NIA Headquarters, New delhi. Sourabh and Akash sit face to face inside a chamber. It's evening, and they appear extremely serious. Akash asks, "What did the DG say about the things I told you?" Sourabh responds, "He granted us permission to investigate this case separately without any departmental obstructions. It's a positive development, right?" Akash questions, "What's positive about it? I never thought that there are accomplices of human traffickers within our own ranks." Sourabh explains, "It's about profit. If there's a lot at stake, they'll do anything." Akash counters, "Even this?" Sourabh confirms, "Yes, even this. Every year, many trafficking cases are reported, but only 40 to 60 percent of the victims are rescued; the rest remain lost." Akash inquires, "How are the girls? Are they okay now?" Sourabh assures, "They are. They've been relocated to an ashram for the time being." Akash queries, "So what's the plan?" Sourabh looks at him and suggests, "You decide. You're leading this time. The DG has approved the request." Akash smiles, realizing his wish has been granted. Sourabh's smile seems a bit eerie to him for a moment. Sourabh concludes, "Okay, it's time to go. See you tomorrow." Akash is brought back from his thoughts by Sourabh's voice. He watches Sourabh leave and then heads to the parking lot. After finding no sign of Sourabh, he retrieves his bike and rides home. Upon entering his house, he notices his wife watching the morning press conference on TV. Hearing the sound of door’s opening, Vaani pats the couch beside her, saying, "Come here." Akash obeys, sitting down silently, aware of Vaani's displeased expression. Vaani questions him, "Do you acknowledge your mistakes, my dear husband?" Akash mutters under his breath, "Oh no, she's calling me 'dear husband.' I'm in trouble." Akash offers a weary smile and admits, "Yes." Vaani continues, "And what are those mistakes?" Akash admits, "Not informing you about the raid, hiding the injuries I sustained, and lying about them, saying they were from practice sessions." Vaani points out, "I only found out when I saw NIA's press conference on the news. You wouldn't have told me otherwise." Akash defends, "It's not that I didn't want to tell you. I just didn't want you to worry unnecessarily." Vaani retorts, "When did my worry for you become unnecessary?" Akash explains, "I didn't mean it that way. But you see, I'm not injured severely. Just a few minor scrapes." Vaani clarifies, "It's not about the injuries. It's about you lying to me." Akash becomes meek and apologizes, "I'm truly sorry, dear. Can you please calm down? I promise not to do it again." Vaani responds with a light slap on his arm, "Don't make promises you can't keep. I know you'll break them." Akash playfully holds his ear, saying, "Okay, Mrs. Singh, can you spare some mercy for your pitiful husband?" Vaani teases, "Nice try, but not good enough." Akash asks, "Where's mother?" Vaani answers, "She went to Mrs. Sharma's house." Akash looks around and questions, "So, it's just us at home?" Raising her eyebrows, Vaani confirms, "Yes?" Akash playfully lifts her up, causing Vaani to scream in surprise. "What are you doing?" Akash smirks and teases, "Now it's fun time, Mrs. Singh." ... The following day at NIA's headquarters, Akash, Sourabh, Harish (who returned after recovering), Kathik, Rahul, and Sudhesh convened in Sourabh's cabin. Sourabh glanced at the team and announced, "We've got a new case involving human trafficking. A week ago, Akash rescued some girls who were about to be trafficked. Now this case has come into our hands. What are your thoughts?" All members nodded collectively. Satisfied with the lack of objections, Sourabh continued, "However, this time Akash will lead the team. Does anyone have an issue with him taking the lead? Speak now. If you raise concerns during the investigation, you'll be removed." Harish didn't react, seemingly anticipating this decision. Kathik and Sudhesh also displayed no dissatisfaction. Only Rahul hesitated briefly but remained silent. Sourabh then turned to Akash. Akash adopted a serious tone and said, "I examined the record of the truck transporting the girls. It was registered under Adil Khan's name. When I pursued his whereabouts, I discovered he passed away four years ago. While alive, he owned four trucks for his transportation business. However, all his trucks were stolen one day. He reported the theft but never recovered them. He died in an accident two years later." Harish chimed in, "They likely acquired the trucks illegally. This type of transportation often employs vehicles like these, with no legal owner or stolen property." Karthik inquired, "Where was the truck headed?" Akash clarified, "It wasn't en route anywhere. They were moving