Chapter 30

1 years ago

NoeticLife

@NoeticLife

CHAPTER 30

DISCOVERIES

"Sir, main already bata chuka hoon", Rahul said, swallowing nervously. "Mujhe nahi pata tha us mein drugs hain. Yeh sab kaam mere log karte hain."

Karan slammed him into the wall, glaring at him fiercely. "Tu koi chhoti si chori ke inzaam mein third accused nahi hai", he hissed, "jo zyaada smart banne ki koshish kar raha hai. Terrorist associate mein naam hai tera. Teri sirf haddi nahi todhunga. Tera pair kaatke tujhe hi kaccha khilaa dunga. Aur agar zyaada chilaaya, toh tujhe itna andar gaadunga ki awaaz toh kya, teri laash bhi kabhi kisi ke paas nahi pahunchegi."

Rahul stared at him with wide eyes. Sweat made his dark skin shine in the dull light of the cell. Karan shoved him into the wall, taking a couple of steps back and sitting down in the chair again. He stared at him for a few silent seconds. His gaze trailed down when the crotch of his pants darkened, and Karan rolled his eyes at the trembling legs and the puddle of urine that formed around his feet.

"Ab bolega?" He snarled.

"Woh... woh... m-main-" He took a deep breath. "Mujhe kuchh nahi pata. Sir, hum toh chhota mota drugs ka supply karne ka kaam karte the. Thode bahut customer hote the, kaam phone par hota tha. Kuchh nahi pata hume. Yeh aantakwaadi wagera toh bilkul bhi nahi." He fell to his knees, folding his hands. "Kuchh nahi pata mujhe. Jo pata hai, sab kuchh bata chuka hoon. Jail jaane ko taiyaar hoon main. Jo sazaa deni hai de do. Court jaane ko taiyaar hoon. Par main koi antakwaadi nahi hoon. Thode se paise ke liye kar leta hoon, par kisi ko maarna, desh kharaab karna, yeh sab nahi. Yeh sab nahi karta main."

Karan stared at him for a few seconds, inspecting him. He turned his head a little, and an inspector leaned down to him. "Das baar puchh tachh karo. Same cheez, baar baar. Ghumaao saale ko. Kahaani badle, toh bataana."

"Yes, sir", the inspector said.

He stood up from the seat, and a constable opened the cell door. He ducked down through the small door, walking out. He sat down on one of the chairs, accepting the glass of tea he was offered. "Thank you", he muttered.

The door opened and he glanced up, raising his eyebrows as Faizi walked through. A couple of policemen followed him, all moving a safe distance away when the two commandos glanced at them.

"Kya mila?" He asked lowly.

"Kuchh nahi", he said. "Tumhe?"

"Abhi tak toh nahi. Ek bacha hai", he said. "I have the most hopes with him."

He frowned slightly. "Kyun?"

"Zyaada kuchh bola nahi isne. Police ki initial interrogation mein bahut vague answers diye hain. Kuchh toh pata hai ise. Kya aur kitne kaam ka hai, woh dekhna hai."

Faizi hummed. He took the glass from his hand, taking a sip.

Karan rolled his eyes, but let it be. He sighed a little. "Baat karte hain aur kaam khatam karte hain. Tu yahin baith, main aata hoon."

"Bhookh lagi hai hume. Tumhe koi kaam nahi toh-"

"Jaa." Faizi grinned at him, disappearing within seconds before Karan could change his mind. Karan drank the last of the tea, before sighing again. He glanced at the inspector. "Aakhri kahan hai?"

Two minutes later, he sat in front of another one of the pub owners- Atif. He sat quietly on the floor of the cell, dirty clothes shrouding him in a seemingly dark aura.

"Kaun drugs supply karta tha, uske baare mein kya pata hai tujhe?" Karan asked. He didn't even glance up. "Behra hai kya?" He snapped.

A pause. "Mera ek 2 saal ka baccha hai. Ek biwi hai. Aap sirf meri jaan loge. Woh meri biwi aur bacche ko maar denge."

