Chapter 21

  As Lal Singh arrived in his office from Haridwar he directly went to his cabinet and saw a file kept there. He read it very carefully and made copies of to be submitted to various desks in next hour. On reading the report submitted by Lal Singh the government came out with a statement which was widely reported by all the news papers in the morning. Lal Sing found the report in the filed as he was told he would find. In the report it was given that they were forced at gun point to go in the structure made by the terror group in the ruins. It was in the structure that Amit remembered that at one place huge amount of explosives and fuel was kept. The report said that with help Amit, Lal Singh was able to free the members of the group and was able to take them to safety after which Mukesh Gautam detonated the explosives sacrificing himself to save the others. In the report which Lal Singh was reading was given that it was one of the right wing Hindu groups who had developed mind altering device through which they wanted to free the land of people of other religion. They were hatching a wide ranging conspiracy which was thwarted in its bud by daring sacrifice of Mukesh Gautam. On receiving the report government officials were very happy. The party running the government got ammunition to attack the opposition. In two days some of the report was leaked to media houses. After that long hours of debate started on various news channels about how more dangerous the right wing Hindu militants are than the very large and world threatening terrorists of which even western countries are afraid of. The people sitting in various news channels talk shows were saying that government should put an to such terror and that by killing the right wing Hindus there will be no infringement of human rights. These are the same people who openly advocate the human rights of the terrorists and naxals operating in the country. They went on air telling that Hindus should be killed even for thinking of planning an attack on other communities while the members of other communities should not be even touched even if they attack the parliament or bombed Dalal Street. By doing so they argued that the members of other communities and tribals are venting their anger against the system who was unjust to them and because of this they can go on killing innocent people without a word from the establishment. After all we are the largest democracy in the world. For hours after hours the so called arm chair intellectuals came in news channels after news channels and praised the government for the fictious killings done by it. For them the sate had done the right thing by eliminating them. But then also they were angry as the bodies of the dead terrorists were not shown to them. They wanted to see the mutilated bodies of the so called terrorists and then had debated that if they were mutilated enough or the government had let them die much intact under pressure of the opposition. Some of even went to such lengths as to say that government should from now declare a cash prize to people who kill the right wing Hindus and the uniformed men who dare to kill the terrorists of other communities and naxals should be dismissed from the force and hanged. This was the only way, they argued, to show the world that we are the largest democracy in the world. Anything less, they said, would make people of other countries think that we lack leadership and that would be wrong as one of the speakers stood up and took out an X-ray film showing that he had brought it as a proof to show everyone that had a backbone.