the girls from one location to another. By retracing his past routes and examining road cameras, I pinpointed the place where they were stored." Akash placed a laptop on the table, opened it, and played a recording of an abandoned rice mill. In front of the mill, four trucks were parked, including the one Akash had intercepted. "I visited the location and found nothing but scrap metal and cobwebs," Akash continued. "It seems they abandoned the base after some of their members were apprehended." Akash pressed on, "Further investigation revealed the mill's owner is Manish Dhillon, an NRI residing in the USA. He shut down the mill upon moving abroad three years ago. The traffickers operate like ghosts, assuming false identities, locations, and resources. Our sole lead is the truck's driver. He goes by Santosh Shyam, an orphan engaged in minor crimes in Old Delhi. However, he vanished from the radar for three months before being shot in a trafficking incident." Akash turned to Sudhesh and directed, "Sudhesh, gather all possible intel on him. I want comprehensive details—where he went, his activities, everything. Provide it by tomorrow morning." Sudhesh responded affirmatively. "Alright. It will be completed." Akash instructed, "Karthik and Rahul, go and collect all the files on human trafficking cases reported in the last six months. Check if there's any link between them. As for Sourabh, Harish, and me, we will visit the victims and question them." At 4:00 pm, Akash, accompanied by Sourabh and Harish, went to the ashram where the girls were temporarily staying - the Swami Vivekananda Ashram. In the ashram's lawn, approximately 56 teenage girls were strolling in groups of three or four, while two girls were seated separately. These two girls were Geeta and Manshi. Manisha had brown eyes, black hair down to her shoulders, an oval face with a sharp chin. Both of them seemed lost in thought. Suddenly, a car pulled up in front of the ashram, honking loudly. Three men emerged from the car. Upon seeing the first man exit, Geeta and Manshi ran up to him, shouting. Geeta and Manshi exclaimed, "Brother!" Akshay, who had just stepped out of the car, heard the shout. He turned towards it, and the two teen girls ran up to him swiftly. His eyes narrowed, and the girls collided with his chest, causing all three to fall down. The girls embraced him with excitement. Akash felt bewildered, unsure of how to react. Sourabh and Harish observed the scene with amusement. Akash looked at them and said, "Girls, it's okay. But could you please stand up?" Geeta and Manshi realized their mistake and stood back, blushing in embarrassment. Akash noticed their expressions and smiled as he ruffled their heads. Akash remarked, "Don't do that again. You could have hurt yourselves. Understood?" Geeta replied, "Yes." Manshi inquired, "Why didn't you come to meet us earlier?" Akash glanced at Manshi, then looked at Geeta as if asking who she was. Geeta smiled and said, "She's the one who saved you with me." Realization dawned on Akash, and he looked at Manshi seriously. "Thank you, Manshi." Manshi laughed and responded, "No, I should be the one thanking you. You saved us." Akash stated, "I didn't do it to get thanks. It was my duty. If someone else were in my place, I would have done the same." Manshi shook her head and said, "Regardless of what you say, I will always be grateful to you." Geeta interjected, asking Akash, "Brother, why did you come here?" Akash replied, "We need your help. All of you." Geeta asked with anticipation, "Help in what?" Akash explained, "I understand that those were your worst days, but please tell us everything about the time you spent with the traffickers. It might help us catch them." Akash looked back at Harish and Sourabh. "Go and ask the others. I'll start with them." Sourabh and Harish approached the group of girls. Akash turned his attention back to Geeta and Manshi. He noticed Geeta's downcast expression and Manshi's eyes filled with resentment. Akash silently waited for their responses, his gaze encouraging them. Geeta met Akash's gaze and steeled herself before speaking, "For one month, we were with them. They didn't physically harm us, just kept us captive, fed us, and taught us dancing and seduction skills. If we resisted, they would beat us. But a week ago, they moved us from where we were being held. And that night, you saved us, brother." Akash inquired, "How did you end up in their clutches?" Geeta lowered her gaze. "I'm an orphan, brother. I worked and studied. One day, a woman offered me a job. I was in need of money at the time, so I followed her. The rest, you know." Akash then turned to Manshi. She clenched her teeth in anger and said, "My own father sold me to them. He was an alcoholic and a