Jai Uncle can't be dead! She got so used to calling him as Nanda Sir nowadays, that it took her such a shocking incident to recall her real relationship with the man she loved, more than her parents!

Sharmila refused to believe that he was gone. She kept staring into his face, blocking out the ugly hole in the middle of his forehead. He seemed fast sleep, just like every other time he dozed off in front of the T V in their home, during his visits. Her phone kept ringing but she didn't answer. Monty answered on her behalf and made quick phone calls to all the relevant people.

She staggered around the car and collapsed next to Victor, and tried to calm her chaotic nerves. But watching his face and his ragged breath made her more guilty and helpless. She and Monty have undergone rigorous training on how to deal with situations like this, but she realized how ill prepared she was, and how badly they failed in their mission. How could they let this happen? They failed to protect Victor and even worse, they lost their father like figure and boss. At least Monty had an excuse, but she could have done more. Maybe she should have run after Victor, covering him and then all this wouldn't have happened. She has no right to call herself an IB agent anymore!!

Sharmila wasn't sure how long she sat, lost in her thoughts with an unfocused gaze. Something odd caught her eye. Victor's shoe laces were undone and one of the shoes was coming off. He must have run for his life so desperately when the gunman attacked him. She gently pushed the shoe back in position and tied the shoe laces. The mud from the boots stuck to her hands and she rubbed it away on her jeans. Her head was hurting so badly as she tried to control the tears and anger that were bubbling inside her. Why couldn't Victor listen to Nanda Sir and contact him, just for once? She and Monty tried so hard to convey the message to Victor and she was sure Victor knew it too. All this could have been avoided if it wasn't for his stubborn and rogue attitude. She got up slowly and moved away, as she couldn't bear to look at Victor's face anymore. The backup team was with them in no time and thankfully an ambulance arrived within five minutes.

Ajit Duval, Deputy Director and colleague of JP Nanda called Sharmila and Monty separately to offer his condolences and support. His deep baritone voice felt very reassuring to Sharmila and she muttered her thanks. He assured them that he was on his way to Goa, but strictly told them not to divulge anything to local police or any other investigating officer till he joined them, and they both gladly agreed.

They both knew how precarious the whole situation was. They had no clue who called Nanda Sir informing him about the threat to Victor's life, and their mission to keep surveillance on Victor was completely unofficial. How could they explain their presence to any investigating officer here? And they still had no idea who the criminals were, who shot dead their director and grievously injured their senior colleague.

The isolated villa and the street was now swarming with personnel from local police, forensics, investigating officers from CID and IB.
Forensics quickly took pictures of Victor and his surroundings and collected samples of evidence before letting Paramedics examine Victor.

As paramedics attended to Victor, Sharmila briefly explained to them whatever little she knew of the injuries Victor sustained. As she watched Victor put on a stretcher and taken away in an ambulance, an inexplicable anger and resentment rose inside her. But before she could lash out, one of the paramedics started fussing around her and Monty, checking for injuries.

Paramedics cleaned up Monty's injuries and bandaged the wounds, and he was forced to rest on a wheel chair, much against his protests. They forced Sharmila too to sit on a chair, away from the crime scene and gave them both some painkillers and refreshments. She didn't realize how parched her throat was, till she gulped down some water. One of the officers in uniform who were waiting to interview them, confirmed that a team of police officers accompanied the ambulance to guard Victor. But before they could proceed with their interview, the Police Commissioner of Goa, along with IB director Ajit Duval arrived.

As soon as Ajit Duval arrived, he spoke briefly with the preliminary investigation team, came straight to meet Sharmila and Monty and shook their hands stiffly. His stern face, and sharp eyes hooded in thick eyebrows were intimidating to say the least, till he began to speak.

"I can't tell you how sad I am. I mean... not just sad, but furious. Some bloody criminal shot JP dead and has left one of our best agents in serious condition! It is just unbelievable!! I know both of you must be feeling devastated, especially you Ms Sethi, considering JP is your family. But let me assure you, whoever did this, we will get him and their whole gang." He spoke in a low deep voice with his hands folded behind his back.

Sharmila had to stretch her neck just look up at Duval Sir. He was the tallest person she came across. With broad shoulders, heavy body and stiff mannerisms, he somehow reminded Sharmila of the gentle Iron Giant character from her childhood, that she was so fond of.

