Operation Saat Hindustani

By Sah Krishna

Soldiers are the reason we feel safe in our country. But what if the soldiers become frustrated with army life and lose their motivation toward their duties? In such a chaotic situation, a major strike is initiated on India by not just Pakistan, but China too. And the onus of saving India falls on these demotivated soldiers.
Kabir, a top RAW agent, leads a team of six such soldiers, carrying out several covert and assault missions to gain intelligence and neutralize the threat. The threat is not the clichéd missile attack situation, but something more realistic that hovers around India. Will these Saat Hindustani regain their motivation and be able to save India?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Blue Rose Publishers
• Release date: Feb 22, 2024

Book preview

PREFACE

I always wondered why we Indians are so obsessed with love stories. Is there a lack of better thrillers or are they difficult to understand? Not being prejudiced towards romantic novels, I decided to bring an intelligent book, yet not complicated. The topic covered under this book is about the most undesired situation that India could face and it is not about any clichéd nuclear missile attack, etc. It is about an actual threat that keeps hovering around India.

During this book, I had to read and research about a lot of topics. Since the situations in the book are quite contemporary, thus it required apt logic and reasoning. The book, apart from dealing with intelligence work, also deals with a few social evils and diplomatic brilliance. During this entire journey with this book, I feel that I have changed as a person. I have become more analytical and logical and see the world and events with a more rational perspective now. I expect the readers to be benefitted similarly.

The characters in the book have a strong background, which drives the entire book brilliantly. Their stories are unique and relatable. There are many events in each chapter which will amaze readers and broaden their wisdom about intelligence and diplomacy. It is not a Masala Book, but an entertaining novel with brain.

The book contains profanity, sexual and strong words, thus readers discretion is advised. Even though the book tries to be in sync with the real world, it still is a work of fiction and any resemblance with any person, places, events etc. is purely coincidental. No intentional attempt is made to hurt sentiments of any person, religion, race, caste, region, etc.

EPISODE – 1

THE SIX HINDUSTANIS

Acontainer ship was approaching the Karachi port at a remote location. The seawater crashing against the port was making intriguing noise on that cold winter night. A few armed men at the port were waiting for the ship. These men stood in the darkness, barely visible, but they could sense each other’s heavy breaths and shivers. Frequently, they exhaled more vapour. It wasn’t the nervousness of the mission or the cold weather of January causing them to shiver. It was fear.

Do you think he’s going to come? one of them asked, rubbing his hands.

The other man, Saleem, was silent. The light of the ship shone on his face.

A huge scar running from below his eyes to across his nose became visible. His jaws were intact, eyes drenched in anger and shame, and he swallowed some fear. The first man continued,

They say whenever the Pakistani army conducts such highly covert missions, he arrives there.

Saleem was still silent. Nobody else knew that man more than he himself. That scar on his face had a horrific story behind it. He was grinding his teeth hearing about him, but deep down he didn’t want to encounter him again. A third man there was showing his interest in the one-sided conversation.

Who are you talking about? he asked.

The man looked at him and said with grim, Sabertooth.

The name followed a loud bugle of the ship, which ran shivers through their bodies. They exhaled more vapour and looked at one another. The light from the docking ship revealed the pale white faces everyone there had. And a small unwanted noise was enough to make their throats dry.

They pointed guns toward the noise. A cat came running from the dark containers. They put the guns down. Their commander ordered them to get to work.

The movement of containers began. A few containers were brought down and kept at different locations. But it was one particular container that the commander had an interest in. It was metallic in colour and had a hexagonal shape along the length. It was hanging at several feet from the crane, landing infront of the commander. Its motion was slow and everyone on the ground was impatient. Soon, they realized that the container was not moving at all.

One man was ordered to check with the crane operator. He rushed.

It is him, Saleem spoke.

His colleagues looked at his miserable face. He was crying and laughing at the same time. He was in tears and was shivering.

Sabertooth! He has arrived, he almost screamed. Everyone will be killed.

