Chapter 26

Well guys, please send me some good replies for this bit because seriously, I had half of it typed up last night and wrote the rest in a notebook today while on the bus. Then today I opened the file and everything I wrote last night was gone!!!! I really wanted to cry, and then I had to write it all over again from memory so hopefully it's as good as the original was. Just to let you all know, only two more parts after this!!

Chapter 26:

By five am the next morning, everything is ready. Pooja and Priya are both in position and ready to go, and Abhimanyu is on his way to his position.

There is nothing more that Huda can do, his part in this plan is finished and now he has to let the others do their jobs.

Walking into the hospital, he goes to Naina's room and sits beside her, watching her as she sleeps. Awakened by the sound of his footsteps, Naina opens her eyes.

"Huda, what are you doing here?" she asks him sleepily.

"I felt like coming to see you." He replies, "I needed to sit with somebody for awhile."

Naina looks at him, at the tenseness in his posture, the way he keeps glancing at his watch and can't sit still.

"Something's going on, isn't it?" she asks him.

Huda doesn't want to say anything to her yet, he doesn't want to get her hopes up in case the plan doesn't work.

"Let's just wait and see," he tells her, Naina is still too drowsy from all the pain medication they've given her to argue.

**

At 5:20am, Abhimanyu is in position and clutching the folder he's been given. He knows that everything depends on him now, if he makes even one mistake then their chance will be gone. Five minutes later he hears the rumble of an engine as a car approaches, and soon a black limousine pulls up.

Gehlot gets out and walks to meet Abhimanyu, taking his own time.

"Good morning, Sir." Abhimanyu tells him politely.

"It had better be," Gehlot replies sarcastically, "I don't like getting up at this time for nothing. You said that Raj wanted to make a deal."

"Yes Sir, I went to see him in jail yesterday. He's willing to confess to everything."

"On what condition?" Gehlot asks him suspiciously.

"Naina Singh Ahluwalia should be pardoned and set free."

"He always was an emotional fool," Gehlot says mockingly, "Too obsessed with things like justice, and fairness and the truth. He's fallen for the girl, hasn't he?"

"I believe so, Sir." Abhimanyu answers, keeping any trace of emotion out of his voice.

"Well, I suppose I can make a deal with him. But I'll want the evidence too, I've been searching for it for almost five long years and I won't be able to relax until it's finally in my hands."

"Why is it so important?" Abhimanyu asks, "Does the evidence actually implicate you for anything?"

"No, at least I don't think so. But Navin Singh Ahluwalia was able to collect evidence against many of my colleagues, and I don't know who might say what while under pressure. They might be willing to speak about how I was involved, after all, they could get themselves a good deal with the judge for revealing who the boss was."

"Well Sir, you've got nothing to worry about anymore," Abhimanyu tells him, "I have the evidence right here."

Gehlot stares at him in astonishment. "How did you manage to get it and when?"

"Ms Ahluwalia told Lieutenant Huda where the evidence was, and trusting his partner Lieutenant Kapoor, he sent her to get it. Of course what Huda didn't realise is that his partner has been working for me the whole time. She handed the evidence straight to me." Abhimanyu places just the right amount of scorn in his voice, "The stupid fool never realised she was betraying him, he always did have a weakness for pretty faces."

"Excellent job, Abhimanyu." Gehlot tells him, "Now hand it over to me."

Abhimanyu hands over the file and Gehlot looks through it quickly, satisfied that it's the real thing he quickly shuts it. "And what do you want in return for this?" he asks, "A promotion?"

"That would be a good start, Sir. But what I really want is to be included in your deals." Abhimanyu tells him, "I don't intend to stay a poor army officer all of my life."

"That's the right attitude!" Gehlot replied, "If Raj and Navin had been more like you, then they could've had happy and rich lives. You have no idea how much money foreign governments and terrorist organisations will pay for our country's secrets, it's a profitable business."

"I'm looking forward to being involved with you, Sir."

"I'll let you know when there's a new deal," Gehlot tells him, "There will be an agent from the Chinese government meeting me soon, I'll inform you when it's confirmed."

