Love & Loyalty
No compromise
(Part 5)
On
entering the office, Hashim was astonished to see col Robert & col Julie
sitting there along Maj Thomas. They were sitting on sofa cum chairs on one
side of that big room while col Robert sat on right side of col Julie. Hashim
on getting silent signal from Thomas sat on chair placed in front of opposite wall.
Both
Robert and Julie totally ignored him and treated his presence like some stranger. Hashim had a quick look of room.
It
was a neat & clean office with Tiled floor with bright white light spread
from roof. A big screen hung on a
wall just in front of Hashim’s chair. On other side of room there was a big
office table with two chairs placed in front of it.
Col
Julie & Maj Thomas were discussing some matter in a very low voice while
col Robert was reading some papers with deep concentration. Some minutes later he folded them and handed
to Maj Thomas.
He
then got attentive towards Hashim and
in a very commanding tone asked “What is your name?” Hashim confidently
replied, “captain Hashim from Pakistan Army.” Maj Thomas left room on some
words with col Julie.
Col
Robert at once again spoke in a very loud and heavy voice “Do you know that why
you have been called here and in which serious situation you are?” Hashim
remained calm and quiet. There was silence in room for next few seconds until
col Robert spoke in same style “There are some serious charges against you. You
& your companion tried to murder an Indian Army officer during the
exercise. Mr. Vijay is seriously injured. Why did you carry original bullets?”
He stared at Hashim who sat calmly and then said “We have closely watched the evidences.
You did not allow your partner to fire any bullet until you had Vijay at your
target. Do you have anything to say against it? Our laws are very clear &
strict on such issues. You stand for Capital Punishment through electric
chair.” Hashim kept quiet.
Col
Julie who had been silent throughout this time except looking at Hashim like a
criminal said in a strict voice “You have not felt any pressure since morning
because news has not been released to media by us. We were going through evidences and also
wanted to listen you first.” She paused
for some moments as if waiting for some response and then said, “Had it not
been delayed at our end it would have spread on international media like fire
and you would have been in custody of different agencies. Your own institution
by now would have surely ordered enquiries against you.”
Col
Robert added here “Do you know that even if Mr. Vijay survives, he & court
will send you
behind
the bars for years with huge penalty. His whole career is at stake because of
you. The whole conversation between you both team mates is on record. As told
earlier all evidences have been thoroughly seen. It is an open & shut
case.”
At
that point col Julie in order to increase pressure said, “Everyone here knows
that you did not have friendly relations with them from the very first day were
in search of some opportunity and that is why chose early hours to murder
Vijay. You thought that it would not be disclosed as many cases in your Country.”
After
a short silence, col Robert got a bit harsh “Now do not waste our time like a
confirmed criminal. Be quick and tell whether you want to save your career in
this room or record your statement in court.”
Hashim
had been silent during all this conversation but carefully listening to the two
American Army officers. It was now clear to him that they had cleverly trapped
him. The only question in his mind was that What was the ultimate objective. He
doubted that they may ask him to do the
same job for which they tried to bribe him in farm house. He quickly made up
his mind that he was standing in a dead street an should listen to them in a
calm way and then try for some way out.
Keeping
in mind the last Words of Robert in mind,
Hashim softly asked “How to save career?”
Col Robert replied: Decision is yours. Either face the consequences of
your act or close Vijay’s chapter forever.” Hashim with a false smile asked
“How?”
There
was a silence in room for some moments until Julie said “Don’t try to be smart.
Just say Yes or leave the room.” Hashim felt that they were getting irritated
and were not in mood to prolong things. So, after a thought asked directly in a discussion way for
consequence in case, he failed in task given to him. col Robert replied in a bit soft voice for
the first-time e “We are representing World’s top investigating agency. We have
the capability to see & analyses the causes & measure hidden
intentions.”
By
this time, it was clear to Hashim that they wanted to get some job done from
him and the objective was most probably s same for which he had been taken to
farm house. He after taking a deep breath decided to move ahead with them. He
was convinced that he had been fully trapped. It was not the time to think or
ask about how they trapped him. He relaxed and asked for details of task.
Col
Robert simply said “Good” and saw at Julie. She got up and walked towards
office table and picked intercom to ask someone for captain Mary. She then started working on a laptop placed
on office table. Within no time Mary entered room in uniform and sat near
Hashim after saluting. It was once again clear to Hashim that all was planned
and Mary was a part of it. He started
concentrating on big screen where different pictures flashed as it was not the
time to think about role of Mary.
Julie stepped towards big hanging screen Where
a silent slow movie ran. She waited for some moments near screen and waited
until a middle-aged person appeared. She immediately stretched her thin
metallic pointed stick and placed its one end on face of middle-aged guy. She
spoke “This is the person. Bob William. His days are over.” She uttered all
words very slowly so as to make his name and objective very clear.”
