From one forest to another

From one cave to another

From one mountain to another

From one peak to another

She runs, she runs

A young pursuer following her

No other woman has lips as beautiful, as luscious, as hers

No other woman gives an embrace that is as warm and fragrant as hers

She is Laila

Laila of this young man who is after her

She is dearer than life to him

The man is in love

Do you know who Laila is?

Do we, who are assembled here in this open ground, under the comforting shade of a tarpaulin that shields us against the severe sun, know who that crazy lover and Laila are?

The raspy male voice, its pitch rising and falling as if in a practised rhythm, was killed abruptly. The Murphy tape recorder placed on a small table was switched off by Shekhar.

The five trainees and their four trainers, including Shekhar, were seated on cane chairs in two rows which faced each other. The session was being conducted in Merlin Hall, one of the largest halls in the CTC mansion. Apart from them, there was a stranger sitting with the trainers.

He had a light complexion, a wiry frame and appeared to be in his mid-fifties. Clad in a grey Pathani suit, he sported a beard that was dyed orange. While the tape recorder played, the man had watched the trainees like a hawk for any signs of reaction. He had not uttered a word since the session began.

Shekhar smiled at the trainees. ‘I told you we would hear the speech of an interesting person, but I did not mention his name. We will find that out when we hear the rest of his speech. For now, let me introduce you to your new teacher, Mr Imran Hussein, who is also a long-time friend and colleague. He will conduct special classes for you. Hussein sahib has come here from Hyderabad to teach you the basic tenets of Islam. We are a secular, democratic country and all religions, including Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism and Christianity, are respected and treated equally under our Constitution.

‘But once you finish your training, you will be given a special assignment that will take you to new places. You will meet new people whom you may not like but will have to work with nonetheless. You will have to befriend them, become their confidants. You will have to take on new identities, for which we will prepare you. Your job is to pay attention, absorb what is being taught to you and be prepared to execute tasks without any error.’

Shekhar turned to the man. ‘Hussein sahib, please take over. But first, let us listen to the gentleman who wants to tell us about Laila and her Majnu.’

Shekhar switched on the tape recorder.

The raspy voice rang out again: