Objectives Worthy Followers
Cover note
From hosting a skit on Forest Conservation in school to turning into a full- fledged renowned military officer, Majo had surpassed all limits in tracking a military crime involving a spurious amalgamation of an infamous regime with that of a dark cult to eventually overthrow them while being proud to see his schoolmate Arjun who became a leading senator at the Council spearheading the entire saga of revenge. The officer took to several undercover methods and high-ended tactics in restoring justice and offering protection to Arjun, Dan and Kangxi the vigilantes of conviction as the anointed Gold Sandalwood Knight.
*****************************
Suspense
Detained at the most dreaded Sheriff house in town, Radha sat crouched down in the cell with her elbows surrounding her knees and her face buried inside sobbing bitterly after the most gruesome ambush that she and her team of trained vigilantes had successfully destroyed the plans of Chinese infiltration at Sandal Vale. The teammates were dead tired to even feel despair after the hectic battle while Gloria walked up to Radha and tried consoling her, placing her hands gently on Radha’s wounded arm after the bullet was removed and her wound was nursed so meticulously. One of the inmates from the next cell was brought in drunk and kept yelling curses at the officers despite being beaten up intermittently. It was a ghastly atmosphere at the Sheriff house where people were known to be detained for reasons other than crime.
Gloria had almost fallen asleep beside Radha while the latter had opened her eyes only to see the time on the clock outside that had shown 2 am. Radha was taken to the interrogation chamber by a lady officer Sgt. Sharada. Before entering the room she had almost eve’s dropped on a conversation Inspector Bidari Nayak was having with an officer.
“ The timber company under the name of Owl’s Wood got shut down soon after the ambush at SandalVale. There’s not a single trace of evidence to say there was ever an ambush in the region. All we know is that Cmdr. Lee was killed but we couldn't find his body. Not a sign of even Sandalwood?” questioned Inspector Bidari as he poured tea into the cup of the officer who sat with him.
“ Here is the format for you to run through the interrogation with the girl. Read it and do accordingly. Don't use your own method. We’ve been instructed to follow this format of questions or else it will lead to loss of our jobs here. It’s that serious. Right then. See you soon.”
Radha couldn't catch the glimpse of who the other officer was for he had vanished from the scene while had entered the chamber with Sergeant Sharada.
“ What’s your full name and profession?!” asked Inspector Bidari looking stern into Radha’s eyes while sitting cross legged in front of her with a lampshade hanging above the table between them while Sgt. Sharadha stood by the side of Radha with her hand placed gently on her shoulder.
“ I am Ms. Radha Bahadur. A Full time Private Investigator currently working as Human Resources Manager at Lord Dr. J.Daniel’s Archaeological Society at Nerpulla, ” stated Radha in a prompt tone.
“ I said Full name??!” exclaimed the Inspector.
“ Radha Kalaga Bahadur!” retorted Radha in her native bold tone.
“ Father’s name?”
“ Mr. Nagendra Bahadur.”
“ Ah! I'm aware he’s a lawyer.Your not married are you Radha?”
“You're right . He’s a criminal lawyer. I'm not married.”
“ So who’s Kalaga?!!” bursted out Inspector Bidari.
There was a deep long drawn silence from Radha who had her head held down in fatigue and the stress that she was put in at that late hour of the night.
“ Did you get my question?!! Who is Kalaga?!! Is she an activist?”
Inspector Bidari gave a sharp look at the Sergeant.
“ Sir, she’s too tired. Maybe we could give her a break,” replied Sergeant Sharada as he offered Radha a glass of water to drink.
“ I am Kalaga and Kalaga is me! I’m married to my convictions. If that..answers?”
The Inspector had no words to say. He put his head down and walked away while he gestured to Sergeant Sharada to take over the interrogation.
“ Radha please understand. With due respects to your convictions. We are doing our duty to uphold the law . You must cooperate in giving us clear information. Trust us we are there to support you Radha. Are you feeling fine?”
Sergeant Sharada was over empathetic with Radha at every stage though her superiors were not welcoming the same approach of the Sergeant.
“ Can you start from the night of the 15th of March when you had decided to take to the woods all alone armed with a crossbow carrying a kitbag along with cameras and other accessories. If I'm correct?” asked the Sergeant.
Radha looked at the team white Gloria had subtly gestured not to yield to the Sergeant and give information.
“ What was the purpose of your tour? Why would a Private Investigator like you have to risk her life in the woods?All alone?!”
Sgt. Sharada had suddenly taken on a more aggressive front having to see Radha getting too obstinate with the latter’s most pious overtures.
“ Was in connection to the case of the missing Sergeant Mallappa.”
“ Is that all Radha? Or there is more to it? Are you hiding something? You took photos on the same night in the woods, right? Where are those photos? Where ?”
