Prakash, Ajay, Pulkit and Sagar got downstairs in a hurry to get back to their dorm. The luck they had was that any time there was a head count, their dorm was always the last to be checked which they knew very well. Sagar had advised they stop their mission and head back to their dorm earlier before.
Downstairs, Sagar began to panic, the main door to the office building was locked. We in big trouble and if we don't get back to the dorm before the headcount reaches there, we would be rusticated from the military, Pulkit said in worry. What do we do now? Ajay asked. Prakash thought for few minutes, then he recalled that the military office building had vents, just like every building in the military base, they could use it to get out.
He quickly mentioned it to them, they all agreed without any second opinion because at this point, they could literally pass through fire just to get to the military dorm on time. They took the elevator, no not to the first floor but to the 3rd and last floor. On getting there, Ajay suddenly said after thinking few minutes ago.
I have another idea guys, instead of going all the way to get Kunj, risking our lives even further all the way to another dorm and going through more vents like criminals to fetch him, and coming back here, why don't we just go back to the first floor, take the vent on that floor, get to General Bharat's office, save the guest generals, take the vent back together with them and escape?
Hmmm that is a brilliant idea Kunj, indeed four good soldiers' heads are better than one general's coconut head, Prakash commended Ajay. Nice idea Ajay, Pulkit said. Kudos to you Ajay but time is going, great but we should do that quickly, Sagar said. Thanks guys, Ajay mentioned, they all moved.
The four of them headed back and through the vent on the first floor, they were able to enter General Bharat's office. They entered and found the 3 guest generals unconscious with their hands and legs tied. Their mouths were ducked taped so they won't be able to call for help when they gain consciousness.
Prakash, Ajay and Pulkit quickly untied each general while Sagar entered the mini bathroom to get water. Sagar sprinkled the water on each of them. after a while they regained consciousness. The 3 guest generals decided to fight their saviors unknowingly to them. Their first instinct was to fight and escape, the first time they were caught unawares, this time, they decided to defend themselves.
Prakash, Ajay and Pulkit were skillful too, in fact they had trained so much that they were at the same level as the 3 guest generals. As the guest generals attacked them, they defended themselves without attacking back. Sagar on the other hand sat and watched as the battle went back and forth. He only intervened few times when his buddies were almost knocked down while defending themselves only.
After the attack and defense subsided, Prakash was able to convince them to calm down that they meant no harm, Ajay told them they were there to save them, Pulkit informed them that they risked their lives here to help them out, then Sagar mentioned that his buddies are right, that they should look at the vent, they should all be heading out and not fighting them.
The 3 guest generals stopped attacking, one of them then asked, why should we trust you? the second one said, you could be one of them, then the 3rd mentioned, you could be deceiving us. Sagar went to the door and tried to open it, see generals, it is locked, we came through the vent to save you.
At this point, Prakash signaled his buddies; they all saluted the generals military style, they accorded the generals the respect. Generals, with all due respect, we mean no harm, we are the good guys, it's a curfew night, head counts are going on as we speak, Prakash spoke up. Generals, please do come with us through the vents, all doors are locked, Ajay said.
Generals, do take our word, we uphold the military code to do right by you, Pulkit spoke up. Generals, we come clean, Sagar said and brought out his pockets, his buddies also did the same. Alright you all sound convincing, when we get out we would need an explanation how we ended being tied up here, the first guest general spoke, if we find out you deceived us, we would see you all are rusticated from the military, the second spoke, lead the way the third spoke.
Prakash, Ajay, Pulkit and Sagar entered the vent first before the 3 guest generals, they got out of the first floor, entered the elevator and headed for the third and last floor, the windows were protected, it was a no go area for escape. They all entered the vent in the third and last floor. Prakash spotted a long pole, used for antennas, it was a few distance away.
Prakash jumped first, got hold of it and slides down the pole, Ajay, Pulkit, Sagar and the 3 guest generals followed suit. Prakash pleaded with the 3 guest generals, that they should keep a low profile for now, if word got out that they escaped from the office so soon, the real criminals would be able to escape and then they would get into trouble.
At this point the 3 guest generals had been successfully convinced by Prakash and his buddies that they meant no harm, so they cooperated. They all got back to the dorm after a while. They told the 3 generals to stay outside for few minutes, they should stay at the back door. When they see the guard soldiers leave their post, that should be their cue to come in quickly.
Each of the soldiers went inside the same way they came out. They walked in normally and avoided acting suspiciously successfully. The four of them met at their dorm doors. Their rooms were after each other. Prakash and Ajay told Pulkit and Sagar to go in, they would handle bringing in the 3 guest generals.
Pulkit and Sagar wished them luck, and entered their rooms. Prakash and Ajay headed to the back door. They knocked one of the rooms on their way, the soldiers in that room thought it was time for the head count, they opened the door quickly, got disappointed, one of them asked what Prakash and Ajay wanted that they should head back to their rooms.
