“I WANT TO MOTHER YOU!”—A SHORT STORY! -------PART THREE

Story So Far. Refer to Links:-
(a) http://rajee.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/08/i-want-to-mother-you- a-short-story-part-one.htm
(b) http://rajee.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/08/i-want-to-mother-you- a-short-story-part-two.htm

Rajneesh dialed a number on his mobile. It rang. A soft, sweet and a polite voice responded,”Yes, this is Professor Manik Lal Sanyal of department of History of-----“
“Professor, I know you and you know me. No need for introduction. I am No1/1 of ‘M U One’. I need you to check into your archives on Operation ‘GAME OF THE FOXES’.” Rajneesh was snappy.
“No1/1 of MU One? I guess you are aware of the University rules. We do not allow anyone access to our archives without proper identification. Shoot your twenty digits Personal identification Number, PIN for short”, Professor Sanyal was firm and polite.
“All right professor. It is “07091950002130092006”
“Wait, I will come back.” professor Sanyal had commanded.
Rajneesh knew the process will take some time before professor Sanyal contacted him. Rajneesh wondered about his own coded identity of NASH. It was unique. Rajneesh had known this PIN by heart. It was easy to remember but very difficult for the uninitiated to understand it. The PIN was given to every NASH employee who left NASH or who chose a second career. NASH officer cadre never retired but became inactive after the age of sixty five. Executives went out at the age of forty five if they couldn’t make it to officer cadre. In fact everyone had an option to leave after ten years active service. After initial induction, the officer cadre was selected from within the organization based on the performance. Every failure fetched negative points; no matter how genuine was the cause of failure. The scale of –ve points depended on the nature and type of operation. The highest classification was EXCLUSIVELY SENSITIVE. Such an assignment was always given to the most trusted and out-performing EXECUTIVES. It had to be a hundred percent success—it was always closely monitored by NASH Director, MUSK Head and the NSA.
Rajneesh had opted out from the organization, when he was MUSK HEAD, but he was CO of the MUSK UNIT No 1, when Operation ‘Game of the Foxes’ was launched. He had vaguely remembered NASH director telling James and his operational team of Charmer NO 1, along with the selected Executive, that the success of the operation would greatly reduce ISI’s mischief making capacity in India. The selected EXECUTIVE was exclusively briefed on oath by NASH director. No one knew his exact mission. It was said that it involved the elimination of a top under world Don of India who was on the pay roll of ISI.
But somehow the operation had failed miserably. Though Rajneesh had saved James but the axe had fallen on the EXECUTIVE. James was disappointed after this. He had insisted that it was not the fault of his EXECUTIVE but he was up against the stringent rules. Failure in an EXCLUSIVELY SENSITIVE operation invited the harshest punishment. In this case, it went beyond all norms. He was to be executed. James had reluctantly carried out the orders but he had sought relief from the organization after this. He was allowed to go after he did his MBA and was helped to get a job in a top notch MNC at Chennai. He had also got involved in some social organizations. Rajneesh had settled down in social work too. Both of them were actively in communication with each other. Rajneesh was always on call to NASH as a consultant to MUSK head. He began to think about his association of 30 years with James.
He began wondering as to who could be behind orchestrated accident of PS James. Time and again, his ears were being blasted by the surprised words of James,”Oh, sir! It is the same old Game of The Foxes”. Why did James make this statement? The operation was aborted after orders had been given for the execution of the FOX. He was supposedly executed by the CHARMER directly working under James. It was confirmed by James. Thereafter he had left the organization. While he was wondering like this, his mobile rang and professor Sanyal was on the line.
Rajneesh answered, ”Yes, professor. Could you get something?”
“You answer first, ‘Shouldn't NIGHT be the DAY when it is EVENING? If so, what would you call the Morning?” Professor Sanyal shot a question.
Rajneesh was aware of this Challenging procedure of NASH to establish the real identity of the person trying to establish contact. The questions of ‘Identity Challenging Procedure’ were always baffling with red herrings. An ordinary recipient would be straight away confused. He took out his electronic diary. He looked at the answer to this question No 24. He shot back to the professor, “Part of the Day”.
“Repeat”, came professor’s voice.