"Thank you, Sir, I appreciate it." Abhimanyu tells him and Gehlot turns to leave. "One more thing, Sir. What about the deal that Raj wanted?"

"I've got the evidence now, let them both die." Gehlot replies and gets back into the car, leaving quickly.

Abhimanyu stares at him in disgust, then quickly pulls out his mobile phone, and inserts a sim card he only bought the night before. "Did you get all that, Pooja?" he asks, pulling the camera/microphone off his jacket.

"Loud and clear." Pooja replies.

**

It doesn't take long for her to make dvd copies of Gehlot and Abhimanyu's conversation, and as soon as it's done, Pooja and Priya divide the copies among themselves and head off, hugging each other quickly for luck. They will take copies to every television station in the city, Delhi might only now be waking up, but when it does, it will be to the most sensational news ever.

**

Two hours later, Gehlot entered the ministry, intending to get to work early. The file was in his hand, he would have it destroyed today. He was so happy about finally having the evidence in his hands, that he didn't notice the strange looks that people were giving him.

It was only when he exited the elevator on the floor of his office, that he heard his own voice coming out of the television in the foyer.

"…You have no idea how much money foreign governments and terrorist organisations will pay for our country's secrets, it's a profitable business."


Gehlot turns towards the television in shock, and stares at the screen. There is his face, unmistakably. Swearing badly and knowing that Abhimanyu has betrayed him, he turns to leave, knowing that he has to get out of the country as soon as possible.

However his path is blocked by several officers, one of whom pulls the file out of his hand before he can protest. "Minister Gehlot, you are being arrested for treason." They inform him.

As Gehlot is led out of the building, the press surge forward, a hundred cameras going off and everybody shouting their questions. There's so much chaos that he doesn't notice Abhimanyu leaning against a nearby pole, grinning.

As soon as Gehlot has been taken away, Abhimanyu pulls out his mobile again and dials Huda's number. It's time to share the news.

**

When Huda hangs up the phone, he has a grin on his face and Naina knows that something good has happened, but she has no idea what it might be. She hopes that they've managed to somehow solve this mess. Huda is just about to tell her the news when Pooja and Priya burst into the room excitedly.

As soon as she enters the room, Pooja forgets what it is that she's so excited about and runs straight to Naina's side. Huda barely gets out of the way in time as Pooja throws her arms around her friends, crying tears of joy.

"Oh Naina, I've missed you so much!" she tells her, "When you went out of network, I was afraid that our connection was lost forever!"

Naina hugs Pooja with her good arm, unable to express how happy she is to see her friend again after such a long time.

"You don't know how much I've missed you, Pooja." Naina replies tearfully, "I'm so glad they've let you come and see me. Tell me, how's Ali? And Yudi? Is there any news about Alekh?"

"They're all fine," Pooja gushes, "All the missed calls will be with us very soon."

"But how?" Naina asks, "Alekh is…"

"Not for long now!" Pooja interrupts Naina, "Abhimanyu Sir is already working on getting his calls reconnected."

Naina stared at Pooja in amazement and confusion, not daring to hope that what she had suspected had actually happen. "Abhimanyu Sir… but I thought he…"

Priya interrupted her, "Huda could you please hurry up and explain everything to Naina. Otherwise I'm afraid she's going to end up back in the intensive care unit due to all the stress."

Pulling up another chair since Pooja had taken his, Huda began to explain the plan and the outcome to Naina, letting her know step by step what they'd done and how they'd achieved it. How Priya had gotten the evidence from the locker and handed it over to Abhimanyu, how Pooja had used the expertise used from her communications and technology course to set up the equipment they'd need and how Abhimanyu had tricked Gehlot into thinking he was on his side in order to get a confession. Then how Pooja and Priya had made sure that a copy reached every TV station.

When he was finished, Naina was speechless. "I can't believe you managed to accomplish so much in just two days." She tells them.

"It was all due to Huda's great plan." Priya tells her with a smile, wanting to give him most of the credit.

"I don't know how to thank you all," Naina tells them tearfully, "If it wasn't for you then we would be…"

"Don't you dare say it, Naina." Pooja warns her, "While your friends are alive, we would never allow anything to happen to you or Rajveer Sir."

"Then will Raj be released soon?" Naina asks hopefully, barely able to hold back her happiness at the thought of seeing him again.

"I don't know, Naina." Huda replies truthfully, "When Captain Abhimanyu arrives, he'll be able to tell us."

Thirty minutes later, while Huda, Priya and Pooja were catching Naina up on everything she had missed while she was away, there was a knock at the door.

Abhimanyu stood there, hesitating to come inside and not sure whether Naina would want to see him or not. He still remembered the last confrontation they had had at the academy. It was the last time they had ever spoken.

"Come in, Sir." Naina tells him simply, and to his relief there is no anger in her voice. Huda gets up from his seat so that Abhimanyu can sit down.

"Thank you," Naina tells him, "For everything you've done for us. I know the plan couldn't have worked if you hadn't helped."

"What else could I do, Naina?" Abhimanyu asks emotionally, "I had to make up for my mistakes somehow."

"And you have made up for them." Naina tells him, letting Abhimanyu know that she's forgiven him for what he had done in the past.

Abhimanyu feels a wave of relief wash over him, and a burden taken off his chest. He hadn't even realised he was holding his breath until he releases it.

"Sir, Huda said that you would know what was happening with Raj and Alekh, will they be released soon?" she asks him.

Abhimanyu sighs, wishing that he had better news. "Unfortunately the charges against the three of you are so serious that they can't just be dropped. There'll be a hearing in three days time where you'll be able to present arguments in your defense. Alekh, Yudi and Ali will be leaving Ladakh soon so that they can attend."

Naina nodded, after everything they'd been through, a simple hearing seemed like a small thing to overcome.

And most importantly, after three days she was see Raj and the rest of her friends again. In three days time, all of this could be over. In three days time her mission could finally be complete.

**

Alekh looked up in surprise as the guard opened his cell and gestured for him to get out.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"You're being transferred to Delhi." The guard replied, and Alekh began to fear the worst. However hope returned when he saw Ali and Yudi standing outside the cell block with huge smiles on their faces, both with a bag packed.

"Bole to… what's going on?" Alekh asked them.

"Alekhbhai, if you want to have a last drink then you better have one now," Ali warned him, "Because it looks like very soon you'll have to give it up!"

It only took a second for Alekh to understand and then a matching grin spread across his face and he jumped in the air, punching his fist up and yelling "Yes!"

The guard grabs hold of his gun in alarm and Alekh and Yudi quickly move to calm him down, letting him know that Alekh is just happy.

They're heading to Delhi. It's time for a reunion of batchmates and friends.

**

In jail, Raj has no idea that anything has happened. All he hopes is that Abhimanyu has managed to convince Gehlot to agree to the deal.

He is surprised when he's told he has a visitor, and is pleased when the door to the room opens and he sees Huda enter.

"Why is it that I have a strange sense of dj vu?" Raj asks him, joking half heartedly.

Huda smile and Raj notices that he seems genuinely happy.

"Naina sends you her love, and said to tell you that she's looking forward to seeing you on Thursday." Huda says with a grin.

"Thursday?" Raj asks confused, "What's happening on Thursday? Are they allowing her to visit me?"

"Even better than that," Huda replies, "Thursday is your hearing date. You'll be able to argue your innocence, and for once, they're going to believe you."

Then he informed Raj of everything that had happened that morning.

When he finishes, tears fill Raj's eyes as he realises everything that Huda and the others have done for them. Finally everything is working out, all of the problems are about to be solved.

"Huda, if I wasn't handcuffed to this table, then I would come over there and hug you." He tells him.

"Don't worry, Sir." Huda replies. "I can come to you instead."

And getting up from his chair, he walks around the table, and hugs Raj.

Raj can't help thinking how much has changed since the last time Huda came to visit him in jail. Last time he had no hope, and this time he's confident that everything will work out.

Raj counts the days until Thursday. Only three days and then everything will be solved. Navin, Naina and he will all be proved innocent. And after that, they'll all have their entire lives in front of them.

He wishes that the time would pass quicker, Thursday seems a long time away.