"Ms Sethi, we have never met but I know JP too well. He was an extremely valuable leader, who mentored so many new recruits and built such a great team. But more importantly he was a great person who treated everyone around him with love and respect."

Sharmila just nodded her head and looked at her feet as Monty studied her with mixture of worry and sympathy.

"Yes, Sir. As new agents, Nanda Sir was the best boss we could ever have. He used to give us so many tips and ideas on how to do surveillance and communication."

Ajit nodded his head sympathetically while his gaze still remained on Sharmila.

"Sir, please don't mind Sharmila. She is still in shock, I think." Monty tried to explain.

"I don't mind at all. Everyone has a unique way of dealing with trauma. And most of the time, especially in cases like this, we find true closure only when the culprit is caught. And for that, I must know what exactly happened. Can you both come with me, so that we can continue talking  inside my car." Ajit led them towards his car.

As soon as Monty took few steps he cursed in low breath and bent down to remove his shoe. Sharmila stopped and waited on him.

"This tiny stone Aaargh! it was so sharp and it hurt a lot!" Monty showed the tiny piece of gravel that was stuck inside his shoe and threw it away and Sharmila felt like laughing, even in that dismal situation. Monty didn't utter a word when he was bleeding earlier with such serious injuries, but now he was complaining about a tiny rock!

"What's the matter?" asked Ajit as he turned around.

"Hmm nothing Sir." Both of them hurried to join him, and once they were comfortably seated in his car, Ajit prompted them again to explain why they were here and what happened.

Before Monty could speak, Sharmila interrupted him. She wasn't sure how effectively Monty could lie, and she couldn't afford any slip up which might show her uncle in a bad light.

"Monty, May I speak first? Sir, we both worked as part of the surveillance team during the joint intelligence operation when the IS operators were nabbed in Delhi. But our main job was to provide security to Victor. Once the mission was over, we went back to our normal desk jobs and helped Nanda Sir on small surveillance tasks for other senior agents. Just few days ago, Nanda Sir got information that Victor was on a lone man mission to expose some high-profile drug cartels in Mumbai. He tried in vain to contact Victor to request him not to pursue such dangerous missions on his own, but wasn't able to. So, he called both of us to tail Victor again and find out what he was up to, and stop Victor if we can. We arrived here in Goa just yesterday as one of our contacts in Mumbai told us that he was in Goa. Within few hours, the news of Bicholim coup was all over the media. We went to Bicholim looking for him, and spoke to few villagers too. Few hours ago, we met Nanda Sir and updated him about our progress. Shortly after out meeting finished, he received a call from someone warning him about the planned ambush on Victor in this guesthouse. Nanda Sir never wanted either of us to accompany him here, but we insisted that we would, as we couldn't risk him going all by himself." It took her all her energy and will power to face Ajit Duval's penetrating gaze and still lie convincingly, but she did it.

And Monty followed her cue and continued. "Yes Sir, Nanda Sir did call for a backup team, but he was worried that Victor might be in danger before the rescue team arrives, so he kind of rushed here and brought us along. And the moment we came here, all hell broke loose."

"So, JP never told you who alerted him about the trap laid out for Victor here?" Ajit asked sharply.

"No Sir, all he said that he was sure that the person was telling him the truth. Perhaps you can check his phone records. But I couldn't see his phone anywhere near him." Monty pointed out.

"Hmm... we will find out. But Monty, first tell me what happened when you arrived here."

"We asked Nanda Sir to stay back in the car and reached this gate. We checked the cameras, the fencing and the security screen at the gate, and understood that we can only get in if someone lets us in. Just as were wondering what to do, the power went off and within a few moments we heard a bullet shot right near the gate, smashing of the glass and someone running. Sharmila went down the side lane while I climbed the gate. It was pitch dark Sir. I blindly jumped and landed on the driveway and rolled over, but there was no one there. The front door to the villa was open and I could see the faint light from a mobile screen. I went inside, gun ready, but couldn't see anyone inside. Thanks to the light from the mobile, I could make out that it was a big room with stairs to the left and a door at the other end. I wanted to check the mobile, but just then, I heard noises upstairs, so I went there."