  Debates like this went on and on and threatened to spread like wild fire. For two continuous days every news channel was showing the similar talk shows and those who could afford high profile (because they demanded huge amount of money) people they settled for lesser known persons. No one cared for the people who went there and did what they did. No one even shed a drop of tear for the man of who even the government said he sacrificed his life for our safety. Then it happened. Amit was thinking why these people did not say it before. He was watching a news channel which had national coverage. It happened so suddenly that if Amit may have missed the time it started. And when it started other news channels also picked it up and within an hour the focus of the debate had shifted towards it. Some one in that news channel said the unthinkable. “I do not think that Mukesh Gautam sacrificed himself.” Hearing it Amit was shocked but he knew it would be coming sooner or later. “He was a mad dog. He never wanted anything good to happen in the country. He always advocated the rights of majority. He never wanted the minority to rule the majority. I think he had blown himself up thinking that up on his death the people would rise against the minorities. I am sure he planned the riots to occur after his death and even he did not planned I am very sure that he would have wished that after his death some riots should take place.” On hearing the man speaking such things about mama ji Amit felt that he would throw up any minute. Within two minutes his cell phone rang. He did not have to look at it to know who was calling. He just picked it up. “Have you heard what this bloody idiot is saying” it was Ashok at the other end. He knew nothing about what happened in Haridwar and thought that mama ji had really sacrificed himself to save the others. “Ashok let them say anything they want. It would diminish the things done by mama ji. We all know he was a brave man and would have never anything that would jeopardize the safety of our country. Brother change the channel or if are not able to do it come over here.” Ashok hung up saying he would be there as soon as possible. The so called intellectual who was actually an idiot was saying live on air “as I had already said now the time has come for us to show the world that we are the largest democracy and we will not tolerate any threat to our country. I propose that we should hand over the governance to the minority community and show the world our solidarity.” There was clapping on hearing the man by some people sitting in the crowd. “I would like to take this opportunity to request the government that it should step down at this hour and give the charge of the government to the minority community and if government is not strong enough to do such a good thing then I request that we the intellectuals of this great country should let the government know that we would not sit idle and see the minorities suffer at the hands of majority. The majority community thinks that in a democracy it can do what it wants. But I would like them to know that we the intellectuals of this great country go at any lengths to give the minority the charge of government.” “How would you plan to do such a noble thing” asked the stupid presenter “I will ask every intellectual to sit on fats unto death” say the even more stupid man On hearing this no one asked why this stupid man will not himself sit on fast unto death. As the debate was getting stupider by the minute on this channel other news channels also picked it up. Every presenter started asking the people invited to the talk show (after giving them huge sums) to give their views on the man who had died. The news channels have changed the word ‘sacrificed’ to ‘died’ and no one argued against it. Then the endless debate started which told the listeners that how bad the man was and how he deserved this death. Government for the first time showed that it was strong and asked the news channels to stop the non sense they were dishing out. It was stern order and the news channels quietly followed it to the word. Government had given due recognition to the sacrifice of Mukesh Gautam and the opposition party had demanded that Bharat Ratna should be awarded to Mukesh Gautam. They had even planned that during elections they would field Amit and ask votes in his name. Mukesh Gautam even in his death would come to help his party they thought. Some of the party bearers were ruing over the chance missed. They were asking that Mukesh Gautam had actually harmed them. He lived for one month then he should have. If he had died one month earlier then they could have easily encashed his death and won the election in his state. Mukesh Gautam was sitting with the old man in the other plane and grinning that he was being debated by the variety of news channels and the party had even named him as contender of Bharat Ratna. He knew this was all politics and that they would be as happy in his death as they were when he was alive. He did not give them another thought.