gambler, drowning in debt. To save himself, he sold me." Akash looked at the tearful girl with sympathy. Geeta embraced her in comfort, and Akash gently patted her head. "Do you have any knowledge about their appearances or other details?" Manshi replied, "No, they always wore masks to cover their faces. But I overheard them referring to their leader as Faisal." Akash muttered, "Faisal." Geeta added, "However, I accidentally caught a glimpse of one of their faces when they were moving us." Surprised, Akash asked, "Can you describe his face clearly?" After a moment's thought, she answered, "Yes, I can." Akash nodded and said, "Good." ... Akash and others returned to the headquarters. Inside the cabin, Akash gazed at them inquisitively. Harish remarked, "It's just a name, Faisal." Sourabh added, "Similar to him, it's the same name but with a difference. The name was Kunal." Akash explained, "Faisal mentioned this name too. However, Geeta has seen one of them. I've sent Sudhesh to her with a sketch artist. We'll have a picture in a few hours." Harish let out a sigh and settled onto the couch. Observing this, Akash suggested, "If you're not feeling well, you can head back home." Harish reclined and waved dismissively, "No need. I'm fine." Akash shook his head, then exited the cabin. Sourabh followed suit. Harish sneered at their departure. Akash left the headquarters, got into his car, and drove home. While driving, his phone rang. He answered without checking the caller ID. Akash greeted, "Hello." The voice on the other end responded, "Hello, officer." Akash inquired, "Yes, who is this?" The voice revealed, "I'm the person you were discussing – Faisal." Akash reacted in shock, "What?!" The voice retorted, "Why the surprise? I called to tell you something." Akash pressed, "And that is?" The voice stated, "You should have stopped after saving the girls. Farewell." Akash exclaimed, "What are you talking about?" The call abruptly ended. Akash pulled over by the side of the road. He stepped out and dialed the same number. The call was answered on the other side. A voice filled with uncertainty spoke, "Hello." Akash demanded, "Who are you?" The man on the phone hesitated, "Officer Akash?" Akash questioned, "Are you mentally challenged?" The man responded, "How? Weren't you shot? Yet you're alive and speaking clearly." Akash queried, "Shot? Who are you referring to?" The man asked again, "Are you Akash, the NIA officer? Riding a bike?" Akash pondered for a moment before responding, "I am Akash, but no, I'm not on a bike. I was driving a car just now." The man erupted, "Damn it, you fools." The man hastily ended the call. Akash was rendered speechless and promptly dialed back. However, this time the man powered down the phone. Just as Akash was getting into his car, he received a call from Karthik. Akash positioned the phone near his ear and readied to start the car. But upon hearing Karthik's words, shock washed over him. It was as though an urgent task had emerged. He accelerated his car and drove away swiftly. In a hospital, Akash rushed in, making his way towards the ICU. Upon arrival, he found Sudhesh, Vishal, Rahul, Karthik, and Harish seated on a bench. Akash approached them. Akash asked urgently, "What's the situation? How is he?" Sudhesh addressed his query, "While he was crossing the market, he sustained four gunshot wounds to his chest. His condition is critical at the moment. The doctors are doing their best, but the chances of his survival are slim." Akash inquired, "What about the shooter? Was he apprehended?" Sudhesh replied, "No, he fled after shooting Sourabh. However, security cameras captured his face." Akash questioned further, "Do you recognize him?" Sudhesh confirmed, "Yes, it's Jaggu, a professional assassin. As for his motives, we're currently in the dark." Akash asserted, "But I know. I was the intended target. Sourabh accidentally took my bike instead of his car when leaving the office. So, he was attacked by mistake." Sudhesh and the others fell silent upon hearing this, while Akash clenched his teeth in anger. A doctor and a nurse emerged from the ICU. Akash and his team approached the doctor. Sudhesh inquired, "How is he, doctor?" The doctor glanced at the group and asked, "Who are they?" Sudhesh introduced, "We're all colleagues. Please, give us an update." The doctor lowered his head and said, "I made every effort, but I'm deeply sorry." Afterward, the doctor departed. Akash and the others sat down on the bench, subdued and sorrowful upon learning of Sourabh's demise. With guilt filling his heart, Akash closed his eyes and whispered, "I'm sorry, sir." Though Harish overheard the murmured apology, he chose to remain silent for the moment. ...... Dec 28, 2018 At NIA's headquarters, in the cabin, Akash, Harish, Sudhesh, Rahul, and Karthik are seated on couches, examining a sketched image of a man. The man in the picture is bald, has a square-shaped face, protruding eyes, a thin mustache, and a deep scar beneath his right eye. Akash, holding a pen, adds a question mark to the bottom of the picture. Akash remarks, "This is the man she witnessed at the training location. We lack a name, address, or any lead. We possess solely an image, yet I'm determined to find him. And what about Jaggu? Have we apprehended him?" Harish replies, "I've alerted the check-posts. He won't escape the city. However, we haven't caught him yet. He's likely hiding within the city." Akash inquires, "Sudhesh, what information have you gathered about Santosh, the driver?" Sudhesh reports, "It's quite interesting. Santosh was last seen with Jaggu, the killer. It seems Santosh was present at the training location too, only emerging when they needed transportation. He might have been their designated driver." "Really? So the one responsible for Sourabh's murder is connected to the human trafficking operation," Akash says angrily. Sudhesh continues, "Regarding the number you asked me to check, it's registered under Ayush Sharma's name. I looked into it, but..." Akash prompts, "What happened?" Sudhesh explains, "Ayush is a first-year student. He claimed the number was stolen three months ago." Akash sighs, "Never mind. Rahul, have you investigated what I requested?" Rahul replies, "Yes, we've looked into it. There have been 97 reported cases of human trafficking in the past six months. The most prevalent areas are the slums and Old Delhi. There's only one case from an upscale location. Out of these, 37 victims were rescued. Our officers are still searching for the others." Akash instructs, "Notify our informants in the slums and Old Delhi. Share the drawing's picture with clear instructions to inform us immediately if they spot either of them." Rahul acknowledges, "Understood." Akash inquires further, "What about the constable who aided Santosh at the check-post? Did he reveal anything?" Sudhesh responds, "He was in police custody. During questioning, he admitted ignorance about the trafficking of girls. He claimed he was informed that the container contained illegal alcohol. They bribed him, and he accepted." Akash determines, "He's not telling the whole truth. Let's go; I'll personally interrogate him. I want to see if he can hold back." Harish reminds, "It's evening now. We'll have to wait until tomorrow morning." Akash acknowledges, "Right. We'll proceed tomorrow." Subsequently, they each return to their respective rooms. Harish remains behind, observing the others leaving. Akash glances at Harish and asks, "Aren't you coming?" Harish smiles and replies, "Go ahead, I have something to attend to." After Akash departs, Harish's smile fades, replaced by a sneer as he looks at Akash's departing figure. He takes out his phone and begins typing before leaving the room himself. At night, inside the police station, where Constable Santosh, who had assisted the driver, is currently in custody. Inside a cell, a man in his mid-thirties is seated against the wall. He has a round face, small brown eyes, a slight build, and a mustache. A person with a covered face approached the cell bars and tapped lightly. Upon hearing the sound, the constable looked up and saw a man beside the bars. He eagerly walked over to him. The constable asked, "Have they prepared to bail me out?" The man responded, "No, the case has become more serious. You'll have to go." The constable inquired, "Did you come to get me out of here?" The man shook his head, saying, "It's not for your release. It's about your death. You have two choices: take your own life, or I will end it for you. If you choose the latter, your family will also face the consequences." Anxiety filled the constable's expression as tears welled up in his eyes. He asked, "Is there really no alternative?" The man explained, "You're on the NIA's radar. They're coming to interrogate you. Your death is necessary for us to remain safe." The constable pondered silently. After a moment, he looked at the man with determination. "I'm ready. I choose option one." The man chuckled and remarked, "A wise decision." As the man turned to leave, the constable halted him. "You and your boss will both suffer in hell." With that, he ran towards the wall and slammed his head into it. Blood gushed from his head, and he lost consciousness. The man didn't look back but continued outside. "We're already suffering. You don't need to curse us for this." Silence enveloped the place after the man departed. The constable's body lay on the floor in a pool of his own blood, his life slowly ebbing away. The next day, Akash arrived with