The commander heard him. He was aware of Sabertooth and his actions. In the past three years, he had foiled many operations of ISI. Nobody knew who he was. His face was always covered with a mask with having a print of a Sabertooth panther and his eyes complimented the getup. His modus operandi was like a superhero of a comic book and his brutal actions earned him the name of Sabertooth. He knew how to vanish and appear from nowhere suddenly. He thus became very dangerous in the dark. The speculations that he was a RAW agent added more horror to the minds of Pakistanis.

The soldier reached near the crane operator’s cabin to find him missing. He climbed up on the cabin to be sure. The operator was lying dead from a neck cut and the glass of the cabin had a message for the soldier, written from his blood–‘Enough of mercy’. It was Sabertooth’s clichéd line whenever he killed a Pakistani. It confirmed that he had arrived.

Before the soldier could alert everyone, a knife swung by his throat. A hand held his head from the top of the crane’s cabin until he spewed enough blood to ultimately collapse. Sabertooth then jumped down into the cabin and moved the levers in auto mode. He glanced at the dead men once and changed his position.

The commander, by now, had gauged something suspicious. He sent two more men. As soon as they entered the dark end, gunfire echoed from Sabertooth’s gun. Both the men died from headshot. The rest of the men froze. Sabertooth never left anyone alive; they knew that.

They were reluctant to go into the dark areas. The commander had to yell at his men twice. The rest seven men ran in all directions. Sabertooth had already calculated their moves. He had shifted his location near the commander; the alone standing commander.

Who is it? Show me yourself, the commander screamed, unlocking his rifle.

There was no response except the noise of the container. It was now moving downwards.

Some fools think of you as a predator. They haven’t seen my hunt yet, the commander continued with more confidence. I am going to tear you apart. Just show me yourself once.

The overconfident commander was asking for too much. Sabertooth was not very far from him. He was watching his aggression while standing on the descending container. He was above his head.

Went numb, huh? he screamed again. Sabertooth! What sort of name is it? And what sort of sound do you make when you come? ‘Mew?

He laughed hysterically until a kick, flying from the top of the container, hit his jaws to shut them. He fell, and the container landed simultaneously with a bang. Sabertooth walked closer. The commander’s gun was near, but his entire attention was on the man walking in black camouflage, emerging slowly from the dark and becoming visible. He wanted to see his face, but it was just a mask with a print of the nose and mouth of a panther with two long teeth. His eyes gave him the idea that how dangerous this animal could be. Sabertooth pointed his pistol at him and answered,

When I come, there is just one sound.

‘Bang’ – was the sound that followed.

Few men ran toward gunfire. Subsequent gunfire from Sabertooth took them down. Rest of the men started piercing the sky and air around in chaos. Sabertooth had to be alert while changing positions. A random hit could be fatal. Thus, he waited for their magazines to get over. Once they did, it was a task of even a novice. He shot everyone dead except one, Saleem. Sabertooth’s magazine had run out of bullets. Seeing him empty, Saleem jumped over him, but soon he was overpowered. Sabertooth held his hand and twirled him around, and held him by his neck.

It seems I didn’t create a good impression on you last time, Sabertooth said running the knife over his face.

Please don’t kill me. I have a family, Saleem pled.

Sabertooth shook his head.

Enough of mercy, he said and swung the knife across his throat.

He then moved towards the coveted container. It was locked with heavy chains. A few rounds of bullets from the assault rifles eased the job.

A lot was going on in his head while he was removing the chains. He had been tracking this package for a long time. Nobody knew what it had, but he was tipped that something groundbreaking was hidden there. He hadn’t reported about it to the base yet. All they knew was that he was on a mission. He did not share the details with anyone except the RAW’s chief. He wanted to have the possession and proper evidence of the item before passing on any intelligence. After months of coveted chases, he finally was about to uncover the mystery.

He removed the chain, and with great power, pulled open the door. His heartbeat was rising as the door was being opened. As the door opened completely, he stood there stunned. The container was empty. It baffled him. His intel was supposed to be accurate. There had to be something in this particular container. He couldn’t understand what to do next. While he was lost and baffled in thoughts, he heard a chuffing sound from a distance. It was coming from the ship. A chopper was taking off from the ship. There was another similar hexagonal container tied to the landing skids of the chopper. It flew over his head. He understood, he missed out on his opportunity. ISI outplayed him this time. The hexagonal container became a mystery again.

# # #

Two Months Later.

A bugle was resounding, sharp at 0400 hrs in the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. They blow this reveille to wake up the Gentlemen Cadets (GCs), training to become officers of the world’s 2nd largest and 4th most powerful army, the Indian Army. At 4 am, when the birds are unwilling to wake up, lovers end up phone calls and the entire city is dead asleep, these men rise. It is this bugle call, which gives civilians Goosebumps, and josh to the soldiers.

The last note of the bugle call ended bringing motion in the academy. The rumble is so sharp that it could penetrate the deepest sleep. But for that, one needs to be asleep.

GC Mohammed Kashif, 23, was lying on his bed, listening to the bugle. Collecting a few foggy memories, his arm was across his forehead, fisted, protruding the veins of the wrist. Similar lines were on his face. The teary brown eyes were glued to the slow-moving ceiling fan; not heeding its motion, but the commotion within his head.

The bugle call swiped many images in front of his eyes. An army post across the road, children running out of school, a tea stall with a steaming hot glass of kava, and a pair of impatient eyes. The eyes were looking across the road for a miracle to happen, a beautiful face to appear. A gentle glare from her bangles lit up his face. She was walking towards him. He folded his arms, rubbed his shoulder, and smiled, mostly to hide his nervousness. She chuckled, looking at his vulnerability. She was about to cross the road when…

Kashif, the voice of his roommate, GC Aditya Rathod, broke his melancholy. It’s time.

Aditya left the bed and grabbed his robe. Tying the robe lace, he called once again.

Let’s go.

Kashif made a verbal nod and closed his eyes.

# # #

0500 Hrs. Parade Ground.

By 5 am, the parade’s sound started waking up the birds. The platoon of GCs, wearing crisp white vests with military print cargo pants, were marching in discipline.

Company, halt march, the training officer ordered.

He glanced at the attendance. He walked past each one of them. They stood up straight, chest pumped up and face reflecting readiness to take any orders. They were standing right in front of the main gate of the academy. Speculations were running through every head.

GC Noel Chang whispered to Aditya, I think we’re being taken out for forest hunting.

Aditya didn’t respond. It wasn’t his nature to shed emotions on everything. He spoke less, in fact, least in the group. But his presence was extremely loud. Aged around 25, this Rathod from Rajasthan was the eldest among his friends. Noel’s adolescent excitement didn’t encourage him to respond.

Noel, 21, was the youngest and the most happy-go-lucky person amongst them. With such a young age, height of five feet four, and ethnicity of northeastern India, he was the cute cousin to them. Far away from maturity, he was innocently mischievous, the most loved one, and certainly right now, the most excited one too.

GC Divesh Yadav, 22, responded to his excitement from behind, Sure, brace up for the hunt. How about catching vultures and hunting four-legged snakes?

Divesh’s sarcasm went like a bouncer. Being his room partner, he was used to it. Not as many dialogues are written in Bollywood, as this Bihari brat had one for every situation. Sometimes they were funny, sometimes thrilling.

"When army men say join us, we’re gonna have fun. It means they’re gonna have fun," Divesh said.

People around giggled.

For the first time in 4 months, they were to be taken out of the campus during the morning parade. They were not aware that things were going to get more difficult.

Gentlemen Cadets, the training officer spoke in a commanding voice. Let’s go for a cup of tea today.

Noel smiled and whispered, "Told ya."

The T.O. continued, And the happiness would double for you when I say that the tea is 25 kilometers away from our academy, on a hilltop, with no proper road.

Complete silence. Even the birds stopped chirping. The T.O. glanced at everyone. As always, their faces looked unaffected by the challenge, but every mind was saying, "What the fuck!"