  He was thinking about the events the day he died for the world. He woke up and found every body gone. He was surprised to see that the group did not even bothered t
o wake him up. Cursing them he went to see what made them busy. He was not able to find anyone. Suddenly his hand went to his neck. He was feeling that some was there. He held it in front of his eyes to see what it is and then the truth came to him. He had been chosen. In his neck the chain with the symbol of the organization was hanging. He had been given an opportunity to become a true member of the organization which he was serving for so many years from outside. Then it came to his mind that every other person would have gone to the world outside. He felt a slight pain in his heart for not being able to see anyone he loved for the final time. HE was not given a chance to say good bye. But he knew the ways of the organization. They never inform you beforehand that they would be taking you in. They do not allow any good byes. In this way they can maintain secrecy. He was wondering what the people would say about him when they reached the out side world. He was confident that the matter would have been planned well in advance. The reason for the burglary also was clear to him. You cannot have both the symbols. And you are never allowed to hand it back. It is the organization that gives it you and it is it which takes it back. Amit was feeling sad about what happened to mama ji. He would have like to have him with him. He wished he knew more about him. But all his life he had hated that man and now when is gone he was missing him. That is how nature works. In mysterious ways. No one is sure what would happen in the moment which will come next. But Amit has become a hero and was even asked by the party to join it. Amit was going though some papers he wanted to see then he came across a package. As he opened it he saw some pages in it. They were in Sanskrit. He went though them and was not able to understand what they were. He was about to keep those papers back wondering how they came about in his cabinet he saw something shining inside the bundle which ad the pages. He took it out and saw it. Tears swelled his eyes. He remembered everything. He knew mama ji was safe. He knew that he was made an outside member of the organization. He put the ring on and it fitted perfectly on his finger. He had to wait for his first assignment. Then he remembered that the first assignment had already been given to him. He again took those pages out and tried to read them. He had learnt Sanskrit in his school days but that like ages ago. And even if he had remembered he would have been able to read what was written here. He needed an expert. But before finding an expert he needed to brush up his Sanskrit. He knew exactly where to go. He had a clear vision of his goal and was very much satisfied to know that mama ji was safe. Dr. Singh (senior) had just put down his cell phone. It was Narendra on the other side. He was not feeling well as the people on the news channels were taking about the death of mama ji. He also kept calling him mama ji for his own sake. Dr. Singh (senior) had told him not to bother about them as they were fools and did not know what they were talking about. He suggested Narendra to ignore them. Dr. Singh (senior) was thinking about the events of past two weeks and that how had they changed his live. All his life he had been searching the truth. Now he had been given a chance to see for himself what truth is. He was not sure that he would like to take this chance or that he would pass it. Then he thought that it would not be in his hands to take or pass it. There are forces with higher power and they would do whatever had to be done. “Sir, there someone here who says he is from the government and wants to meet you immediately” interrupted Nisha “Send him in” said Dr. Singh and was some what surprised that someone from the government has come to see him at this hour. It was already late and he would close shop for lunch. What the topic was he would end it soon and go for his lunch. He was in the mood to talk with any government man. “Hope you are fine doctor” said the man coming in. Dr. Singh was surprised to see the man in front of him. He was the young agent who had been with them in there. “I don’t think I am interrupting something” “No of course not” said Dr. Singh “I hope you have not forgotten you promise” said the young agent “Which promise are you talking about young man” said Dr. Singh. He was having difficulty that the young man sitting here remembered something about those events in there. He had talked with everyone who came out except him and no one was very much sure what exactly happened. He was confident that those people only left him with those memories and rest had them not clear enough to be able to tell everything. Now this man was sitting in front of him and behaving like he remembered everything. “Smart moves by the guys in there” said the young agent “They knew that the government will use all kinds of tactics on people who came out to get the information they needed so they releaved them of their memories except two of us.” “What are you taking about” said Dr. Singh “You know exactly what I am saying” said the agent “You know they even that the GPS tracking system of the vehicle we went in rigged. It led the second team to the place where they found us. They believe that it was the place where we went in and came out. They don’t suspect any thing different. How they achieved I would love to learn but as the old man in there said before that I have to find teacher who can illuminate my mind” “Why are you here agent” asked Dr. Singh getting irritated “To find my teacher” “And who that be” “You are” “Why do you think so” “Because they left you with all the memories intact” “This is no reason and I do not think what you are talking about” “You are getting paranoid” “I am not” “Then why are you suspecting me?” “I am not suspecting you of anything” “Yes you are. I can read your mind” Someone was watching this conversation but the agent did not bother about him because he knew he was of no consequence. All he wanted was to learn. He knew the events had left him craving for more. They had just increased his appetite many folds. And he knew he had play by the ancient rules to subside the hunger burning in him. He knew he was ready and wanted to confirm if his would be teacher was also ready. “Obviously you can read my mind” said the doctor getting more frustrated “Do not get frustrated. I know you want to go for lunch. I think I know a perfect place where we can sit and talk” He knew this will be beginning of a long and fruitful friendship. He was willing to bet his life on the fact that he would be inside the place he wants to be in within next 10 years and he was willing to endure anything to achieve his goal. He did not have anything to look forward to. His life has taken a turn which was unaccepted but it turned out to be the best turn of events in all his life. “Did you know that they used Iran bomb blast Israel as a trigger ….” Narendra became more successful detective after his name was all over the news papers following the events in Haridwar. The more busy he became more unsure his mind became. He was beginning to see that there is something else in the world. Lal Singh was promoted and was given sole in charge of a new anti terror division in the bureau. He was getting for himself but he kept searching answers. Dr. Singh (junior) after retirement came to Delhi and started his successful practice but he got more and more involved with his brother and his dealings with the young agent. Amit continued to work for multi nationals but did not forget to continue studying Sanskrit and searching for the expert who can tell him the meaning of the words written in the pages.

  Mukesh Gautam became one of the important members of the group who were dealing with the conditions of the exchange of information among the different worlds for the organization.

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