A New Path - I

"The mission... failed," Saeed repeated, his voice devoid of any emotion, but the seriousness of his words struck heavily on the other end of the line.

Khalid Qureshi leaned back in his chair, the weight of the news pressing down on his shoulders.

His mind was spinning, replaying every detail of the plan in his head.

They had been so close, so dangerously close to striking the heart of R&AW. And yet, once again, they had failed.

Khalid's knuckles whitened as he gripped the edge of the desk.

His silence was enough for Saeed to understand the depths of his disappointment.

"I did everything I could," Saeed said, his voice steady but measured. "Rao saw me before I could make the hit. His security was faster than expected."

Khalid closed his eyes for a moment, suppressing the rage boiling inside him.

This was not just about missing an opportunity.