Ch.27: Decisions

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Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, Bharat, October 7, 1942

Aryan Yadav stood up, extending his hand to Secretary Hull, Peggy Carter, and Captain America. "Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Safe travels back to America," he said, his voice filled with sincerity.

Secretary Hull shook Aryan's hand firmly. "We appreciate your swift action and look forward to our continued collaboration."

Peggy Carter smiled warmly. "Take care, Aryan. We'll be in touch."

Captain America gave a respectful nod. "Thank you, President Yadav. We'll work together to ensure peace and security."

As the American delegation left, Aryan watched them go, a mix of relief and determination in his eyes. He returned to his desk, the weight of the day's events pressing down on him. Sitting back in his chair, he closed his eyes for a moment, allowing himself a brief respite, as he called for the Chief of Staff to come to his office.

The room was quiet, the only sound the faint hum of the noise from outside. Aryan's mind raced with thoughts of the negotiations, the capture of Hydra agents, and the looming decisions about Bharat's involvement in the war. The responsibility was immense, but so was his resolve.

As he was reflecting on various incidents that had happened recently, there was a polite knock on the door.

"Enter," he said, opening his eyes in an authoritative tone.

Ravi Verma, the Chief of Staff of the President's office, entered with a calm and professional demeanor.

Standing at attention in front of him, he asked, "Mr. President, did you have any urgent task that you called for me in such a hurry?"

Aryan replied with a nod, "Yes, we need to call for an all-party meeting at the earliest possible time to discuss the recent events as well as the future direction of our country."

Ravi nodded affirmatively. "Then I will arrange for a meeting at the earliest."

Ravi did not leave the room immediately but stayed in his place while hesitating to ask something which might be considered unprofessional from Aryan as he was now his boss and he didn't want to be rude to him.

Seeing him standing and hesitating to ask something, Aryan decided to tell him, "Father, you can speak to me informally when we are in private."

Ravi nodded and relaxed, the pressure of the new job and responsibilities easing. He smiled appreciatively and asked, "Aryan, I know Bharat needs the support of a strong country like the USA right now, but is it really necessary for us to be partnering with the Allied forces, which include countries like the UK and other European countries that colonized and committed many atrocities against us?"

Aryan nodded, expecting these questions from everyone who fought for independence. With a calm and resolute expression, he replied, "Father, you have to understand that Bharat is a sovereign nation now, and from now on, every decision we take should be in the interest of our nation and its people."

"Also, you see, there are no permanent enemies or friends in the geopolitical landscape; there are only interests between nations, and for now, our interests align with the Allied forces."

"You see, the recent moves of Hydra indicate that Germany doesn't care for the sovereignty and integrity of our nation. Also, Japan has regained a stronger position in Southeast Asia after the withdrawal of the Bharatiya army. While that doesn't directly concern us, it is important to note that Japan will not stop only at Southeast Asia; it will eventually try and conquer our nation too."

"There are also our interests in Southeast Asian countries, which, by aligning ourselves against Japan, will increase our influence on these countries."

After listening to Aryan, Ravi had an enlightened expression as he nodded in understanding and excused himself. "I understand. I will excuse myself then and prepare for the upcoming meeting," he said, and with that, he left the room.

Aryan watched him go while he thought to himself about another significant reason which was to get his hands on the Tesseract which Hydra had the possession of.

All-Party Meeting, New Delhi, Bharat, October 8, 1942

The grand hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan was filled with representatives from all major political parties. The atmosphere was tense, with the weight of recent events pressing heavily on everyone present. Aryan Yadav, now seated at the head of the table, began the meeting with a brief overview of the situation.

"Everyone, we have given you the details of the agreement Bharat made with the UK and thus have been recognized as an independent nation by them," he started with a sincere and calm voice.

"You all can read further details of the agreement later, as we have a more pressing issue at hand regarding the future direction of our country in this ongoing war."

"Recently, a Germany-based group called Hydra tried infiltrating our defenses with a plot to assassinate the American diplomats while framing our nation as the culprit. But their plans were thwarted by our security officials."

"However, the issue remains that our sovereignty and integrity as an independent nation was violated by Germany. There are also growing tensions in Southeast Asia from the invading forces of Japan."

"Gentlemen, we are at a crossroads. Our nation's sovereignty and future are at stake. We must decide our course of action regarding the ongoing war and our position in the global arena."

After Aryan's announcement, there was a silence as well as mild tension in the room with everyone deliberating on the future actions of Bharat and its impact on the people.

Jawaharlal Nehru, with a calm voice, broke the silence, "Aryan, while I am in favor of non-violence and diplomacy, it is also true that the war has gone way past that stage. However, we must ensure that every step we take is in the benefit of the nation and its people."

"I am in favor of only selective participation in the war as Bharat has only recently become independent. We have much to rebuild after the devastating colonial rule."

Aryan replied in affirmation, "Yes, Nehru, we have already considered that. While you are right, we also have to consider that Japan's intensions for our country are not looking positive."

The following discussion was intense, with voices raised in passionate debate. Some leaders argued for complete neutrality, emphasizing the need to focus on rebuilding the nation. Others, however, pointed out the strategic advantages of aligning with the Allied forces, especially given the threats posed by Hydra and Japan.

After hours of deliberation, a consensus was reached. Bharat would increase its participation in the war, but with a strategic approach to minimize direct involvement. The focus would be on providing support to the Allied forces through intelligence, resources, and limited military aid, while ensuring that the nation's primary efforts remained on rebuilding and securing its borders.

Aryan concluded the meeting with a sense of resolve. "Gentlemen, from the discussion held during this meeting, we have reached the decision that we will support the Allied forces, but our priority will always be the safety and progress of Bharat. We must be vigilant and prepared for any eventualities."

As the leaders left the hall, there was a renewed sense of purpose. Bharat was ready to navigate the complexities of the global conflict, with a clear strategy to protect its interests and ensure its future.

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