The next morning, Rao sat in his office, a sterile, unassuming room buried deep within the R&AW headquarters.
Despite its simplicity, the room was the nerve center of India's covert operations, and Rao occupied the seat of its mastermind.
A cup of steaming black coffee rested on his desk, untouched.
His sharp eyes scanned the stack of classified reports and intelligence briefs laid out before him.
America's civil rights movement was at the forefront of his mind.
The reports painted a vivid picture of a nation grappling with its contradictions.
Peaceful protests, fiery speeches, and grassroots organizing filled the streets, but underneath the optimism were tensions fractures within the movement, frustrations at the slow pace of change, and a growing impatience among more militant factions.
Rao tapped his pen against the desk, his mind racing.
