Dec 05, 2018. After some days, a meeting convened at the NIA office. All the officers occupied chairs while Wasim stood at the front next to a suspended LED screen. Displayed on it was a photograph depicting a bald man of approximately 45 years, wearing a white turban, with brown sunken eyes and a serene smile. Wasim gestured towards the photo, stating, "This individual is Zafar, a key figure in the terrorist organization IS. He has orchestrated terrorist activities in India for over a decade, overseeing operations across South East Asia and South Asian countries. According to a RAW report, they are planning bomb attacks in our city." The image transitioned to that of a man around 35, bearing a vertical scar under his right eye. A Caucasian man with blue eyes, short blond hair, and unremarkable features. Wasim continued, "Meet Dave, one of India's most wanted men. He stands accused of orchestrating ten bomb blasts in Kashmir over three years. The Intelligence Bureau suspects he entered the country to facilitate the planned bombing attacks." The screen changed once more, revealing a man approximately 30 years old. Wasim explained, "This is Karan Singh, a real estate businessman in Delhi. While he's known as a prominent social activist, the IB harbors suspicions. Their analysis suggests he might be aiding Dave and Zafar in India. However, we lack evidence to take action against him at the moment." Following this, other photos were presented, each introduced by Wasim. "In the report, it was indicated that the attack may occur in two weeks. Our utmost priority is to prevent it at any cost. First, conduct an extensive search for Dave throughout the city. Second, closely monitor Karan's activities. Lastly, engage and neutralize anyone except Dave who's seen." The meeting extended for approximately two hours before concluding. Within the conference room, Wasim declared, "I am assembling a new team to address this issue. The team members include Sourabh, Karthik, Rahul, Harish, Sudhesh, and Akash. Sourabh will lead the team. Any questions?" Agents Karthik (27), Rahul (30), and Sudhesh (33) stood up together, asserting, "No sir." Wasim responded, "Very well. You are dismissed." In the cabin. The newly assembled team congregated here, with Sourabh positioned in the center and the others flanking him. Sourabh stated, "We have two weeks to thwart their plan before it unfolds. Now, I will assign your roles. Rahul and Karthik, you will monitor Karan closely; I want you to keep a watchful eye on his every move. Harish and Akash, your task is to apprehend Dave alongside me. Sudhesh, your role is to gather intelligence. In a few—" A knock interrupted their conversation. Sourabh looked towards the entrance and said, "Come in." A man entered the room, carrying a bag. It was Vishal (25) from the tech department. Sourabh introduced, "Oh, it's you. Everyone, meet Vishal, our tech expert. If you need any equipment, get it from him." Sourabh and the agents shook hands with Vishal one by one. Sourabh headed towards the door. "Let's go; I will show you our workshop. Throughout the investigation, we will refrain from setting foot inside the headquarters." Together, they left in a car, with Sourabh leading them to an office located within a complex. The office was of medium size. From the front, it appeared to be a consultancy office. However, behind the facade lay a spacious area filled with computers and equipment. Sourabh explained, "This will serve as our workspace for the duration of this case." Akash glanced around. "It looks nice." Vishal proceeded to inspect all the technical equipment. Sourabh emphasized, "Remember, do not disclose this location to anyone, even if they are your family." They all responded in unison, "Yes, sir." Sourabh instructed, "Good, now everyone, get to work. Harish and Akash, come with me." As instructed, Harish and Akash followed Sourabh. Dec 7, 2018 In a car, with Harish at the wheel, Sourabh seated beside him, and Akash in the back. Harish inquired, "Where are we headed, sir?" Sourabh asked, "Are you familiar with Fareed Sheikh?" Harish replied, "Ah..." Akash added, "Yeah, sir, I know him. He's a bit of a con man, making a living by deceiving others." Sourabh confirmed, "Yes, that's him. We've received intel that he's sheltering Dave's men. So, let's pay him a visit. Harish, take us to the Chor Bazaar area." After 20 minutes, they arrived at their destination. Parking the car, they proceeded on foot due to the narrow alleyways. They split up to search the area. Sourabh halted in front of a mutton shop and surveyed his surroundings. Harish and Akash returned after their search, shaking their heads to indicate failure. The trio stood still for a moment, realizing that Fareed was nowhere to be found. Sourabh spoke up, "Let's..." Suddenly, a voice emerged from behind. "Hello, brother, could you lend me your phone? I need to make a call." Startled, all three turned around simultaneously. The person continued, "Hey, brother." Regaining his composure, Sourabh retrieved his phone and handed it over. The person dialed a number, motioning for Sourabh to wait. Nodding in acknowledgment, Sourabh exchanged a glance with Akash and Harish, who were already looking at him. After concluding the call, the person returned the phone to Sourabh. That individual expressed gratitude, saying, "Thank you, brother." Just as he was about to turn and leave, Sourabh firmly gripped his shoulder. The man looked back at him in confusion. Sourabh stated, "Hey Fareed, we have some questions, and you need to answer them." Fareed became cautious and inquired, "Who are you?" Sourabh replied, "We are your dad, the NIA. Come with us." Upon hearing the term 'NIA,' Fareed trembled. Just as he was about to resist and flee, Akash seized his neck and aimed a gun at his face. Akash warned, "Do not attempt to resist. You cannot handle the consequences." Fareed saw the gun inches away from his face. Filled with fear, he raised his hands in surrender. Fareed pleaded, "Please don't shoot, I haven't done anything." Sourabh asserted, "It's for us to determine. Take him to the office." Akash escorted him to the car after placing handcuffs on him. Sourabh and Harish followed closely. Sourabh laughed, "Hahahahaha..." Harish joined in, laughing, "Hahahah..." Harish remarked, "His luck is quite..." Sourabh added, "And to think I believed today wouldn't be productive." After getting into the car, they drove back to their base. Upon reaching the base, Fareed was placed in the interrogation room – a small, soundproof cabin enclosed in glass, equipped with cameras and microphones. Inside the room, Akash sat on a chair facing Fareed, who was looking around nervously. His hands were secured with handcuffs to a chain on the table between them. "Cough...." Akash cleared his throat to capture Fareed's attention. Fareed glanced at Akash. Catching his eye, Akash inquired, "Don't worry, we'll let you go. But before that, I'll ask you three questions, and you need to answer truthfully. Are you ready?" Fareed hesitated but nodded. Observing Fareed, Akash remarked, "Good." Akash posed the initial question, "Now, tell me, are you gay?" Taken aback by the question, Fareed stuttered, "Why—" "Slap..." Akash interrupted with a slap. "Stick to my questions, just answer what I ask, understood?" Fareed replied, "Okay... No, I am not gay." Akash nodded, "Good, that's the right answer. Now, for the second question, do you prefer a gun or a knife?" Fareed responded, "A knife." "Now, for the final question, where is Dave and his group hiding?" Akash inquired. "I don't know," Fareed admitted. "That's an incorrect answer, and now for the consequences," Akash declared. Akash took out a knife and amputated two inches from Fareed's pinky finger. Outside the room, others monitored the interrogation. Sudhesh, Harish, Sudesh, and Vishal watched. Sudhesh winced, "Sir, he—" Sourabh cut him off, "Not now, Sudhesh. National security is at stake, and I'll do whatever it takes to protect it." Inside the room, Fareed's screams echoed, until Akash managed to stop the bleeding. "Don't worry, you still have four inches of your pinky left. Let me ask you again, where is Dave and his group?" Through his pain, Fareed sobbed, "I truly don't know, sir." Akash shook his head and lifted the knife, preparing to cut again. Panicking, Fareed blurted, "Stop! I'll talk, please stop." Putting the knife down, Akash remarked, "See, that wasn't so difficult." Fareed took deep breaths. "Lokesh, he introduced them to me, claiming they were interested in purchasing a house. As you know, I handle property deals." Observing Akash's stern expression, Fareed continued, "Alright, maybe not property deals exactly, but something similar. I showed them the properties I was aware of, and they chose a house in the colony behind the chor bazaar." Akash scolded, "Didn't you even inquire about their identities?" Fareed defended himself, "Sir, that's not typical in deals like this." Akash's voice rose, "You fool, they're terrorists! By aiding them, you're betraying our country." Stunned, Fareed murmured, "Terrorists?" With a heavy heart, Fareed looked down, consumed by guilt and sorrow. Leaving the cabin, Akash opened the door to find two medical staff waiting. After a nod, he approached Sourabh and the others. Sourabh questioned, "What's your assessment?" Akash responded, "He's telling the truth, but he's withholding some crucial details. There's more to his story." Sourabh remarked, "Yes, he's deceiving, and how can he remain unaware of the issue? He's a swindler, constantly weaving lies, striving to present himself as innocent. And why would they approach a fraudster like him to buy a house? Is he a dealer, contractor, or builder?" Akash added, "Another aspect is that he mentioned showing them several buildings, yet they only selected the house near Karan Singh's office. This leads me to believe it's all fabricated." Sourabh suggested, "Let's go and inspect the house they purchased." Akash, Sourabh, and Harish got into the car and headed toward the house indicated by Fareed. They reached the location in 20 minutes. Upon exiting the car, they observed the medium-sized double-storey house in a narrow lane. Stopping in front of the locked door, they realized it was secured. Sourabh called out, "Harish." Onlookers gathered, but Akash displayed their NIA IDs, dispersing the crowd. "Yes, sir," Harish said, extracting a hammer from his bag. He struck the lock twice, breaking it. Discarding the broken lock, they entered. The interior was coated in dust, as if untouched for 4 to 5 days. The house contained four rooms: two bedrooms, a kitchen, a hall, and a living room. Sourabh motioned for them to search. Harish inspected the kitchen, Akash headed to a bedroom, and Sourabh checked the living room. Akash meticulously examined the bedroom, discovering nothing significant. Suddenly, he noticed a powdery substance near the bed. He collected it in an evidence bag. In the living room, Sourabh found wire fragments and tape pieces beneath the couch. Once Harish and Akash finished searching, they reconvened. Harish reported, "Sir, I found recent bills from a hotel, pub, mall, and more." Akash shared, "I came across a white powdery substance." Sourabh nodded before turning and walking out, followed by Akash and Harish. Sourabh paused by their car. "I found wires and tape fragments. My fears were realized. These are explosives. They manufactured the bombs here and then went into hiding," Sourabh stated. Akash inquired, "What's our next step?" Sourabh directed, "Increase manpower to search for Dave. Locate Lokesh, and remember, I want him captured alive." After a brief pause, Harish hesitated, "But—" Sourabh interrupted, "No excuses. I want him in the interrogation room soon." Harish and Akash chorused, "Yes, sir." Dec 8, 2018 It's evening, Sourabh, harish and akash proceeding to their office. As they entered, Sudhesh approached with important news. Sudhesh addressed them, "I have information." Sourabh prompted, "Tell us." Sudhesh shared, "It's about Lokesh. Our sources informed me that he was spotted arguing with the manager at a bar five minutes ago." Sourabh exclaimed, "Finally, we've got him. He's troubled us enough; now it's our turn. Akash, Harish, get ready." Saying this, Sourabh headed to the armory. "Vishal, give me the best." Vishal, who was seated, stood up and replied, "Certainly." Akash and Harish exchanged