'When was I supposed to know the complete plan? Or should I say all the flaws in the plan?'
Jai turned to see Sneha standing on the entrance of the tent, furious.
Nobody in the tent spoke.
'You told me that it will work.' She started to walk towards the center where Colonel, Rajeev sir and Jai stood pinning maps of facility building to a board.
'It will.' Jai struggled to keep his tone firm.
'Fifty percent, you said fifty percent! Its ALL or NOTHING Jai!' 

Tears welled up her eyes. Jai knew that it was not a sign of her weakness. It happened every time she was infuriated.
'I will go.'

All heads in the tent turned on Sneha, unable to determine if its her strength or stupidity.
Jai however was outraged. Putting hands on his waist he tried to maintain his equipoise.
Then he moved a step closer and asserted, 'Are you insane, no way in hell are you going.'

'Why?' Sneha demanded.
'Because I am saying so!' Jai snapped. He clenched his hand into a fist trying to control his anger. Taking a long breath he continued, 'Its dangerous Sneha.' 
He drew his hands forward to hold her arms tenaciously to emphasize, 'Its really dangerous and I don't want you to get hurt. Please, please, I beg you, Sneha, don't make it hard.'
'I can say the same.' Her concerned eyes met his.
'They need my assistance to carry out the plan.' Jai tried to convince with a reason. 

'Well then, I guess I will be a substitute.' Sneha retorted breaking free from his hold.
'Jai is right Sneha, you should stay here.' Rajeev sir interrupted to persuade her though he knew it would be of no use. He had seen that look on her face before, it was the same when she was told something was impossible which made her crave for success in that challenge. It was like her mode to get high.

Sneha shifted her gaze to Rajeev sir and Colonel Singh, she was mad at both of them. She slid aside and with cold stare spoke demandingly. 

'The chopper that will fly to launch the blades would require my assistance as the plant is rapidly dividing and thus which segment of it would be the most tender to be destroyed can be determined by me. And at that precise moment the superbugs would be launched which again would require my expertise as I know how to locate the center of its gut region.' Sneha commanded.
She caught Colonel's attention. Sighting the opportunity she continued.
'I have studied the complete morphology and physiology of this plant so I can determine at which second at what rate and at what distance should we fire the blades and drop the bugs to maximize the impact. And it is a fact so don't try to deny it.' She raised her hand to prevent Rajeev sir from stopping her.

However Colonel Singh objected, 'Sneha I can't allow you, its not safe and you are not prepared.'

'I am mentally prepared and that is the key Colonel.' Sneha returned.
'And to make it easier for you, let me inform you that this.' She paused as of this moment her career as a scientist would be over.
'All of this, is my fault.'
Rajeev sir bolted in his place, 'What are you doing?'
Sneha was unstoppable now, 'No, don't try and save me sir, its about time.' She returned to Colonel, 'It was my experiment, I am the one responsible here. Now you decide whether it is wiser to endanger two of the brilliant scientists of this country or the one who will be useless, if not now then after the inquisition.'
Jai grabbed her arm and swiveled her to face him. 'Stop it. You are not going and that's final. You have no consideration that how would I feel if anything happens to you.'
He noticed her eyes welling up again.
'How would you feel !! And do you have any idea that this is all my fault and if anybody gets hurt, how would I feel.' She said ridiculing him.
'And specially you Jai, you knew it is a risky mission. You can't save me this time Jai, that too on the expense of your life. I will not let you do that.'
'I can't allow you to do this.'
'Excuse me!' She asked with arched brows.
'Yes, I can't let you go. Now you choose. If you don't give this up.' He paused, 'We are over.'
His glaring eyes reflected his anger and communicated the message loud and clear.

It was not difficult. Though she wavered to see him so vulnerable, the decision was an easy one. She retreated back. She turned and addressed the crew of station three. 

'The events will take place as scheduled with only one alteration. I will be assisting in the second chopper and signal trigger of superbug.'
She finished as Jai and Rajeev sir exchanged helpless glances.

Colonel Singh didn't fight Sneha's new proposition. She made sense. He was both shocked and filled with admiration to see a normal girl that too a scientist, to stand up to show this kind of courage. But he was concerned, unwillingly, he had grown fond of Sneha. With a heavy heart he had agreed and changed the plan.

Vaibhav had received a strange request on his transmitter, Sneha was to be provided with a uniform and she was to be equipped for the mission. All without giving any solid ground explanation for the change. Even when Sneha came she didn't entertain his questions. Accepting his defeat he handled her the uniform and said, 'Sorry, we only have men uniforms.'
'Its fine. I will tuck it in.' Sneha replied.
'I will wait outside, call me if you need anything.' Vaibhav walked out and guarded the entrance while Sneha changed.
'Are you really sure you want to do this?' He shouted from outside.
'More sure than anything else I have done in my life. It's definitely scary but that hasn't taken hold of me yet.'
Vaibhav found her words honest. There were no signs of hesitation or fear. 
'How does it look?' Sneha flashed out of the tent.
'Not bad. You look natty.'
She looked cute, Vaibhav thought.
'And these are surprisingly very comfortable!' Sneha said coyly. 