Sergeant Sharada had a raised eyebrow and looked half as grimmer than she was when she had started the conversation.
“ I can't tell you, ” replied Radha rather indecisively as she had appeared more confused than ever.
The photos were shot by Radha while on her spy mission into the woods when she had captured some of the crucial events relating to illegal Sandalwood trade and the involvement of Chinese clients along with the then president of the Council EKS Bopanna. She was in two minds whether to give the same to the Sergeant or hide them . She had the intuition that the interrogation was manipulated to a motive triggered by the same sources present in the photos.
Just then Radha was made to hear the brisk footsteps of the approaching Inspector Bidari Nayak as he walked through the corridor nearby.
“ So there was a discovery followed by an espionage in the woods followed by a team expedition that led to an abduction of one of your teammates Arjun subsequently followed by this famous Ambush at the place you have named as Sandal Vale where you claim to have triggered a counter insurgency operation?!! Who allowed you to take things in your own stride?? I want a precise answer from you Ms…Ms. Kalaga?!!”
The Inspector had thundered at Radha bearing a prejudice over her being too brazen and headstrong about her own convictions while Radha gathered courage and looked straight at the Inspector with her chin held up.
“ To save this town and the nation. To save innocent women , the tribe's animals and most of all to save our forests,” answered Radha abruptly.
***********************
Objectives Worthy Followers
T
A
Drama
As a nobleman would have it, Dan had walked up bravely to Kangxi blowing
off the fumes of his howdah pistol, adjusting his Panama hat and found his cigar
still burning on the ground close to Kangxi while he stepped on it looking at
him kneeling on his knees. Offering Kangxi a hand, Dan helped him get up briskly with their hands still held together in all firmness. While they stood momentarily
shaking hands with the sense of reconciliation arising from a perfect eye contact, Dan sensed something wrong while he swiftly swirled Kangxi, tripping him to the ground.
With his right hand had still gripping that of Kangxi’s locked behind the back
of the latter facing the ground, Dan had held up his howdah pistol with his
left hand and shot all three of Kangxi’s men standing behind and who were
quite too late to react though they had their dazed eyes with their hands
clasping on their guns held point blank at Kangxi from behind him despite
fatal injuries.
“ None leave the town without telling me. But your company will for sure
make you leave your body without telling you!”
Dan warned Kangxi as he blew off the fumes from his pistol .
“ Your own men were out there to kill you . Hope you’ve realized it Kangxi!
Never ask anyone to leave the town like you had asked Arjun . We have a
long way to go. Hope this makes you turn on a new leaf.
Goodbye.”
Dan turned around abruptly and walked away majestically leaving Kangxi
behind and boarded his Bentley driving slowly through the woods.
While Dan had held Radha’s asters close to his heart while driving his Bentley
through the N55 Highway, Kangxi at the fort was left with a lasting impression no nobleman could have ever left on him. Kangxi was in admiration of
Dan though he felt forced to play the villain. He had retreated from
the scene of duel with a heart of gratitude rather than the remorse of defeat
well mocked by those of the cult. He went straight to his chamber of light
as he had termed the place where he would hypnotize subjects based on the
decisions of senator Bopanna into becoming the latter’s ardent supporters in
political regime.
The chamber of light looked rather ghastly for Samarth who was about to
get through the process of hypnosis.
“ Stay calm and relaxed. You are about to enter into the zone of light and wisdom.
One that you had always desired.”
Kangxi sat facing Samarth with a crystal ball in front of them. The chamber
was filled with the smoke of incense and a purple light that shone intermittently
on Samarth.
“ Look at the crystal ball in front of you . You will see it glow brighter and brighter
as the purple light on you gets dimmer. You're into hypnotic trance. At the count of 3
you will close your eyes and listen to what I'm saying and repeat accordingly.”
Samarth was dazed and began his journey into unknown realms of his own inner consciousness. The purple light began to glow dimmer while he began to hear Kangxi’s voice as the only thing resounding in the universe.
“ 1-2-3. Close your eyes. You are now hypnotised….”
Kangxi came closer to Samarth waving his hands and making specific gestures while taking control of the latter’s will power and holding a steadfast gaze on his subject.
“ Now come up with all you have to say about the cult and the reason for your blasphemy.”
“ My name is Samarth and it's been six months since I joined the cult. In the beginning they told us about salvation and the path to it by submission. I really did not understand what it meant until I had realized they were only pushing people into slavery and bondage while giving them a sort of intoxication by what they called The Liquid Moon that happens to be a hallucinating drug. I however refrained from being part of their practices and tried educating my clan who were victims under their programme.”
Samarth had revealed much about the unknown aspects of the cult while Kangxi had
made several deductions and decided to save him from more harm.
“ Say: I believe … I follow… I'll vote….,” ordered Kangxi.
“ I believe… I follow…. I'll vote….,” replied Samarth.
