A tensed Monday morning in Raw headquarters, New Delhi. The ongoing whispers were mostly welcomed at the event, because no one had any idea why the secretary of the staff had called the meeting so urgent. Head fixed on the surveillance logs, and reports played on the screen still didn't able to pacify the omnipresent need to guess the subject of this meeting.
In his office, Shankar Srivastava, the secretary of Intelligence Bureau, was sitting patiently on his chair with a cup of tea in his hand. Eyes so keen and sharp even at the age of sixty, were fixed miserably on the folder in front of him.
The joint secretary of the staff was also there, but he preferred standing and watching the life going outside these glass walls. Only one way visible, like the life itself. The pale sunlight of the morning sun may have lighted the world outside, but still, it had no approach inside these glass walls, where dark secrets were found and hidden before they would able to catch the light of this world. A pleasant irony in themselves.
Almost waiting for ten minutes, the front door handle finally turned open, and the deputy chief entered with a file in his hand. A stout build man of forty-five years old with intimidating height. Where nothing else was needed to explain his prolific personality, his height was enough to explain the outstanding achievements he had gained in his life. From the field officer to the rank of the deputy, wasn't a daily achievement in anybody's career.
However, with a brief nod to the senior secretary, he took his position on the table in front of him.
"Sorry for coming late," he said, and drank the glass of water to moisten his dry throat.
"Tea?" Mr. Srivastava offered.
And with the slightest shake of his head, he politely declined, and laid the folder in front of him. Work first, after all.
"This is all the information you asked. I checked the older documents and this is what I've got," he said, and pushed the black file folder toward him.
"Thank you, Mr. Goel," Mr. Srivastava said, and laid the cup on the other side of the table. Away from the paperwork.
At that moment, the joint secretary Mr. Shankar also joined him in the discussion, waiting for the Pandora box to be opened and satisfy his anxiety for this urgent meeting.
Mr. Goel opened the folder carefully and laid the photos in front of him with sheets of paper attached to them.
"Rais Ashraf," said Mr. Srivastava, drawing everyone's attention.
While studying the contents of the paper, something clicked in Mr. Shankar's mind. He at once dropped the file on the table and stared at the secretary's solemn face. The Mona Lisa smile on his pursed lips made it all clear 'he' was what he had been thinking for a while.
"Is he—
"Yes, Mr. Shankar, he is the one," Mr. Srivastava said, rising from his seat. "He is the same Rais Ashraf we have lost in raid five years back. Last night I got the report, he had been sighted in the Bardoli area of Kashmir."
Mr. Goel and Mr. Shankar stared blankly at the secretary's face. They had no idea why the hell was someone, who had barely escaped from the clutches of the military once, would want to come back. Though it was the brilliant plan, enough to crawl their brains.
At last, watching their faces shocked enough; Mr. Srivastava decided to carry on further.
"Actually he is the one who has seen the real Ivan Malik. He is his right-hand man and performs all the operations related to transactions, and fixing deals. And there is something more I have heard too. They have the important data about the Russian armed forces and supply illegal weapons in all over Europe, especially our enemies. So…"
He waited for a moment to let them grasp the information.
"All I left to say is, he is the one we need to find the real Ivan Malik, and especially without coming in his radar, otherwise the real Ivan Malik will never come in our hands and we'll lose this chance forever."
Mr. Goel nodded solemnly, his eyes still fixed on the photographs on the table.
"I'm sure about that but the main question is: What is he doing in India? If he is so important then SVR must have information about him."
Yeah, that was something he needed to find yet. Scratching his eyebrows in mild irritation, he surveyed the files for a further clue in this matter.
The video playing on the screen showed his recent whereabouts and the last location he'd been traced, and all of them related to a Bardoli village in Kashmir, as an ultimate destination.
"I'm looking for further information on that matter. I have already alerted the Kashmiri forces of our department to collect further information about him, without raising any suspicion."
Goel looked at his senior secretary unknowingly; this was not, what he'd needed at this moment. There was already enough tension in the valley, and god forbid if he was somehow related to the militant activity in the area. He knew it already he was an arms dealer and had great knowledge about drugs and medicine. As his presence in that area had indicated this as the first reason. But whatever, he couldn't put his stamp on this theory yet. More information was required to establish an efficient relation. To set up a trap for a target.
"Mr. Goel," senior secretary muttered, "keep this matter out of the hands of the Kashmiri field department. Send our own special agents to solve this matter beforehand. I don't want any complications in this matter. Fewer people, less suspicion. And if he is in the valley…" he said, raising Rais Ashraf's photo in his hand. "Then he must have help to save him."
He emphasized the word 'help' more strongly than it should have said in a normal conversation. Which explained greater meanings. Mr.Goel had the suspicion himself like this but he kept his mouth shut the whole time.
"I heard, Mr. Goel, he is a greatest manipulator and has the talent to hide behind faces, like normal civilians. You can't point a finger at him. So, beware about that also."
"Yes sir, I am informed about that. He has lived in India before so it won't be difficult for him to speak languages and mimic daily activities, but I'm sure he must have a weakness. Every man has."
Mr. Srivastava smirked at his suggestion.
"Then find someone, who will fit in this category to complete this mission," he murmured, as he rose from his seat and stood in front of the large window to watch the pale light falling on the leaves of the trees nearby.
"We can't make any mistake in this. If there arises a single suspicion, ever, then forget any clue about this real Ivan Malik. He has to come out in open. And we need to make sure of that."
Mr. Srivastava and Mr. Goel, who had lost themselves in a trans-state, both finally stood up and shook hands with him. "We'll inform you in this matter soon. I'll do whatever it takes to complete this mission successfully."
"Thank you, Mr. Goel. I expected the same from you."
And with that, Mr. Goel and Mr. Shanker left the office to recruit their agents for this important job.