Mirage of Eternity (part-3)

Four years and six months earlier…                                                                                                                                   Campus recruitment INFOSYS

  The day has arrived for which every engineer waits for almost four years after high school. Though there are very few who could make their place in the complex qualification of the company. I was amongst one of them. My name was last on the list of the applicable students and first on the list of students being interviewed. Perfect.

  Many of our seniors had said that the interview is most critical situation of the life. They ask questions and expect answer that is most simple, however we try to implement complex logic to it and fail. OK lesson number one give simple answers.

  But if they ask programming question they expect you to answer the question in terms of complexity of program. Lesson number two forget lesson number one.

  I was standing in the boy’s toilet trying to remember all the lessons by the seniors. The interview was going to start in an hour and I was afraid as if was being sent on the war field.

  “Hey Aquib!” Prakash entered “someone is looking for you” he said smiling.

  “Who?”I asked in irritation.

  “Doctor doctor…” Prakash would not call her by name instead he used “DOCTOR” as her name.

  “What? Here?” I asked being horrified by her presence in the college. Now I have to give a special interview in entire campus.

  I chained up and got out of the toilet where I saw her surrounded by all the boys with their tongue’s out as they have seen a chocolate cake. She was wearing a pick top and blue jeans and was looking extremely hot.

  The meeting six months ago in CCD had started a new schedule in my time table. Now I used to catch 7 PM return train instead of 5.30. The one hour was reserved for Gauri which we generally spent in CCD talking. Actually she used to talk I just used to see her pink lips moving…

Mirage of Eternity (Part-2)

Five years earlier(cont..)

  “Are you sure you want to call her” asked Prakash.

  “Yap”

  “Think once again…It may create a mess and you remember how she was” Prakash was constantly warning me not to call her. But watching her phone number on the ID card had fused up my senses. I was very determined to call her and tell her about her lost bag.

  “She must’ve been worried Prakash. She has lost her ID card, I can’t even imagine how bad she must be going through without it” I replied.

   Though I had a very strong reason to call her but that was not my intension. I just wanted to hear her voice. Once, may be last time. We had found her contact number on her ID card and that had awakened the helping and the soft-hearted person within me.

  We went to the STD booth near the station and I went inside the chamber to call her while Prakash waited outside. I picked up the receiver and saw the ID card to dial the number. Her face was still there smiling, beautiful charming.

  “Hey call her quickly” shouted Prakash from outside.

  “Ya…ya…” I nodded my head.

  I started dialing the number. For initial five numbers everything was normal and after my hand started trembling, my heart started beating faster and finally at the last number my fingers stopped. I looked outside Prakash was looking at me. He raised his eyebrow. I gave back a smile and dialed the last number. There were few beeps in the beginning and then the phone connected to the other side. As the ringing on other side started, my heart beating also fastened and pulse started running low.

  “Hello” a strong firm male voice answered from the other side.

   Is it a wrong number? Why would she give a wrong number on her ID? Typical girl.

  “Is it Miss sengupta’s number?” I gave a blind formal start.

   “No it’s Rajesh” the voice replied.

   “Oh sorry, I think I dialed wrong number”

   “No it’s sengupta’s number, Just Mr. instead of Miss” the man chuckled.

   She is married???

  “Oh…I wanted to talk to Miss Gauri, she forgot her purse in the train” I said in a down voice. She is married…it’s over..

  “She is such a…Are you from railway authority?” he enquired.

  “No sir, actually we travelled together in the train”

  “Ok I give you her number call her and handover the purse… I am in Mumbai, she is in Nagpur” he said.

  “Actually why don’t you call her and ask her to call me, actually I have to rush for the exams right now and am running out of balance too” My heart was totally broken. I gave him my cell number and hung up the phone.

  “What happened?” asked Prakash seeing my contracted face.

  “Nothing” I replied in a nervous voice and headed towards our college which took almost fifteen minutes from the station. She didn’t call in the period. I watched the cell for the last time and switched it off as I had to enter into the exam hall. But only cycle roaming in my mind was… She is married!! She is married…Is she married???

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Present day…                                                                                                                                                                            MLA’s house…

   A man entered into the house. The guards at the gate and the door saluted him on the way. The man did not respond. He was not in the condition to, or may be physically he was here but his senses were still in front of the burnt train.

