Cold Love

by Amieya Prabhaker

  The radio on panel beams again. Arjun turns it on.

  Lt Gen Khanna is on the radio, “Arjun. The Pakistan Air Force has asked us to disengage. They have two F32s now in air by edge of our border. We suspect one of them is nuclear-armed. I’ve told the Pakistan Head of Staff that there will be no border violations from our side. The situation is very critical Arjun. We have put our missiles on red alert as well. The PM’s office is on the red telephone line to their Pakistani counterpart as we speak. The White House has been calling the PMO as well. I am concerned we will have to pull back. I’m sorry, Arjun; we cannot let this escalate.”

  “Sir. I have asked the Eagles to disengage. I request your permission for Cheetah to enter the neutral zone. Cheetah has no heavy artillery. Please tell Pakistan HQ that I am dropping down alone. Unarmed! This is a rescue mission only. Repeat, I’m unarmed and this is a rescue mission only. Not an offensive or an exercise.”

  Lt Gen Khanna waits for a while and then responds, “Ok. I trust your judgment, Arjun. But remember… Your life is very precious for the country son. Azhar has a dagger as far as we know. It is possible he has a small gun, but it appears unlikely. I want you to know that Azhar has a neurological disorder so that his muscles do not tire… I’m told he is the fastest person in this part of the world… So move quickly but conserve your energy. Get him son! I will take care of things here. All the best!”

  “Thank you Sir”. Arjun turns off the knob. All this while, Azhar had been listening to everything through his radio that is continually on.

  “Arjun Sahib. Are you still coming or has your boss scared you away? But as I said… come unarmed!”

  “Ok, Azhar! I am coming.”

  Krish gestures to Arjun in sign language. “I’ll drop off here…you,” he moves his hand ahead quickly, “you drop ahead…I’ll run... shoot target down.” Arjun nods a yes, gives thumbs up to the pilot and gestures the helicopter to go lower. Krish gets ready wearing his parachute and jumps stealthily barely a few meters above the ground. The helicopter continues further. Arjun jumps down with the radio in hand further ahead at the location that Azhar had asked for. The parachute drops in the midst of the white dry desert of the Rann of Kutch. About a hundred meters ahead Arjun can see Azhar holding Riya with a dagger at her throat. Another small man is standing nearby.

  Arjun starts walking towards them. “I am here, Azhar! Let Riya go.”

  “Sure I will.” He chuckles sarcastically, “But what do I say… this is the second time this beautiful damsel has bumped into me. And you are looking even hotter on this occasion my baby!” He moves the dagger just under her chin.

  Azhar shouts at the small man “Eh! Go check him.”

  The small man walks up to Arjun, who raises his hands.

  “All clear.”

  “Arjun! I have a principle,” Azhar continues, “I never let go of a prey in hand. But your girlfriend here; I would have killed her by now had she not been so beautiful. So I’ll do a deal with you and give her some time to live. I will first kill you,” he points the dagger forward, “and then,” he takes the dagger back to Riya’s breasts, ripping a button off her t-shirt… “then I will rape your little birdie…!”

  Riya spits upon him upon hearing this. Azhar slaps her and throws her to the ground. “Hey grab her!” he instructs the small man who holds Riya’s hands behind her back.

  “Arjun, today only one of us will return back home. And only one of us will have this girl!” He smiles showing a dirty black tooth from under his unkempt beard.

  Arjun doesn’t reply, and takes a stance for the fight. Azhar bends low to take a stance too flashing his dagger. He charges in at an amazing speed towards Arjun, who avoids numerous slices of the dagger as they fight at high speed. The two men exchange numerous fast punches; they duck, jump and dodge in a manner worthy of a Jackie Chan movie. After a crazy set of swift punches and dodges, it ends with Azhar kicking Arjun with full force on his chest; this sends him reeling a few meters back. Arjun skids back on the ground, and puffs air out of his mouth.

  Riya gasps, her hand to her mouth, amazed at their speed, “Oh my God!” The small man is spell-bound at the speed of action as well and has let go Riya’s hand.

  “This is the first time I have met someone worth a good fight. This is going to be fun!” Azhar takes a stance again with a devilish smile on his face.