glances before following them. Inside the armory, a spacious underground room contained neatly arranged cabinets filled with weapons like guns, knives, grenades, and bullets. Akash gasped, remarking, "This is incredible." Inside a bar, two individuals are engaged in a heated argument. A intoxicated man in his thirties named Lokesh and a waiter from the bar are the participants. Behind the waiter, a group of staff members is also present. Lokesh shouted, "Why are you interfering? I will do anything I desire. Who are you to interrupt me?" With a cold smile, the waiter replied, "Feel free to do whatever you want, but please refrain from harassing our waitress. They are not your personal possessions, sir." Annoyed, Lokesh moved forward to grab the waiter's collar. Suddenly, his friend who was standing behind him intervened. Lokesh's friend said, "Let it go. You've already wasted too much of our time." He guided Lokesh to a private chamber. Once inside, he pushed Lokesh onto a couch and positioned himself across from him. Lokesh's friend questioned, "What's going on with you? The leader explicitly instructed us to avoid conflicts. Yet, you were arguing with a waiter. Control yourself, or you won't appreciate the consequences." Coughing, Lokesh responded after hearing the mention of the leader, "Cough... Cough... Ryaz, don't be a buzzkill. Today is our day off, so let's enjoy it." Ryaz retorted, "Make sure your enjoyment doesn't lead to trouble." Leaning on the couch, Lokesh casually remarked, "No need to worry. No one will bother us." After a while, Lokesh stood up and announced, "I'm heading to the bathroom." Without a reaction from Ryaz, Lokesh shrugged and left for the bathroom. Waiting for 15 minutes, Ryaz noticed Lokesh taking longer than expected. He stepped outside to check on him. Upon exiting the chamber, Ryaz found himself facing three armed men. Ayaz quickly raised his hands, fearing they might shoot. One of the men, Sourabh, greeted him, "Hello. How's your time in India?" Ryaz didn't respond verbally but directed a solemn gaze towards Lokesh. Lokesh, now handcuffed and subdued by two officers, Akash and Harish, felt the weight of Ryaz's intense stare. Turning to the source of the gaze, Lokesh saw Ryaz, whose look seemed to pierce right through him. Trembling, he appeared as if he wished to disappear from Ryaz's sight. Akash approached Ryaz, gun still aimed, as they cuffed their hands and escorted both of them out of the bar, shoving them into a waiting car before driving away. Next day, in the office, Ryaz and Lokesh were taken to the innermost room, the interrogation room. In this compact space, Ayaz and Lokesh were firmly secured to chairs with their hands restrained on the table. After some time, Sourabh entered the room. Ryaz, with his head down, remained unresponsive. Lokesh, however, lifted his head, revealing a mixture of fear and hesitation on his face. Sourabh stopped beside the table. Lokesh met his gaze with apprehension as Sourabh raised his hand high, then slammed it onto the table. Sourabh demanded, "Tell me everything." Ryaz still didn't raise his head, but Lokesh nervously spoke up, "I'm not part of their group. They are the actual terrorists who infiltrated from that side. There's Dave, Yakub, Habib, Junaid, and Ryaz. Five individuals in total." Sourabh questioned, "Then why were you associating with them?" Lokesh replied, "Initially, I was unaware of their true intentions. However, I overheard their leader discussing bomb blasts in Delhi over the phone. Filled with fear, I planned to escape, but they caught me. Since then, I've been living with them, following their orders under the threat of death. I had no choice." Sourabh pressed further, "Did you not consider contacting the police?" Lokesh explained, "How could I? They monitored my every move. Even in the bathroom, I wasn't alone." Sourabh inquired, "Where are they now?" Lokesh responded, "I don't know. Whenever they took me outside, they covered my head with a black cloth, removing it only when we were far from their base. The base is located in a large mansion. Only he knows the exact location." Lokesh pointed towards Ryaz. Sourabh turned to Ryaz, who maintained his silence and locked eyes with Sourabh. Ryaz declared, "Don't bother trying. I won't divulge anything, even under torture." Sourabh retorted, "Don't worry, I won't treat you like an animal." Ryaz was taken aback by this statement and shouted at Sourabh, "What did you say?" Sourabh didn't respond but simply exited the interrogation room. Outside, Akash, Harish, Sudhesh, and Vishal stood watching the recording of Ryaz and Lokesh's interrogation. Seeing Sourabh's arrival, they stood at attention. Akash suggested, "Sir, why are they still here? With the intelligence we needed acquired, shouldn't we eliminate them?" Sourabh agreed, "Yes, ordinarily we would. However, there's still some value in keeping him alive. Killing him now wouldn't serve our interests." Akash commented, "But what can we gain from him? He's like a captured rat." Sourabh clarified, "He's our guide to their hideout." Akash had a realization and looked at Sourabh with admiration. Seeing the expression in Akash's eyes, Sourabh quipped, "Don't give me that look. If someone sees, they might get the wrong idea about you." Hearing this, Harish, Sudhesh, and Vishal burst into laughter, playfully teasing Akash. Sourabh addressed Sudhesh, "Hey, Sudhesh." Sudhesh responded, "Yes, sir." Sourabh inquired, "How are things with Rahul and Karthik?" Sudhesh reported, "Nothing significant, sir. Karan is following his usual routine, from home to the office and back." Sourabh reminded, "The deadline is approaching. I don't want any mistakes. Are you certain they've checked everything thoroughly?" Sudhesh assured, "Give me two hours, sir. I'll personally ensure everything is in order." Sourabh nodded and Sudhesh got back to work. Akash suggested, "Sir, I believe our top priority should be locating the explosives. They wouldn't carry them around. They must have hidden them somewhere." Sourabh agreed, "You're right. But that's the challenge – where could they be?" Harish joked, "Maybe they gave them to Karan as a keepsake." Sourabh and Akash turned towards