  “This is the most shameful event in the Indian history. Because of some psychic fellows an entire community’s head has been laid down. I have personally called CM and discussed the issue. A high level investigation is going to be conducted that would find out who the hell was behind this inhuman massacre. CM has declared this as a terrorist activity and the guilty would be punished mercilessly. Until then we have to remain calm, we are the followers of Gandhi and believe in his quote that an eye for an eye would make entire world blind. So please maintain peace and have trust in the Government” The MLA was saying.

  “They were in thousands” someone said from behind and all the eyes turned behind to see who he was. It was Dubey a Pandit from the Shiva’s temple. His eyes were red and filled with tears which resembled anger “And a thousand people cannot go psycho on a same day” his voice trembled and he broke into tears.

  “What do you want to say Panditji?” asked MLA.

  “I just want to say that you are a fool or the CM has shut your mouth with a huge amount. This was not a psychic activity sir, it was a cold blooded murder of the sewaks” he shouted back.

  There was a shock throughout the hall. The younger ones who were silence because of MLA’s orders also stood up to support the pandit. This was the truth that was in every one’s heart but anyone could not go in oppose of the MLA. But pandit has seen the cruel bloodshed by his own eyes and that had eliminated all the fear of MLA or any higher order person.

   The Pandit stood up from his place and took out a sword hung on the wall. He held the handle of the sword by left hand and made a cut on the thumb with the tip of the sword.

  “I pledge in front of the holy fire, wind and the earth that I will not intake a sip of water or food until and unless I cut every bastard who did this” the pandit announced.

   “Panditji, what are you saying? You are promoting a violent activity and if you do so then neither I nor any worker of my party will be supporting you.” The MLA also stood back.

  “They will not be supporting me, then they will be supporting the inhuman activity happened in the morning” he said turning around. Almost all the workers had joined him and now were following him.

   The MLA stood up in anger and shouted “Why the hell are you so worried about the bloodshed, this is not for the first time this had happened in godhra?”

  Pandit paused at the place where he was. He turned around. His eyes had turned redder and were filled with tears. He must not be able to see clearly through the wet eyes. “My son was a Ram-sewak, and he sacrificed his life for the sake of his duty towards his job. Now it’s my duty towards him to finish it all what they have started”

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Earlier…

  When you are in final year, it doesn’t matter how you write or what you write. The only thing matter is can you write. There are thousands of students and only tens or twenties of checkers in the university, the answer doesn’t matter to them the only thing that matters is the length. The more you write the more marks you get.  So following the same policy I completed my paper with 3 additional supplements.

   But throughout the paper my eyes were constantly at the bag. I was afraid if she calls and my cell ring in between. Then I remembered I switched it off. I should not have. What if she is calling? What if she could not attend her college due her missing ID card? And I am damn sure she must be out of money. WHAT IF…?

  Then another thing stroked that said she is married…

  But she looks so young how can she be married?

  I was totally confused. I decided to give away the answer sheet and get out of exam hall. As I got up Prakash who was sitting a bench or two behind started cursing. I signaled him that I had a severe headache and I am leaving. And in return he gave me a FU…

  The first thing I did after getting out of the exam hall was checking the mobile. As expected there were about 15 missed calls from an unknown number. I gave a return call. The phone rang for a second and a sweet, soft voice landed on my ears.

  “hello..”

  “Hi am Aquib, sorry I switched off my cell I was in exams” I said stammering.

  “Oh ya actually DAD told me” she said.

  “He called your Dad?” how mean he told everything to her dad, by now her entire family must have known about this.

  “HE…WHO??” she asked giving stress on the last words.

  “Your husband” I answered.

  “My husband, you called my husband. Shit… you ruined my first impression on him”

  “First impression???” I was confused.

  “Ya you called him and told him about this. I have not even met him.” She giggled from the other side.

  The girl is out of mind, Is she a medical student or a patient?

  “You called my dad, fool” she said after she was finished giggling.

  “Oopss!! He said I am Mr. Sengupta,  so I thought he was your…” I was stupid, foolish out of my mind…

  “Ha.Ha..Ha…”she laughed “You are cute I like you” the words entered my ears travelled through my veins filtered through thousands of tissues got compiled in the brain and finally landed in the heart.

  “So when are you going to return my bag?” she asked.

  “Oh ya, when?..Where do I come to return the bag?” I asked stammering.

  “Let’s meet up at CCD near railway station, what say?”

  I have heard that medical girls are very forward but this was my first experience. Of girls, medical girls and of CCD also.

They say a lot can happen over coffee, indeed a lot happened; I met the girl whom I used to imagine in my dreams. She was the same but still different. I thought as I knew her for ages but still there was lot unexplored, unknown to me. This meeting cum date in CCD changed my life for once and for all… 
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(To be continued...)
Next part: Mirage of Eternity (Part-3)

Mirage of Eternity (Part-1)

27^th February '02, 7.45 AM

3 Kms away from Godhra station;

    

    There was a wave of holy spirituality in the train. People were singing the songs of lord Rama. Their lives had been enlightened by the great yagya happening in Aayodhya. The entire train was occupied by the “Kar-sewaks” or the “Ram-sewaks” returning from the sacred place of Aayodhya.

    All of them were tired to hell as they were chanting the name of their holy God during the yagya and also during the to-and-fro journey. They all were in a hurry to get home and ever eye was waiting for the train to reach the station, as the train was already 4 hours late.

   But the destiny had stored a different plan for the innocents, which was going to change the history forever.

   As the train arrived near the station, the passengers started making rush on the door to get out. The station appeared quite empty in beginning and the hawkers who used to grab their customers on running train were absent. It was a surprise for the regular passengers. The hawkers used to harass the passengers convincing them buying their products.

   But still their absence generated a little discomfort among the passengers. Something was wrong, was the only feeling in their minds.

    Then in front they saw a mob. A deadly mob of over 500 people was waiting eagerly to welcome the train, with huge swords and petrol bombs. All of their faces were covered and anger dropped like molten magma from their eyes. They were all determined. Their aim was locked. Their task was cleared.

    “Run… the mobs have got the weapons” someone shouted in the train.

    The sentence made every single person sitting in the train aware of what was happening out side. They tried to peep out of the window. Only thing they could see was the angry mobs in both side of the train.

    “Attack...” someone announced and the cruel bloodshed began. The mob with covered faces entered in to the coach and started cutting every human being in their way. The people were trapped from both the sides and had no chance to escape. No one could protest no cry was heard nothing could stop this bloodshed.

    The armed mobs were inside the train while some unarmed were outside.

    One of the mobs then picked up the petrol bomb and raised his hand. It was the signal for the others. The others also did the same in the response.

    “This is a warning to those who are in favor to build the temple. The Jama will be rebuild” he shouted and threw the bomb with full acceleration. The bomb entered in to the train through the window and a blast of fire came out in second.

    The others also threw their bombs. The entire train was burning and flames were rising above creating a black fog.

    No one could get out of the train. The bodies were lying burnt on the floor and on the track. None of them were in a condition to be recognized. The children women wept and died watching the scene in front of them. The rest who could make were killed by the armed mobs.

    The humanity was feeling ashamed. This was the cruelest face of the mankind. The most unfortunate thing was the train. The train that resembled peace purity and the peace was shattered into pieces. The train was SABARMATI-EXPRESS…

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Five years earlier… 

 “Hey…wake up” I felt a terrible shatter throughout my body. It was Prakash who shook me with his full power. I opened my eyes and watched out of the window.

   “It’s Sewagram, it will take us an hour more for Nagpur station” replied him again closing my eyes.

   “How the hell can you sleep in this earth shattering train? I am not even able to read a single line” he said.

    It was the exam time for Engineering and hence every student travelling in the train was seen deeply involved in their books. I had studied a lot last night and now was in no mood to so more. Also being in final year reduces the stress of subject being BACK, Thanks to Nagpur University. I didn’t believe in the studying-till-the-last-minute fact as I know it never works. I mean if you are not able to mug an answer in an entire semester what miracle are you going to perform in the last minute?

    “Hey Aquib… Will you please tell me in short what this quiescent point is? It is very IMP for 3 marks” asked Prakash.

    A typical Engineer, striving for single mark…

    The train stopped at the Ajni-junction and I finished teaching Prakash the quiescent point phenomenon. I saw outside from the window. The station was empty as always. There were some newspaper sellers on the very far end of the station. Except him there was no human being visible. Although many living beings were visible like dogs, huge rats, and cockroaches.

    I turned back to Prakash was chanting loudly the phenomenon ignoring the outer world. This was the best way to mug any answer and if want to be a successful Engineer then you have to be a quality mugger.

    I gave him a smile and again closed my eyes. After a second or two I heard some people quarrelling. I opened my eyes. I saw a huge man who was sitting on a window side seat and a girl was quarreling with him.

   “At least give us a seat, If you don’t want us to study” she said loudly.

   “Madam, I am sitting here for last hour and I’ll get off at the next stop. You can sit here after” the man said.

   “The next one is the last stop” she said.

    This is normal when you travel in a train. I have never witnessed a journey without such a quarrel. I stood up and went by side of the girl.

    “You can sit there…” I was paused in middle of my sentence. Those eyes didn’t let me say anything. She was the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. Her lovely pretty brown deep eyes with a slight amount of surma applied to it were looking very extra ordinary. The long hairs were nicely tied up. She must have applied a little bit of pink lipstick that made her rosy lips look more beautiful. She wore a blue jeans and a white top with perfect combination of accessories. She had a white apron hanging on one hand while a handbag on the opposite shoulder. She must be a medical student.

     She went and sat on my seat without even noticing me. I went near the door and stood their holding the bars. But my eyes had lost the focus. Though I was looking forward my eyes were seeing behind. They wanted to watch the eternal beauty for their lifetime. I turned behind to see her. She was sitting in the opposite direction hence I could not have direct view of her. A small boy was sitting in opposite seat carrying a steel box full of ladoos. I could see her in the image created on the box.

    I tried to look sideways but my eyes didn’t allow me. My heart wanted that this journey would never end.

    In five minutes we reached the Nagpur station. She stood up in a hurry and got out of the train as fast as she could. My eyes were fixed on where she was going, but my legs didn’t want to follow her. I followed her, a step or two then paused on the place watching her go. She covered her face with a scarf while walking and vanished in the ocean of crowded station.

    “Hey Aquib, wait” shouted Prakash from behind.

    “Did you saw the girl who was sitting in your place?” he asked me.

     “Yes why?”

     “Where is she?”

     “In my pocket” I replied.

     “Don’t joke yaar... Have you seen where she went?” he asked being annoyed by my joke.

     “But why are you so worried about her buddy?” I asked him in surprise.

     “She forgot her purse in the train. Here it is” he forwarded a black purse to me. It looked expensive. I opened the chain of the purse and found an identity card on the top.

     “See if it has some contact number of hers, or we will hand over the purse to the railway authority. They will deal with it” said Prakash.

     But my eyes could not move away from a part on that card. Her picture. I turned my eyes to the other part that showed her name. It was Gauri Sengupta, student of third year Medical…

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Present…

    The Sabarmati express was burning and the black smoke had occupied over a large area around the station. The burnt bodies were shattered all over the place. Some were recognizable while many were not even in a single piece. The whole railway station was turned into a cemetery.

    A man entered into the station. He was wearing a saffron dhoti and had a scarf of saffron color around his neck. His eyes were damped and his entire body was shivering watching the vision in front of him.  He stepped into the dead bodies lying search in for someone in them.

    All of them appeared the same. Burnt. The black ash was all over the station. Nothing was left except it. No living was visible in the area. Or maybe his eyes didn’t want to see anybody alive in such painful condition.

   Suddenly the man stopped watching a dead body. It had a locket of lord Rama in his neck. The body below was in good condition but the head was stucked below another body. May be he was alive. The man lowered and put a hand below the body and pulled up.

   A sudden shock travelled throughout his body. Rama has protected the body part below him. What If he had tied the locket on his forehead what If…?

    The man screamed out at his highest pitch holding the headless body and started weeping seeing the most inhuman, cruel and beastly act in human history.

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(To be continued...)
Next part: Mirage of Eternity(part-2)

Towards the Darkness-3

Previous part: Towards the Darkness-2

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Time: 00.00 PM, One week later

Location: Somewhere in the desert of Thar, Rajasthan

  The dry wind was flying all over the land creating a small cyclone of the weightless sand. The sun was shining high and was erupting the flames of fire as it was cursing the place, or may be the person who was standing. He had sold himself. He had changed himself. He had adapted himself in this ruthless, monetary world. Now he was all living for himself.

   Rana Singh was standing in the middle of the road looking at the huge endless desert with his hands into the pocket. The heat emerging from the desert had dried his eyes. There were marks of sleeplessness on his face. May be because of the changed environment or because of the guilt with in him.

   Three days ago he had received a call that said "Come to Thar, don't forget the package".

   He looked towards his right where his black Traverse was standing. He went behind it and opened the rear door. There was a travel bag inside. Sub-Insp.Chafa Singh had done a great job finding the plutonium bag that was dropped into the pond during the clash between him and John.

   He heard a sound of vehicle coming. He closed the door and went forward to see. A black Scorpio was standing in front of him. Two men came out of it. Rana was unable to see the face from the distance. As they came closer one of them appeared familiar. He was John.

  "So you have brought the package" asked John.

  "Hope you have brought mine"relied Rana.

  "Of course, But I want to see it first"

  "Follow me"

  John signed to the other guy to stay while he followed Rana to the rare of the car. Rana opened the rare door, where he saw the bag.