“Part of the Day”, Rajneesh repeated.
“Did you say ‘Day’?” Professor was confirming.
“No, I said,’ PART OF THE DAY” Rajneesh corrected.
“Right, Rajneesh! You will be on the tour of the History of ‘Operation Game of the Foxes’. I caution you will be entering the most top secret corridor of information of a very very secret organization, which is officially non existent. You will have to guard it at all costs, even at the cost to your life. In case you want to withdraw even now, you are welcome” Professor Sanyal was warning.
“All right—No problem, professor, I will keep it to me, even if I have to lay down my life” Rajneesh assured.
“Right, your name is being registered as the recipient of this information. This should not be leaked at any cost. In case it does, you will meet your end like PS James.” Professor Sanyal had dropped a bombshell.
“What, what, What?” Rajneesh was fully shocked.
“ He had filed an affidavit in the Chennai High Court giving out certain details of the case, where he was being tried for the murder of HASHIM ALI on the suit filed by POACHERS ( People’s organization Against Civil and Human rights Embellishments by Repressive State).The POACHERS had filed the case on behalf of Hashim Ali’s parents. He had created a stir by telling the judge that Hashim Ali was not killed but still alive. He had blamed NASH for his disappearance. The judge’s PA was on our pay roll. We acted before he could further reveal anything. In fact, he would have almost exposed our most successful man in a Foreign Intelligence Agency. Rest of the details you can read in the document forwarded to you on your NASH e-Mail ID.” Professor Sanyal further disclosed.
“Wait, professor! Do you mean to say Hashim Ali is still alive? Then, what was the Game of the Foxes all about? ” Rajneesh became curious.
“You better read. You know nothing about Game of the Foxes. What you know is the cover story. It was planned that way. FOX was to fail by design by tipping off the foreign agency in advance. It was to establish FOX ‘s credibility with that agency.” Professor replied.
“But professor, orders for his execution and its accomplishment by Charmer One. What was that?” Rajneesh was perturbed.
“His Pakistani brother-in-law, Sabeena’s husband, became the victim of ‘Charmer One’ and he accordingly gave its confirmation of FOX’s execution. The foreign agency thinking of threat to his life moved HASHIM and his sister-in-law to Pakistan. Hashim’s wife Sakeena came to India as an alleged agent of the agency but worked for us. She was running that Sheela Devi trust in Chennai” Professor again surprised Rajneesh.
“And who was the poor victim who died in Hashim’s flat on 22 July 2003?” Rajneesh waited for another surprise
“It was your ‘Charmer One’ and his family knocked out by ISI as a revenge for Sabeena’s husband.” Professor was categorical.
“So, whole operation was designed that way. I need not read your document now or Do I?” Rajneesh was utterly shocked at such a crass ignorance even as a very high official in the organization.
“You better, Rajneesh. There is a lot in there for you to know. We have information that Sabeena’s husband’s elder brother’s daughter and her son are on your trail to seek revenge on you.” Professor had disclosed.
‘‘Sabeena’s husband’s elder brother’s daughter? How old is she?” Rajneesh was suddenly curious.
“Around thirty three or thirty four. She works for ISI. She has been spotted in Chennai.” Professor informed.
“Did she stay with Sakeena? Did Sakeena know about her?”Rajneesh questioned
“No, Sakeena alias Sheela did not know her. Her name is FATIMA. But it seems she had spoken to Sakeena on the phone three or four times and expressed her desire to meet her. Sakeena had kept this as a secret from the organization. We do suspect she might have visited her once or twice. You will find her snap in the document” Professor was giving out information.
“Thank you, professor. I am grateful.” Rajneesh said and cut off.
“So, it was Fatima, who had been sledging me on the blogs” Rajneesh thought. “It was Sakeena who was killed in that flat in Chennai by Fatima”, he began to analyse the situation. He was deeply depressed over the loss of James. But why did the organization do so? Why didn’t it fight this false case of murder against him, if it knew Hashim Ali was alive? What was that article on Sex Scandal in Chennai, linking James with all this non sense? What was his relationship with Sakeena? There was something fishy about Sakeena and her activities. What happened to Sabeena? Was all this a part of the operation? Where is Hashim Ali? Is he still alive? Who all will become victim of this game? He was totally confused.
