Operation Dragon Strike

by Rahul Badami

  He couldn’t believe that his application was approved within a month compared to other countries that would take ten years to do the same. His Vanuatuan passport was already on its way and he would flee the country as soon as he got the passport. He had enough money to live like a king for the rest of his life.

  The doorbell rang.

  He frowned. Who could be here at this hour? He strode over to the door and opened it. There were four plainclothes men outside. He immediately realized who they were. His heart sank.

  “Suraj Kumar Shrivastava?” One of them asked.

  He nodded blankly. His throat had gone dry. He knew what would happen next.

  “You are under arrest for conspiracy and treason against the state.”

  EPILOGUE

  Armaan tossed and turned on his bed.

  His eyes were droopy but a migraine hammered his forehead preventing sleep from taking over. His arms, shoulders and back pinched from the exertions of the mission. He had reached his room after the encounter with the General, his mind filled with anger and frustration.

  The night was silent. But sleep refused to come. An hour later, he heard Baldev and the team enter the quarters. He didn’t feel like talking to them. He was still quite upset. It was his life on the line. He was the one out on the field doing the General’s bidding, while the man was quietly ensconced in his leather armchair expecting results. It was unfair. If he died, he would be just another number on the General’s casualty list. But if the boys died, than he would be blamed for their loss. He was expected to be responsible for everything.

  But he would take the responsibility, Armaan determined. It did not matter if the General was being unjust with him, he would make sure that he and the boys would accomplish their missions. The nation came first. And he would be willing to put up with the General, despite everything he did.

  With that thought lingering in his head, he finally fell into a deep sleep.

  The rays of the morning sun peered through his room and woke him up. The anger and pain of the night had subsided. And the morning brought with it a fresh ray of cheer. Armaan pulled aside the window curtains and glanced at the garden. Birds were chirping outside, unencumbered by the worries of the human world. It was a reassuring sight.

  Baldev’s words came to his mind. Maybe he had been acting like a fool. Maybe Baldev was right. Baldev had never once doubted the General despite the overwhelming evidence against him. But Armaan had been stubborn in his actions. What if he was looking at this situation all wrong?

  A wave of regret washed over him.

  He had acted rudely and the choice of his words didn’t suit him. It had seemed fitting to him to castigate the General last night. But the moment had passed and in the light of the day he could see his words for what they were. Wilful insubordination. As the heat of the situation left him and the cold reality set in, he realized the General had done what he was supposed to do. It was not unknown for his boss to send him blind. He had had ops like this in the past. It was the General's prerogative on how much to share with the team. He decided to apologize to the General for his behaviour.

  He had just taken a sip of his coffee when Baldev entered his room. His face was exhausted. It hadn’t been like that yesterday. Something had happened.

  “What happened, Baldev?”

  Baldev sighed. “Why did you point a gun at the General?”

  “I thought he was a traitor. I know better now.” Armaan shrugged. “I'll apologize to him today.”

  “I don't think your apology would mean much.”

  “What? Why?”

  “The General is going to court-martial you today.”

  THE END?

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