  "Open it" said John.

  "You have to enter a combination of code to open the lock" replied Rana showing the lock tying the chain and the end of the bag.

  "So what's the code"

  "Bastard"

  John gave him a smile. Rana entered the code and opened the chain. There were two, two and a half meters of height cylinders in it having the danger sign on it. There was another mark that said property of Indian Government.

  John forwarded his hand to get the bag when Rana stopped him "I would like to see my package first".

  John returned him a smile and waved his hand towards the other guy. He understood what he was to do. He brought a similar sized bag and placed it on the front part of the Traverse.

  "Aahh.. it seems to be heavy" said Rana. He opened the chain of the bag and in front of him was it for what he did it all for.

  "Are they 100 crore" he asked Rana.

  "No we have charged a lakh as petrol expense to get it here" replied John.

  Rana gave back a smile when his cell phone rang within the car. He went inside and picked up the phone.

  "Ya Mama I will bring a silk sari for you, The government have give me huge retirement allowance"

  John smiled and saw in front. He ordered the guy to turn the car to go back.

  Mean while Rana brought the bag and handed over to John.

  "See you soon" said Rana when John was moving towards the car.

  "Hope you don't" John replied.

  "I will.."

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Time: 1.00 PM

Location: In front of a small house in the desert

  John came out of the car and the other guy was holding the bag. They both entered the house. There was a guy who appeared to be seriously sick was sleeping on the bed. John ignored him and opened the closet  placed there. He pushed the cabinet within behind and gave it a jerk. The entire closet turned around and there were stairs downwards. It was their secret pathway.

  The underground structure was much larger than it appeared from outside. The small house was an entrance to a secret military base. There were all kinds of weapons guns, snipers,hand bombs, dynamites and others. It was like an archive of all types of war weapons.

  He entered into a room where a group of five people was waiting for him. The five most wanted criminals from all over the world. 

  Bogdan Demidov, The only terrorist to break Russian security.

 Aqueer and Zakim, A super-duo who robbed Japanese embassy with their charm and power. 

 Abena Yoruba, The African Animal who broke almost all jails in African countries.

 And the master mind Zach doomster, an English hacker who breached American security for twice.

 Now to add to this team was the new bastard who had stolen Plutonium from Indian Government, John Fernandez.

  He placed the bag in front of them on the table. They all stood up in amazement. This was the most expensive and important robbery they have made. This would not only increase their level of respect in mafia but also they can make a huge amount of money from it.

  John entered the lock code and opened the chain. Every eye had stopped blinking, every heart had stopped beating to see the most highly radio active material on Earth.

  But the never ending series of surprises has not ended. The bag was empty with a transmitter fixed in it. Rana Singh had changed the bag. He was the bastard. 

  Before John could react to the vision in front of him, there was a huge blast and the door went open. It was the Indian army who had entered. The transmitter has done its job, the most secret base of terrorist activity had been revealed.

  The military men were quick and best in their job, they grabbed the control of the base from the workers there and established their supervision.

  "This base is surrounded by Indian army, so do not try to escape or perform violent activity or we have to take serious action" the commander of the army announced.

  The anger was erupting from John's face. He got out the gun and fired in the direction of the commander. Though the aim was missed but the shot began a war inside the base. The solders started firing blindly on the six people. John was quick. He pulled a down an iron closet and hid himself behind it. The other two could make it and rest were killed.

  "If we make to the door I can save you" said John.

  The other two agreed without questioning. The blind crossfire was still going on in behind. Zach who was in hurry to escape took the initiation and moved forward crawling towards the door. it was atmost five meter's that he could make. 

  "Hold fire" someone shouted. The voice was familier to John. It was Rana's voice.The firing was paused.

  "John I know you are here,surrender yourselves I'll take care that you get minimal of imprisonment" said John in a decent tone.

  "I'll rather prefer to die than trusting you" replied John from behind the closet.

  "I know what you are thinking of me but that was my job, but if you surrender now I'll help you for sure"said Rana pointing his finger towards the closet. The snipers took their position it was a call for them.

  But something else was in John's mind "OK I'll surrender but assure me that you won't fire".

  "Yes John you have my word, No one would fire" said Rana.

  John stood up with his hands up and followed Bogdan. They started moving towards Rana. Rana put down his gun and forwarded a hand towards John. Bogdan knelled down on halfway to display his surrender while John moved forward. 

