Chapter 32

 

 

EPISODE – 44

                    

Suddenly announced curfew showed its impact... Outside and inside the Radio Station.

 

There was a panic situation everywhere, with everyone trying to get back to their home or get shelter at a place nearby. People at their office, schools and colleges were asked to stay back to reduce the commuters' traffic and just send the message of their location to their folks who might be waiting for them at home. The curfew was supposed to be lifted by the evening. But there was a rush everywhere and the public transport ran while packed with people since they also had to be stopped after the stipulated time.

 

Delhi Police officials spread out immediately to assist the people and special Patrolling parties were send to the areas marked as 'High Priority Zone' by Rajveer and Navin. Metro police were given the instructions to increase the checking of the passengers traveling by Delhi Metro. The Embassies area's security was doubled. Maya and ACP Tiwari were constantly in touch with the Police Control Room and had every second's update of the situation in Delhi. Nitika was monitoring the radio at the frequency of Radio Mirchi and at the same time maintained contact with the Bomb Squad.

 

Two teams of Bomb squad were instructed to check the entire area of Akshardham with Lieutenant Sodhi since it was practically impossible for either Rajveer or Navin to check that area in the given time constraint.

 

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A man came running into the room where Naina was waiting for any sign from them by which she could draw an inference that the message had reached where it was intended to. He whispered something to the two armed men standing there. They looked distraught and one of them left with the man who had just arrived leaving the other one behind. He was quite enraged and a hint of fluster could be read over his face. Naina and Alekh found the signs they were waiting for. They have done it.

 

"We did it!" Naina whispered to Alekh. Her voice soaring with glee.

"Itna khush mat ho varna unhein shaq ho jaayega."

"Waise hum log yahan 35 ho ke is akele ko hara nahin sakte hain kya?"

"You have got a point but abhi nahin."

"Kyun?"

"Hamari ek chotti si galti inka kaam aasan aur Army ka kaam mushkil kar degi."

"Hmmm... But I am dying to know ki bahar kya ho raha hai."

"Now you are sounding like Naina... Impatient and incorrigible."

 

********

 

Rajveer and Navin had set off to check on the different 'High Priority Zones' themselves one by one. Without any considerable lead they remained clueless about the bombs even after an hour later. The roads of Delhi were almost deserted. Few odd people on the road, still making desperate attempts to return home, were being taken into the custody. A large number of soldiers of Army and Police were spread out throughout the city.

 

Rajveer's jeep was over-speeding smoothly on one of the otherwise busy roads of Delhi that led towards Janpath. He was joined by a Police Patrolling jeep as he entered the outer circle of Cannaught Place. Both the jeeps proceeded towards Janpath. He stopped his car outside Gate Nunber – 5 of Pallika Market and instructed the patrolling party to check Pallika and himself ran for Janpath which was less than five minutes walk from there. The over-crowded Janpath area was lying still.

 

He was checking the area very carefully. Though the area was vacant, he checked around minutely to see if someone was hiding anywhere.

 

********

 

"Yeh sab ho kya raha hai? Yeh achanak sheher mein curfew kyun laga diya gaya hai? Kahin in logon ko hamaare iraadon ki bhanak to nahin lag gayi?" Said the man who evidently was the leader of the group.

"Lekin aisa kaise ho sakta hai. Hamare iraade janna inki liye mumkin nahin tha. Humnein to poore ehtiyaat barte the."

"Lekin phir bhi aisa hua hai. Abhi abhi hamare aadmi ne mujhe phone karke bataya hai ki sheher mein curfew lag chuka hai aur Army aur Police ke log har jagah tainaat hain. Woh log un sabhi logon ko pakad ke hiraasat mein le rahe hain jo sadak pe dikhaayi de rahe hain."

"Aise to hamare aadmiyon ko apni jagah chodni hogi nahin to woh log pakde jaayenge."

"Agar yeh sabhi bomb waqt se pehle phat jaayein to?" Said another man.

"Kya fark padta hai. Ab Dilli ki sunsaan sadkon pe dhamaake hone se sirf hamare hi aadmiyon ki cheekh sunaayi degi... in dilliwaalon ki nahin. Woh sab mehfoos rahenge."

"Ab kya karenge hum log?"

"Inhein is harkat ka jawaab dena hoga.... Aur kisi ko to khaamiyaza bhi bhugatna hi padega!" His frustration was clear in his voice and he sounded as if ready to go to any extent to succeed in his mission. But he wasn't sure what that extent was.

 

 

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Rajveer's phone rang.

"Haan Navin bol."

"Tu kahan hai?"

"Main janpath mein hoon. Police patrolling team Pallika check kar rahi hai. Aur tu?"

"Ek achchi khabar hai... Finally!"

"Kya?"

"Curfew ka idea worked. Red Fort ke paas ek human Bomb has been arrested. Main Chandni-Chowk aur Daryaganj ka area check kar raha hoon."

"Koi problem to nahin hui na.... He was a human bomb."

"Not at all.... Isse pehle ki woh blast kar paata... I shot him... dead!"

"Good job. Now let's hope ki isi tarah ek ek kar ke saare bombs mil jaayein."

"I hope so too."

"Navin I'll call you back. Lagta hai our wish is being granted."

"Matlab?"

"Baad mein samjhaata hoon."

"Theek hai... But take care."

"You too."

 

They both hung up. Rajveer took out his gun and proceeded towards an empty stall. He could see someone hiding behind it.

 

"Don't move." He warned him as he stood in front of him.

The man stood up on his feet wearing a smile.

"Mujhe to laga tha ki mera bomb bekaar jaayega par achcha hua ki tum aa gaye... Ab kam se kam ek Hindustani Fauji ki jaan to jaayegi."

"Yeh kaam itna bhi aasaan nahin hai." Rajveer smiled back at him and fired a bullet in the air signaling the others to join him.

 

The man came out of his hiding and both of them stood in the middle of the road looking at each other.

"Kitne baje karne waale the tum yeh dhamaaka?"

"Kya fark padta hai... Ab to dhamaaka abhi isi waqt hoga. Bas tumhaare saathiyon ka intezaar hai."

 

That very moment a few police officers came in running.

"Lo aa gaye tumhare saathi tumhaare saath apni jaan dene."

"Bakwaas band karo aur chup chaap mere sawaal ka jawaab do."

"Theek hai ab tum jaanna hi chahte ho to bata deta hoon... Tumhari aakhri ichcha samajh ke. Pehla dhamaka yahaan nahin hone waala tha."

"To kahan hone waala tha?"

"Kya karoge jaan ke. Us dhamaake ko rokne ke liye to tum zinda hi nahin rahoge."

"Agar itna hi yakeen hai to bata do kahan hone waala tha pehla dhamaaka... aage ya to tum logon ki ksmat ya phir hamari."

"Agar yahi baat hai to theek hai... Sun lo... Pehla dhamaaka Shopper's Stop mein hone waala tha."

"Shopper's stop... Thank you.... Tumhara kaam to ab khatam... Haina."

"Nahin abhi ek aakhri kaam baaki hai."

 

He removed his shirt and a bomb tied up to his body could be seen. A couple of police officers panicked at the sight and retreated.

"Tumhare saathi to darr gaye." He taunted at them.

"Bomb ko explode karne ki galti mat karna. Kuch haasil nahin hoga tumhein usse."

"Kuch laashein to gir hi jaayengi na... Mere liye kaafi hai." Saying this he pressed a button and gave a countdown of three...

It was too late for Rajveer to shoot him. The bomb had to blast now anyway.

 

"Teen.... Do.... Ek....."

 

BLASTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!