THE LAST HURRAH

‘What is your problem, why are you such a shame upon Lashkar-e-Taiba’s Indian operatives? There are so many Indian mujahideens in the LeT and they have always carried out audacious, complicated attacks. You guys can’t do even a simple recce properly? Speak up!’ LeT’s Nepal commander came to the point brutally.

‘We tried our best, sir, but could not achieve our goal,’ Sohrab said.

‘That is what I am asking. Why? It’s not like the stars of the universe are conspiring against you,’ Babar snarled, then turned to Sohrab’s cousin Janbaaz.

‘Janbaaz miyan, are you just brave in name or do you have it in you as well?’ Babar mocked him.

‘Sir, please test us just once,’ Janbaaz offered, blood rushing to his ears in response to Babar’s biting sarcasm.

‘I will give you a final opportunity to earn some respect for the first time in LeT,’ Babar said.

‘Sohrab, have you been to Rajouri and Poonch in Kashmir in your truck?’ Babar asked.

‘Yes, twice, for operational reasons. To transport something there and get something back from there,’ Sohrab said.

‘How did you manage the trips?’

‘I drove my truck, which has an all-India permit for transporting goods, to Kashmir to meet Commander Abu Saqlain. I carried wooden trinkets and carpets, which were financed by Al-Wali sir, to Kashmir, and brought AK-47s and RDX that Commander Saqlain gave me back from there and dropped them off at locations in Uttar Pradesh.’

‘Now you are talking like a trained professional,’ said Babar.

He whipped out his blue satellite phone – which startled the two ‘failed’ jihadis as they had never seen such a communication device before – and made a call.

‘Babar here. As-salaam-alaikum, Saqlain sahab. Do you remember Sohrab bhai?’ He listened for a moment, then continued, ‘Yes, that one only. He will be coming to you in four days, on the direction of commander Abu-Lakhvi. Please provide him with two AK-47s and the two Pakistani fidayeen that the commander will send you in the next two days.’ Babar paused, then said, ‘Shukriya, commander sahib,’ before hanging up.

He turned to Sohrab. ‘As you heard, you need to leave for Kashmir in two days. I am giving you Rs 50,000 to fill your truck with whatever can be easily traded there. Come back with the two fidayeen and the two AK-47s that he will provide you with. Hide the two fidayeen and the weapons near Bareilly or in your hometown of Pilibhit. Take a house on rent for three months there. In fact, you let it be, Janbaaz will take the house on rent.’

‘Yes, janaab,’ Sohrab said.