved, he would have this place under a tight guard.
The rain became lighter after we stepped out of the car.
‘We’ll split in two teams,’ Rathod told his men. ‘Team A, you need to go around to the back and enter from the South. Team B, I’m going to be with you. We’ll enter from the East side. Both teams will wait and observe the security measures present at the warehouse. Remember, our first aim is to rescue the five children inside. If we succeed in doing that, our next aim will be to take whatever evidence we can get. The evidence can be computers, documents or even people. There’s a high chance the warehouse would not have any of the masterminds of the operation at this hour. Hence, taking personnel is our last priority. Whoever is inside now would be pawns who are acting at their masters’ commands. Let’s do this.’
Rathod turned to me, Radha and Atharva. ‘I want you all to stay away. It can get nasty inside. Stay put here.’
Atharva stepped forward. ‘Rucha is inside. I’m going in with you,’ he said.
/> Rathod looked at him intensely. ‘Alright, Atharva, you’re coming with us.’ He pointed at me. ‘You and Radha have to stay at least five hundred metres away from the warehouse. Got it?’ He paused. ‘Also, here,’ he said, pulling out something from his pocket. ‘Use this Bluetooth earpiece. I’ll contact you if we need anything. You will want your hands to be free.’
I nodded and held my Glock tighter. Radha and I watched the two patrol teams go in different directions and eventually merge into the dark night. I paired the Bluetooth earpiece with my phone and clipped it to my right ear. We walked through the forest in the direction of the warehouse and stopped when we reached a small clearing.
Suddenly, it started raining heavily. The piercing raindrops hampered our visibility. We could not see the other end of the clearing that was about fifty metres away. Dense shrubs carpeted the ground. Radha and I sat down against a tree trunk. The ground was moist. The air was cool. I could hear the drops of rain fall from the tall trees around us. Minutes ticked by but we heard nothing. We waited alone with the sound of our deep breaths and thudding hearts.
The rain and wind lashed against the leaves and branches above us. The wind was blowing stronger now and the trees started to sway wildly. The weather was definitely much stronger at this altitude and Radha and I looked at each other in tense silence.
The clock in my mind ticked by.
‘Do you think everything is okay?’ Radha said.
‘No news means good news,’ I said.
I had spoken too soon. Just when I finished my sentence, gunshots cracked the silence of the still night air. More loud bangs followed. We could hear them above the rain and wind. We knew what that meant. Rathod and his team had reached the warehouse. I got up.
‘Stay back, sister,’ Radha said, holding my hand. ‘We can’t do anything from here.’
I wanted to join the patrol teams but Radha was right. It did not make sense now. They were not expecting me. I would have no backup. At instances like these, you always rely on your partners for both defence and offence. Joining them now would disrupt their harmony and planning.
More gunshots rumbled in the distance. They seemed to come from a greater distance because the rain was falling heavier than before now. Radha had my hand in a firm grip. The water began to trickle down from the branches high above us. The leaves rustled fiercely and the wind sent shivers through my body. We waited. More tense minutes passed by.
Just then, my phone buzzed in my pocket and chimed in my ear. It was Rathod. He was calling me. Even before I answered the call, I knew we were about to join the fight.
Chapter Fifty-Four
Gunshots continued to rock the cool night air. I could also hear them over the phone when I answered Rathod’s call.
‘Siya, a man has escaped from the warehouse,’ Rathod said. He was heaving loudly as if he was trying to catch his breath. ‘He’s coming your way.’
My heartbeat quickened.
Rathod went on. ‘The man is escaping towards the main road,’ Rathod said. Ear-piercing bangs erupted. I could hear loud footsteps, ‘You are directly in his path.’
‘Got it. We’ll be on him,’ I said.
‘Be careful.’ More gunshots and cries roared in the background. Two heart beats went by. Rathod said, ‘You’ve got to know something. He’s armed. He has killed one of my people and injured another one gravely. They did not see him coming.’
‘We’ll get that bastard,’ I said.
‘Also, if you have the option, try not to kill him. He might know a great deal about what was happening here. He could be the boss. I heard his men call him Mangesh bhai,’ Rathod said and paused. He shouted out loud to someone and then fired two deafening bullets. ‘But if...but if your life is in danger, go for the kill. I would’ve sent some of my men from here after him but we’re already outnumbered,’ he said and clicked off.
‘What’s the matter?’ Radha said.
I told Radha what Rathod had shared. ‘This is our chance,’ I said.
‘He has no other option but to head to the highway. He’ll have to use the road for that. There’s no other way out of here,’ Radha said. ‘I remember the map very well. There were some private properties up ahead on the same road. Empty land mostly. The road does not lead into the highway ahead. It’s a dead end.’
‘Great. So, he has to turn around and go back up the same path we used to get here from the smaller road.’
‘Unless he hides somewhere along the road first.’