Karan leaned forward. "Tu hume woh information de jo hume chahiye. Teri biwi aur tere bacche ko surakshat hum rakhenge. Naa tujhe maarenge, naa unhe."

"Yeh mat pata lagne dena ki kisne bataaya hai", he pleaded. Karan nodded. He shot a text to Faizi, before turning his attention to the man in front of him. "Sir, hum koi aantakwaadi nahi hai. Naa hume iss sab ke baare mein kuchh pata tha. Mujhe itna pata tha ki Deolali mein ek club hai- Euphoria- jahan par se hume maal milta hai. Khabar suni chhaape ke baare mein, toh pata chala ki yeh toh bahut upar ka locha hai."

"Kaun pahunchaata tha maal?"

"Pata nahi, Sir ji. Uske log aate the. Par teen chaar baar mujhe Euphoria bulaaya tha, toh maine kuchh logon ko zaroor dekha tha."

Karan produced the photo of the dead leader of Euphoria. He held it up. "Yeh tha?"

Atif looked at it carefully. He paused, thinking back. He shook his head. "Pata nahi. Shakal nahi dekhi kisi ki bhi. Sab ne muh par mask pehen rakhe the, sar par kapde baandhe hue the. Sirf aankhein dikh rahi thi. Kuchh do log the jo upar ke lag rahe the. Shayad un mein se ek ho."

"Kuchh bhi yaad hai tumhe? Log kaise dikhte the, kuchh bhi aisa jisse pehchaan ho sake? Koi mark, koi cheez jo woh karta ho? Koi habit?"

"Ek cheez thi, Sir. Un upar waale logon mein se ek apne pair par ek dhaaga bandh kar rakhta tha. Kale rang ka. Jaisa log nazar naa lagaane ke liye pehente hai, na, waisa? Par jab aakhri baar mila, uske pair mein nahi tha. Mujhe toh bahut ajeeb lagi baat, isliye yaad reh gayi. Jo log pehente hain, woh utaarte thodi naa hai."

"Kitne time pehle mila tha tu aakhri baar?"

Atif paused in thought. "Kuchh 4-5 mahine ho gaye honge, Sir." Karan nodded. He stood up. "Mere... mere biwi aur bacche ko kuchh nahi hoga, na?"

"Tu yahin rahega, jail mein. Investigation hogi teri. Par teri biwi aur bacche ko kahin aur shift kar denge aaj raat tak. Sirf hume pata hoga uss baare mein. Yahan se jab bail hogi teri, toh ek police waala tere ko mera number dega. Phone karna, tujhe bhi protection de denge."

He folded his hands. "Shukriya, Sir. Kuchh aur bhi yaad aaya, toh zaroor bata dunga aapko."

"Baat mein dam toh tha", Karan said as they drove back to Deolali about half an hour later. "Jo log dhaage pehente hain, woh utaarte nahi hai. Hamesha pehenkar rakhte hain."

"Toh isne kyun utaara?"

"Do leader... kala dhaaga... 4-5 mahine pehle", he muttered to himself. "Ek kaam kar, Faizi. Yeh pata lagaa ki kab se yeh dhanda shuru hua hai Euphoria mein."

"Yeh do leader waali baat hume kuchh samajh nahi aayi", Faizi said. "Hume toh ek hi mila, aur kisi ne bhi do leader ki koi baat nahi kahi. Iss leader ko bhi shift kar diya kya unhone?"

"Yaa ho sakta hai woh leader ho hi naa."

He shook his head. "Nahi, Karan. Yeh log apne gunde aur leaders ko bahut alag alag treat karte hain. Pata chal jaata hai ki leader kaun hai aur gunda kaun."

"Usne kaha tha 'upar waale log'. Koi visit bhi toh kar sakta hai", Karan said. "Leader nahi, shayad koi aisa jo iss leader se bhi upar ho. Sun, yeh jo mara tha, yeh koi kaala dhaaga pehenta tha kya?"

"Pata nahi. Pata kar lete hain", Faizi said.

"Haan, kar. Par dhaaga utaarne ka kya..." Karan trailed off. "Koi logic samajh nahi aa raha mujhe."

"Ho sakta hai cut gaya ho."