Vaibhav laughed, 'Are they? Or may be it's one of your naughty fantasy.'
'Maybe!' She gave him a grin.

Vaibhav played with his shirt collar and said, 'so, I guess you will be wearing the same on our date?'
Sneha knew this topic would come up. Very carefully she chose her words, 'Vaibhav, you are great, but I can't go out with you.'
He squinted his eyes then added playfully, 'you are messing with me, aren't you?'
'No.'
In spite of the funny face, the reply was gentle and sincere.
'Why? Is there someone else in your life whom you met unexpectedly and who is as charming as me?' Vaibhav asked opening his hands expecting his name.
'You can't imagine how unfortunate I feel right now about our timing. I mean you are perfect but I still can't. I have someone waiting for me.'

***

The canvass tent was spacious enough to brief the unit of fourteen people going on the mission. There would be seven people on each chopper. The chopper alpha consisting of pilot, co- pilot and four armed men who would fire the blades. Chopper beta on the other hand will have the pilots and three armed men accompanied with Sneha.

There were chairs for them facing the board which had facility maps. The commander in charge was giving step by step instruction to his men preparing them for an unusual routine. Others, including Rajeev sir, Colonel Singh, Jai and Mukesh were standing on extreme left of the board. Sneha felt their eyes on her but she didn't meet them in fear that she may cry.

'Any questions?'
'No sir.' Everyone shouted.
'Best of luck.' Wished the commander.

Everyone left one by one leaving Jai and Sneha behind. They stood diagonally at the corners of the tent.
'Are you mad?' Sneha asked uncertain if that needed an answer.
'You have no freaking idea.' Jai stated blankly sliding his finger down the board. She walked slowly towards him.
'Is that what you want to say to me before I leave.'
He turned his face in the opposite direction, concealing himself.
'All this time, I wanted to tell you that I..' He voice croaked.
She turned him around by his arm to find his moist eyes.
'Jai!' She hushed and hugged him.
He traced her jawline then stroked her hair with his fingers. Something he had always dreamt of doing.
'I already regret not saying so many things to you that I should have said before.' He paused then regaining his voice he continued, "please don't go Sneha. Let me go.'
She gave him a teary smile. 'I have to, you know I have to.'
He firmed his grip around her then spoke in soft whisper, 'But I love you.'
Sneha felt like her breath was taken away. Somewhere somehow she knew it all along and felt the same way but for him to finally say it was much more beautiful than she could have imagined. She gave him a grin and hugged him again.

'I have to go.' Sneha reminded. Jai released her silently. Sneha could not bear to look in his hurtful eyes so walked away. She lifted the canvass to leave but then stopped abruptly.
'What?' Jai asked with sudden hope.

'No regrets huh!' Sneha whispered looking him in the eye. She covered the distance then gently slid her hand on his shoulder reaching the back of his neck.
'I should make sure that I keep none.' Saying this she pressed her lips on his mouth. A warm current went through his spine and forced him embrace Sneha in his arms.
Sneha was surprised that Jai had such tender lips. He was gentle yet held her lower lip with a firm grip.
They stood dazzled, visions blurred as they allowed themselves to be separated. Their bodies crushed against each other, dowsed with passion.

All of a sudden a transmitter called out Sneha's name.
 Sneha looked down to see the transmitter she was sporting on her waist. It was blinking red.
'Don't wait up.' She said distancing herself from him.
Jai clutched her hand. 'Don't say that.'
She nodded and kissed his hand.
Jai let go of her hand unwillingly. He wanted her to be in his arms, protected and forever. They heard her name being announced again and again. It was time to go.
Sneha retreated, kissed him on his forehead and left without turning back. She found a new courage in her, if she doesn't make it through the pitcher, she still could cherish the fact that she had been loved and was blessed enough to be in love, if not live it.

*** 

'All units charge, we are at 13:00 hour. I want chopper alpha on the main screen, beta on side and bring every angle possible of the pitcher on the smaller screens.'

Colonel Singh, Rajeev sir, Mukesh and Jai marched inside the seminar hall bringing it to life. Colonel pulled out his transmitter and pressed the red button. 'Alpha ready?'
'Take off initiated.' The transmitter beamed. The side screen showed an army green chopper rising from the ground causing the nearby dust to form small tornados.
Colonel pushed the button again, this time connecting the second chopper. 'Beta , you ready?' The main screen showed the take off.
As the two helicopters ascended from the ground Colonel stared at the smaller screen and regretted his decision.