   He was 10 feet away from the closet, considerably far from closet that if it blows out he would be harmless. That was the plan. There was a mini hand bomb inside the closet which blasted after a minute he started moving away from the closet. The closet blasted into pieces and also broke the ceiling of the room. The base wasright below the sandy desert hence as the ceiling blew off the sand started entering into the room.

   It was a distraction of just 30 seconds for the solders, such a little time but a bonus time for John to escape. he was vanished. No one could see him. Bogdan was also surprised by what had happened. He was still lying on the floor. Every thing was same as it was 30 seconds before, only difference was John was gone.

   "Oh shitt!! where is he, where the hell is he gone?" Rana shouted.

   And there was a sound from another side of room. Rana turned towards it to see what was it. A huge land rover came out of the room breaking the walls of the room. Rana could see through the glasses who was driving. The solders started firing at the land rover but was ineffective to it.

   John got off the base driving the land rover. Rana was helpless and just could watch. The land rover ran at about a speed of 70kmph and had covered almost 5 kms of distance when it was blown up by the chopper.

   Rana could see this all from the distance. This was the end of John Fernandez and Rana was left. Restless..

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Time: 10.00 AM, Next day

Location: CBI headquarters

  Rana Singh was sitting in front of the Director who had resumed his office from the day. He was very happy with Rana's work and his dedication towards the country.

  "Rana, you did really a great job. You risked your life for the country. The way you fought with The terrorist and especially John is really very appreciable. You executed every level of our plan with great intelligence and presence of mind. your one mistake could have ruined it all but you handled it well. The country owes you a salute" the director was speaking.

  "Thank you sir" this was the only thing he was hearing since last 12 hours the country owes you a salute.

  "But there is another person who shares a equal credit with you"

  "Chafa Singh? ya he really did a great work" Rana thought, without him Rana wouldn't have done this so quickly. 

  "He is the master mind who planned this all, from the robbery to escape from the morgue, planting of transmitter and all the tricks that we played to catch that Russian Bogdan" 

  "One min... whom are you talking about?" Rana was confused and also understood that they were not talking about Chafa.

  "Rana, I want you to meet special officer Kartik from Indian intelligence service RAW"

  As director's words ended the door opened and a man entered into the office in black suit. He was bald headed and clean shaved and looked very handsome and smart.

  Rana turned around to see him. His face was familiar but Rana wasn't able to recognize who was it. He stood up to greet him when a sudden shock went through his body. His eyes had gone stumped, his all body experienced a sudden shiver. 

  He was the real master mind, always with him, in his every move, in his every plan. Rana thought that he was playing the game but he was being played by the greatest player in this game.

  "John..." Rana said stammering.

  "Hope you liked my new look" he chuckled.

  Rana was all stumped stunned by seeing what was in front of him.

  "Kartik was working on this mission since last two years, Home Minister's instant entry in the plan was never expected, it changed the entire course of the plan, you got in and arrested him. It was his plan to bribe you as he knew you were honest. You planned to let him escape but he had foreseen this all. He knew what you were going to do. He trusted you" said the director with great pride in his voice.

  "I trusted your honesty Rana, you were loyal and you proved it in the most crucial stage. We offered you with the greatest responsibility of safeguarding nation's most expensive asset and you handled it very well. We are proud of you Rana" said Kartik.

  Rana was standing still with open mouth. He was laughing at himself for what happened with him. He could imagine how foolish he must have looked to act as they have planned. There was a smile on his face and a drop of tear came out of his eye.

  Kartik understood how he was feeling. He placed a hand on Rana's shoulders "Let's have a coffee"

  They both got out of the office. Rana could see the faces of the workers in CBI headquarters who were aware of all this from the begining. Rana was feeling embarrassed and could not match to their eyes. A gentle smile was mounted on his face.

  "So when do I have to return the money?"asked Rana drinking a sip of coffee.

  "Which money?" Kartik clicked an eye "We officers do keep somethings secret"

  This was for the first time in last hour when Rana laughed, He laughed his heart out..   

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THE END..

Towards the Darkness-2

Previous part: Towards the Darkness

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Time: 2.00PM

Location: Near Thanagazi-Alwar bridge

  The black smoke was spread all over in the surrounding. There were clouds of dark smoke all over the animal reserve. The firemen had done their job quite well but still the fuel had spread all over in the place. A small spark could burn that large area of forest in seconds.

  Insp.Rana Singh was standing on the bridge alone. Behind him was the white police gypsy that they generally used to travel through the jungles. He was looking straight at the burnt train and trying to remember something. The picture of last night was in front of his eyes. His eyes had gone deep. He was all trapped between his mind and his heart.

