Early next morning, he boarded the cab and reached Pune. He entered a seemingly empty restaurant run by ex-militia. He watched a chopper land in the research lab compound across the road. He asked the manager for someone to escort him to the washroom. An attendant walked him to the washroom where he opened a door to a cabinet and punched in a code – the attendant swiped his ID and lo! – A secret door to a hidden passage opened. He entered it and kept walking through a long passage till he reached a closed door where he punched in the code again.
“Come in – Lion.” A voice welcomed him as the door opened into a conference hall. He saw Mr Mahal, Chief of RAW, his ex-boss, seated at the end of the conference table, “Victor informed me that he made contact with you and I was expecting your call. However, he has not reported since then.”
“Sorry to inform you chief – some sniper got him the same day.”
Mr. Mahal had an expression of anger and hate for that unknown sniper, “So you are aware about what’s happening in the world.”
“Yes. I do. Whoever this sniper or the gang of snipers – is playing smart, leaving nothing to trace” he put a USB on the table and slid it toward Mr. Mahal, “This is not so good a photograph, but I think I managed to capture the sniper.”
Mahal dialled a number on the intercom and asked someone to join in the conference hall. A few minutes later, a man in his late fifties entered the hall. There was an awkward silence in the room till he overcame the surprise of looking at Lion in the hall.
“Lion” Mahal said, “you know Doctor Sekharan – our R&D chief.” Lion nodded, “Doc, it seems Lion has been able to capture a photo of our elusive clipper – check it out and identify who it is – we have scores to settle…”
Doc picked up the USB and left the hall.
“Lion – why don’t you join back? – we need someone like you.”
“Chief – let’s not go all over it again – you do know my reason to quit … I don’t want to carry any additional remorse on my conscience because we do hire some idiots.”
“What made you come all the way here to meet me?”
“I bumped into Victor accidently while touring Amsterdam. I did inform him in explicit words that I won’t re-join RAW. This sniper got him before he could relay that message to you… right before my eyes. I returned to my hotel – another agent who normally collaborates with us – narrowly escaped elimination…”
“Who?”
“Zeenat from NSI. A bomb was placed in the room she was booked into. She wasn’t in her room when it blasted off. I had to smuggle her out of Amsterdam and reach Mumbai.”
“I can understand why she wasn’t in her room.” Mahal remarked with a naughty twinkle in his eyes, “Has NSI been informed of this incident?”
“I asked her to be underground and use her unofficial resources. What I understand from her and Victor is that the centre of all the action is here in India.”
“That seems to be the case.”
“Except for few incidences – most of these eliminations have happened here in India – all the agents who were eliminated were highly efficient working in India or the sub-continent.”
“What are you driving at?”
“This looks like something happening or about to happen in India – all the eliminated agents were good at their work, had good contacts at highest level – hardly any failures in their missions – looks like a prelude to an impending disaster … else, why will anyone go to such a level of clippings?”
“Tell me how RAW can help you?”
“I am not re-joining Raw – I will like to collaborate, only for this mission.”
“Suits my purpose… I will offer you 1 million USD to find the clipper gang or the person… transferred to your secret account through regular channel. I’ll temporarily reinstate you at the same level you were when you quit… You’ll be issued standard tools, equipment, documents and accessories for this mission – anything else?”
“Yes – please ensure that nobody except you knows that I’ve been temporarily reinstated.”
“Any specific reason?”
“Yes – this clipper person or the group is targeting experienced active agents – currently I’m off their radar – I have every reason to believe that they don’t know me or my background – they seem to be in touch with double agents placed at high level in each agency, are easily able to access data of active agents while they remain in shadows.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“My experience – they shot Victor not me – they planted bomb in Zeenat’s room – not mine – clearly indicates that they are into elimination of active agents not the inactive ones… I can turn this to an advantage – I will stay off their radar and that will give me a fair chance to play their game in their style.”
“Point taken … use the third door on your left in this hall – it will lead you directly to Doc’s lab. By the time I’ll check for a reliable backend support for you.”
Lion opened that door and walked through another secret passage and entered Doc’s lab.
“Ah! There you are – nice to see you again – Lion.” Doc approached him and profusely shook his hands.