"Oh!! So, you didn't get the mobile?" Ajit asked.
"No Sir, I know I made a big mistake, and it wasn't just the mobile. The moment I went upstairs, I was ambushed Sir, because for the next few minutes I was literally ducking behind whatever I could feel in the dark, as two different people kept shooting at me. I tried to shoot back at them couple of times too, but they kept moving around. Just then, I heard AK 47 going off from the back end of the Villa, and I became so worried for Victor and Sharmila. I wanted to help both of them and tried my best to get out of there, but they kept shooting at me. I thought I was lucky to have escaped all the gunshots, but now that I had some time to reflect on it, I think that they were just trying to stall me and not kill me."

"Hmm... interesting. Do you think they weren't expecting you or was this all part of a plan?"

"All along I thought that they were not expecting us Sir. But then the question remains why didn't they try to kill me? And why shoot Nanda Sir? Did they know who we were? If they did, and still killed Nanda Sir, then they must be totally ruthless or stupid because now they will be hunted down by ten different agencies and not just the local police."

"My thoughts exactly. So, how did you escape then?"

"I was out of bullets soon, and ran blindly into an adjacent room to protect myself, but someone locked the door behind me. I couldn't hear anything for some time. Luckily, I managed to escape through the door at the other end which opened into a balcony and come back to the main room. I heard more gunshots coming from the street, and as I was trying to find my way towards the stairs, someone pushed me so hard that I rolled down the stairs and ended up in the middle landing. But before I could recover, they followed me down and pushed me again. My head hit the railing and I literally saw stars in my eyes. I felt too dizzy to get up for few minutes even though I kept hearing voices and cars driving off. I somehow managed to walk out of the villa and reach the front gate. Nanda Sir's car was there and next to it was Sharmila with Victor in her lap, and then on the other side of the car..." Monty paused with quivering lips.

Sharmila laid her hand on Monty's shoulders and squeezed it lightly. "Sorry Sharmi, we couldn't save your Uncle!" Monty whispered. Sharmila shook her head gently.

"I want you both to understand this clearly! For someone who is so new to the service, you both have done exceptionally well. Please don't let this experience demoralize your spirits. Just take it as a lesson, something that you need to learn from and move on. I know whatever I am saying now, won't appeal to you much, but upsets and setbacks like this are part and parcel of our jobs, please remember that. Now Ms Sethi, can you tell me what happened at your end?" Ajit prompted.

Haltingly, amid several pauses, as Ajit pressed her for every minute detail, Sharmila recalled everything that happened from the time she broke the side gate to enter the backyard of the Villa, till she ran back after hearing the car drive out in the side-lane.

"Apart from that Tanvir guy, did you see any other attackers?"

"No Sir, I just heard gun shots and that voice in the end who asked Tanvir to make a run for it. The guy at the gate who shot at me in the end, I could hardly look at him as I was ducking for cover."

"Hmm. So, there was Tanvir with AK47, the two guys who Monty was fighting with, and more guys who attacked Victor and shot JP."

"Now I want both of you to think carefully and answer this. Can you recognise any of those guys? And more importantly, do you think they have seen your faces?" Ajit asked sharply.

Monty's response was prompt. "Sir, I don't think I can! The room was pitch dark and except for the brief flare when the gunshots were fired, I had no idea where those two guys were, let alone see them. All I could feel later was, the guy who pushed me down the stairs, was a young and strong guy. I can still remember the touch of his rough hand around my neck, and he probably was the same height as me. I honestly don't know if they saw my face. But my gut feeling is they probably did"

Sharmila cleared her throat nervously. "Sir, I saw the guy who was chasing Victor with the AK47 and I am confident that I can ID him. But I am equally sure that he too saw me." Sharmila held her breath as she watched the varying expressions on Monty and Ajit Duval's faces.

"I was afraid of that. And as your boss, it is my responsibility to keep you safe. Because you two will be the next targets of these criminals and your life will be in as much danger as Victor's. But that's Okay. We will beef up your security. From now onwards, you two will go off the radar completely. You will be taken directly to a safe house from here. Two excellent agents from our internal investigations team have come along with me and they will be your only contact from now onwards. I have spoken to the state Commissioner, and just like me he is keen to suppress details of everything that happened tonight, because this is a huge embarrassment to their department. Your official records will not show any details of your presence here in Goa or any other activities you have done for JP. In fact, I will make sure that your details as IB agents will also be put in code red and won't be accessible to anyone even within our Organisation."

Monty and Sharmila looked at each other and reached the inevitable conclusion.

"Because this must be an inside job." Sharmila voiced her thoughts aloud.

"Well, all the evidence points that way. As far as I know, no one knew how Victor looked. How could an external person or gang managed to get him here? And the phone call that JP got!! It just doesn't make sense unless it must be from someone who knew both Victor and JP and that narrows it down to someone in our Organisation." Ajit sighed.

"Monty, please speak to your family and say your good byes for the time being because you won't be seeing or talking to them for a while. Ms Sethi, I am afraid this means that..." Ajit looked crestfallen and apologetic.

"I understand Sir. I can't be with my family right now. Trust me Sir, I don't feel like showing my face to them either. In fact, I have decided to resign from my job as well." Sharmila's voice shook for the first time.

"Now now... this is not the time to think of such things. We need you and Monty to help us catch these bastards. You can decide on your future once we put these criminals behind bars. Till then I am afraid, we are in this together, whether you like it or not. And I am sure you want that to happen right?"

"Yes Sir, I do."

"Thank you Sharmila, trust me when I say this, JP was like my family too. And when we lose someone in our family, we bond closer and share our burden, right? So, please let me help you." Ajit Duval stretched out his hand and Sharmila took it hesitantly.

"Let's go and meet Rajiv and Nandini, who will be taking care of you both." Ajit gently led Sharmila out of the car and Monty followed them.

****
Arunya balanced the two coffee cups along with the wallet and mobile in her hands, as she slowly walked back to the hospital waiting room. Her mother Nirmala got up from her chair, and took the coffee cups from her.

They both sat next to each other in the cold and dark room outside the ICU ward in the Army Hospital.

"Was the doctor here?" Arunya asked again, even though she knew the answer.

"No, Aru. But the duty doctor has gone to fetch him. I saw the nurse and the duty doctor having some worried discussions before. They have closed the curtains all around his bed now. I couldn't see anything even through the ICU door.

"Do you think he will survive the night?" Arunya asked bluntly as she sipped the tepid coffee from the cup.

Nirmala looked at her daughter placidly.

"How do you expect me to answer that? Am I a doctor? Forget about the medical side of things. Is this how you talk about your father Arunya?" Colour rose in Nirmala's fair and pale face.

"Yeah, some father!! Maa, I always supported you in front of Chotu whenever your beloved husband AdityaSen Verma is discussed at home, but that doesn't mean..."

"Stop it. I don't want to hear one more word from you in that sarcastic tone, understand? He is in his last stages of his life and neither you nor your brother have the decency to bury our differences, so he can spend these few days in peace." Nirmala's voice shook.

"Sorry Maa, I wont talk like that if it hurts you so much. But please don't expect me to feel love and tenderness for Baba. It is too late for that now. And this place is so cold and dark. You will get sick waiting here, sitting in this stiff chair all night. Why don't we go home and come back in the morning?"

"This is exactly why I asked you not to come. You get tensed up and tired, and then make everyone else around you miserable. You have to go to office too tomorrow morning. I can manage here quite well....." Arunya cut short her mother.

"I am not going anywhere leaving you here. Forget about my office. I can call in sick if I need to. Urghhh this coffee is so bad." Arunya made a face as she sipped the coffee.

"Hmm... well, what do you expect from a vending machine?"

Arunya, just then noticed the junior doctor walk back hurriedly towards the ICU ward along with a senior doctor. She got up from her chair and walked towards them. Someone's phone was ringing but Arunya ignored it.

"How is our father, Doctor? We have been waiting here for so long but nobody is telling us anything."

"Please Miss. I understand your frustration. But I cant tell you anything now. Please give us some time." Both the doctors went past them and Arunya was left staring at the closed ICU ward door helplessly.

She heard her mother collapse back into the chair and hurried towards her.

"Maa! Please Don't worry. Everything will be okay."

Nirmala looked distraught.

