the drug bust

As we reached the underground spot, Rajesh sir, our experienced leader, came with his team. We all started working together as a strong team with a common goal. Aman, one of our smartest members, and a skilled teammate from Rajesh's group, began searching for the precise underground spot. The waiting was tough, and we needed something to take our minds off it. So, we chose to tell our own stories and share our experiences. It was a great way to pass the time and bond with our fellow team members, making us feel closer and more connected as we faced our mission together.

During our chat, one of our team members shared their mission of visiting lots of coffee shops, kind of like a coffee marathon. The story was so interesting that we got lost in the conversation. Time slipped away, and for a while, we forgot about where we were or the case we were supposed to be solving. Our focus shifted to the tales of coffee shop adventures, laughter filled the air, and we found a moment of relief from the serious task at hand. It was a brief escape from our mission, a welcome break in our intense underground journey.

Our lively conversation came to an abrupt halt when Aman called in. He and his partner had accomplished the task of pinpointing the exact spot we needed to focus on. They shared a checklist of the necessary items and the team members required for the job. With precision, they sent over the coordinates, and we were primed to take action. I was taken aback by the commendable effort they put in giving us the coordinates. The mission itself was so risky, that if anything went south things could have been much worse than we could imagine.

I quickly got in touch with our pilot, passing on the vital coordinates to him. It felt like we were only a plane ride away from reaching our destination, the anticipation building as we geared up for the next phase of our mission. The underground location, once just an enigma, was now within reach, and the dedicated teamwork and Aman's skills in location pinpointing had brought us one step closer to solving the case. A sudden paranoia hit us all imagining the possibilities of how things would go. All of us looked confident but deep down we all wished for the one common thing, getting back to our families safely.

In the midst of these preparations, my mind couldn't help but drift to thoughts of my mother. I wondered about her and the possible consequences of this mission. What would happen to her if things took a turn for the worse? Would she ever forgive me for placing myself in such peril? She had chosen a life with my father, understanding the risks involved, but she had never anticipated a similar path for her only child. A wave of guilt washed over me, and I felt compelled to call her. I dialed her number and she picked up immediately as if she knew I would call her at the very exact moment.

"Beta? (Son) is everything alright?"

"Maa I know I disagree a lot with you on different issues but know that I love you and you are the only one I have".

"Tarun, you are scaring me right now, tell me what's going on"

"Maa, I know what you went through after Dad passed away, you dedicated all your life to taking care of me, you wanted me to become something else and be with you always, but I was adamant and I became a crime investigator."

"You are what you are meant to be…I never doubted you but I couldn't bear the thought of losing you too."

"Maa maybe well maybe, this could be one of those days, we got a lead on our case and we are headed there. It is a huge drug bust and we don't know how heavily they might be armored. I am going there and suddenly I couldn't help but think what if I never come back home to you?"

"No beta, you will come back I know it, because you are his son. Yes, your father died in a war but he didn't die because he could not fight, he died because he wanted to save his team and the people around. I know his son isn't weak. I know you will return home and if you don't (her voice starts to crack) I will know it was the only option you had to save someone. I will miss you but when I look at people I will know that some of them are here because of you. You have my Ashirvad (blessings) with you. I love you beta."

"I love you mom."

After saying goodbye to my mother on the phone, I felt a mix of emotions. Talking to her brought a sense of comfort and reassurance, but it also reminded me of the tremendous responsibility and risks that lay ahead. Our upcoming mission required our complete attention, and we were about to enter a path filled with danger and uncertainty.

As I wiped away my tears and shouldered the weight of this uncertainty, our team ventured into the underground tunnel. Our mission was clear, but the outcome remained unknown. We arrived at the location, armed with information about the tunnel's entry and exit points. However, apart from these two access points, we couldn't find any other exits.

Our team took positions at the entry, while Rajesh sir's team secured the exit. With determination and a sense of urgency, we burst into the tunnel, catching those inside off guard. The confrontation was swift, and we had no choice but to open fire, neutralizing the threats on the spot. It was an unexpected and quick resolution, and we were somewhat surprised it had ended so rapidly. The once-hidden haven for criminal activity had now turned into a crime scene, drawing the attention of reporters and federal agencies. The area quickly became crowded with people, all curious about the unfolding events in the tunnel.

Despite successfully busting the drug operation, we were left absolutely shocked by the absence of the hostage. Our thorough search of the entire tunnel yielded no trace of her or her captor. I needed a moment to gather my thoughts, so I stepped out of the tunnel and sought solace with a cup of coffee. The atmosphere inside the tunnel had been overwhelming, and this short break provided a much-needed rest.

As my colleagues gradually departed, we seized the opportunity to continue our search for the missing hostage. I re-entered the tunnel, determined to uncover any clues that might lead us to her whereabouts. This time, something caught my eye—unusual markings on the tunnel walls. They appeared to be arrows, suggesting a path or an escape route. A sense of déjà vu washed over me, and I recalled the 1960s case, the tunnel, and the underground passages. The name "Mohan" came to mind, although I couldn't explain how or why.

I chose to keep this revelation to myself, at least until I had more concrete information. I shared my discovery of the arrows with my colleagues, and together, we decided to follow the cryptic markers. The journey became progressively challenging as we descended deeper into the earth's core, with the air growing thicker and more oppressive. Fortunately, we had brought along oxygen tanks, which proved essential for our survival. Going down made me think not-so-good thoughts, people who must have been trapped here, how they suffocated, and how much of a scare this place was. It was truly terrorizing even for us with full equipment, and I can only imagine what those poor souls must have felt.

The journey felt interminable, but we persevered until we reached a dead end. My intuition insisted that someone was concealed within this space, but my colleagues remained skeptical. They dismissed the arrows as mere coincidences and urged us to abandon our search before succumbing to the harsh conditions. I pleaded, yelled, and argued, but in the end, I had to give in to their commands.

As we began our ascent toward the entry point, a gunshot pierced the air, filling us with dread. We rushed toward the sound, only to find that nearby buildings lay in ruins. Cries of distress echoed through the scene, leading us to the shattered structures. Amid the chaos, a small boy caught our attention. We immediately rushed to his side and rescued him. The boy pointed toward the source of the gunshot, and there, in a pool of blood, lay a figure who had taken their own life. It was a harrowing sight, and it left us bewildered and anxious.

To our shock, we discovered not just one hostage but nearly thirty individuals, all of whom had endured unimaginable trauma. Among them, I spotted her—the woman we had sought, her dress crumpled, her eyes bearing the weight of the horrors she had witnessed. She trembled as if the world had lost its color. Our immediate priority was ensuring the safety and comfort of these traumatized individuals. We wanted them to feel secure, giving them the time they needed to regain a sense of security.

Leaving the witness protection camp, my mind swirled with uncertainties. Had the person who ended their life been the one pulling the strings in these crimes, or were they just a small piece in a grander, darker scheme? The answer to this question remained hidden, but we were unwavering in our resolve to piece together this intricate puzzle.

The path ahead was unclear, filled with shadows and mysteries. We knew we had to uncover the truth, no matter where it led us. The weight of responsibility pressed down on our shoulders, a constant reminder of the pressing mission we had embarked upon.

We were driven by a relentless pursuit of justice and a determination to unravel the mysteries that lay before us. The truth was out there, waiting to be discovered, and we were ready to face whatever challenges came our way in the pursuit of that difficult yet possible answer.