Harish, considering his words with seriousness. Akash nodded in agreement. Sourabh concluded, "You might be onto something. It's plausible." Harish felt uncertain about the weight his casual suggestion had carried. Dec 13, 2018 Singh Estate's office. Perched atop a towering skyscraper with 50 floors, Karan Singh, the proprietor of this company, occupies the second-highest floor. Sunlight streams through the window, illuminating the room. A portrait of an elderly man hangs on the wall opposite the window. Beneath the photograph rests a plaque bearing the name "Late Shri Vyash Kumar Singh." Adjacent to the portrait sits the CEO's chair, where 36-year-old Karan Singh is seated, engaged in a phone conversation. Karan remarks, "There's no news of their arrest... Alright, I'll continue searching for them... Rest assured, I've kept it secure... I'll provide it when the time comes... Goodbye." After ending the call, Karan places the phone on the table, stands up, and walks over to the window. Gazing at the clear blue sky, he murmurs, "It's drawing near. Soon, Dad, I'll avenge you and Mom." After a while, Karan returns to the table, retrieves his phone, and makes a call. Once connected, he instructs, "Prepare yourself. Transport it to the basement, as I've directed." A voice responds from the other end, "What about the police surveillance?" Karan reassures, "Don't fret. Handling that is my responsibility. Your task is to collect the material and deliver it to the designated location." The caller acknowledges, "Understood." ... Rahul and Karthik are seated in a car outside Karan's company. Rahul positions himself near the front gate, while Karthik keeps watch over the back entrance. After a while, Rahul notices a man on a bike emerging from the back gate of the building, carrying a bag. Rahul communicates through his earpiece, "Karthik, a man on a bike just left through the back gate. I'll tail him. Inform the leader." Karthik queries, "What's significant about this man that you're willing to tail him?" Rahul responds, "I'm unsure about the contents of the bag, but I recognize the rider. It's Vijay." Karthik remarks, "You mean Karan's associate who handles his illicit operations." Vijay Kant, Karan's trusted aide responsible for his unlawful endeavors. Rahul confirms, "Exactly. He's carrying a bag personally. I suspect it holds something important." Karthik advises, "Be cautious." Rahul acknowledges, "Will do." The man with the bag departs, and Rahul follows discreetly. At an intersection, a convoy of cars passes by, causing Rahul to momentarily lose sight of him. Vijay glances back with a smile and continues on. Once the convoy clears, Rahul searches but fails to locate Vijay. He accelerates his bike and, after twenty minutes, spots Vijay returning with the bag. Rahul tails Vijay on his bike. Unexpectedly, Vijay rides back to the company. Puzzled, Rahul mutters, "What's he up to?" ... Inside the building, in Karan's office, Karan reclines in his chair with a contented expression. Vijay enters the room. Vijay reports, "Mission accomplished, boss." Karan expresses gratitude, "Thank you for diverting their attention." Vijay inquires, "So, you've managed to move it, boss?" Karan confirms, "Yes, and it was effortless. Credit the bumbling police surveillance." Vijay acknowledges, "Indeed, all thanks to them." ..... In the Office, Sourabh is engaged in a call, After a while he terminated the call. " Another man wearing a helmet and carrying a bag exited, followed by Vijay who returned after a brief drive." " I think they were aware of our monitoring, this was done as a distraction while he conducted something else in the background," Akash, standing beside Harish next to Sourabh, suggested. Sourabh considered, " I also believe that it was a diversion. But the question is, what was his intent in diverting us? " A contemplative silence followed as all three lost themselves in thought. Akash speculated, "Imagine if Dave handed him his supply of RDX explosives, and Karan concealed them within the building." Harish proposed, "Learning about our surveillance, he grew anxious and relocated them." Sourabh analyzed, "To achieve that, he dispatched Vijay to act suspiciously, capturing our attention, and then he discreetly transported the explosives from his company's premises to a secure location." Akash pondered, "Now, the question arises – who was involved and where were they moved?" After a minute of silence, Sourabh broke it. "Harish, review all camera footage near that building." "Understood, sir." Harish acknowledged before departing. Sourabh directed, "Akash, let's meet with Karan." Akash hesitated, "But sir..." Ignoring Akash, Sourabh began walking. Akash sighed and trailed behind. They secured a car and drove to Karan's office. Upon arrival, they entered the premises. Inside the building, as they reached the lobby, they approached the reception where a woman was stationed. Anticipating their approach, she greeted them and inquired about their purpose. The woman inquired, "Good afternoon, sirs. How can I assist you today?" Sourabh replied, "Good afternoon. May we speak with your CEO, Mr. Karan Singh?" The woman asked, "Do you have an appointment?" Sourabh responded, "No, but—" Interrupting him, the woman stated, "I apologize, sir, but meeting him without an appointment isn't possible." Growing impatient, Akash presented his ID. "Inform him that two NIA agents are here. If he doesn't see us, he'll regret it." The woman gulped, clearly taken aback by the threat. Sourabh felt compelled to intervene, shaking his head at Akash. "Come on, let's maintain a civil tone." Sourabh then addressed the receptionist, "He's a good person, but he can be a bit of a handful at times. Please overlook his approach." The woman stammered, "I understand, sir. Please wait a moment while I inquire with our CEO." Sourabh requested, "Please, miss." Subsequently, the woman engaged in a phone call. Sourabh turned to Akash, signaling approval, which Akash reciprocated. After a pause, the woman set down the phone and informed them, "Gentlemen, you may meet with our CEO. However, he is currently in a meeting. Please wait for half an hour, and he will contact you once he's available." Suppressing