Retaliation

1

"A secret at home is like rocks under the tide."

–Dinah Craik, Magnus and Morna

***

The sun had just peeped out of the sky with the happiness that the moon had left. Just as the sun's presence was felt, every creature alive celebrated it with its cheerful sound.

The National Capital Region of India, also known as New Delhi, came to life, and people started bustling around, caring about their jobs.

But there is this one guy who finally came to peace mode after days of bustle. Agent Oxygen is such a person, who is a Junior Detective at Inspygency, which is also called the International Spy Agency. Like the element oxygen, he was the life of the team's eye, as a talented, charming, and young agent.

Oxygen does nothing except work for people's peace. Being one of the causes of global peace was always Oxygen dreamt of since childhood. After years of struggles and hard work, he finally attained the beginning.

But he has a life, just like every Homo sapien.

He came off from meditation, as he always does every morning. Then he sat on his bed and took his mobile from the chest drawer. He unlocked it, opened WhatsApp and texted his girlfriend, Angela Schmitz, a German-based Zumba trainer.

So, baby, pull me closer
In the back seat of your Rover
That I know you can't afford
Bite that tattoo on your shoulder

In response, Angela -- as if waiting for his message -- had put down a reply.

Where are you now
Atlantis
Under the sea
Under the sea
Where are you now
Another dream
The monsters running wild inside of me
I'm faded

Enjoyable, thought Oxygen and let out another message.

The club isn't the best place to find a lover
So the bar is where I go
Me and my friends at the table doing shots
Drinking fast and then we talk slow

Got it, baby!
Catch you later!

And she went offline while Oxygen gave a warm smile.

***

Oxygen was on the moving bus when he heard a female voice with a German accent.

"Hi, baby!" He looked back and saw Angela standing next to his seat.

"Hey! Hi," Oxygen greeted in his usual, weak way and went towards the window side; giving her space to sit.

"How are you?" She asked, sitting beside him.

"Well... Good! What about you?" He asked back, turning towards her.

"Yeah! Simply fine," she said while he looked out at the window.

The road was too busy and congested while the full moon shone brightly in the dark sky. That was when he realized one thing. One can shine bright despite anything going around, like that full moon.

"Baby!" Angela broke his philosophical thought while Oxygen looked at her.

"Yeah?"

"I'm going to Berlin this Tuesday."

"Seems like I've got good news to receive," he said, rubbing his palms.

"Ummm... Sort of. I feel like... I need to tell Mom."

Looking at her baffled, Oxygen asked, "Tell Mom what?"

"About us?" She asked, pointing at themselves.

"Now?"

"Then when?"

Oxygen became silent. Maybe she was right. She was already 28, and he was 29. It's good for her not to wait anymore. She had been waiting for him for five years.

"Fine! When will you come back?" He asked her.

"Maybe... Next Thursday, I guess."

"Anyways. All the best!" He wished, extending his hand to shake hands while she accepted it and shook hands.

The bus came to a sudden halt. It was Angela's stop to get down.

"Okay! Bye," she wished and got off the seat, while Oxygen couldn't stop looking at his girl getting down.

***

As it was a weekend, the night at Juniper Bar was horrifically loud. With jazz, pop, and electronic music, neon lights, heavenly drinks and energetic people inside, the bar was way more lively than the typical 'lively'.

But, the parking lot in the basement was contrasting. The lights were dimly lit. The surrounding was full of cement grey, with dashes of yellow, white, and black. It was eerily silent than the loud bar, and there came Angela, still in her gym clothes.

She was searching for a car in the parking lot and finally found a black Range Rover, which was the last car on the left side.

She opened the rear door of the car and went inside, closing the door. She flexibly sat in the space between the rear seat and the front seat, bent down and tapping at the end of the space. As she heard a sound of a sturdy thing, she switched on the torchlight and took a key from her bag, to open it. As she opened it, she blindly placed her hand inside the secret locker and took out the blue leather file labelled Confidential: Operation M.

That was a file with details about a serial killer named M, who killed the members of Inspygency, including its boss. And it was because of him that Inspygency became a super-secretive agency.

Angela smiled at the file while rewinding to the chat messages they had that morning.

In the back seat of your Rover: Where Oxygen mentioned that the file is at her Rover.

Where are you now?: Angela asked about the location.

So the bar is where I go: Where Oxygen mentioned the location.

And she got the car keys from Oxygen while on the bus.

Angela crawled to the driver's seat and drove the car with happiness. While on her drive, she had sent a voice message.

"Operation success," she said and pressed send while she was already towards Oxygen's house.

As she reached Oxygen's house, she blared the horn and was waiting for Oxygen. Soon she saw the balcony door open, and there came Oxygen.

She gave a victorious grin, while he delivered the same, expressing their success.

Or rather, a successful failure?

So here we are, at the first chapter of Retaliation. Hope you guys enjoyed it! Please drop some constructive criticisms. I'm waiting.

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