‘Let’s take our chances. I think he would want to get away from here as soon as possible. He knows that this place will soon be swarming with police officers. They would search the entire area, including the forest.’
‘What if he has a car on the road? He could use that to get away. We won’t be able to find him once he gets to the highway.’
‘I’ll ask Rahul to sweep the road,’ I said. I tapped my phone twice to call Rahul. He answered even before the first ring ended.
I told him what Rathod had said. ‘This man, Mangesh, might have a car somewhere on the road or the highway. He might use it to get away. He could even have someone waiting for him. His aim would be to hit the highway. He can virtually go anywhere he wants from there. Can you drive up the road and check if a car is parked?’ I said.
Radha leaned forward towards the phone and said, ‘I remember the GPS images. You would take about six to seven minutes to go and come back to the point where you left us.’
‘I’m on it,’ Rahul said and the very next moment, we heard his car’s engine start.
I said, ‘Even if Mangesh doesn’t have a car, he’ll try to get away from here as fast as possible and not wander in the woods. His goal would be to get to the road first and then hit the highway. So, wait for us at the highway once you finish searching the road.’
‘What do I do if I see him?’
‘Do not engage with him. Try to get away if he sees you. He’s armed and dangerous. If he doesn’t make you, then stay as close to him as possible without raising suspicion. I repeat, do not engage with him.’
‘What about you two?’
‘We’ll find a way. Rathod and his team will be back. Don’t worry about us. If Mangesh doesn’t have a car, he might try to hijack your car. You cannot put your life in danger to stop him from taking it. So, you need to get away.’
‘I can’t leave the two of you behind,’ Rahul said, the pitch of his voice high.
‘This is not the time to argue. You need to get away if he sees you, Rahul. We’ll be safe here.’
Silence.
I said, ‘I need you to promise me that.’
‘I don’t know, Siya.’
Radha leaned forward again to speak. I disconnected the call from Bluetooth and put it on speaker. The clock in my mind kept ticking. We were losing time. Mangesh was getting closer to us by the second.
‘Rahul? It’s me’, Radha said. ‘We’ll be safe here. I promise you. Just go away if he sees you, alright?’
Silence.
‘I could still be useful if I stay around,’ Rahul said.
‘I cannot afford to lose you. I really cannot,’ Radha said. ‘Do this for me. Please?’
‘I’ll be careful,’ Rahul said. ‘It’s pitch black and almost impossible to make anything out so there’s very little chance of us spotting each other,’ Rahul said.
Another heartbeat of silence.
Rahul said, ‘Whatever you say Radha, I’m not leaving the two of you behind. There’s no chance of that happening. I promise you that I won’t engage with him but I’m not going from here. You both are my family and family doesn’t walk away when the going gets tough.’
Before I could say anything, he had hung up. Radha hugged me tightly.
‘It’s going to be OK,’ I said, only realizing then the kind of situation I had put her in.
It was a mistake to bring her with me. I gripped her hand tighter. I knew I had one big weakness. My loved ones, my family. We had just got maa bac
k. How could I have been so reckless with Radha and Rahul? I had dragged them into this for no reason. When I practiced law three years ago, I always made it a point to never put anyone apart from myself in danger. It was something that I had learned from my mentor, Santosh Hedge. He never put any of his team members at risk. His words rang in my head. My first job is to protect my people and then capture the bad guys. I remembered the day he had first asked me to come with him on an undercover mission. It had been almost two years since I had started working for him. I was surprised and delighted. He had later told me that from that day onwards he felt I no longer needed anyone’s protection in the field.
I could not let my family down. Thinking about that made me wonder about dad. I promised myself I would go looking for him as soon as all this was over. I had something to work with now when it came to his clueless disappearance. I pushed the thought away for the time being. I had a job to do. I had to protect my little sister and catch the bastard who could shed some light on what was happening in the Dark Web Chatroom.
‘We need to get going,’ I said, pulling out of the hug. ‘Mangesh has several ways to get to the highway. He could go through the forest or he could take the road. If I were him, I would stay amid the cover of the trees as far as possible. Less chance to be seen and caught that way. But even then, he has to get on the road at some point.’ I paused to catch my breath. ‘We’re going to do the same thing. But from the forest across the road. We’re ahead of him right now, and if we continue from this side of the woods, he could attack us from behind. We will also get a better look from across the road.’
‘How are we going to get him?’
‘I'll ask Rahul to wait near the highway if he doesn't find anything on the road. The point where the road meets the highway is the only way Mangesh can use to escape from here. The chances of losing him are higher if he has someone waiting for him on the highway. Or maybe he has his own vehicle there. In that case, Rahul can follow him. But it'll be difficult to catch him then so we'll try to nab him before he gets there. We'll go on the road first. Then cross to the other side and walk towards the highway, watching for him on the other side.'