An
immediate thought came in Hashim’s mind that they wanted him to murder someone
and take advantage of his skills. col Julie’s voice struck in his ears and his
thoughts were broken. She said “now. He always moves in heavy security. Two
days later on Tuesday, he will enter this hotel to attend a conference on 18th
floor. He will stay there for fifty minutes and then come down in this open
lawn for a press conference. His statement will be short and would last 10
minutes. A question answer session will be over in next six minutes.” She then
changed the visuals through a command on laptop and started briefing again “Then
Bob William will come down for signing of documents.”
She
carefully pointed at a place and encircled it with her stick and said “Here two
high back chairs will be placed on which Bob William along me will sit for Two
minutes for documents signing.” She kept quiet for some time for Hashim to
concentrate on new visuals on screen. He could see pictures of all chairs on
lawn for guests. In front of those chairs two high back chairs could be seen.
These two chairs slightly tilted towards each other but facing public. A small
table was placed in front. The distance between two chairs was very less. It
looked that two side arms of chairs were almost touching each other.
She
pointed at one chair with her stick and said “Here William will sit for some
moments and on the other chair I would be sitting. Distance between two chairs
will not be more than eight inches whereas legs would almost be touching. This
is the point where you have to fire at him within 50 seconds and ensure file
closure.” She paused, saw at Hashim’s plain face m & asked “Clear? Remember
50 seconds & no more.” The last words “No more” meant a lot and were
self-explanatory.
Julie
got busy with lap top in search of some other file amidst complete silence in
room. Mary sat like a true professional with a plain face and least concerned
about fate of the person whom she had been claiming her love. col Robert sat
quietly, hearing Julie and watching minutely Hashim’s expressions and body
language.
Julie
opened another file in computer and once again walked towards screen &said
while having a close eye on visuals said “All the surrounding buildings in
radius of 1600meters would be under strict police security. So, we have no
option except to go out of this range” Hashim got more alert as the critical
and sensitive point had come. She then
pointed out at a high rising building which looked a bit far away from the
hotel lawn and said “It is a 55-floor hotel out of the guarded area. Its roof
top has been marked for firing. This hotel is exactly located in direction in
which Bob would be facing. However there you can choose exact position as per
your convenience. The distance
between chair & roof top would be 1950meters.” Picture was stand stilled for
some time to enable Hashim to see that and make up his mind.
She
looked at Hashim to have his response but on seeing his plain face said, “After
the job you have to leave roof top within three minutes and if possible,
building also. It would be your responsibility
to take care of yourself. Capt. Mary will accompany you there.”
Hashim
at once protested on Mary’s company during mission. Col Julie explained in
detail that how a local person aware of surrounding areas was helpful for him.
She convinced that Mary was not a simple companion rather a shooter herself.
She reminded him that he had in all 50seconds to adjust himself, fire and then
only three minutes to leave the place. Hashim understood al her l points and
hence agreed.
Hashim
was very much concerned about his safe exit. col Julie said “Our persons would
be there but you need to be vigilant and ensure to leave the premises at the
earliest. There are 720rooms in hotel and the searching of all rooms will take
time but even then, you have to take care.”
Hashim
then concentrated on screen where at that time picture of two chairs were
focused and thought for some minutes. He then talked to col Julie “I think it
would be better if you madam, stand between two chairs at the time of document
signing instead of sitting.” Col Robert who had been silent so far asked
“Why?” Hashim again while seeing at screen, took a deep breath and said “Target
distance is almost near to maximum range of rifle and chances of slight
diversion of bullet cannot be ignored. We have to plan for worst conditions. In
case of standing position, the bullet would hit lower part of body which would
of course not be fatal.”
Julie
took some sip of water and then kept quiet for some moments. There was complete
silence in room and Hashim could feel her worries. She at last said “but Maj
Thomas & captain Mary are very confident and sure of your shooting skill.”
Hashim said “Human error can occur at any time. Moreover, we have to keep in
mind the distance, height, max range of rifle and variation in wind pressure.”
Julie after some seconds said that she will try but all would depend on that
time circumstances. Hashim kept quiet as he knew that Julie would be helpless
if William stressed her to sit down.
Hashim
gave another option of firing at the time of press conference but Julie did not
agree. She wanted to be near William at the time of firing because of
undisclosed reasons. Hashim while concentrating on scree thought of another
option and thus asked “If the wind pressure at that time is more then can I
cancel mission on spot?”
Julie
looked towards col Robert who outrightly rejected the option while shaking his
head and said “No not at all. This opportunity has come after a long time and
now elections are getting very near.” With that he also saw towards screen for
some minutes and said “It has to be done now. Boss is not ready to give more
time.” He then got up while saying “Captain Mary will help you in further
planning.”. He was followed by col Julie. Mary stood up and saluted them.
(To
Be Continued)
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