Akash's urge to speak out, Sourabh complied. They settled onto the sofas. Thirty minutes later, the receptionist summoned them, "Excuse me, sirs, you can proceed now. Our CEO's office is located on the 49th floor." Sourabh and Akash stood up and entered the elevator. Inside, Akash pressed the button for the 49th floor. After a short wait, they reached their destination. They stood before Karan's office. Sourabh proposed, "Let's enter and greet him." Akash agreed, "Certainly." They entered Karan's office, where Karan sat at the CEO's desk, his secretary Mehul Sinha standing beside him, and Vijay silently occupying a couch. Karan greeted them, "Welcome, officers. To what do I owe this pleasure?" Sourabh replied, "We felt like meeting you, so we came promptly." Karan invited, "Please, have a seat. Mr..." Sourabh supplied, "Sourabh, and this is Akash, NIA agents." Karan rose, saluting both. "I never anticipated someone like you paying a visit. I apologize for the limited hospitality." Sourabh assured, "No need to worry. We're here because we have questions, and we believe you have the answers." Karan absentmindedly spun a paper wheel on the table. "You can inquire, and I'll do my best to address your queries." Sourabh initiated, "Are you familiar with Lokesh and Ayaz?" Karan was taken aback but masked his reaction. "No." Sourabh proceeded, "Have you engaged in any illegal smuggling in the past week?" Karan answered firmly, "No." Satisfied, Sourabh continued, "Good. What's your connection with Dave?" Karan replied unequivocally, "I have no affiliation with Dave." Sourabh probed, "Do you possess any knowledge of the recent RDX smuggling from Pakistan?" Karan maintained, "No." Sourabh posed his final question, "Is what you're doing right or wrong?" Karan's expression grew grim at the unexpected query. "Why ask such a question?" Sourabh injected levity, "Just curious. Don't worry, we're not here to arrest you." Karan countered, "You can't arrest me without evidence. And yes, I believe I'm right and will remain so. You know, officer, I'll relish the sight of your despair and wear a victorious smile." Sourabh retorted, "Don't be impatient. It might be you who succumbs to his own madness." Karan quipped, "So this is the sole purpose of your visit?" Sourabh clarified, "No, I came to confirm something, and I have." Karan inquired, "And what have you discovered?" Sourabh shared, "Someone is orchestrating all of this for revenge. Yet, I haven't unearthed the motive behind it." Karan fell silent for a moment before cautioning, "Sometimes, delving deeper than one can bear isn't wise." Sourabh responded with a hint of irony, "Ah, philosophy." Akash chimed in, "Just wait until we find even the smallest evidence against you. Then you'll experience our definition of hospitality." Karan remarked, "And now even your companion is joining the chorus." Akash clarified, "I'm not like the person lounging on the couch over there," gesturing towards Vijay. "No, we're different. We function as a team, not a gang. No one is a lackey here," Akash asserted, his gaze fixed on Karan. Karan taunted, "An impassioned agent, I see." Akash was about to retort, but Sourabh intervened, "Akash, let's go." Before leaving, Sourabh locked eyes with Karan. "Do whatever you can, but we'll have the last laugh." Karan watched them leave, then turned to Vijay. "Vijay." Vijay responded, "Yes, boss." Karan outlined his plan, "I want to engineer a clash between Dave's crew and these agents. I'm unsure how, but make it happen." Vijay hesitated, "But boss—" Cutting him off, Karan declared, "I don't want to hear excuses." Vijay conceded, "Understood, sir." Karan issued another directive, "Furthermore, I expect casualties among the agents' team." After a contemplative pause, Vijay reluctantly agreed, "I'll try." Karan concluded, "Alright." Dec 15, 2018. Inside the office, Sudhesh presented his findings to Sourabh. Sudhesh reported, "Sir, as you requested, I examined all CCTV footage around Karan's office and made a discovery." Sitting at the table were Sourabh, Akash, Harish, and Vishal, all attentively listening to him. Sudhesh placed a laptop in front of them and displayed the recording. The screen displayed footage in which a man wearing a helmet exited the gate on a bike and drove away. Sudhesh explained, "Observe this man. He's the one who followed Vijay after his return." The footage transitioned, showing the man parking the bike in front of a restaurant. After dismounting, he entered and returned after 4 minutes, riding back to the building. Harish inquired, "What's noteworthy?" Sudhesh replied, "Pay attention to the individual who went in, specifically his shoes. Then, compare his shoes to those of the person who emerged." Upon hearing this, they scrutinized the footage closely. Harish exclaimed, "Ah! The shoes of the man entering and the one exiting differ." Sudhesh continued, "And observe here." The footage changed again, revealing a man with a mask and cap emerging from the restaurant before the video paused. Sudhesh pointed out, "Examine his footwear. This is what Karan wanted to conceal—a trail leading to the vicinity of the slum area. It's likely he hid something there." Sourabh commended, "Well done, Sudhesh. Your bonus for this month—" Sudhesh eagerly interjected, "Will be doubled!" However, Sourabh corrected, "No, it will be forfeited." Sudhesh appeared bewildered and questioned in disbelief, "But why?" Sourabh explained, "You performed admirably, but your report was delayed." Unable to counter this explanation, Sudhesh slumped slightly. Sourabh patted him on the back and assured, "Don't worry, continue producing work like this, and both your bonus and vacation time will be assured." Sudhesh remained silent and left the room. Sourabh glanced at the others and remarked, "What did I say?" Akash and Harish averted their gaze. Vishal began, "Sir, you are—" Sourabh cut in, "Vishal, remember that I can reduce your bonus and holidays." Vishal stared at Sourabh, bewildered, and quickly amended, "I meant to say, sir, you were absolutely correct." Akash muttered, "Coward." Harish nodded in agreement. Sourabh's demeanor suddenly turned serious. "Listen, thoroughly search the entire slum area