Operation Chaos: A Gripping Action Thriller (6 page)

''We have to secure the control tower now. As soon as we do that, get me Mr. Kapoor on the phone.''

Chapter 15

Location- The Rashtrapati Bhawan

Time - 20:32 hrs

By the time David and his team reached Rashtrapati Bhawan, the translucent screen of smoke had cleared out, returning the visibility to normal. The medics still crowded the grounds treating the injured and picking up the dead. David glanced around, spent a few seconds to register in his mind the impact of the attack and signalled a few from his task force to help the medics take care of the wounded. He then made his way straight to the man in charge, Raghav, hoping to learn more about the situation. ''Any clue as to who was behind the blast?'' David asked after Raghav had saluted him.

''Absolutely nothing, Sir. They left nothing behind. We have secured a perimeter of 1 km radius and check posts are being put up as we speak. After we got the information from the IB, we made our move to search...''

David gestured Raghav to stop momentarily at this point. ''Wait! You said you got the information from the Intelligence Bureau. How did they get involved in this?''

''Actually, they had traced a threat call. That call was made was from this location and that is why Chief Prakash came over to investigate. He informed us as soon as he got the information.''

''So the call was made from here. But who was on the receiving end of the call?'' David was now getting a grip on the preceded happenings.

''IB keeps tabs on every important and powerful person in the country. It must be someone really important that the IB made such a rush to locate the caller. Do you want me to find out?'' asked Raghav with a promptness.

''Yes, of course. That would help the investigation. Right now I am heading to the Durbaar Hall to have a look at that tape. Is it still there?''

''How did you know about that?'' Raghav was surprised.

''Word spreads faster than fire around here, mister! HQ had filled me in about your findings in the Durbaar hall.''

''We haven't checked out what's on the tape yet. Mr. President returned from his tour as soon as he heard about the blast. He is heading there too.''

''So President Ajaysingh Chauhan is already here. I didn't get THIS news. Need to keep a strict check on his security,'' said David, making a mental note.

The commandos swiftly made their way to the Durbaar hall. On a couple of earlier occasions, David had interacted with the President during certain ceremonies. President Ajaysingh Chauhan was a very popular and a highly respected personality. The country had seen him earlier as a nuclear scientist and an inspirational writer. He had been a prime architect of the country's nuclear arsenal and now he was serving his nation by accepting the responsibility of being the first citizen of the country. He was one of those few who even after being called the nominal-head of the country, put in a lot of effort to serve his nation. Being in his seventies, he tried to be as brisk as he was back in his nuclear research days; although his age had slowed him down a lot. As David entered the Durbaar hall, he noticed three things almost instantaneously-

One: The beautiful chandelier hanging up on the ceiling.

Two: The majestic idol of Lord Buddha.

Three: A man with grey hair, wearing a light blue formal shirt with sleeves folded up to his elbow standing near the statue of Buddha inspecting a brown packet kept on the throne. There was glimpse of anger and despair on the President's face.

David asked his team to wait there and proceeded to salute the President. After an official salute, the President shook hands with David. ''So Commander David D'costa, any idea how this happened?'' asked the President wiping off the sweat off his brow with a handkerchief. Keeping his attire simple yet elegant, Ajaysingh still carried a charismatic aura with him: that of a man serious about his work- very serious. He had a freckled face, retro spectacles which looked a little broad on his slender build and narrow shoulders.

''No, Sir. I just returned from an operation near the border. An old colleague of mine, Ashraf, was in-charge of the security here. He recommended me to take over.''

''He was a good soldier,'' there was a gloom in Ajaysingh's voice. ''He used to handle all the security arrangements perfectly. I heard he couldn't make it. We also lost Chief Prakash Mehta. How is this suddenly happening? Why didn’t our agencies see this coming? This is a VERY precisely planned terrorist attack.''

''I think so too, Sir. Can't tell for sure until we get to know the details about the person to whom that threat call was addressed. My officer is working on it. Looking at the course of events, I sense something more is in the offing!'' David replied with a rising concern.

''This is the first time a blast has occurred at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. It brings up many questions regarding our security systems. Media is going to set things on fire now. We need to prevent any further attacks.''

''We also need to increase your security, Sir,'' David reminded.

But Ajaysingh thought differently. ''I was hundreds of miles away when this happened. I don't think this attack was meant for me. I suppose they plan to blow up some other important buildings too. There is nothing to worry about me. Find out whom was that threat call meant for. He is the one who needs more security.''

''And that again would be you, Sir!'' Capt. Raghav remarked as he entered the hall.

Chapter 16

''We tracked the number to which that call was dialled. Turned out to be your office phone number. We also checked out the answering machine in your office. It played the same message. No doubt the phone call was meant for you, Sir!'' Raghav reported.

''In that case we should arrange a tier 5 security for you. This is really strange. Someone made a threat call from here itself on another phone here- addressed to you,'' David remarked.

As hard as things were for the President to digest, his acquaintance with such threats was not new. He had received threats before: since the time he started working for certain defence projects. Some from the intelligence agencies beyond the borders, and some from the active terrorist organizations around the country. But this issue seemed suspicious and way too dangerous.

''Maybe that package there would give us some clue to what's going on.'' The package was brought under the spotlight by one of the President's personal bodyguards. All the eyes in the room rolled to the package wrapped in a brown paper placed on the throne and then to the other inventory lying at the feet of the statue of Buddha.

''That package was there in the room when I first reached here and so were these cylindrical device and cassette player. I had them X-rayed as soon as I found them. They do not contain any explosives. The X-ray displayed that the box holds an audio cassette. I replaced the package and the other items back to their original places after X-raying in case their locations in this hall would give us some clues,'' said Raghav. David unwrapped the brown paper around the package and emptied its contents on his palm. The small audio cassette had no markings, no text written on it. He walked over to the statue of Buddha, picked up the cassette player and inspected it carefully. He then glanced at the piece of paper lying beside. It was a plain piece of paper with some random sets of numbers written on it.

