‘Sir, Shekhar here from CTC … I am fine, how are you sir? Sir, the LeT target could most likely be a high-profile event at IIS&T. We have to provide foolproof proximate and perimeter security, sir, and raid hotels and lodges across the city looking for suspects.’

‘Oh, that’s bad, really bad! Are you sure? We will verify too. Yes, of course, we can take no chances,’ Saxena said.

‘I will coordinate with the joint commissioners of police for crime and law and order, sir,’ Shekhar suggested.

‘Fine. And let’s update each other regularly,’ the commissioner said before hanging up.

In Pune, Babar alias Shrikant Joshi updated Al-Wali about the operation. Al-Wali was worried that the alcoholic’s body would be discovered and lead the police to Babar. But Babar was more worried about the missing operations’ strike team, the two fidayeen or ‘trainees’ who were supposed to arrive soon.

‘The trainees have never been to India and are waiting at the place from where you picked up the trainees for your last operation. Understood?’ Al-Wali reassured Babar.

‘Yes, but it is late already.’

‘Leave right away. After you pick them up, take them to the temple so that they can offer prayers and write the test,’ Al-Wali instructed.

Al-Wali then shared two sets of email IDs with Babar. One set was to be activated to confirm the arrival of the fidayeen for the operation. The second was to be used after the completion of the operation and the fidayeen’s safe return to the LeT’s base in Karachi.

‘The email IDs are to be deleted on the completion of each of the two stages of the operation,’ Al-Wali told Babar. ‘Do not send the email. Just write it and save it in the drafts folder. We both have the same passwords, so we can read what we save in the drafts. Since the email will not be sent to any other email account, our account will not come under any kind of surveillance,’ Al-Wali explained.

Babar took a cab to the Pune airport and bought a ticket for Kolkata. From there, he flew to Patna. Upon reaching Patna, he took a bus to Raxaul, located on Bihar’s border with Nepal. Eight hours later, on reaching Raxaul, Babar took a cab to Birat Nagar, across the border in Nepal, to finally reach the Mahendra Niwas Residency Hotel.

Two young Pakistanis in Pathani suits were waiting in the hotel lobby. One of them was carrying a rucksack and wearing a yellow baseball cap. The cap and the rucksack were the signals for him, as decided by Al-Wali.

Babar approached them. ‘I am Babar. You have come to see the Red Fort?’

‘Yes, we want to see the Red Fort. I am Usman Ali, and this is my friend Rehmat Shah. We are trainees and have been waiting for you.’

Babar nodded. ‘Let’s move, the cab is waiting.’