Chapter 2

Arjun and Durga were escorted by a security guard in a white ambassador car and taken into an old looking, huge governmental building. The insides of the building were totally different from that it seemed from outside. The British era’s building looked like a castle from outside, but it was a modern day busy office inside.




A lot of uniformed and casual dressed people were working inside; all were as busy as bee. Some working on computers and phones, others rushing in and out of cubicles with files. The guard led them towards the lift and they stopped at the third floor.




They reached at the end of the corridor, Arjun read the nameplate and wondered why they were called here. They entered the huge cabin. At the rear end, an important looking man in his fifties sat behind the table, on a leather chair. He had jet black hair, and his eyes held strange calmness.




There was a glass table and three chairs were placed across it, a small flag of India and another flag had the symbol of R.A.W. There were pictures of national leaders, revolutionaries and presidents hung on the walls. A shelf in right corner had some shields and trophies and certificates too.




The guard saluted the important looking man and left.






The man stood up, “I am Colonel Dustin Coelho. Please take a seat Mrs. Rawte.” Arjun, Durga and Coelho took their respective seats.






“We got to know about Shiva’s death.” He paused for a moment, “He was one of our best, and the most trusted agents. He sacrificed his life to save the lives of millions of Indians, we are very proud of him.”




Durga couldn’t understand what he was talking about. ‘Trusted agent’, ‘Sacrificed his life’ What exactly was going on? What did Shiva really do? Were the talking about her Shiva, or was there some sort of misunderstanding? Durga was utterly confused.




Coelho read her thoughts and answered them directly, “Shiva was a R.A.W. agent, who was also known as ‘Hawk’.” He revealed the secret and waited for them to digest it.




“What are you saying? I mean that's not possible! He was a government clerk not an agent!” Durga exclaimed in confusion.




“No, Shiva was a R.A.W. agent in disguise as a clerk. Now I need a few answers from you.” Coelho forwarded a picture, “Do you know him?”




Durga recognized the person immediately, “Sikander, Shiva’s cousin.”




Coelho interjected, “Not really. They were as close as brothers but only related by the profession. He was the buddy partner for Shiva. Every disk, every bit of information was shared by them." 

He revealed more truths but cautiously.  "They worked as a duo, a constant backup to each other. Sikander was also known as ‘Eagle’ and the duo were called ‘The Watchers’. They both were best together, solving the most complicated and difficult bits of cases. They were brilliant and everything was fine until someone bought Sikander off...” He stopped as another voice cut him short. 

“Or has been using the mask of Sikander and the actual Sikander is long dead.” Arjun said quietly.




Coelho was a bit surprised at his statement, “And what makes you think so?”




“There were quite a few things that I felt weird when Sikander kaka visited us last time.” Arjun stated.




“Please elaborate.” Coelho looked intrigued.




“Firstly, he always referred Aai as Vahini and not Bhabhi.” Arjun stated in as a matter of fact manner. “Kaka had an accident few months ago, so he walked with a slight limp in his left leg, but this time he didn’t. When I asked how his leg was, he showed me his right leg and said that it was fine.”

 

He paused to remember, “Yet another thing was that Kaka always wore two rings in his left hand, in third and fourth finger, but last time there was only one ring which was different than the previous one. He always sat with his left leg crossed on his right one, but this time he didn’t sit like that. Kaka’s ears were pierced, while his weren’t. There was a strange difference in the way he talked, he seemed highly uncomfortable and not ‘at home’.” Arjun concluded.




Coelho looked admiringly at the prodigy teenager in front of him, "Gifted, truly gifted child!” He exclaimed, “You’re a keen observer. I’m impressed at the way you noticed the tiny details that others usually overlook. I really appreciate your work. You’ve got a bright future ahead.” Coelho applauded. 

Durga was half shocked and half broken, “This is impossible.” She cried, “I have known Shiva and Sikander for over twenty years. They were government clerks and not some agents.” She stated, “There is some misunderstanding. You have got some wrong information or you are talking about some other Shiva.”




She paused for some time to take in the information, “And if all this is true then when did all this start? And why didn’t Shiva tell me anything?” She tried to deny the truth, “My Shiva wouldn’t hide anything from me, no.” She cried. Arjun made vain efforts to calm her.




Coelho sympathized her, “Mrs. Rawte, there are some things which are highly confidential. Not knowing the real identity and work of Shiva saved you and your family millions of times. Not everyone around you is your well wisher Mrs. Rawte. They may be informers, or even enemies in disguise as friends.” He stopped as Durga became silent and drifted down the memory lane.

