Scene 22 – Sabiha needs help

Chetana switched off the TV. The images were too gruesome. A slight shudder shook her up. Her daily chuk chuk chuk route was laden with blown compartments and bodies. She wondered what the ramifications would be at High Command. Perhaps the CAT force should have been more effective. Terrorist events were difficult to avoid, especially if they struck at the soft belly of the community. The solution, if there was one, lay in weeding out the roots. The masterminds behind these actions. Those who funded these endeavors. They had to be weeded out. Covert activities needed covert responses. Her deep thoughts were disrupted by the shrill ring of the secure line phone. She looked at it, in total surprise. After the blasts, the phones had worked for just a short while. Both the land and the cellular lines had died out completely. She had wondered a while ago they completely went out of service. Busy signals or jamming in some sections perhaps. But did the entire city had to get disconnected. The shrill ring repeated and she picked the phone.

Chets: Hello.

The voice on the other end sounded fraught with some sense of fear. It was Sabiha.

Sabiha: Chets!! Sabiha here!

Chets: Hi!! How did you know this number to reach me?

Sabiha: Oh, well. I have ways and means Chets, don’t worry.

“Don’t worry?” Chets wondered. This was supposed to be a highly confidential communication line!!! Only those who were part of the covert network to eradicate terrorism should know it. And there were just very few. Was Sabiha part of the network?
She didn’t recall her name on any lists at all.

Sabiha: Hello!! Are you there?

Chets: Yes, yes. Tell me, how are you?

Sabiha: Oh, I am in trouble, that’s why I called you?

Chets: Trouble? When did you come to Mumbai? Thought you were in Dubai?

Sabiha: Oh no!! Am not at Mumbai, am at Dubai, wishing I were elsewhere!!!!

Chets: Ohhh, any terrorist activity there?

Sabiha: Oh god, how do you know?

Chets: Know? No! Am asking you.

Sabiha: Well Chets, I need help. I need to get out from here. The Wood called me, and I have been asked to be ready to go to the Caribbean’s.

Caribbeans? Chets wondered. They had never got any information about cells in that part of the world.

Sabiha: Hello, please, quick. I cant speak for long. My calls may get traced!!!!!!

Chets could sense the desperation in her voice. She was frightened, in a grip of terror. What help did she need?

Chets: What help Sabiha???

Sabiha: Roops has answered or responded to my calls. I need to get out from here. To anywhere. US, Europe! Down under, anywhere. Quickly, but I need some contact there.

Chets wondered. Why not India? Why not Africa? This girl had attractive choices where she wanted to go as well!! A mischievous smile danced on her face.

Chets: Ok, here is my Munich buddy’s number. Call him, and he will help you out.

She reeled out Prabhu Ram’s number.


In Germany, Prabhu finished his online booking. Tickets to Miami were confirmed. Three days to wind up, and make the most of the money possible. He had to make sure no one realized he was winding up and leaving this place for good. His mind had been so busy, he had even stopped grieving for Germany’s FIFA loss now. The funds were promised into his account tomorrow. He needed to make sure the wire happened. As he decided to head to Biergarten, his phone rang.

And n Bangalore, PDSC parked his jeep about four streets away from Merlin’s house. Surprise was the name of the game in any investigation. The suspect had to be taken by total surprise. Never give any time to think. Never give any time to the suspect check options and answer. The longer the mind was given time, eliciting the correct information became more harder. He hoped he could really spring a surprise at this surveillance expert. What in the world was he upto, he wondered as he and the CAT girls tiptoed towards Merlin’s house.