Episode 43
Rajan, definitely loved his life. But, for the first time, he had realised that he loved his revered God, Lord Shiva, even more. Also, he had full confidence that Lord Shiva would save him, as he had been doing all the time, in the final test, too. Despite his firm belief in God, he asked,
"And what do I have to do to become that?"
The facial expressions of the guru indicated that he was pleased. In a rather calm voice he said,
"Don't worry, my boy! You will get a satanic book, which will explain everything in detail, and I will be there to perform the satanic rituals. But before that, I will explain you the steps that you will have perform at the beginning very briefly.
Firstly, you will have to destroy all the idols and the religious books of your false Gods with your own hand. You will never again take their name or keep any sign of them in your house. As you are not in your home now, we will provide you one statue of Lord Shiva, and a few copies of your religious books.
You will have to break the statue with a sledgehammer. Then you will desecrate the broken pieces by urinating on them. Then you will ignite the religious books. Finally, you will dance on the ashes, and cry, "Shaitan ki jai ho" ten times. Then......."
"STOP! Please stop!" Rajan could not tolerate any more. He covered his ears with his both hands.
"What? What happened?" The guru asked in a rude voice.
"Please forgive me Guru ji! I can't hear it anymore. I can't give up my religious beliefs. I can't become a member of your cult. Please forgive me."
The jaws stiffened, and the eyes again flashed, the Guru ji again looked scary. In a mournfully scary voice he said,
"Hmm! I knew your answer! However, I gave you a chance to live. You refused. Now, pray to your false God for your survival. You may go now."
With drooping shoulder Rajan left the room.
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"That's it! You may take your gears off."
The masked instructor, who was most probably a Russian, as Archana guessed from his accent, announced, as it was 5 PM. Ranjan was also present at that place. He shook Archana's hands, and in a congratulatory tone said,
"Well done Archana! What you have done is amazing! Is shooting in your gene? I have never seen someone who has never seen a gun in her life doing such an incredible progress in such a little time!"
After trying hard nonstop for 5 days, Archana, at last, scored 7. This score had no similarity with the shooting competitions. The distance was 50 meters, and the bull's-eye was much bigger. However, there were circles indicating scores.
Archana had never thought of holding a gun in her life. In her first day of training, she was scared to the core hearing the sound of shots, even though she was provided with the best of ear plugs in the market. The jerks after shots shocked her, she had pains in her elbow and shoulder.
No one, as far as she knew, had ever wielded a gun in her family. She got a feeling of averse even by the mere sight of a gun. The only positive thing that helped her was her ability to aim. Whether it was with sling or just her hand, she had been pretty good at hitting targets. During her childhood, she killed a lot of crows with her slingshot, and brought down a lot of fruits by throwing stones.
"Best of lucks for tomorrow!" Both the instructor and Ranjan wished her before setting off for their destinations.
They left in such a hurry that Archana could not ask the real question. The question was what would be her task tomorrow? But what to do? Archana followed the masked man who never spoke.
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"Give me your gun. I will either shoot the SP or I will shoot myself." 3 days of wait for mere paperwork had maddened Suresh so much that indeed he would have taken such a drastic step.
This delaying ploy of the SP had annoyed the team of Ravenous Eagles very much as well, but as a matter of policy they were holding their nerves. But, their customer was equally very important to them. Roy understood that there had to be some unholy alliance between this notorious agency and a very powerful minister in the state. The SP might have compromised his position to give undue advantage to the notorious agency.
"Yes Sir, I am also disgusted. We can't wait anymore, as the competition is in the final stage. In the final stage, our clients maybe killed."
"When is the final going to happen?" Khan asked in a very worried face.
"That we don't know, it will be notified anytime. But, I can guess, it will be very soon."
"I have spoken to the SP so many times, but this guy is absolutely spineless. He is a promotee, and we have enquired that his reputation is not good. He is toeing the line of his masters."
"I can't wait anymore. I will call the CM." Suresh was in a desperate mood, and he followed his words by action.
Within 10 minutes, he could contact the CM of Andhra. As Suresh was an influential person in the state, the CM knew him. He gave him a patient hearing for 5 minutes. After that the CM said,
"I will call the WB CM, but you must share the evidence of the illegal activities with their police if they ask for it."
Suresh agreed. He knew the Ravenous Eagles guys didn't want to share their incriminating evidences with the police, as that might have hampered their trade secret. That's why they had been trying to implicate the hellish agency indirectly. But, that ploy seemed to have not worked.
But, this was a matter of life and death for his dear friend and his wife. So, Suresh pressurised Roy. Roy was in a dilemma, but finally he agreed to share some screenshots of the illegal activities with the local police. But, he also said that he would never divulge the method by which they got them.
Within half an hour, the phone of the PA of the Andhra CM came asking to share evidence. Roy had no other option but to share some of his secret files and screenshots. After an hour or so, a phone call from the Andhra CM came to Suresh.
"The game is on. Your permission will come within couple of hours. Be ready, and rescue Rajan and his wife. Best of luck!"
There was a pandemonium in the room, and everyone got busy. However, the spirit was slightly dampened when nothing happened in the next two hours. It was around 2 PM. Everyone was waiting from a phone call from the local OC. Meanwhile, they had finalised the blueprint for their operation.
At 2-30 Khan called the local OC. He was informed that the permission would come any moment. When it would come, he would inform him, and would come to help them with his police force.
"I think this slippery OC, Mukherjee has already informed the criminals. They might have fled." Suresh apprehended.
"No, Sir! They have not. Our spies are constantly monitoring the premises. Also, they will not flee until the competition is over. A hell lot of money is at stake. They will definitely finish the reality show. But, we have to strike before the final event." As Roy was saying this, a message came in his phone. As he read the message, his brows took the shape of a bow, and his jaws stiffened.
Everyone noticed it. Suresh asked,
"Any breaking news?"
"Yes, extremely serious in nature! The competition is going to happen at 4 PM today. I am sure it will last around an hour, and I am damn sure the permission will not come before it ends."
"We can't wait anymore. Let's start." Khan stood up followed by everyone in the room.
"What if the local police try to prevent us?" Srinivas struck a note of caution.
"That we will see." Khan knew every second had become vital now onwards.
To be continued on Monday night
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