A short OS. Let me know your thoughts. All quotes in red from the "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu. Hope you all like it. All comments and criticism welcome.
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The drops of water that fell on his face brought him back to consciousness. He couldn't keep his eyes open, something was wrong. Then he heard Adithya screaming at the top of his voice, and Shravan's senses sharpened.
He opened his eyes and his first instinct, was to slap him, thats when he realized that his arms were bound.
Assess the situation, he told himself. Adithya's taunts started disturbing him. His thoughts were chaotic.
In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.
Shravan looked around.The negatives - there were two others, they looked like seasoned criminals, his arms were tied.The positives - Adithya was drunk, the goons had not tied his his legs.
Shravan didnot know where he was or how long he had been this way. Sumo he thought, but he assured himself she would be safe. 10 minutes, not more than that, he promised himself.
Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.
And he was weak. Shravan smiled and Adithya was irked.
"Tuje hasi aa rahi hai ?" Adithya yelled putting the bottle on the table in front of him.
"Itna maar kha kar bhi tune kuch nahi seekha ?"
"Aaj tu mujhse seekhega"
The expert in battle moves the enemy, and is not moved by him.
"Dekh Adithya, tumhari bhalayi ke liye keh raha hoon"
"Aap dono kya dekh rahe ho ? Maaro isko" he told the others
He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.
It was 3 against one, not now.
Just when one of the goons was about to hit him, Shravan smiled again.
One of them would have a criminal record for sure, they looked like they had been doing this for years.
How had they brought him here ? There had been no new car in Tiwari killa and they couldn't have carried him out of the gate. So he shot an arrow in the dark.
If his forces are united, separate them.All warfare is about deception.
"Jo Tiwari killa ke gate mein CCTV cameras hain,aap ne achhe se pose diya na ? Mere car mein GPS hai, police pohounchti hi hogi"
The goon stopped.
"Seth, ye kya bol raha hai ? Uske car mein GPS hai ? Ye kis lafde mein fasa diya ?"
"Maine bola tha na, iska baap bada aadmi hai" the other one intervened.
"Aap dono ko bachna ho to abhi nikal jao. Nahi to ispe jo attempted rape ka case hai usme tum dono ka naam bhi aayega" Shravan played them
"Iski baaton mein mat aana " Adithya was furious but it was of no use. The goons fled before he could complete his sentence. One of them threw the car keys on the table from the door, afraid to come back again.
Adithya banged the table with his fists and Shravan smiled again.
"Stop smiling, kya main joker lagta hoon ?"
If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him.
"Acche goonde nahi mile kya tumhe ?" Shravan mocked
"Unki koi zaroorat nahi hai, main kaafi hoon tumhare liye" Adithya shot back
Begin by seizing something which your opponent holds dear; then he will be amenable to your will.
"Mere haath baandke mujhe maarega ? Yahin sanskar diye hain Nirmala Ahuja ne tumhe ?"
Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.
"Nahi chodoonga main tumhe raj, lets fight as equals" Adithya seethed and walked right behind Shravan's chair and loosened the rope on one of his hands.
Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.
Shravan put one of his legs on the table and thrust himself backward with the maximum force he could. It had taken half a second. Adithya fell with a thud and blacked out. Shravan's chair was on him. He pulled out the hand which Adithya had loosened and then almost effortlessly released the other arm.
The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.
Well almost !
He looked at his watch. It was almost 6, he had promised to return by 5. He wondered what to do with Adithya. He wasn't worth any more time. He took Adithya's phone sent the location to Nirmala. All else could be done later.
Shravan picked up the car keys and drove to Tiwari killa. The ropes had left marks on his hands. Sumo should never know that Adithya was back, he thought. As soon as he parked his car, Sumo came running till the door and stopped. For a split second, her mask was off and he saw the truth in her eyes,it was beautiful and that's all he had ever wanted to know.
"Beauty is truth, truth beauty, that is all
Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know. " - John Keats
But she disappeared before he got out of the car.
Every battle is won before it's ever fought.
Not this one ! he sighed.
For now "Status quo ! Mrs.Malhotra"