It was almost headcount, no soldier should be found wandering the corridors otherwise would be punished severely. Prakash was able to convince them that one of them should lie unconscious, he would get the guard soldiers to help, when they come, he should wake up but delay in waking up. At first they did not agree, but later agreed, one of them had asked what was in it for them. Prakash replied that him and his buddies would teach them a few tricks in the field, so they can perform well for the drill the next day.
Their team had not been doing well lately, so they decided to agree, they wanted to make the Indian troops like every other soldier that would make it. That was how one of the soldier in that room acted unconscious, and if asked what happened, the dorm mate would would say he fell unconsciously. Prakash and Ajay went ahead towards the back door. Prakash diverted to the bathroom, hid very well, he made sure he was not seen. Then Ajay proceeded to the two guard soldiers.
On getting there, he acted to be panicking, he quickly told them they should help, that a soldier had fainted. He could not call the paramedics because it was a curfew night, so he decided to call them. The guard soldiers without thinking, rushed and asked him to take them where the soldier who fainted was. As they left, one of them asked what he was doing in the room of the other soldier when it was a curfew night.
Ajay smartly answered that he needed to go, he needed to use the restroom quickly before the headcount process starts. The guard soldiers believed him. He took them to the room of the soldier that was lying unconscious in his room. As soon as Ajay and the guard soldiers were out of sight, Prakash quickly went to the back door, he saw the 3 guest generals, running towards the door.
Prakash was able to get the 3 guest generals to his room. As soon as Prakash closed the door, after they all entered his room, the guard soldiers came out of the room of the soldier that was unconscious but now had woken up. Ajay followed suit. Ajay forgot he was supposed to use the restroom to wee. After they came out, he decided to go to back to his room.
Soldier, one of the guard soldier called him and asked, were you not headed to the restroom earlier on? Why are you going back to your room now? Oh yes guard soldier, I was so tensed up before, I would head there now. Hope you are not mentally retarded? the second guard rhetorically asked. Ajay kept mute and headed to the restroom while the guard soldiers went back to their post.
Ajay entered and decided to urinate for real, he was not pressed but he did wee a little when he tried. He urinated, flushed the toilet and washed his hands. On his way back, the senior soldiers (have higher ranks than a normal soldier) but lesser rank than the generals, that were responsible for the headcount entered the lobby. He was not supposed to be outside of his room at that time.
Cease him one of them said. He pleaded and tried to explain that there was an emergency, so he came out, they would not give him a listening ear. As they carried him away, to be thrown into the military dungeon and released the next day after much torture. A voice came from behind. It so happened that the guard soldiers in the dorm at the back door heard the commotion and decided to check.
Let him go soldier, one of the guard soldier for his dorm explained how he tried to save the life of another soldier. Ajay was released and sent back to his room, with a warning never to be found outside his room anymore on curfew days. Next time he would be thrown inside the dungeon, even if he was trying to save the major general. He was a first time offender so he was pardoned and released.
He acknowledged the warning and fled to his room. He entered, locked the room and found only Prakash inside. He looked around with a questioning look. In the vent. Prakash pointed to the vent without uttering a word. The walls have ears, the headcount soldiers were already around. Ajay nodded his head and tireless laid on his bed. Prakash was already resting at the top bunk of their bunk bed.
The head count started from room to room. Soon it was Pulkit and Sagar's room, next it became Prakash and Ajay's room. Prakash and Ajay stood up right and saluted their seniors. 3 senior soldiers entered inside their room. After checking no soldier was missing, one checked their drawers, the second checked their bunks and around the room, the third scanned the room from top to bottom.
His eyes met with the vent that was slightly opened. The 3 guest generals did a bad job at closing the vent properly. Prakash was more interested in Ajay coming back to the room without being caught, he did not take note of the slightly opened vent.
The third soldier proceeded to checking the vent without altering a word to Prakash and Ajay. As he climbed Prakash's bunk, Prakash and Ajay swallowed their saliva hard. What saved them was that their nervousness was well hidden, the senior soldiers did not notice anything strange about them. The third senior soldier opened the vent, looked to the right and left, but found nothing strange.
He came down and made a may day call to another senior soldier outside to check the vent leading to the outside of the dorm, for signs of the vent being opened at any time. Few minutes later, he got a call back that the vent was intact that there was no cause for alarm. He went to Prakash and Ajay, studied them from their head to their toes.
He walked slightly away from them, signaled the first senior soldier, who in turn got Prakash and Ajay on their knees with a baton. The he spoke, this should not repeat it self, the vent should be properly closed at all times. No going in and out of the vent. Am I clear?
Sir yes sir, Prakash and Ajay responded firmly. He pointed to Prakash, close the vent properly now. Sir yes sir, he replied, got up with pains which he did not make obvious, he is a soldier and needed to behave like one and not a sissy. Prakash closed the vent properly and went back on his knees. The 3 senior soldiers left the room and carried on with the head count in other rooms.