  "Have you ever took her on holiday....Do you have a mother?...Have you ever gave any thing that made her happy?...Do you were even there when she needed you?" 

  All these words were dancing in his mind. The mind was pulling him away while the heart was forcing him to stick to his duty. 

  "I'll give you 100 crore...take me out of here"

  Money was always a problem for him, when he was in school, when he was in college even when he was supposed to have a higher post and someone grabbed it by bribing. Now all that was going to end. He had sacrificed much for the country now it was time to do something for his family.

   The wireless made a slight noise inside the car and a rough voice came through it "Sir we found it".

   A smile mounted on his lips. The game was going to start.

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Time: 5.00PM

Location: CBI headquarters

  Insp. Rana entered the large building in his usual uniform. He directly went to the reception and asked for a meeting with the Director.

  "Please wait Sir, I'll check if he is free" the receptionist said and called on the intercom "Sir Mr. Rana Singh is here, He wants to meet you" but in response she had a weird voice that must have said kick him out of the building. Her face was contracted as someone had touched the touch-me-not plant.

  Rana understood what was happening "let me talk to him" he grabbed the receiver from her hand.

 "Sir I am really very sorry for what I did in the morning, I apologize for that but sir I have something important that you must know" He said in a single breath.

  "OK Sir" he turned towards the receptionist replacing the receiver "He wants me to come in".

  He turned backward clicking an eye towards her and in return she smiled in a shy expression.

  While on his way upward he saw a office boy taking some food "hey where are you taking these delicacies?" he asked the boy.

  "Its for the newly arrived guest whom you gave a grand feast in lunch" the boy replied smiling.

   Rana understood that his gossip was throughout the CBI building. He placed a 500 rupee note in his pocket and put something below the glass of water.

  "Make sure that he reads this" he gave a smile to the boy. The boy opened the chit below the glass and gave a smile.

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  John was lying his head down on the table. The beating in afternoon was very ferocious and his body organs were still paining. But he was trained, trained to survive in conditions worst than this. Also he was aware of the fact that he was a very limited period guest here now. He had planted the seed for his escape.

  The door of the interrogation room opened and the office boy entered with the tray of food in his hand. He placed the food in front of John. This was for the first time John had seen food in last 24 hours. He picked up the jar of water and drank the whole in a sip.

  "Use the glass" said the office boy smiling and turned around to leave.

 John was surprised with why he was smiling and picked up the glass where he found the chit of folded paper. He quickly opened the chit which said "You will die my hands"

  "Tell the guards I want to talk to the Head here" he said eating the food.

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  Rana climbed up to the floor and walked towards the directors cabin when the director came out of the room. Rana saluted him and said "Sir I wanted to talk to you about.."

 "Sit in my cabin, I'll be back soon. John wants to see me" the director interrupted him.

  "Why?"

  "I'll check that out, you wait in the cabin".

  Rana contracted his eyes in confusion. He knew something was going to go wrong.

 He turned around to stop the director when he saw two bodyguards were following him inside the interrogation room.

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  The director entered the interrogation room where he saw John eating food like an animal. The food was spelled through out the table and the plate in front of him was empty.

   "Oh welcome Sir, accompany me in the lunch cum dinner" said John giving a smile to the director.

   "I have much important jobs to do, say what you wanted to" replied the Director in an angry tone.

  "Aaahhhh so do I" saying this he picked up the plate in front of him and threw with full force towards the director which hit him on forehead.

   The director felled aside due to the sudden attack. The two bodyguards were also shock. One of them was ready to pull out the gun when John stepped on the table in front of him and jumped towards him kicking him directly on the face with his knees. His gun felled aside.

   John quickly grabbed the gun and shoot the guard. Then quickly holding the neck of director with his hands, he pointed the barrel directly on his head. 

   The other guard was also quick to point his gun on him.

   "Oh ho ho ho you won't do that or I'll blow off your director's head" said John smiling at the guard.

   The gun shot had made the entire staff panic and all the armed officers had gathered in front of the room.

   "What the hell are you doing, shoot him shoot him now" commanded the director.

  The guard put on his second hand under the gun to aim when there as another shot which directly penetrated into his heart.

  John came out of the room guarding himself behind the director from one side while from the other side he was pointing the gun.

  "Any one try to get in my way I'll shoot him, I swear I'll shoot him" he shouted.

  All the officers pointing gun on him moved backwards they all knew that the guy was psychic and could do what he said.