"Kis cheez se? Pair se kya sabzi kaat raha tha jo galti se cut gaya?" Karan said.

Faizi rolled his eyes. "Fight mein."

He hummed. "Possible. Yaa galti se kahin se cut gaya ho aate jaate. That's the only logic." He shook his head. "Dhaage toh bahut log pehente hain. Kya hi pata chalega isse?"

"Achha, suno. Beech mein se roses lene hai?"

Karan raised an eyebrow. "Koel ke liye?"

"Haan. Keh rahi thi lekar aana. Ab itni chhoti si demand toh poori kari jaa sakti hai, na?"

---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---

"Hi", a cheerful voice said. Sanju perked up. She spun in her chair, smiling at Sid who hopped into the room. "Aapne Monu ko dekha hai kahin? Kab se dhoond raha hoon, mil hi nahi rahi hai."

Her smile waned slightly. "Tu... tu yahan sirf Monami se milne laane aaya hogo?"

"Haan, woh Sunday ko Daddy ji ka call aaya tha. Toh bas unhone message dene ko kaha tha. Already bhool gaya tha main, abhi nahi bataaya toh dobara bhool jaunga", he said. "Kahan hai woh?"

"Shayad... Shayad chhatt par thi."

"Thank you. Achha, aaj shaam ko 5 baje training on hai, na?"

"Haan, haan, training kyun naa hogo? Hum 5 baje milto hain."

He grinned. "Cool, see you then."

Sanju sighed a little when he walked out. "Paagal mat ban, Sanju." She shook her head, turning back to her desk. She smiled a little. "Aaj shaam 5 baje."

---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---

"Kya mast hai", Bala said, staring at the laptop with wide eyes.

"Bala G bro, sirf kaam ke liye mila hai", Sid said. "Movie wagera mat dekhne lag jaana, punishment mil jaayegi." He powered up his own, checking the features out. "Cool. Special upgradations bhi hain."

"Agle hafte se computer ki bhi classes hongi?" He asked.

Sid hummed. "Sirf unki jinko zyaada kuchh nahi aata. Exam nahi hoga iska. Next quarter se dhang se start hongi yeh." He looked up at him. "Main tujhe thoda bahut sikhaa dunga. Agle quarter mein easy rahega."

Bala switched it on, eyes widening in wonder as the screen lit up. "Wow", he drawled.

Sid chuckled slightly, shaking his head. He turned to his own, newly issued laptop, browsing through the computer. He opened up the browser, opening the website for cadets. He logged in, before going to 'Rules.'

"Sun", Sid said. "Rules."

"Haan, Bhai ji. Batao. Warna, Karan Sir ji dobara kahenge- 'tum log rules nahi padte?'" Sid chuckled, slightly, beginning to read aloud the list.

'Rules For Cadets For Academy-Issued Electronics For Learning Purposes:

1. No form of entertainment is allowed. Entertainment includes social media websites like Instagram, YouTube, Facebook etc. Games, both online and downloaded, as well as any sort of drama mass media like movie, tv shows etc. is prohibited as well.

2. Inappropriate websites, insecure websites and any websites that the academy deem a possible threat to the security of confidential information of the nation or a threat to the security and information of the academy are banned and cannot be accessed without written permission of concerned trainers, special agents or high enough senior members.

3. Educational searches including videos, articles etc. that are not linked to the military studies are allowed for a maximum of 30 minutes on weekdays (i.e. Monday to Friday) and a maximum of an hour on weekends (i.e. Saturday and Sunday.)

4. When the electronic is not in use, it is supposed to be turned off. It shall not be left unused for more than half an hour at a time in normal situations. In case of unusual situations, concerned trainers and special agents might take any action they deem fit regarding the situation.

5. The web camera shall always be covered with black tape and the lid closed when not in use for security purposes.

Note- The information accessed by the electronic- including searches, emails and history- can all be accessed by the academy. This is to ensure that there is no misuse of the electronic. Please note that the electronics are issued for studying and learning purposes and are not meant to be used in actual missions. In case of actual missions, the concerned superiors would be providing you with a suitable electronic.