Is it some kind of password? A combination?

David decided to check it out later.

''The cassette player is clean. Let's see what this cassette has to say. And send this device to the lab for inspection,'' he said, pointing to the electronic device. The device was a cylinder of almost thirty centimetres in diameter. It was heavy enough and took two commandos to lift it. After inspecting it for signs of explosives, the device was sent to the lab.

David did not like the idea of tampering with any evidence and he knew that the proper protocol would be to let the experts take the cassette and the paper to the lab and examine them. But some questions needed urgent answers. Taking a deep breath, David put the cassette in the player and hit the play button.

That very second something happened and it went completely unnoticed. In the anxiety to listen to what was on the tape, nobody saw a tiny green light on an explosive planted on the support joint of the chandelier above them change to red.

A computer screen on someone's table displayed- Explosives Armed.

Chapter 17

The tape played.

''Hello everyone!'' The sound seemed jovial, almost like a person about to burst into laughter. ''I expect that your Honourable President is hearing this. If not, stop the tape and please play it for him when he returns...'' The voice varied over a range of pitches and moods. The serious tone at the beginning of the sentence jumped to a mild comic in the middle and then again to an admonitory whisper at the end of the sentence. ''... because I want him to know this; his people are going to face the consequences of his wrongdoings tonight and all that blood is on his hands.'' 

There was an absurd insanity in the voice; and yet a mysterious calm. A moment of silence followed.

''You probably must have already seen how I infiltrated one of your most secure buildings and, believe me that was just the beginning. Uhh...Oh! I apologise for not having introduced myself,'' an erratic giggling followed. ''For now- just consider me as a lunatic. Whatever I am going to say next may sound very illogical to you. But then, no one tries to find logic in a lunatic's words. So don't be surprised when this lunatic says that he is going to perform an experiment. A chaotic experiment where all of you are my subjects. I know one blast isn't enough to persuade you to play my game, of course, so I have made some extra arrangements. Speaking about the experiment, it's pretty simple. My  experiment. My rules. Thousands of lives of your people at stake...,'' the voice cracked a horrendous laugh.

''This experiment is a hunt for a lost object. I will extend all the help I can, give all the clues I have and you only need to follow them. I need that object, that artefact before tomorrow morning. How quickly you can find it will decide how many lives you can save. Get your best men, do anything your powers permit you to do, but I want my prize tomorrow. And now comes the part where I tell you what would happen if you fail to do as I say. I just... um... let's say 'hijacked' the most advanced missile from your arsenal at the Wheeler Island.'' The voice let the news sink in. A second passed by. Then another. The voice which then took over would have left anyone confused if it was the same person speaking. It floated the conviction of a man meaning business. ''I can target it  anywhere in the country. Imagine the destruction if I direct it towards the metropolitans,'' the voice increasing its icy grip over the helpless listeners. ''You break one rule and the missile goes airborne. So here are the rules of the experiment: Rule No. 1- Do not break any rules and follow my orders precisely. It's actually for your own safety. Rule No. 2- Any attempt to attack the Wheeler island facility will only invite trouble. Rule No. 3- You don't get any time extension. You have only 12.00 hrs.''

The tone suddenly turned into an eerie whisper.

''Considering the fact that you have no other option, let's begin the experiment. I am going to tell you exactly where the first clue is hidden, but it's not going to be easy finding it. The first clue is written on a metal at
28° 31′ 27.68″ N, 77° 11′ 6.89″ E
. Do not forget to have a look at the paper beside this cassette player. But it would only be helpful if you would know how to read those numbers on the paper. I suspect that you won't take me seriously, so do not hesitate to ask Mr. Kapoor- the head of the BRAHMOS project if you have any doubts about the level of mass destruction that missile is capable of. And the last thing- I will appreciate it if you do not try to deceive me with your usual tricks; the consequences, my friends, will be disastrous for all of you. I am not alone - I have my army - The Nine Unknown. I have my eyes on you every second of every passing minute. I know it will take more than just some threats to make you understand that you should be taking me seriously. So, I have decided to give you another demonstration of my capabilities, should there be any doubts left regarding my intentions and the extent to which I can go. There is a reason why I chose this room to keep this tape. There is a reason I placed the rigged cassette player right next to the cassette. The chandelier hanging over you will collapse in 20 seconds after this tape ends. Welcome to Operation Chaos.''

For one second, maybe two, all movement in the room ceased: the silence was abrupt, so absolute that even the farthest standing commando could listen to the tape coming to a hasty end in the cassette player. No one spoke, no one even breathed: the shock, the utter unexpectedness of what had happened held them in thrall. But then, they had clearly heard the words-
will collapse in 20 seconds after this tape ends
. Recovering from the daze, the commandos quickly formed a circle around the President, huddled around him and made a dash for the corner of the hall. David and Raghav moved everyone out from underneath the glowing chandelier just as a series of 4 small blasts weakened the support points of the chandelier. The hanging chandelier, accelerated by gravity, fell to the ground with a resounding shatter of glass and metal.  The room suddenly went dark and a momentary blindness hit each and every commando in the room. Nobody had any idea what was going on in that chaotic darkness of the Durbaar Hall. As he was adjusting his eyes to the sudden darkness, that's when it hit Raghav
- The president was completely exposed.

Chapter 18

Four minutes later...

The emergency lights in the corridor beamed to life and the commandos were on their way with a bomb squad to check for any other explosives.