and its vicinity. I want this completed within 2 days. If needed, involve the police, but disclose minimal information. We can't be certain there are no informants among them." Both Akash and Harish affirmed, "Yes, sir." They left the room, leaving Sourabh deep in thought, scratching his chin. "Vishal, use drones to survey the area." Vishal, who was about to sit down, paused upon hearing Sourabh's directive. "Understood, sir." Outside the building, Akash and Harish were seated in a car, with Harish at the steering wheel and Akash beside him. Akash retrieved his phone and swiftly messaged someone. Observing his fast typing, Harish inquired, "Who are you texting so quickly?" Akash replied, "My informers." Harish questioned, "Informers? Like the girls in that bar?" Akash clarified, "No, this time it's someone else. Don't you have any?" Harish's expression changed after this query. Seeing Harish's reaction, Akash realized he shouldn't have asked that. Harish admitted, "My experiences with informers haven't been great." A heavy silence hung in the car. They drove silently until they reached a slum area. Two police cars, each carrying four policemen, trailed behind them. Harish had contacted local law enforcement for assistance. They parked their car and navigated the narrow alleys of the slum. Akash and Harish split up, accompanied by four policemen each. They combed through houses and conversed with the locals, but didn't gather any helpful information. Harish engaged in conversation with a middle-aged man. The middle-aged man shared, "We haven't seen anyone as suspicious as you're describing. However, for the past 10 days, I noticed two to three new faces entering and leaving the shop across the street. When I asked one of them if he was new here, he responded rudely, telling me to mind my own business. Extremely disrespectful." Harish extracted a photo from his jacket and presented it to the middle-aged man. "Is he among them?" The middle-aged man scrutinized the photo closely. "Yes, it's definitely him. I haven't seen his face, but judging by his build, I'm certain. I'm convinced they reside nearby." Harish thanked the man and signaled the policemen. "Let's regroup with Akash." He rejoined Akash and recounted his findings. Together with the police, they headed toward the area the old man had indicated. Despite searching meticulously, Dave and his accomplices remained elusive. Akash cautioned, "Only the last area remains. There's a strong possibility that they're hiding there. Proceed with utmost caution." Akash proceeded toward the final border area of the slums, with Harish and the police following. Upon nearing the last house in the area, Akash signaled for everyone to stop and take cover. They positioned themselves discreetly: some behind rocks, others against walls, and a few on the terrace. All took their stances, ready to fire when necessary. After a while, they spotted a man on a terrace across from them, casually conversing on the phone. Akash used binoculars to identify the person's face, comparing it to a sketch drawn by Lokesh. Akash remarked, "It's Junaid. We've finally located them. Pay close attention; others might be nearby." Harish communicated through an earpiece, "Someone aim at him, but wait for my command to fire." A police officer hidden behind a wall replied, "He's in my sights. I'll shoot on your signal, sir." Harish directed, "Excellent, stand by for now." Akash climbed to the terrace of the building opposite Dave's location. From there, he had a clear view of Dave, Habib, and Yakub sitting on a cot with a bag beside them, engaged in a discussion. Akash informed his team, "They're all here. Harish, approach from below." Harish led four officers to the building's door. Upon breaking in, Junaid, who was on the phone, noticed their entry. He attempted to alert the others but before he could react, Akash ordered, "Take the shot." Following the order, the police officer aimed at Junaid and fired, hitting him in the head with a resounding 'bang.' Akash advised, "Harish, proceed cautiously. They're on high alert now." Harish questioned, "Why did you give the order to shoot?" Akash explained, "Junaid saw you entering and was about to warn the others. I had to act." On the terrace, Dave and his companions witnessed Junaid's shooting. Habib exclaimed, "Junaid!" Dave seized Habib and Yakub, dropping to the floor. Dave analyzed, "Snipers?" Yakub responded, "No, the shots came from below." Dave deduced, "That means they're entering from the ground door. Habib, Yakub, cover me. I'll take the bag and finish our task." Habib and Yakub understood it was time to separate. They exchanged relieved and devoted smiles, hugged Dave, and together chanted, "Allahu akbar." Habib and Yakub descended the stairs purposefully, while Dave reached for the bags. Realizing that the bags contained explosives, Akash shot at Dave, hitting near him twice 'bang, bang.' Dave, holding the second bag's strap, staggered as a bullet whizzed close and the strap was torn. Spotting a man on a neighboring terrace aiming at him, Dave left the bag and leapt to the adjacent terrace's edge. Akash, wanting to fire more shots, saw Dave's actions in frustration and yelled, "Damn." Akash also jumped to the next terrace, in pursuit of Dave. He chased him, jumping frantically from terrace to terrace. Dave, thinking he had evaded his pursuer, eventually looked back and spotted Akash trailing him. Dave rolled his eyes in exasperation and picked up his pace. He realized the path ahead led only to terraces and a wide road. Spotting a rope strung between two sides, Dave removed his belt and slid down to the other side. As Akash tried to replicate the action, he witnessed Dave severing the rope. Akash was taken aback and shouted after him, "You cheater!" Leaning on the railing, Akash watched Dave's retreat and muttered, "Shit, he got away." Back at Dave's hideout, a fierce firefight raged between Harish's team and Dave's men. Two officers were severely injured, while Yakub took a bullet to the shoulder and Habib suffered a minor injury. Harish, taking cover, bellowed into his earpiece, "Where the hell are you, Akash?" Akash, descending from a terrace, saw Habib and Yakub in a crouched