Prelude to Operation Nepal - I

The dim glow of the fireplace faded as Rohan Varma's thoughts returned to the present. The vivid memories of that cold January night, nearly a year ago, had resurfaced with the same intensity as the day he had first met with Mohan Shamsher.

The months that followed had been filled with careful diplomacy, secret meetings, and delicate negotiations to bring the idea of a merger closer to reality.

Now, nearly a year later, Rohan stood in a room filled with the country's top military commanders, intelligence chiefs, and key ministers.

The words on the folder before them "Kingdom of Nepal Merger into the Republic of India" hung in the air like a declaration of intent, powerful and undeniable.

The senior officials had been caught off guard, their expressions a mix of shock and intrigue. Rohan allowed the silence to stretch a moment longer, letting the gravity of the situation sink in.