In case of failure to follow the above rules, the cadet shall be liable to punishment which shall be decided by the concerned trainers and depending on the extent of the offense. It may range from extra duty or physical labor to suspension or expulsion.

Sid took a deep breath after he finished speaking. Bala stared at him with sparkling eyes. "Mujhe sab kuchh samajh aaya, Bhai ji", he whooped. "Kuchh shabd the jinke matlab pakka nahi the, par baat ka saar samajh aa gaya. Mujhe English samajh aayi."

He grinned. "You rock, Bala G bro. Idhar aa. Bata kaunse words nahi samajh aaye tujhe."

----x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---

Monami smiled at him, pushing the notebook towards him. Karan opened it, flicking through the notes quickly. They were long and quite detailed, but the information was sorted and quite clear. Important names and dates were highlighted and there were some underlined important facts.

"Good job", he said. "Kaafi achhe se organized hai. Yeh cheez tumhaare dimaag mein aise hi organized hai? Kabhi kabhi kuchh cheezen itni confidential hoti hain ki zyaada likhna is a risk."

Her smile wavered. She hesitated, before shaking her head. "Th-Thoda b-bahut yaad hai. Par s-saare f-facts nahi. Aur or-organized toh b-bilkul n-nahi hai."

"Jitna possible hai, utna apne facts ko organize karne ki koshish karo", he said. "Zaroori nahi hai ki textbook ki tarah organize karo. Par thoda brief idea rakho. Sab ka apna tareeka hota hai organize karne ka. One of the most common and easiest ways organize karne ka yeh hai ki aap 'sure findings', 'possible findings' aur 'suspicious things' ko dimaag mein sort karo."

She frowned slightly. "M-Matlab?"

"Jaise iss file mein hume yeh pakka pata hai ki jo terrorist organization hai, woh XYZ hai. Aur hume yeh suspicion hai ki woh Kolkata Railway Station par attack karne ka soch rahe hain. Ek confirmed hai, ek suspicious hai. Dono ko alag jagah rakhna apne dimaag mein. Isse kya benefit hoga?"

Monami paused slightly in thought. She shrugged.

"Suspicions ya possibilities ka matlab yeh nahi hota ki woh hi hoga. Hume kuchh basis chahiye hota hai kaam karne ke liye. That's where the sure findings come in place. Suspicions ya possibilities ko alag rakhna isliye zaroori hai taaki hum biased naa ho. Agar hum lag raha hai ki Kolkata Railway Station par attack hoga, toh iska yeh matlab nahi hai ki zaroori hi wahin par ho. Par agar hum yeh soch le, toh shayad aise clues miss kar de, jo hume kuchh aur kehna chahti ho. Makes sense?"

She nodded. "Aap k-kaise k-karte hain or-organize?"

"Depend karta hai kitni information hai. Kam information mein this is effective enough. Jab zyaada information hoti hai, toh idhar udhar hone ke zyaada chances hote hain. Zyaada information mein main ek map banaata hoon. It takes some practice, par zyaada information mein woh hi better hota hai." He grabbed the file. "Abhi ke liye, let's see kya kya tumne miss kara."

Monami grabbed the coffee mug, sipping as she listened to him.

----x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---

Ring. Ring.

Karan rolled over in his bed, blearing opening his eyes. Faizi snored on the bed next to him. He stared at the glowing red letters of the clock for a few seconds. 2:11. What the hell? He grabbed his phone. Laxman?

"Kya hua, Laxman?" He asked sleepily, closing his eyes again. "Itni raat ko kaise call kara?"

"Khabar hai. Bahut badhi."

"Kya hua?"

"Sir ji, academy ki baat hogo."

His eyes snapped open. He sat up in bed. "Academy ki baat? Matlab?"

"Kuchh pata chala hai. Phone par nahi. Milkar batata hoon."

"Main abhi aata hoon." He threw the covers off, swinging his legs over.

"Nahi, nahi", his voice stopped him. "Pata nahi kiski aankhein kahan hai, Sir ji. Kal subah, dukaan ke paas aa jaana."