The pitcher, which had grown into a look alike of a huge skyscraper, thrashed his tentacles in air like a child throwing a tantrum and released its arms. With a bang of energy its right arm slapped the windows of the adjoining library building causing a rain of glass and bricks on the ground.
Satisfied with the destruction the pitcher swung its left arm to smash another block of the library, bringing it too into pieces.
Everyone shared a bewildered look. To answer this anomaly, Dr. Courtney bolted inside along with Dr. Link carrying a laptop.

'The pitcher is getting hungrier and violent.'
She took a long breath continuing, 'my image sensors predict the length of arms equal to thirty meters. If it keeps growing with this speed it is going to get much more hungrier and violent.'
'How far are we?' Colonel turned gravely to ask Rajeev sir.
A little taken aback he responded, 'About sixty meters.'

Colonel didn't like the answer. With a suction capability of forty to fifty meters and ability for physical destruction closing forty meters, they couldn't consider time as a leverage.
'Beta come in.' He picked up his transmitter again.
'Yes sir.' Sneha's voice chipped on the transmitter.
Dr. Courtney startled recognizing Sneha's voice. She grabbed Colonel's arm demandingly. 'What is she doing inside that chopper?'
Dr. Link moved close equally disturbed by the revelation. But before Colonel could have explained anything they heard Jai's voice.
'She is proving that she doesn't need a man to woo or save her.' Jai spoke from the front row where he lay cadaverously since he had returned from station three.

***

Sneha had climbed up the chopper determined to annihilate the monster she had created. As she waited for lift off she couldn't resist to wonder that a thing that she started as a noble deed would bounce back like that and slap her on the her face.
No matter how many amends she makes after this day or promise herself to become better, she would always feel guilty for this and the fact that because of her, people whom she cared for are in danger.

That reminded her of home. If her mother knew where she is right now, she would stomp up to the copter, take her home and ground her forever. Off course she would be happy to know that she met a boy at last but after knowing that she kissed him, she would be grounded again. Forever.
Thoughts came flooding in her mind now. First day of joining. Mukesh opening the facility door for her with a gallant smile. Rajeev sir sitting in his cabin, trying to lift his chair a bit higher. Rajeev sir scolding Jai.
Jai! She opened her eyes.
Unless I want to see him again, I better come up with a plan to survive. She thought to herself signing deep.

'Fasten your seatbelt.' The pilot screamed the instruction.
'Yes.' Sneha bucked up to embark on the mission. The comfortable uniform was not so comfy now. A black jacket had been shoved on her chest that made her gasp for air. Accompanied with the lift off and weight of parachutes, the setup made her slightly dizzy.
One of the commandoes wired her with a phone. She heard Colonel's voice.
'What are we waiting for? We don't have much time, start with the operation.' He yelled over the phone.
She replied with a brief consent. She could see the falling bricks from library building like a scene from inception with a grotesque pitcher billowing its arms in the center.

She gained her focus back. Leaning on the iron bolster on her side she observed the pitcher's movement minutely. She noticed how it stretched the layers of its neck region in a peculiar way to expose a particular area that was only visible for a second. The site wasn't pretty. It was like watching a green earthworm trying to move vertically with its slimy body. The skin above the neck unfolded with a definite frequency, Sneha took out an ipad and began calculations.

***

Dr. Courtney scanned the hall. She wondered where Jai had disappeared. After looking everywhere, she finally found him lying on the last row of the hall.

'What do you think you are doing?'
'The only thing left to do, sit back and wait.' He replied doing a poor job on hiding his annoyance. 
'On the floor?'
'Only place to lie down around here.'
'She still needs you and you are relaxing?' Dr. Courtney asked.
Coughing Jai said, 'Sorry, I can't help. I can't think straight.'
Dr. Courtney knelt beside him. Her strict eyes had lost their touch and replaced with care and anxiety for two kids whom she had just met. This never happened to her before. She never had let her emotions sway her away from work. May be her age was catching up with her.

Understanding Jai's plight, she spoke with concern.
'Jai.' She put her hand on his wrist to comfort him.
'You might feel that it was helpless on your part to let her go, but you know her.'
Jai lay motionless as he listened.
'You know, like men, there are some battles that women have to fight themselves. Especially when her loved ones are involved.'
She saw Jai struggling with his pain, he gulped his tears restricting them to appear. She lifted her voice to put weight on her next statement.
'But that doesn't mean that you can't help her. Support her from here.'

Jai closed his eyes as Dr. Courtney's last word hit his ears.
'Think.'