  "Aren't you afraid of death?" someone asked from behind.

  John turned backward standing in front of the corner wall hiding behind the director.

  It was Rana Singh who called. He was here at the right time. 

  "Aren't you?" asked John in return placing his finger in the trigger.

  "I am afraid what will happen to me if you die!" asked Rana pointing gun on John.

  "Don't worry I'll take you with me" replied John.

  "For that you have to wait for 50 more years" said Rana and fired the bullet on directors leg. He screamed with pain and bent downwards. 

  This was it, the clear aim. Rana didn't wanted to miss the chance he shot two bullets which hit one on John's arm while other inside the stomach creating a river of blood on the floor.

   The officers ran to hold Director who was screaming with pain. They  took him aside Insp. Rana went near the body of John lying on the floor watching him carefully.

   "I told you,you'll die by my hands" murmured Rana.

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Time: 7.30PM

Location: AIIMS
  "Don't worry he is alright"said the doctor coming out of the operation theater.
  "We have taken out the bullets, he is out of danger now. Actually he has gained consciousness you can meet him by now"
  "How is his leg, Would he be able to walk" asked the officer who was worried a lot about their director.
  "Of course he will be! It is like a fracture in leg. He will recover soon"
  These words gave relief to the officer. He was  aware of what was happening inside, and director's absent could create a great mess. He went inside to see the director.
 To his surprise the Director was very good and was sitting on the bed. He had expected him to be surrounded by wires and pipes of oxygen and all but what he saw was exactly opposite of it.
 "Where is hat bastard who shot me?" the director asked in a firm voice.
 The officer felt nice to hear his voice. It was like his voice was not audible for years to him. That was because of the bloodshed that they witnessed in  the office and director's condition after he was shot.
  Rana Singh entered into the room with a bouquet of lilies.
 "Nice jb you have done Inspector. This is your second achievement in 24 hours?"said the director teasing Rana.
 "Ya I have shot the Director of CBI ,that's really an achievement for me very few Police officers get such a chance" replied Rana Singh smiling.
 "Where is that bastard John?"
 "He is in the morgue, downstairs in here"replied the oficer
 "OK I want to see him"
 "Now?" both officer and Rana said in unison.
 "Ya now I don't want any change in the plan" said the director standing up from the bed.
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Time: 8.00PM

Location: AIIMS morgue

  "Hello sir, how are you" said the morgue worker greeting the Director. The officer was pushing the wheel chair while Rana Singh was following them both.
  The smell inside the morgue made director feel uncomfortable. Though he was trying to look good but he wasn't.
  "Show me the dead body,quick" The director said.
 The morgue worker pulled out  one shelf and in there was John's dead body. His body was covered with white sheet and the was a huge red spot right on the chest.
  The picture of blowing his chest came in front of Rana's eyes. He quickly ordered to close the shelf.
  All of them came out of the morgue.
  "When's the funeral held?" asked the director.
  "It's 11 in the morning" replied the officer.
  The words entered into Rana's ear's and he stopped on the place where he was. Something was wrong Terribly wrong..
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Time: 11.00AM

Location: Nicholson Cemetery Cremation Ground  

  There were about ten people on the funeral. All of them were the investigating officers. None were interested in attending the funeral of a terrorist. The director of CBI wanted to attend the funeral hence there was an ample amount of security in the cemetery.
  The director's white Suv arrived and he some officers took him out of the car. He came near the burial place on the wheel chair while his assistant officer was pushing the chair.
  The AIIMS ambulance arrived. They took out the coffin from the van. Four boys were carrying the coffin and brought them near the place.
  "Open it" said one of the investigating officer.
  The four boys looked at each other asking each other to open it. At last one of them came forward and took off the cover of the coffin.
   And there was a wave of surprise throughout the people standing in the cemetery. There was a shock which would have made the Director stand on his feet. The eyes had gone blind, all they could see was infinity. The words came to an end, the hear beats increased. Every thing that was going so fine had now changed.
   The coffin was empty with an envelop placed in it.
   One officer from the investigation team came forward and opened the envelop. His eyes changed horrified within a second.
   The assistant of director's phone rang and he went behind to take the call. The envelop came to the director
after the investigating officers team saw it.
   The assistant came back and said near Director's ear "Sir there is some thing you should know".
   "What?"
   "Inspector Rana resigned from his post"
   He smiled. May be at himself or at the entire CBI. It was all planned. He brought back his eyes to the letter placed in the envelop.
    It said "GOOD LUCK..."
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(to be continued..)
Next part: Towards the Darkness-3