"Laxman... tu theek hai? Kahin phas toh nahi gaya hai, na, tu? Sun, main tujhe safely nikaal sakta hoon."

"Main theek hoon." Karan paused, listening for the signal he had taught his informers. He didn't get one. He relaxed slightly "Aap chinta naa karo, Sir ji. Waise bhi, desh ka kaam kar rahe hain hum khabri. Aate jaate jaan chali bhi jaaye, toh koi gham nahi."

He smiled slightly. "Fauji waala dil hai tera."

"Naa, naa, Sir ji. Hum toh chhota mota kaam karke desh ke liye khush hain. Yeh sab nahi hoga mujhse." He paused slightly. "Par un logon se toh achhe hi hain, Sir ji, jo fauji hokar bhi desh ke nahi hain."

Karan frowned slightly. "Kya kehna chahta hai tu?"

"Kal milta hoon, Sir ji. Ek ek cheez batata hoon. Yeh phone ka bharosa nahi mujhe. Kab kaun dhokha de jaaye pata nahi, yeh toh phir machine hai."

"Kahan jaa raha hai?"

"Waapas, dukaan par. Sone. Kal subah 8 baje wahin milna."

"Theek hai. Good night." He kept the phone on the nightstand, laying back down. His tired day behind, Karan was quick to fall back into sleep, his dreams consisting of black threads, and cryptic messages.

---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---

"Laxman kahan hai?" Karan asked.

"Pata nahi, sahab. Kal se dikha hi nahi", Raju said. "Raat ko gaya tha bolkar kuchh kaam hai, phir main so gaya. Subah utha toh tha hi nahi."

'Waapas, dukaan par. Sone. Kal subah 8 baje wahin milna.'

Karan glanced at his watch. 8:10. 'Laxman aisa toh kabhi nahi karta', he thought, descending the stairs of the shop to the road. 'Jahan bolta hai, wahan toh hota hi hai.' He held the phone to his ear. Switched off?

'Pata nahi, kiski aankhein kahan hai, Sir ji.'

Something was wrong. He sent the number to Ustaad ji before dialing his number. He listened to it ring, tapping his foot against the road. "Sir ji!"

"Ustaad ji, ek number track kijiye. Priority par", he said. "Number aapko bhej diya hai. Abhi switched off, par last location chahiye aur GPS par daaliye. On hota hai toh turant call kijiye mujhe."

"Ji, Sir ji."

Karan lowered the phone. He climbed in his jeep again. He paused, thinking of the places he could possibly be in. He wasn't coming up with much.

---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---

"... Aur baaki zyaada kuchh hua nahi", Koel completed. "Bas maine tumhe miss kiya."

Faizi smiled. His phone rang before he could utter a word and he brought the phone out. Karan? "Ek second", he said to Koel. He accepted the call. "Haan, Karan, bolo?"

"Sun... maine tujhe bataaya tha, na, ki Laxman ne mujhe call kara hai? Ab woh kahin mil nahi raha."

Faizi straightened up, frowning. "Matlab?"

"Matlab dukaan par nahi hai. Saari jagah check kar liya jahan par ho sakta tha, par kahin nahi hai. Ustaad ji ko phone track karne ke liye bola tha. Delhi mein last location dikha raha hai, aur ab phone band hai. Mujhe lag raha hai kuchh gadhbadh hai."

"Tum kahan ho? Tum... tum theek ho, na?" Koel straightened up next to him, looking at him in concern.

"Haan, haan, main theek hoon. Location bhej raha hoon. Sanju ko bhi bulaa, aur ek team ko inform kar. Kal Laxman ki baaton se bhi kuchh theek nahi lag raha tha, aur ab woh gayab hai, toh koi coincidence nahi lag raha."

"Hum aate hain", he said.

"Kya hua?" Koel asked as soon as he lowered the phone. "Kuchh hua hai kya? Karan Sir theek hai?"

"Woh theek hai", he assured. He kissed her cheek. "Kuchh nahi hua hai. Bas kuchh kaam hai, karke aate hain." He dialed Sanju's number. "Sanju, debrief mein..."

Koel stared after him as he walked away. She didn't quite feel right. What was happening?