Harish and discovered that the constable had taken his own life. Officials claimed he felt remorse for the trafficked girls and sacrificed himself to atone for his sins. Inside the police station, Akash questioned the uncomfortable officer relaying the information. Akash asked, "Do you truly believe this?" The police officer wiped imaginary sweat from his brow and replied, "What's a lie or truth? This is how he died." Akash sighed in frustration. "What about the recordings? Did you notice anything suspicious?" The officer apologized, "Unfortunately, the camera malfunctioned due to technical issues. We have no visuals of his suicide attempt." Akash nodded knowingly. "As I expected. Get ready to testify in court." Harish and Akash left the police station. In the car, next to Harish who was driving, Akash exclaimed, "All of them are implicated in this case. Damn it." Akash's phone abruptly rang. He answered the call. A girl's voice emanated from the other side. "Your prey, he is at my bar. Come quickly, or he will get away." Akash replaced the phone and said to Harish, "Let's head to the bar." Harish replied, "Right now." Akash nodded, "Indeed, a surprise awaits us there." Harish shrugged, "Sure." Upon reaching the bar, they entered through the entrance. Sheila approached them. Smirking, she said, "He's in the far corner." She pointed to a table in the distance. Akash acknowledged her with a nod and proceeded toward the designated spot. "Wait here, Harish, and be prepared." Once Akash left, Sheila turned to Harish and smiled faintly. "Should I call Payal? She became a fan of yours when you visited before and spent time with her while being intoxicated." Harish awkwardly shook his head. "No, but do let her know that I will come on another day." At the corner table, Akash found a person sitting, focused downward. The man wore a blue shirt, black jeans, and a cap that obscured most of his face. Oblivious to someone standing beside him, the man remained still. Akash tapped the table and said, "Hey." The man didn't budge but expressed frustration. "I don't need anything. Go, leave me alone." Akash mockingly responded, "But I need you, Jaggu." Upon hearing his name, Jaggu looked up and recognized Akash – his original target. Akash continued, "You're calmly enjoying your drink here after killing our officer. But that ends now." Jaggu removed his cap, scanning his surroundings for an escape route. "You can't escape," Akash said, aiming his gun at Jaggu's head. He didn't flinch. Jaggu retorted, "You're messing with the wrong guys. You can't handle the consequences of crossing them." Akash asserted, "You're not the one to decide that." As he glanced down at his waist for the handcuff on his belt, Jaggu sprang to his feet and swatted the gun away forcefully. Akash was pushed aside. Seeing an opportunity, Jaggu fled. Harish observed a man shoving Akash and running toward the exit. Harish attempted to halt the fleeing man, but failed; the man delivered a hard kick to Harish's previously injured ribs, causing him to collapse in pain. Akash stood up and noticed Harish falling onto his back. As Akash approached, he said, "He's Jaggu, the professional killer. I'll catch him, you stay here. I've called the medics; they'll be here soon." Despite his pain, Harish replied, "I can take care of myself. Go catch him." Akash nodded and pursued Jaggu. The assassin headed for the main streets, glancing back and seeing no one following him. He breathed a sigh of relief. Suddenly, a shout came from behind: "Stop or I will shoot." Jaggu looked back, spotting Akash approaching with a gun in hand. Jaggu rolled his eyes and sprinted away. Akash chased closely. He aimed the gun, but refrained from firing due to the crowd. Jaggu turned left into a crowded narrow lane. Their speed slowed due to the crowd. Jaggu continued to push through, with Akash maintaining his focus. Jaggu spotted a small restaurant and entered. Akash followed suit. Upon entering the kitchen, Jaggu, who had been lying in wait, threw a punch at Akash. Akash dodged by bending down, but Jaggu kicked his thigh, knocking him to the ground. Taking advantage of this, Jaggu ran again. Akash regained his footing and resumed the chase. After some time, Jaggu found himself at a dead end, facing a massive wall with houses on both sides. He turned to retreat and saw Akash running toward him, gun pointed. Jaggu raised his hands in surrender, smirking as he said, "It's your fault. You followed me alone." Baffled, Akash asked, "What?" Jaggu glanced behind Akash, his expression shifting. Akash turned quickly, only to see a masked man aiming a gun. He rolled to evade the shot, then stood up, ready to fire. The masked man lowered his gun, confusing Akash. Suddenly, a groan reached his ears. Turning