position, guns raised, near the stairs. Akash fired and hit Habib in the head, then subdued Yakub and took his weapon. Akash's voice echoed, "I took down one and subdued the other." Harish sighed in relief. Akash joined them, finding two officers unconscious and wounded nearby. Other officers emerged from their cover as Harish stepped out, gripping his side in pain. Akash supported Harish and noticed his bleeding abdomen. Muttering, Akash noted, "He's been shot." Harish inquired weakly, "Where were you?" Akash looked around, his voice urgent, "I was chasing Dave, but he got away." Harish's voice faded, "Don't worry, we'll catch him next time." Akash surveyed the scene, then spoke urgently, "Stay with me, buddy. I'm calling an ambulance." Harish lost consciousness. Later, medical personnel arrived with ambulances. ....... The medical and forensic personnel arrived and departed after completing their tasks. The police also departed. Only Akash remained, diligently searching for clues. He discovered documents and sketches in the vicinity. After an extensive search, he too departed, driving away in a car. He reached a checkpoint on the highway, observing a lengthy queue of vehicles awaiting inspection. Exiting his vehicle, he approached the checkpoint area. Upon arrival, he noticed police officers conducting vehicle checks. A policeman spotted Akash, who was lightly bandaged and dressed in worn clothing. Approaching Akash, the policeman was about to shout, but Akash promptly displayed his ID. "NIA." The police officer was taken aback and saluted. "Sir." Akash nodded. "Carry on with your duty." The officer returned to his task. Akash turned his attention, leaning against a container as he winced in pain. The container had just been cleared by the police. The container's driver noticed Akash and his distressed state. Glancing at the police officers below, the driver was signaled to remain calm. However, Akash was unaware of these interactions. Suddenly, a faint knocking sound emerged from within the container, catching Akash's attention. He halted his movement. Facing the police officer, Akash inquired, "Did you thoroughly inspect it?" The officer stammered, "Yes, sir. I did. There's no issue. You can proceed without worry." Akash responded, "Open the container door." The officer was taken aback and stuttered. "But...sir...I...already..." Akash drew his gun and aimed it, his voice firm. "Do it, or..." The officer signaled to the driver with his eyes to escape. Acting on the signal, the driver sped away, crashing into a police vehicle and officers. "Hey, stop!" Akash shouted. Leaving the police officers behind, Akash commandeered a police car, pursuing the truck. The driver of the truck glanced back, noticing the police car in pursuit. Distressed, he lost focus on the road ahead. The truck collided violently with the container, resulting in the driver's gruesome demise and severe damage to the container's front. The truck skidded to the roadside due to the impact. Two individuals emerged from the truck: a tall, overweight man in his forties and an average-looking man with his face concealed by a scarf. The overweight man exclaimed, "What in the world! How did this happen?" At that moment, a police car arrived, its headlights casting light on their faces. Both men shielded their eyes with their hands. The overweight man snapped, "Turn that off, or I'll shut you up!" The headlights were switched off, and the overweight man chuckled. "You did the right thing, buddy." They lowered their hands, spotting a man standing beside the police car, gun aimed at them. The man with the covered face trembled upon seeing the figure's face. Both men raised their hands. The overweight man remarked, "Take it easy, I was just joking." It was Akash who had appeared on the scene. Akash said, "Hey Dave, how are you feeling?" The overweight man was surprised when he heard Akash and turned towards the man beside him. The second man removed the scarf from his face; it was Dave. Dave replied, "I was feeling great until now, but then you showed up with your unpleasant face." Just as the overweight man attempted to retrieve something from his waist, Akash struck him on his chest. The man fell down while struggling. Dave threw a knife he had concealed in the back of his hand. The knife embedded itself in the hand that was holding the gun, causing it to fall to the ground. Akash held his right hand in pain, and Dave rushed towards him, delivering a punch to his head. Akash rolled away, evading the attack. Dave, who missed his target, snorted and turned back towards Akash, raising his guard. Akash swiftly got up and wrapped a handkerchief around the cut on his hand. They stared at each other momentarily before moving closer. Akash executed a roundhouse high kick towards Dave's head, but Dave evaded by crouching. Akash, having missed his kick, pivoted to throw a punch, but Dave countered with a low sweeping kick. Akash fell onto his back, and Dave leaped into the air, aiming to stomp on his chest. Akash managed to evade by rolling away. Dave taunted, "How does the taste of sand suit you?" Akash rose and brushed away the dust that clung stubbornly. Keeping his guard up, he advanced. Dave chuckled at his aggression and kicked his thigh. Akash, anticipating the attack, gritted his teeth and retaliated with a forceful kick. Their shins collided, engulfing them in excruciating pain. Bewildered, Dave cursed and rubbed his shin. "Are you mad?" Akash responded firmly, "No, I am serious." As Dave observed Akash recovering from the pain, he realized this opponent would be quite challenging. Dave resumed his position, rushing at Akash and delivering a punch to his head. Akash countered with his own punch, resulting in a simultaneous exchange of blows. Dave recoiled and seized Akash from behind, gripping his head. They both tumbled and rolled, with Akash struggling to break free from Dave's grasp. As Akash wriggled, he spotted Dave's knife, the very one used in the initial attack. He attempted to seize the knife. Just as Dave was about to tighten his grip, Akash plunged the knife into Dave's neck. Freed from Dave's hold, Akash coughed and rubbed his neck. Dave clutched his bleeding neck, gazing