Kangxi had sensed Samarth was completely in his control.
“ Say: I believe.. I follow.. I'll vote for EKS . Bopanna Sir…”
“ I believe.. I follow.. I'll vote for EKS . Bopanna Sir…”
Samarth was completely transformed into a strong supporter of Bopanna through
hypnosis that Kangxi was famous for. The lights went up and Kangxi stood up from his chair.
“ Now wake up Samarth. You are now a free man . Free from the bondage of slavery
under the cult who had planned to feed you to the demons. You don't have to worry
about it now. Go home and stay safe . Remember to meet Bopanna Sir as soon as possible and address your faith in him. Goodbye.”
***************
Objectives Worthy Followers
T
Conspiracy
“That should sum upto a another 7257 cubic metres storage capacity, sufficient to provide water to the entire Sandal Vale and the tribes at least. However it could be extended to the town in the near future once actual figures are interpolated considering per capita per day demand of the people.”
Kangxi had just briefed about the figures as part of his calculative analysis to Dr. Kanth who made a visit to the new casino housing the foundation of Dan’s dream Polo stadium The Grand Harry built by the former close to Sandal Vale in all diligence and honour of Dan alongside the completion of the reservoir project as mentioned in the portfolio given by the latter.
After inspecting his work at the reservoir and the casino, Dr. Kanth had explained to him in detail all points Gold Sandalwood Knight had mentioned before his leaving after the boisterous guerilla attack on the Cult.
“ That's a quantum leap in your efforts Kangxi! The new Royal casino is a masterpiece though with the hidden master plan:
The actual event Kalaga is not to be held at The Grand Harry but several miles behind in this region you see here on the map to the West of Nerpulla town. It starts as a procession from the Lumbad hills in the South heading North all the way upto The Owl’s lake. Try to ensure the same region is made conducive to sport and …”
Dr. Kanth stooped low, looking keenly into Kangxi’s eyes completing his message saying, “…and to War.”
On hearing Kangxi’s horse The Golden snow neighing loudly, Dr. Kanth knew Bopanna would be in at any moment and took leave. Kangxi, do remember to handle it with care. Goodbye for now.”
Just as Dr. Kanth left the scene, Bopanna's concorde had arrived at the same casino with the delighted President who stood in awe looking at the new Polo Club where Kangxi was bent on getting the President of The Council enrolled on a Gold Membership.
“ Welcome to my Royal Casino! I'm very delighted to see your interest in mastering Polo though it's virtually impossible!”
Inviting Bopanna most cordially, Kangxi had offered him Premium Gold membership at his Polo Club at Nerpulla under secret advice of Dr. Suryakanth Gajendra.
“ Nice to hear the same from a rehabilitated man like you if this ain't not your innate quality of flattery as only a prelude to mesmerism.”
“ It's too hard to define me Bopanna Sir. For all I care to get back to the cult. I'm the same man as before only pretending with a motive you know. Here's a document for you to read and understand what's in store.”
“ Hmm! Kalaga- The Treaty of Desire!” exclaimed Bopanna with his eyes untethered from the same document while the waiter had arrived just then with fresh Russian Borscht( a beetroot soup that actually originated in Ukraine and was quickly adopted as a Russian speciality as well. This soup has dozens of ingredients and can take up to 3 hours to prepare.)
“What a transformation Kangxi! You’ve become more conscious of diet and exercise!”
“ Yes I have to keep fit . I have a long way to go. Now I'll be back after my workout at the gym while you go through the document and please don't forget to enjoy Borscht.”
After his beastly sets of bench presses and tricep curls, Kangxi stood tall flexing his muscles in the mirror with intermittent peeps through a window where he could clearly view Bopanna’s beaming desire while reading the document.After a quick sauna, Kangxi was back seated opposite to Bopanna.
“ Do you think it goes in tandem with your desire of becoming Nerpulla’s only living emperor?” asked Kangxi while ordering for Shashlik(Shashlik is a Russian take on a kebab, and like any kebab, it consists of cubed meat and veggies grilled on skewers)
“ I thought that was you! Well The Owl had plans to have to rule Nerpulla once the Poison tribes sabotage the town. You have really built the best casino in town much like an ancient one though.”
“ Of Course yes and based on the model of The Vajra’s description of how sport was played back then. Whosoever be emperor matters less than to have the greatest overhaul of wealth considering your mastery in Polo that could turn Dan a loser in no time should you just sign up for the same treaty explained in the document.”
Kangxi uttered his message in the most sophisticated manner all the while polishing his priced Polo mallet.
“ Reasonably so, I see myself in the affirmative.”
“ Good to go. Here are your papers. Please fill up the details and put your signature here. Do remember you have several contestants opting to play against you while you get trained in due course to play the ultimate game Kalaga.”
Objectives Worthy Followers
