Episode 41
"Hi Rajan! You look like a galloping stallion who wants to make a huge leap to reach the moon!" Ranjan entered Rajan's room with a big grin on his face.
Indeed, Rajan was feeling good at that moment. He recuperated well after the bloodshed and intake of the deadly gas. Actually, at that moment, he was thinking about going to the field where he had worked as a gardener. The place was so beautiful that he had been longing to go there.
"Hi Ranjan! Welcome buddy! Without your help, I wouldn't have made it. Thanks mate!" Rajan said.
"Ha ha! If I take the full credit, I will be doing a great disservice to my conscience . The way you performed in the 4th stage, I have no hesitation to say buddy, I have never seen such a brilliant performance ever in this house. I hadn't even given you a clear-cut hint. But your sharp brain interpreted it correctly, and you acted like a champion."
Ranjan complemented Rajan profusely.
"So what's next buddy? Do you have any news about Archana?"
"Let me answer your last question first. Archana is hale and hearty. She might not have done it as smoothly as you, but she passed it without much damage to her body. We have been preparing her well for the final stage."
Rajan closed his eyes briefly as he seemed to have murmured a prayer thanking the God. He said,
"But, you haven't prepared me for the last stage! Can I get some help or at least some hints about the last stage?"
"I am a servant of orders in this house, by now you must know that, Rajan. The Joker decides every thing here. He will decide what the final stage will be. We don't know anything about it. We haven't been instructed to impart any training for the last stage to you. My guess is that you don't need any more training to complete the last stage." Ranjan's face was emotionless.
"Okay, I understand that. But, you haven't given any hints for the last stage?!"
"Well the 4th stage is the toughest for any participant, where he has to give his best. It is a test of endurance and survival instinct of an individual. But, the fifth stage is not that demanding. However, you need a lot of luck to make it. Don't ask me anymore, as I am not entitled to speak any further." He left.
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"This is not done! This cannot happen! I will call the CM." Suresh was tramping on the mosaic floor of the tacky hotel room like an angry lion.
Being a very rich businessman, Suresh had not stayed in such a low quality hotel in the last 20 years. He had wanted to stay at Hyatt Regency in Salt Lake, but Roy insisted that they had to stay at the spot. There was not any impressive hotel in Barrackpore. Suresh searched the internet, and selected Ashoka Lodge as it seemed decent to him. But, Roy discouraged him by saying that most of the hotels in Barrackpore had been bugged by that dirty agency. If they tried to unbug the places, the hotel owners would suspect and might resist. So, he had chosen a rather nondescript cheap hotel. No matter how ramshackle the hotel looked, it had a pompous name, Paradise.
Roy told that they would surely keep an eye on them, but they would not be able to bug, and according to Roy, it mattered. For the sake of his friend, Suresh grinned and bore all the discomforts. But, when he heard the news in the next morning, he couldn't control his anger. He burst like a bomb.
Roy informed him in the morning that they couldn't undertake the operation today, as the home ministry in this state wanted more relevant papers from AP. They were not satisfied with the papers submitted by the AP police. At that moment, Suresh uttered those words.
"I don't think Sir, that will work. The CM of AP is a friend of the ruling party of this state. He can neither override their decision, nor will make an issue about it. Our men have informed me that a very influential person in this government is interfering in this case. However, the papres they sought can be submitted in a day. You speak to the SP and tell him to send the papers immediately." Roy explained in a calm voice.
"And what do we do now? Sit leisurely with folded hands like a fool?"
"This agency is very powerful, Sir! We can definitely take on them, but if we try to do that, the local police will prevent us from doing so. We can also take them down, but you know that's not our policy. We don't kill state agents until we are forced to do so."
"Yes, I know that. But, will you let Rajan die? Remember, I have paid you a hefty sum of a million of rupees."
Suresh didn't have a good sleep, as the room didn't have any aircoditioner. There was a swarm of mosquitoes which had forced Suresh to put a mosquito net. This made sure that very little air, as the voltage was low, could enter his net. All these compounded in making Suresh's mood very sore.
Roy's face turned red for a moment. He was a Bengali, but his complexion was extremely fair. He had lived for 10 years in London. That made his skin even fairer. As he was struggling to find a suitable answer, two guys entered the room in hurry. The entry of two guys made Suresh's eyes lit up.
"Sorry Sir for entering the room without your permission." Khan apologised, and Srinivas smiled.
"You two are here!" Suresh was indeed surprised.
"Yes Sir, we are part of the Andhra STF. We will be leading our team of 16 very efficient police personnel."
"But have you heard of the delay?" Suresh shouted.
"Yes Sir! That's exactly why we have come. The WB police is asking for some trivial papers which have either very little or no connection at all with the case. We had spoken to the DG of this state, and he had given us the green signal to proceed. That's why we are here, but now the same guy is putting his hands up." The voice of Srinivas sounded tart.
"That's what we have been discussing. Please meet Mr Roy, the head of Ravenous Eagles in eastern region of India, and Mr Roy, meet Mr Srinivas and Mr Khan, two very bright young IPS officers of Andhra." Suresh introduced each other.
They shook hands and exchanged greetings to each other. Roy said,
"Mr Srinivas and Mr Khan can you please send the papers they sought quickly?"
"You don't have to tell that Mr Roy. Both the hard and soft copies of the papers will be sent in the next couple of hours. The soft copies will reach immediately, but the hard copies will reach them tomorrow. I am sure you can submit the papers related to the Lakhotias by today. Then we can raid the place tomorrow."
Suresh was glad to know the development. He immediately ordered some drinks for them.
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"Very good! You haven't lost anything during the last few days." Ranjan complemented Rajan.
Rajan's wish of visiting the garden was fulfilled by Ranjan. He was taken there, but he didn't see Roger and Chan there. But, the garden looked even more beautiful with tulips, daffodils, lilies and bluebells. The big trees like gul mohar, semal, amaltas, palaash and jarul were also blooming with romantic colours. Rajan was allowed to sit near the artificial fountain for a while in solitude, as Ranjan went somewhere talking over his phone.
But, he came back quickly and told Rajan to get up. The birds were chirping, colourful butterflies were flying and cool breeze was soothing the mind and soul. Rajan had no intention to move. Ranjan had been behaving friendly for the last few days. So, Rajan pleaded,
"Can I spend a little more time here?"
"Yes, my friend! But, for only 5 more minutes, as I am instructed to take you to the ground for some important work."
To be continued on Thursday night
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