The base was alive with a frantic, disciplined energy. Soldiers scrambled between their lockers and the armory, the metallic clack-clack of loading magazines echoing off the concrete walls. While some packed grenades, smoke canisters, and ammunition, the remaining troops continued their drills outside, sweat glistening on their brows under the midday sun.
Time: 13:00 Hours (1:00 PM)
Commander Iyer stood before the assembled troops; his posture rigid. He scanned the faces of his men.
"The team structure is as follows," Iyer announced, his voice cutting through the noise. " Team 1: Call-sign 'Garud'. Leader: Virendra Rajput. Your objective is surveillance. Keep eyes on the civilians and track the terrorists' movements. Do not engage unless compromised."
He pointed to the next group. "Team 2: Call-sign 'Guru'. Leader: Husain Ali Khan. You will secure the flatlands and prepare for a surprise flank attack."
Finally, his eyes landed on the third group. "Team 3: Call-sign 'Dhanno'. Leader: Vijay Pandey. You are the Vanguard. Direct entry. You will be the first to open fire."
Iyer paused, letting the gravity of the mission sink in. "Soldiers, you have worked incredibly hard. I trust that this sweat will pay off in blood. But remember—this region is a dead zone for us. We cannot use helicopters for navigation, and heavy transport vehicles cannot traverse the inner terrain. We will drop you at the perimeter, but from there, you rely on your hands, your legs, and your focus. You are thirty men split into three teams, but your aim is singular. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Sir!" The shout was unison, fueled by adrenaline.
"Good. You move out in fifteen minutes. Feed me every distinct piece of intel you find. And don't worry—if things go south, I will personally lead the backup team to drag you out. Is that clear?"
"Don't worry, Sir. There won't be any problems," Virendra replied confidently.
"Okay. Charge in, soldiers," Iyer grinned, his tone shifting from commander to brother-in-arms. "And remember... tear them apart."
The soldiers split into their respective squads. "Come on, brothers, see you on the other side," Ali said, hoisting his pack before climbing into his transport. By the time the afternoon sun began to dip, the convoy of trucks rumbled out of the base.
A strange energy radiated from the convoy—a mix of excitement and dread. Would the mission go as planned? or was a greater danger waiting in the shadows ahead?
Scene Shift: Inside Team 3's Truck
The heavy military truck bounced over the uneven road. In the front cabin, Kashi sat in the passenger seat while Vijay drove. Behind them, in the covered bed of the truck, the other eight soldiers chatted amongst themselves.
"Say, Kashi," Vijay asked, eyes on the dusty road, "why do you always wear that ring on your finger? It looks old."
Kashi glanced at his hand and smiled. "Ah, there is quite a story behind this one, Vijay."
"Well, we have a long drive. Tell me," Vijay said, his curiosity piqued.
"You see, I was born into a Brahmin household," Kashi began, leaning back. "Since childhood, I was raised on the Vedas—Rigveda, Samaveda, all of them. I had to chant shlokas constantly. But the problem with that life is that it requires immense patience. No bad language, no fighting, no anger. Basically, everything I am not."
Kashi chuckled softly. "My late grandfather, Pandit Hariram Tiwari, gave this ring to me—his favorite grandson. He claimed that the moment I wore it, my anger would calm down, and my fighting would stop."
"Did it work?"
"Oh, absolutely," Kashi grinned mischievously. "It worked because hitting people while wearing a heavy metal ring... well, it brings my soul a distinct sense of satisfaction. It truly calms me down."
Vijay stared at Kashi for a second, stunned, before bursting into laughter. "Hahaha! You are a dangerous man, Kashi! So, you plan to find 'inner peace' by punching terrorists with that ring today?"
"Something like that," Kashi laughed. "But that's enough about me. Open up a little, Leader. What's your story?"
The laughter faded from Vijay's face. He tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
"What is there to say, Kashi? Not everyone is born with a golden spoon. For people like me, God only wrote stumbling blocks." Vijay sighed, looking at the road stretching out before them. "My father started a business when I was young. His own friends betrayed him—took everything in their name. My father couldn't handle the shame... he committed suicide."
Kashi went silent, listening dependently.
"My mother raised me alone," Vijay continued, his voice thick with emotion. "She scrubbed floors in other people's houses, washed dishes in hotels. When I cleared my 10th boards from a government school at sixteen, I looked at her hands and decided I couldn't give her any more pain. I joined the Army through the Agniveer program. Just when things were starting to get better, she fell ill." He swallowed hard. "She passed away when I was nineteen. I've been an orphan ever since."
Kashi stared at Vijay, loss for words. He saw Vijay quickly wipe the corner of his eye.
Thud! Thud!
A heavy knocking came from the partition window behind their heads. A soldier shouted from the back, "Hey! What deep conversation are you two having? Are we there yet?"
Vijay cleared his throat, snapping back to reality. "Yes! ten minutes to the checkpoint."
"Tell the boys inside to stretch their legs," Kashi said to the soldier through the window. "Tell them to tighten their boots. We have to hike with full packs from the drop-off point."
"Copy that, Sir!"
A few minutes later, the truck ground to a halt. "We're here," Vijay announced.
Kashi banged on the side of the truck. "Alright, everyone out! Move it!"
The squad jumped out, their boots hitting the gravel. They adjusted their heavy rucksacks, the weight of the mission settling on their shoulders.
"So, what's the play, Leader?" Kashi asked, standing beside Vijay.
Vijay raised his hand, pointing a finger toward a silhouette in the distance, bathed in the dying light of the sunset.
"We march," Vijay said, staring at the village. "Right into the fire."
.
.
.
.
UPCOMING: FIRST CONTACT...