  Meanwhile, Krish is keeping low, running at top speed in the desert landscape, holding a sniper gun. In the hot dreary desert of the Rann of Kutch, there is barely any cover, but Krish is still able to move fast, bent over, unnoticed.

  Azhar dashes towards Arjun again, who decides to play dodge this time to keep avoiding Azhar’s dagger. After a few moves, Azhar does reach him, and an equal fistful of jabs and punches are exchanged, although Arjun is falling short because of being bare handed. Riya spots a small aluminum rod on the ground by her feet. She runs to grab the rod and bangs the small man’s head, as he falls down on the ground.

  “Arjun!” She shouts out loud and throws the aluminum rod towards him to catch.

  “Hey! Arjun, tell your girl to stand still else I’ll throw this dagger at this bitch and rip her stomach out!” Azhar blurts out in anger.

  Arjun gestures to Riya with his hand to be patient. The small man is still on the ground, moving but holding his head in pain. Both start the fight again immediately. Arjun stops Azhar’s attacks using the small aluminum rod. He manages to punch Azhar back too. But Azhar’s vigor is increasing. Another amazingly fast sequence of punches, kicks and dodges takes place. Azhar fiercely attacks with his full force jumping onto Arjun, holding his dagger with both hands. Arjun holds the rod to block, but it breaks under the force of the dagger and slices Arjun’s chest. Arjun staggers and retreats, somehow managing to keep himself on his feet.

  “Arjun.” Riya starts to run towards him.

  “Aaaeeee.” Azhar points the dagger at her. Riya stops mid-step.

  “Krish. C’mon buddy!” Arjun tells himself as he wipes the blood gushing off his wound. Riya dashes around on the ground trying to look for something else to use as a shield. She picks up a wooden bark, but throws it away immediately in disgust. She scrapes the ground but cannot find anything in the white dry desert. Arjun takes his blood soaked t-shirt off, showing a deep wound on his chest.

  Azhar smiles and dashes at Arjun again. Arjun flings his small rod pieces, Azhar dodges one. The second hits him on his hand as he takes cover. Further punches, kicks and dodges continue at a crazy relentless pace. With every passing minute, Arjun is getting weaker. This time, at the end of the sequence, Azhar slices Arjun’s shoulder as he is clearly falling short of breath. Riya holds her hands to her mouth. Tears start rolling down her cheeks. She instinctively looks at her wrists to spot the two pairs of heavy golden bangles that Kamla had given her.

  “Arjun!” she takes off the bangles and throws them at him. Arjun grabs all four bangles and puts them on his knuckles, two apiece. Large round golden bangles!

  Azhar dashes in again, Arjun intercepts the dagger with his golden bangles as another sequence of swift multiple punches continues. Arjun blocks Azhar’s dagger with one hand and punches his nose with the other. The impact of the heavy bangles leaves Azhar dazed. He shakes his head as blood oozes out of his nose.

  Arjun takes the opportunity to take off the bangles and shake his hands. He puffs at them as blood drips from his hands on to the bangles. Azhar charges again with greater force striking at the bangles as gold chips off with each strike that Arjun intercepts. Azhar continues his onslaught unabated, determined to chip off the gold with his repeated strikes. Yellow gold flying across adds the only color to an otherwise white barren landscape. After another of the fight sequences, Arjun blocks with one hand and punches Azhar’s chest hard with his other hand to send him reeling back as he falls to the ground. Arjun takes another moment to look at the bangles; they have thinned off immensely now and he decides to let go off them to fall on the ground. His hand is bloo
d red and he is sweating and panting profusely for breath. Azhar did not have a single drop of sweat on his body, despite the overbearing scorching sun above the desert.

  Another sequence kicks off as Arjun again tries to play dodge. However, he is still getting hit frequently; one such kick throws Arjun back as he falls on the ground. At that very moment, he looks at the far horizon to spot Krish from the corner of his eye. Arjun intentionally stays low and does not stand up after his fall. Azhar charges in eyeing an opportunity with both his hands on the dagger. Arjun holds Azhar’s hand and goes down further on the ground as Azhar pushes forward, the dagger reaching closer to Arjun’s chest. However, in a pre-determined move, Arjun bends his legs, crossing them over to strike Azhar’s abdomen in the posture of a spring and kicks Azhar with all the force in his body, sending him flying into the air.