While he was thinking of all this, suddenly a question came to his mind, “Am I myself safe? Oh, my God! I am also a dispensable commodity. I might be the next sacrificial goat to divert Sabeena’s son’s attention from the real killer of his father.” Rajneesh was getting disturbed and nervous. Then another thought sprang up in his mind, “Was this case of murder by the POACHERS on James a planted case by NASH? Yes, why not? Is he the next one to be roped in” This thought sent a shiver down his spine. He cursed himself for having volunteered out of the army to join this damn organization. “I WAS RIGHT: ONCE YOU ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF KILLING YOU ARE NEVER OUT OF IT” he reminded himself on his own oft stated quote. He began to look for a way out. He was not keen to read the document sent by Professor Sanyal. But he opened up his lap top. Logged on to the net and went straight to his NASH Mail. The document was there. He saw Fatima‘s photo. He could recognize her. She was the same lady who had met her the other day in Sangeetha’s Fast food joint in Chennai. He saw some other snaps of James, Hashim Ali and some others he did not recognize. Names were there but it meant nothing to him. He saw the report with a big caution. He started reading it:
EXCEPTIONALLY TOP SECRET
(One page only)
Caution: Information provided here is exclusively for your eyes only. Any leakage will be traced to you and you will be accordingly dealt with. Read on.
AFTER ACTION REPORT ON OPERAION ‘GAME OF THE FOXES’
“Operation ‘Game of the Foxes’ was aimed at infiltrating a mole in the intelligence agency of a hostile neighbor who had been creating deep troubles in India by inciting communal passions. The operation was planned in three phases. Phase One was an elaborate plan to knock out a top underworld don working for ISI. This task was given to a man called FOX. Phase Two was to tip off the ISI on the plan and gain their confidence. This too, was the job of FOX to win over the confidence of intelligence agency. Phase Three involved elimination of the primary actors of Phase One and Two spread over four to five years to establish the credibility of FOX. These targets were never disclosed by the Director of NASH. Phase one and two were successfully completed by May2003. They say killing of Charmer one and his family was concurrent with the launching of Phase Three. It was not called off as yet. ------------------------------------------“
Rajneesh did not have to read further. Having in the organization for 15 years, he knew what was happening. Phase Three was still on and Hashim Ali was somewhere in Pakistan and calling on the shots. But why did he go against James? Did James know his new role? He again began to search for the clues in report sent by Sanyal.
“FOX was taken to Pakistan by ISI. He revealed a number of RAW operatives in Pakistan but not the NASH. They were all arrested and tortured. Some of them died and some were facing court cases for spying. Some had been sentenced to die by the courts. It was a major success of ISI at home. He became an instant hero. To further establish his credibility, he secretly married Sabeena without Sakeena’s knowledge and approval, but with the tacit understanding of NASH director. He also applied and obtained Pakistani nationality with ISI clout.
In the mean while, his wife Sakeena moved to India as a widow. NASH had financially helped her. But she was also recruited by the ISI. She settled in Chennai as Sheela Devi. One day she came across James in Chennai. As an obligation to her supposedly late husband, James helped her set up a trust which became famous as a SHEELA DEVI POOR WOMEN’s WELFARE TRUST. She used James to send money to Hashim’s parents at Madurai.
Sometimes, in January 2008, Fatima established contacts with her. Through her she came to know of her husband’s second marriage to Sabeena. This had upset her. She told James about Hashim being alive and married to Sabeena. This brought them close. Fatima knew this and she exploited her. At the same time, Fatima informed Hashim Ali on Sakeena’s relationship with James. Hashim Ali alerted ISI on James past. Thus Fatima was asked to eliminate her. In the mean while NASH director was tipped of by Hashim Ali on the likely fall out of all this.’ Nash’ agents approached Hashim’s parents and POACHERS to fix James in a murder case. When this case was filed in May 2008, James approached NASH director and told him that he had known the real truth on HASHIM ALI and he would expose this if the case was not withdrawn. --------------------------------------------“
Rajneesh did not want to read further. He knew there will be all lies now. NASH will justify all killings. “Who next?” he thought. He decided to vacate his house next day and told his wife to go to her ancestral place at Karnal in Haryana. He slept that night. He slept like a dead log because he did not get up till a police inspector woke them up at 11 O’clock next morning. The police inspector was accompanied a police party from New Delhi. When his wife told him that Police had come to talk to him, he wondered on the efficiency of Chennai police but he was in for a shock when told of Delhi police. “Why Delhi police”, he asked himself. But inspector Desh Raj of Delhi police set the ball rolling by asking the question, “Sir, do you know Professor ML Sanyal of Delhi?”
