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For those who are unfamiliar with my work, I write on the go, hence my updates are in parts. Once I have updated the chapter fully, I state that update is complete and also put up the new chapter number on the title. Those wishing to read the chapter in its entirety, please wait for the message.
Chapter 1
Colonel Mehra walks into the boardroom of Hooda Industries and apologies for being late. Bade papa stands up from his seat, shakes his hand and says with a smile, "no problem. I am just glad that we no longer have to come to your office to meet you. The thorough examination we have to endure when we enter the building..." He shudders, leaving his sentence incomplete.
Laughing Mehra replies, "it is all for national security."
"No complains... But glad that for the past four years our quarterly meetings are taking place in our offices," bade papa says, then turns to Ishaan and says, "you are lucky... You never got to be thoroughly scrutinised the way Trisha and I have."
Laughing Mehra turns towards his assistant and says, "please verify the identities of the people in the room so that we can proceed with the meeting."
The assistant, Arjun takes out a small portable finger identity device from his bag to verify the identities of the people in the room. Ishaan places his thumb on the glass screen, patiently waiting for his details to come up on the reader. The assistant nods his head as he reads silently, Rizwan Ahmad Khan... Asks Ishaan to remove his thumb and says all verified.
Ten minutes into the meeting, Mehra tells bade papa that he would like to speak to him alone. Ishaan, Trisha and Arjun walk out. Ishaan heads towards his office when Arjun calls out, "Ishaan." Ishaan turns. Arjun continues, "may I wait in you office." Ishaan gives a polite smile and says, "of course." Turns to Trisha who shakes her head, saying, "no thanks. I don't think I can handle another conversation on sports cars and cricket."
Ishaan watches Arjun take several equipments out of bag, saying, "make sure we are not disturbed." Ishaan calls his secretary informing her the same. "What is going on," asks Ishaan. "Wash your hands and come here," Arjun says before explaining the situation. "The defense oversea body is coming to verify all personnel in our department and all the people we deal with."
Looking at a sealed container containing several hair follicles, Ishaan sits on the chair indicated to him, asking, "how do you know? This never happened before?" Shrugging Arjun says, "we have our sources... We knew it would happen, hence have been working towards it."
Giving him a lease container, Arjun says, "here put these on." Once the lenses are in, Arjun scans Ishaan's eyes then looks towards his computer, smiling with relief when the information that pops up on the screen is that of Ishaan Hooda. "One done. One to go."
Ishaan looks at the computer, a slight frown when he reads Ishaan Hooda's name and details instead of his Rizwan Ahmed Khan... The one thing that gave him some form of peace was being taken from him. He has been playing Ishaan Hooda for so long that there were times he would forget that he is not Ishaan Hooda. The security checks always reminded him his true identity... Helped him in separating what was real and what was not... And now that too was being taken from him. His thoughts race towards his wife, Preet... Mentally cursing himself, he mutters, "not mine... Ishaan's!"
Clearing his voice, he asks, "and what am I supposed to tell Preet." Arjun gives him a comical look and says, "that you need glasses and have opted for lenses. Dude what's up? Don't tell me that Preet can catch your lie. I would think with time you would have gotten better at it."
Shaking his head, Ishaan says in a tired voice, "sometimes I believe my lies." "Four years is a long time," Arjun says quietly. Sighing Ishaan agrees, "very long." Sitting up, he says, "so what is next." Arjun smiles gleefully, rubbing his palms together, says, "my favourite... Fingerprints."
Hearing a loud commotion outside his office, Ishaan looks up with concern as he instinctively rushes towards his door. Arjun quickly starts putting things back into his bag. The door opens forcefully. Ishaan stops suddenly. A gentleman dressed in uniform, his eyes cold, gazes into the office, mentally taking notes. Ishaan's secretary walks in hurriedly, looking frazzled and quickly apologises, "I am sorry sir. I tried, but..." Ishaan interrupts her and says in a calm voice, "it is okay. Thank you. You may close the door after you."
Once the door is shut, the gentleman asks as he nods towards the machinery on the desk, "what is going on here?" Playing obtuse, Ishaan folds his arms across his waist and says, "you are?" Unapologetically the gentleman introduces himself as Officer Bhatt then turns to Arjun and asks, "why are you here?"
Acting all nonchalant, Arjun replies, "routine check. Why are you here?" Nodding as he accepts Arjun's answer, he replies, "the same."
Taking out his equipment, he says in an unapologetic voice, "Mr Hooda I apologize for forcing my way in. I had a suspicion over being asked to wait and I now see I was wrong." Looking up, he continues, have a seat. I need to verify that you are Ishaan through a retina scan, finger id and dna."
The gentleman then shifts his attention to his equipment, missing the shared look of slight panic that passes between Arjun and Ishaan as both think, "shit we have not checked if the finger print will work."
Calmly Ishaan and Arjun watch as the results of the retina scan read Ishaan Hooda. Placing his thumb on the finger print scanner, Ishaan thinks, "I am a dead duck." Relief seeps into his eyes for a fraction of a second before he composes himself as he reads the name Ishaan Hooda, "phew it worked." He forces himself to not look towards Arjun.
Officer Bhatt closes his machines, takes out a swab and says, "now dna." Ishaan quickly get up and rushes towards the attached washroom, yelling "sorry. Need to go" shutting the door after him. Arjun takes the hint and plays along, says in a sympathetic voice, "tummy bug.mdont know how long he will be." "here. You can use this," he says as placing the jar containing several hair follicles in front of Officer Bhatt and says, "I just took these from him. You may use it. You can see through the jar that the root bulb is intact." Skeptical, Officer Bhatt asks, "and what will you use?" Adding, "I can wait. You go ahead." Forcing himself to smile calmly, Arjun replies, "can't go anywhere for several hours. My senior is having a meeting with Mr Hooda. I am stuck here. No point in both of us being stuck. I shall take another sample."
Officer Bhatt says, "I prefer to take my own sample." "Of course," Arjun replies. Moments later, officer Bhatt looks to his watch, compresses his lips thinking that he is going to get in trouble over the time he has spent in this office. Looks towards Arjun, who is humming away, giving an impression of calmness, saying, "is your offer still on." "Hair follicles," shrugging he adds, "yea sure. I'll just pull more when he comes out." Gazing at his watch, Officer Bhatt says, "thanks. You know the protocol. If I take too long there will be an investigation." Nodding, Arjun says, "I know. Your department has a history of over analyzing every little thing... But then they do keep us safe by weeding out the spies."
Once alone Arjun walks up towards the washroom door and knocks on it. Ishaan opens the door, saying, "finally. I thought the guy would never leave."
Edited by angelpureness - 10 years ago
Anupamaa