  At that very moment, Krish decides to pounce upon the opportunity and has a clear shot at his target. The bullet goes whizzing in the dry dreary desert air. Azhar is still in midair oblivious of the bullet approaching him. He lets out a monstrous yell and is about to come down with full force onto Arjun. However, as the dagger closes in, the bullet hits Azhar right on his chest, sending a streak of red across the white landscape. He falls dead immediately with the dagger pointing at Arjun.

  “Arjun!” Riya shrieks and runs to him. Krish also runs in the background. Arjun pushes Azhar’s body aside and looks at the dagger from the corner of his eye as it is embedded in the ground inches from his ears. Riya comes over, and clutches Arjun. She presses a scarf onto his chest. Krish reaches them in a moment and ties a cloth in a knot on the other wound on Arjun’s shoulder. Together, they slowly get Arjun on his feet.

  Krish picks up the radio and adjusts its frequency to get a signal.

  “Krish calling Eagle. Rescue successful! We are coming home.”

  “Good job Krish! The welcome team is waiting for you on the border.”

  All three walk along together, with Arjun in the center; his hands still dripping blood from the numerous punches. Suddenly Riya stops mid-way. “One minute”. She sneaks out from underneath Arjun’s heavy arms and hastily runs back. She starts grappling on the ground frantically looking for something. She finds the bangles she was looking for, kisses them and brings them quickly back to Arjun.

  “Arjun, your grandma’s bangles!”

  Arjun smiles at her. She is about to wear them when Arjun holds the bangle at the edge of her wrist. Riya looks at him curiously.

  “Riya, are you afraid of…death?” Riya is confused and stares at Arjun for a moment at this awkward question. She shakes her head.

  “Tell me. I need to hear it,” Arjun asks again, still holding the bangles in his hand.

  “No. Never!” Riya responds boldly.

  “Good. And the death of your own people?”

  “Yes… I fear their death!” Arjun nods understandingly, there’s a marked pause as Riya continues “But they are not afraid of death either!”

  “Hmmhmm!” he smiles, “Crazy like you!” Riya nods and smiles back at Arjun.

  “Alright. Let’s do it then!” Arjun gets down on his knees, “Miss Riya Saxena, will you marry me?”

  Riya vehemently nods yes, tears running down her cheeks at these words. Arjun, still on his knees puts the bangles in her hand.

  “Yes. Yes, Arjun,” she continues, crying and hugs him tightly, “Yes! I do!” She smiles, looks at Krish who is smiling at them too. He runs over and hugs them too.

  “Well done my man!” Krish pats Arjun as all three hug each other collectively. They walk back together across the dreary white desert landscape of the Rann of Kutch, in each other’s arms, eager to return home.

  Come what may… there’s no holding back now.

  Act 7: STRATEGIC OUTCOME…POST IMPLEMENTATION REVIEW

  The Backlash and Counter Attack

  Arjun, Riya and Krish eventually reach Arjun’s new house safe and sound. Riya’s parents and Puja have been brought there as well and are waiting for Cheetah to land. Back in the hospital, Kamla has fully recovered now, and is alone with her husband.

  Puja rushes to greet her friend, “Riya! Are you all right?”

  “Yes Puja, I am fine. I am so glad to see you…” Both of them break down in tears as they hug each other. Riya shows Puja the golden red bangles in her wrists, “Look, Arjun proposed to me!”

  “Oh my God! Congratulations Riya! You will be my sister-in-law!” they hug again. Riya and her parents talk to Puja as they have so much to catch up on. Krish receives a message on his phone and he gestures to Arjun. Arjun follows Krish, curious to learn what it is about. Krish rushes into the other room and by the time Arjun enters, Krish has already turned on the television and also switched on Arjun’s workstation.

  “Arjun, log on to the satellite system… now!” Krish tells him. Arjun does not argue, gauging from his tone that it’s something important. Whilst Arjun is logging on quickly to the satellite system, Krish turns up the volume of the television showing a TV journalist broadcasting breaking news.