We run till there without stopping, have tea, and return without stopping. Is that clear?

Yes Sir, all voices rose together.

So let’s start, the T.O. said and led the run.

Love it or hate it, but we are his bitches, Divesh said.

Noel shook his head.

That morning in Dehradun was beautiful, as always. People passing by were looking at the running troop, making a "Hoo" sound to keep up the momentum.

The plain roads got cleared in some time and the run for the hill began. It was just halfway when the GCs got drenched in sweat. It was the first time they were running for such a long distance.

After the first month of their training and tests, IMA took these forty men out from the rest of the recruits. There were many additions to their training that were not being given to the left-out major chunk. This made their training more straining and distinguished. It was informed that only a few would qualify amongst these forty and would be admissible to better roles & opportunities and relatively high compensations and benefits. It also promised to them to get opportunities to serve abroad.

Having got into this company, no one ever wanted to quit. Every attempt they made was closer to being the best. Academy did not disclose the total number of intakes; it could have been one, it could be forty as well. This is why nobody wanted to stop.

The training officer ran backward intermittently, to check the condition of the men. And to talk about their condition, it was getting worse with every step they covered.

The line formation was discontinued with many left far behind. T.O. was aware of such a situation, but he wanted to see the top performer. Kashif wanted to be that top performer. He kept his pace in a continuum and GC Shahbaz Ahmed was facing a hard time beating Kashif.

Shahbaz was one of the best men in the Academy. Being tall and well built, he did have an outstanding personality. His resilience was inhumane and his ability to conclude a task was unmatchable. His way of doing the tasks was of pro-level - as if they gave him special tuitions to have those things right in place. But these excellent features didn’t work along with his other profiles.

His face had a scar near his forehead, which he said he got from a bullet in a counter fire from his senior. He was in the National Defence Academy then and shot his senior on the leg in a brawl. He had been detained then and put under restriction many times on disciplinary grounds - as flaunted off by him.

Shahbaz was introduced a little late to the academy. It was rumored that he had got entry because of the recommendation of a high-ranking military officer. This is why few people hated him. His cruel and bullying nature had also defamed him. He used to rag his fellow mates along with the seniors. If anyone objected to his acts, they used to take away his happiness. Being in the Indian army, people have spotted him saying negatives about India many times. But as mentioned, nobody messed with him.

Shahbaz appeared like a completely different person when Kashif was around. He was always amiable and compassionate when he met Kashif. His actions were friendly; conversations - decent and respectful. He would often talk about religion, but Kashif would ignore the topic, and Shahbaz never discussed it further. He would also stop others from talking about such topics, seeing him uncomfortable. His friends highly appreciated this gesture of him.

But Kashif looked into his eyes. He had learnt how to read them. The eyes spew out every hidden emotion, how much one tries to hide it from words, body language, or facial muscles. From the change in the size of the iris to the bubble developing below the eyes, all can be read. Long ago he had read the unspoken hatred Shahbaz was endorsing for him. And it was going out of control for him because Kashif never retorted. Self-contained emotions cannot be held for long. If it doesn’t get the required attention, it splurges out. Shahbaz’s condition was in a similar stage currently.

The men had to cover only a couple of miles more. The beautiful view from the hill was now visible. Such scenery is a source of inspiration for artists and writers; but currently, the soldiers were finding their strength in it. But Noel was becoming hopeless with every step he was making.

Fuck! What an asshole he is! He could have told me that he needed tea. I would have got Darjeeling tea from my home, he said, panting.

Aditya was also in a pretty similar condition, but his face didn’t let the confidence shrink.

"Even for that, he would have asked you to bring the whole tea plant mountain like Lord Hanuman," he said.

Divesh was breathing heavily, making a sound like an angry hissing snake. He too added a few words to the conversation, but the understandable ones were "Fucker, Asshole, and Motherfucker".

Shahbaz decided to put in more effort. His jaws got tightly intact and his face became stiff,