‘They were used in two matches earlier, but they are new. They were in Hyderabad. Shafiq took a bus to Mumbai, then Pune. After the match, you have to return them to Hyderabad,’ Abu-Muzammil said. ‘The bowlers will go to Ravi’s house?’ he confirmed.

‘Yes, I have made all the arrangements. Pune se aaram se Stylebhai ke ghar. Then on the same day chachi ke ghar. The next day, they will go to the teacher’s house and from there to Ravi’s house,’ Babar said.

‘Okay, good,’ Abu-Muzammil said and ended the call.

Babar next went to the Namaste India Lodge to meet Shafiq, as instructed by Abu-Muzammil.

Shafiq was terse. ‘From where?’ he asked.

‘Ghar ki baat. Prakash. I need the bats,’ Babar said. He handed over the ‘kit’ to Shafiq.

After taking delivery of the ‘bats’, Babar, who was clad in cricket whites and had a baseball cap on, took a state transport bus from the bus stand opposite his hotel. He knew that public transport vehicles were only lightly checked by security personnel manning check posts on the streets and highways.

Rohit called up Shekhar directly and not Sawant, despite CTC’s instructions not to do so. He used a PCO located in Kothrud, Pune. Such calls were allowed only in cases of an emergency and Rohit thought now was such a time.

‘Hello?’ Shekhar took the call after two rings.

‘Trojan.’

‘Speak,’ Shekhar said.

‘There isn’t much time. The Lashkar conspiracy to hit Himalaya is in an advanced stage. Three specialists have arrived from Pakistan, others are here too in Pune. Sahil is here and so am I. The date is 11 February, time not decided,’ Rohit said in one breath.

‘Will they reach the targeted site in a vehicle? What kind of car? Will the gunmen spray bullets indiscriminately or do they plan to go for targeted killings? Will they throw bombs?’ Shekhar asked.

‘They will be driving a big sedan. The terrorists will be in fake police uniforms; the car will have a red beacon to evade checks and get easy access. They will be armed with AK-47s and plenty of grenades,’ Rohit said.

‘Will they hit and run or will they stand and fight till death?’

‘Hit and run.’

‘Why BVP?’

‘Abu-Muzammil thinks BVP was part of the groups suspected of involvement in the 2002 Gujarat riots and that therefore its top leaders must pay. He calls it eye for an eye, revenge,’ Rohit said.

‘Revenge. Of course! As if they kill hundreds in India for the welfare of anybody! Their job, which the ISI decides for them, is to kill Indians in the name of any propaganda! Look out for any alarming signal or development,’ Shekhar said and hung up.

Shekhar took the next flight to Pune. Within an hour of landing, he was in the cabin of the commissioner of Pune police, Rakesh Goswami.

‘Good evening, sir. I am Shekhar Singh, from CTC Delhi, operations,’ Shekhar introduced himself.