  “We have received a live report from Al Jazeera TV that an American tourist has been held hostage by a terrorist group in Pakistan. The reports suggest that this is the work of the same terrorist group led by Azhar, who was killed earlier today in a dramatic standoff at the India-Pakistan border along the Rann of Kutch. It appears this is a desperate backlash from the terrorist group in response to the killing of their leader. The terrorists have threatened that they will send a streaming video of the beheading of the hostage in another five minutes.”

  Arjun manages to log onto the satellite system.

  “Arjun, will you be able to log on to a specific satellite which is on a geostationary course above central Pakistan in the next five minutes?”

  “Sure Krish! On it now!”

  Krish gets another beep on his mobile.

  “Arjun, an agent has just informed me. Unconfirmed reports say they are near Sargodha, about 20 miles south of the city… likely in the middle of the desert.”

  “Ok”, Arjun acknowledges that and continues typing frantically, “I have managed to get through. Let me first lock the satellite access, so only I can control its activities exclusively in a single thread.”

  Arjun types quickly and glances at the clock briefly; just less than 3 minutes to go. He zooms onto the search area and the system shows a rotating icon for a few seconds before they see the live satellite imagery on the screen … a bird’s-eye view of three people, one of them seated on a chair with a dark cloth on his head.

  “It could be them!” Krish exclaims and notes the latitude and longitude. “Can you zoom further in?” Arjun zooms and they see three people clearly; two of them standing and another person seated on the chair. One of the terrorists is wielding a long metal stick.

  “Hey, he’s holding a sword!” Arjun cries out.

  “Arjun! We can’t let this sacrifice go waste.” Krish puts his hand on Arjun’s shoulder and the very next second, starts punching some numbers on his mobile calculator.

  “What should we do Krish?”

  “Change the orientation of the satellite to 1.25 degrees south.” Arjun looks doubtful for a moment as Krish shouts vehemently, “Go on; do it Arjun! Trust me! We cannot save this hostage Arjun. The Indian high command has confirmed with the CIA that there is no US marine unit in Pakistan even 500km in the vicinity of Sargodha. Even if we inform the CIA, their fastest jets from the Indian Ocean will take at least 5-10 minutes to arrive here, and that is before they receive an authorization to act!”

  “1.25o south on the system gives us…. the desert city of Sargodha!” Arjun turns around to look at Krish, “right within the premises of the headquarters of the Pakistan Air Force base. Krish!”

  Krish nods yes. Arjun’s fingers hang above the keyboard as he pauses for a few seconds assessing what Krish is asking him to do. He does understand the implications, glances briefly at the clock as Krish waits anxiously in anticipation.

&nbs
p; “Ok, Krish, I’ll do it!”

  “Good!” Krish pats Arjun’s shoulder.

  “Ok. I am starting a morph routine that will merge the two desert locations… Also a script that will delete all our IP logs after I logout from the system.”

  Meanwhile Krish gets on the radio again to reconfirm any units in the vicinity that can intercept the imminent execution. Arjun types fast and glances at his clock. About a minute more to go. Krish speaks to Lt Gen Khanna in the background.

  “No confirmation of any operational units in the vicinity Arjun!”

  Arjun nods to acknowledge and presses the enter key on his keyboard for the final confirmation prompt on the screen.

  “Ok. There, it’s all done... The satellite will revert back to its original state in exactly 3 minutes from now, and at that same time once I logout, the account will be unlocked automatically.” They view the video from the satellite image intently. Suddenly a masked man swings a long sword; the outcome of the swing is invisible from the satellite image and vaguely appears like a rolling football a few feet away.

  “Damn!” Krish screams in disgust at the heinous crime. He turns to the television… Nothing yet on Al Jazeera. It’s a seemingly long wait, each second like a lifetime as both Arjun and Krish wait for the confirmation. Arjun bites his fingers nervously. The radio of the workstation buzzes in the background and the satellite image from the system continues showing the blurred miniature images around the hostage. A few minutes later, the Al Jazeera channel interrupts its normal broadcast to share the breaking news.

  “We are interrupting this telecast to share this streaming video that has just been sent to us related to the US hostage crisis. We warn viewers that the video you are about to see contains disturbing images not fit for children or for those with a heart disease. Please be cautious and turn your TV off at this moment if you are with such viewers at home or work.”

  The video shows two masked men and an American hostage, his head wrapped in black cloth as one terrorist swings a long sword sending the head flying like a football a few feet away.