~*~

Early morning when the milkman came, Shiva offered to bring milk and he came back after almost 15 minutes.




“Shiva, what were you talking about with the milkman?” Durga asked as she kept the milk vessel to boil.




“What did you hear?” Shiva asked suspiciously.




“Nothing, that’s why I am asking you.” She replied.




He was relieved, “General chat, we talked about the recent price hikes and he was talking about increasing the milk charges.”




“Again? He just increased the price a month ago!” Durga exclaimed.




“What can I do? Raising prices are not in my hands, if I were the finance minister then something could be done!” He joked.




Next day when Durga asked the milkman he told her that he didn’t come the other day to her house, there was another man who offered to do the job and paid him hundred rupees so he agreed. She asked Shiva about this but he didn't give a satisfying reply.

~*~

Durga remembered how many times the regular vegetable vendors, washer-man, milkman changed occasionally, giving health or some other reasons for their replacements. She never took it seriously but noted the fact that all of them would definitely meet Shiva before leaving under one or other pretext. 

Shiva would usually go for a long walk with Sikander, and never return before an hour. They would have talks which seemed normal but she barely understood its meaning. Shiva’s disappearance for weeks, the official tours would always be all of a sudden and he would hardly return on the day he told her, it would always be two days early, or a week late. 

But she never doubted him because she loved him and trusted him more than herself. Now she felt that he misused her trust and cheated her entire life. She cursed the day she agreed to marry him.

~*~

Twenty years ago,




College Sports Room,




“Durga,” Shiva said lovingly, “There is something that I need to tell you since I saw you for the first time.” 

Durga felt very awkward under his intense gaze, “Durga, you’re the most beautiful girl in this world. I want you to make my life as beautiful as you are.” 

He cupped her face, “Your face should be the last thing that I see every night and first thing I see every morning. I want you to wake me with the music of your bangles, and a steaming hot cup of tea made by you would make my day worth. I want you to complete me and stay with me till my last breathe, and I wish to die in your arms.” 

He took a dart and threw it at the dartboard, still looking into her eyes, “You are my life,” He threw another dart, “Will you be my wife?” He threw the third dart.




She stood flabbergasted as she looked that all the three darts hit the exact enter, he asked her again, “Will you marry me Durga?” She nodded her head slightly.

 

“I promise you that the next girl I’ll ever fall in love with will be the one to call you ‘Aai’.” He said earnestly.

~*~

Durga cried out as she realized that Shiva had been lying to her since the first time they met. He always told her that he was working in a government office as a clerk, but now the reality dawned up to her that he was not an ordinary clerk but a special R.A.W. agent. She felt deceived. Arjun tried to calm his mother.




Coelho asked Arjun, “What is your age?”




“Eighteen.” Arjun answered.




“When did all this start?” Durga asked.




Coelho said, “When Shiva was eighteen.” He turned to Arjun and asked, “What do you plan to become? What are your goals for your career?”




“I want to become a hockey player. I’ve been the captain of the state team and I have been selected for the nationals. In a year or two you might see me playing for Indian Hockey Team.” Arjun replied confidently. “But why are you asking that?”




Durga suddenly realised, “You want him in the department?” She yelled, “Why?? Killing my Shiva wasn’t enough that now you want my son? How could you even think of it?” She got hysterical, “No, I won’t allow you to take my son in the department! I won’t send him to die. You have already killed my Shiva and my Krishna, but not my Arjun, he is the only one I have, please I can’t loose my son.”




Coelho said calming her, “Mrs. Rawte, I understand your feelings and I am sorry for your loss but please try and understand that your son is gifted with a rare talent, don’t waste it. He could easily spot out fake Sikander, he has got all the characteristics of being a good agent, and if trained, he will outdo his father.” 

He turned to Arjun, “And don’t you want to avenge your father and sister’s death Arjun?”




Arjun looked at his mother, who was nodding her head in no, he could see fear in her eyes, “I will avenge my father and sister, sir. I am ready to join the department.” He said with extreme confidence.




“No, Arjun, I can’t let you die, please my son listen to me.” Durga pleaded.




“Aai, I can’t let those murderers roam around freely, I know what I am doing, please don’t stop me.” Arjun explained his mother.




“Arjun, we will start your training next week, you okay with it?” Coelho asked.




“I’m fine with it, sir.” Arjun agreed.




It was a new beginning.

~*^*~