back, he found Jaggu lying on the ground, blood seeping from his chest. Shocked, Akash quickly turned to the masked man, but he had vanished. Holstering his gun, Akash approached Jaggu. Assessing his condition, he discovered that the bullet had lodged itself in his heart. With great effort, Jaggu weakly uttered, "His name is Oberoy, B..." Jaggu died before he could reveal more. Akash stared at him and muttered, "This case is becoming more complex by the day." In a dimly lit, empty room, a man entered by opening the door while wearing a mask. The same individual who had shot Jaggu, he retrieved his phone and initiated a call. After a brief pause, the call connected. The masked man stated, "Sir." A male voice responded from the other end, "Has it been completed?" The masked man confirmed, "Yes sir, it's done." The man on the other side of the call continued, "Excellent. That fool couldn't even manage the simple task of shooting someone. His incompetence led to someone else's death. David, you didn't shoot the officer, correct?" David clarified, "No sir. You instructed me not to. So I disregarded him." The man replied, "Very well, I've warned him sufficiently. If he doesn't step back now, he'll pay with his life." David inquired, "What about the girls, sir?" The man responded, "Leave them be. They're in the spotlight now. Consider them a loss in our investment; it doesn't matter, I can tolerate it." Subsequently, he ended the call. The masked man then placed the phone on the table and proceeded to walk slowly towards a dark corner of the room, muttering to himself, "One day, his overconfidence will be his downfall." Stepping out of the shadows, the man's face became clearly visible. The most striking feature of his face was his bulging eyes and a deep scar beneath his right eye. His visage matched the sketch of Geeta's depiction. This man, David, was the same person Geeta had encountered during her training. He stood in front of a mirror hanging on the wall, glancing at the scar below his eye. He gently touched it with his hand and muttered, "You're quite fortunate, Akash, because our boss isn't usually forgiving with others. Perhaps he values you too highly." ........ Dec 31, 2018 At the NIA's headquarters, in Department Head Wasim's cabin, Harish, Akash, Rahul, Sudhesh, Rahul, and Karthik were all present. Wasim, seated on his chair, scrutinized them. Wasim inquired, "To what extent has the investigation progressed in this matter?" Akash responded, "We've discovered a name, Oberoy, and a sketch of one of the traffickers." Wasim replied, "Is that all? There's more to be done. I understand this case is challenging, but the media and public expect results. We must present something to them. The sketch is promising, but I doubt the accuracy of the name. It might be a deliberate misdirection." Akash defended, "No, he definitely provided the correct name. A dying man tends to speak the truth." Wasim fell silent for a moment, contemplating. The others awaited his response. In a serious tone, Wasim suggested, "What if I assign this case to someone else? Would that be an issue?" Akash exclaimed, "Absolutely, we've invested significant effort into the investigation. It's unfair to withdraw now." Wasim grew frustrated, "Could you please speak calmly? Am I the leader here?" Sudhesh intervened, "Apologies, sir. Akash is just enthusiastic, nothing more. Right, Akash?" Sudhesh's gaze silenced Akash. Taking a deep breath, Akash composed himself, "Yes, I apologize for my outburst, sir." Wasim waved it off, "Fine, but I expect better behavior in the future. Regarding the case transfer, I proposed it due to your increased workload. It's your call whether to proceed or not." Harish and the others looked at Akash. Understanding their unspoken agreement, Akash addressed Wasim, "We appreciate your consideration, sir. We'll continue with the investigation. After this case, we'll take a break." Wasim observed them, "And the rest of you?" Sudhesh responded, "He's leading the case, so we'll follow his lead." Rahul, Karthik, and Harish nodded in agreement. Wasim concluded, "That settles it. You may leave now. But I expect results in two weeks, or I'll reassign the case." Akash acknowledged, "Yes, sir." Exiting the cabin, they left Wasim alone. He made a call, the recipient picked up. Wasim reported, "I extended the option, but he declined." The person on the line reassured, "No worries, his decision doesn't matter. Keep me informed before informing the media." Wasim flattered, "Certainly, you'll be the first to know." The call ended. Wasim stared at the phone, cursing under his breath. "If not for that, I could have dealt with you much earlier." He tossed the phone onto the desk, reclined in his chair, and took a deep, calming breath.