“Of course, What about him” Rajneesh replied.
“We want to talk about him. He is NO MORE-- Killed by some motorbike riders. 20 bullets were pumped into his body when he was walking on the pavement near his house in Lodi Garden.” Inspector Desh Raj broke the sad news.
“What? But why?” he knew the question was useless. How could they answer him? But why did they come to him?
“Sir, we do not know. We are just investigating. We checked calls on his mobile. We found he made a last call to you yesterday and it was unusually a long call” Inspector Desh Raj revealed.
“Yes, we talked---well, it was purely a private matter” Rajneesh tried to wave them away.
“Sir, how did you know him?” Desh raj asked a clever question.
“Well! We were just friends.” Rajneesh was circumventing.
“You must be very good friends to have talked for 45 minutes on a very very private matter, Sir?” Inspector Desh Raj chided.
“What do you mean?” Rajneesh queried.
“In that case, I have arrest warrants for you and you will have to accompany us to New Delhi. We suspect you are involved in his murder” Desh Raj had given his authoritative command.
Before Rajneesh could say anything he was pulled out of the house and put into the waiting police van. His wife did not know what happened. It was all done suddenly and the van disappeared. Rajneesh was reminded of the days he had the authority. These inspectors were too small a fry but they were the officers in charge. They had a job to do. They had headed straight for Delhi.
Mrs. Rajneesh rang up everywhere but no one knew where Rajneesh was? Chandigarh police had raised its hands. She read a news item in the Tribune the next day. It read:
“A senior retired army officer was arrested by Delhi police yesterday from his house in Industrial Area Phase2, Chandigarh. Officer was suspected to be involved in the alleged murder of a renowned professor of history of Delhi University. The professor was killed by motorbike riding gunmen while taking a walk near his house. It is said the professor had last talked to this retired army officer for 45 minutes. The police has been provided the relevant details by the mobile telephone company.
It has also been learnt from reliable sources that the officer was also involved in flesh trade and espionage in Chennai. Earlier his friend in Chennai, an ex army officer, was killed by some unknown persons. This officer ran flesh trade business through him. It is learnt on the day of the death of his friend in Chennai, he was seen in a Chennai restaurant with a female in Nungambakkam area. Chennai police is also looking for him. The female is supposed to be the kingpin of espionage network in India. She had a hand in the killing of a social worker, Mrs. Sheela Devi of Chennai—a renowned socialite of Chennai. ----------“

There was no news of Rajneesh for the next 15 days. Mrs. Rajneesh had learnt through her sympathizers in the NASH that Rajneesh was taken to Chennai for some investigations. She was told that NASH was providing all possible help to get him acquitted. Then in the evening Mrs. Tara Sharma, Col Vinod Sharma’s wife, came to her house with her husband. They were the neighbors. They looked very grim and serious. Mrs. Tara Sharma asked her to watch AAJ TAK News Channel, which was breaking some news on CHENNAI SEX and ESPIONAGE SCANDAL. TV was switched on. Rightly the Chennai correspondent was giving description of the scandal. Suddenly, Mr. Asish Chaudhary, the news anchor of the story remarked, “------------And the king pin of this racket of espionage and sex scandal, Mr. Rajneesh Singh, an ex Colonel of Indian army, committed suicide by jumping in front of the train this afternoon, while being taken to the court by Chennai police for double murder charges-----------------------.”
There was stunned silence in the room and Mrs. Rajneesh fainted. TV channel was showing flashes of the dead body but no one was watching anymore. No one was even caring for the boasts of the AAJ TAK anchor that these photos were being exclusively shown on their channel alone. They had sensational news and they were breaking it. World will never know the truth.----the real truth.