"Aru, Did you see a prayer room or temple nearby?"

"Yes Maa. There is one on the right side of the corridor after the canteen. Do you want to go and pray? Come, let me take you there." Arunya laid a hand gently on her mother's shoulders.

"Don't worry, I can go. I remember where the prayer hall is now. I will be back in a few minutes." Nirmala got up and walked towards the prayer hall.

After few minutes, Arunya got bored, sitting and waiting in that hall by herself, and went downstairs where rest of the wards and waiting rooms were, hoping she could find another coffee machine.

As she walked past one the wards, she saw Rahim Chacha come out of a small room and close the door behind him.

Her spirits rose.

"Hello Chacha!" She greeted warmly.

Rahim Chacha peered into her face, and then smiled back, once he recognised her.

"Arrey Beti, Tum? What a memory you have! You remembered my name and face even after so long!"

"Yes, once I see a face, I never forget it Chacha. Why are you here? Is everyone okay?"

"Yes everyone is absolutely fine. I am just doing my driver duties, dropping and picking up the family I work for. And then I saw the prayer hall here and came to pray. I always find that both the people and the prayers in hospitals are more genuine than in temples. What do you say?"

"Hahaha Yes!" Arunya agreed.
They both began to climb the stairs.

"Do you think our prayers have powers Chacha?Do you think HE will listen to us?" Arunya pointed her finger towards the sky as she walked beside Rahim.

" I have always believed that God exists inside my heart. When I go to a temple or a prayer hall, all I am doing is let the god inside me come out and embrace the sacred surroundings of the temple. That's all. So to answer your question, yes, HE listens to us because he is inside us, always."

"May be I should pray too." Arunya muttered to herself.

They both had reached the ICU Ward waiting hall.

"Why are you here Beti? Is everything okay?"Rahim Chacha asked worriedly.

For some reason, Arunya felt like unburdening herself, even though Rahim Chacha was almost a stranger.

"Chacha, my father is inside the ICU fighting for his life. Terminal stage of Cancer." Arunya explained briefly and looked away, as her eyes welled for the first time.

"I am so sorry to hear that Beti." Rahim Chacha patted her head.

"Do you want me to go and pray for him too?" Arunya didn't know how to reply back, and looked up helplessly at Rahim.

"Are you alone?"
"No, my mother is here with me.There she is." Arunya turned around and pointed her hand towards her mother who was walking slowly, with her head cast down.
"Okay, I will be back soon, after the prayers. Please be brave Beti. Whatever happens, it happens for a reason. Remember that." Rahim nodded his head and walked away from Arunya. As he walked past Nirmala, he greeted her courteously, but she didn't seem to notice him.

Arunya noticed two men in dark suits, who were walking rapidly behind her mother, catch up with her just then and ask something.

But her attention diverted back to ICU as they could hear loud alarms inside ICU now, and she rushed to the ICU door. She could see more nurses had gathered around her father's bed which was covered completely by curtains. Arunya turned around, only to find her mother's tear stricken face right behind her.

Those two men had also joined them by now and the elder one among them, in dark grey suit cleared his throat nervously.

"Mrs Verma, I am from the Intelligence Bureau. This is perhaps a very bad time for your family, but we wouldn't have troubled you unless it was necessary. We just received news that your son Victor was injured but is in a stable condition now, at a hospital in Goa."

Nirmala closed her eyes tightly and looked as if she was about to collapse. Arunya quickly moved towards her and laid an arm around her shoulder.

"What? What are you talking about? Chotu got Injured? How? When? I mean he was on leave, what happened? He spoke to me just yesterday. Who sent you here?" Arunya bombarded them with questions.

"Ms Verma, Can both of you sit down? I will explain everything." Replied the man in the dark grey suit.

Just then the ICU ward doors opened and both the senior and junior doctors walked towards them.

"I am sorry Mrs Verma, we tried our best, but couldn't save your husband." The Senior doctor announced grimly.

Arunya and Nirmala looked at each other and burst out in tears.

^===============^

Hi all,

This is again a very tense and crucial chapter where you get to understand the aftermath of the tragedy in the previous chapter. Also know more about Victor's family.

What do you make of it, please let me know through your comments.

Love
Sesi