up at the starry sky in relief. With a faint smile, Dave murmured, "Finally, it's over." Despite the difficulty, Akash stood up and approached Dave's lifeless form. He observed Dave's peaceful figure, lying motionless with closed eyes. Akash hobbled to the back gate of the containers and managed to open it. Inside, Akash was taken aback by what he saw: young girls, frightened and desperate, huddled together in the center. Addressing the girls, Akash reassured them, "Worry not, girls. I am from the police. You are safe now. You can come out." The girls grew hopeful but remained immobile. Akash then dialed Sourabh. The call connected promptly. Sourabh's voice came through loudly before Akash could say anything. "Where on earth have you gone? We've been trying to reach you for—" Akash replied, "Sir, I don't have any extra energy to spare. Please come to the location I sent and bring along a medical and childcare team. Dave is also here, and 40 girls are being smuggled by traffickers, but we managed to save them without their knowledge......" Akash collapsed unconscious. Some of the girls witnessed this and cautiously approached to check on him, while Sourabh continued shouting over the phone. At a distance, in the shadow, a cloaked figure stands, contemplating Akash. The figure utters with a profound melancholy voice. "When you encounter darkness, what do you do? You illuminate the room, correct? But what if you discover it flourishing beneath the very light you take pride in? What will you choose to do?" After thirty minutes, Akash regained consciousness and heard sirens along with many voices. Slowly opening his eyes, he realized he was inside an ambulance. Recalling the girls, he stepped out and surveyed his surroundings. He spotted Sourabh, Sudhesh, Vishal, and other NIA staff. A medical team was assessing the girls' health and conditions. Suddenly, a girl locked eyes with Akash and ran toward him. She halted in front of Akash and spoke, "Brother, thank you." Touched, Akash became emotional and embraced her. The girl returned the hug. Media cameramen and photographers captured this touching moment in both recordings and photos. Abruptly, Akash winced in pain due to the girl's tight grip. "Ah..." Realizing her blunder, the girl quickly let go. Akash reassured her, saying, "Don't worry. Can you tell me your name?" The girl introduced herself, "Geeta," and then returned to the medical staff. Sourabh, Sudhesh, and Vishal approached from the front. Akash glanced at them and smiled. "The case is resolved." Sourabh and the others beamed at his comment. Unexpectedly, Sourabh struck him on the back of his head. Sourabh exclaimed, "This is for not informing us beforehand." Akash grinned and inquired, "How's Harish?" Vishal replied, "He is safe now but remains unconscious due to excessive blood loss. The doctor informed us that he will regain consciousness in two days." Recalling the checkpoint incident, he recounted everything to Sourabh. Sourabh advised, "Alright, I will investigate, but for now, stay out of this. You need to rest for a few days. Otherwise, the public might criticize us for not giving their hero a break." Akash chuckled, "Me, a hero? Hahaha..." Sourabh insisted, "But the public is already referring to you as one." Akash agreed, "Alright sir, I'm heading back now." Sourabh inquired, "What about the hospital?" Akash assured him, "Don't worry, my injuries aren't serious. Hey Vishal, could you lend me your bike?" Vishal sighed and handed him the bike keys. Akash hopped on the bike and rode it back home. While Sourabh surveyed the crime scene, he stared at the container. "It's not as simple as it appears. There might be more to this." Next day. At the NIA headquarters, a press conference is currently underway. In the conference hall, five officials are seated on chairs next to the table on the stage. At the center is NIA's head, Srikant Manik (48), with a bald head, square-shaped face, brown, large eyes, clean-shaven, and broad shoulders. To his left is department head Wasim Ali, next to Wasim is Harish. On Srikant's right is Akash, and beside him is Sourabh. In front of them, members of the media are seated on provided chairs. Srikant then addressed the audience. "Last night, our NIA team confronted Dave and his men, who invaded the country with the intention of detonating bombs in Delhi. Our brave officers successfully neutralized them before they could carry out their plan, seizing the bombs and materials. Akash Singh, a new recruit, particularly distinguished himself, personally taking down Dave as he tried to escape during the confrontation. Additionally, amidst these events, Akash rescued over fifty girls from being trafficked. Let's applaud his exceptional efforts." The media representatives applauded in recognition, though Akash's face remained devoid of a smile. A reporter raised a question. "Regarding the human traffickers, have you uncovered any leads about them?" Srikant responded, "Regrettably, as of now, no. We have yet to find any leads or clues about the organization or individuals involved. However, we are confident that we will soon bring to justice those responsible for this organization, or whatever it may be." Another reporter inquired, "We've heard that Karan Singh, the CEO of Karan Estates, was also implicated in these terrorist activities. Is this true? If so, what role did he play?" Srikant let out a sigh and explained, "Yes, he was deeply involved. He assisted them by providing hiding places, accommodations, and supplying materials for bomb manufacturing." The reporter probed further, "But what motivated him to do so? He's a native of this country and, most importantly, a successful businessman. Why would he associate himself with a terrorist organization?" Srikant answered, "The root of his betrayal lies with the terrorists themselves. During the 26/11 terror attacks, Karan lost his parents while they were being rescued. This tragedy severely affected his mental well-being. He held our security forces responsible for his parents' death, which drove him to take this path, seeking vengeance for his parents. Medical reports indicate that he suffered from mental trauma, anxiety, depression, and hallucinations."