Lut Gaye || لٹ گۓ

TWENTY NINE | Assault

"mainay jab dekha tha tujhko, raat bhi wo yaad hai mujhko."

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FEATHER of a raven flying high in the nocturnal sky fell off its glossy black wings and drifted down, coming to rest near a pair of booted feet.

Standing on the rooftop of the special investigation unit building, Zain gazed at the skyline of the city before him, draped in the cold stillness of the night, appearing like a calm, waveless sea.

A mirage.

Because down in the labyrinthine streets and alleys, crime never closed its ruinous eyes. It prowled around baring its teeth, proliferated with each passing minute.

And to curb and beat it off, the upholders of law and order stayed wide awake too.

Giving one last icy glance to the dusk-coloured portrait of calmness before him, he turned around and climbed down to the second floor of the building, disappearing into the locker room to gear up for the operation.

He took out his uniform; a simple obsidian half-sleeved shirt with silver pewter buttons, patches, and badges; paired with the same coloured pants with cargo pockets.

But once it was on his body―the starred straps lining his broad shoulders, the special unit insignia on his left sleeve depicting a raven with crossed swords behind its spread wings, the gilded police badge on his chest―it became highly significant.

A symbol of authority and protection.

Zain buttoned up his shirt, tightened his belt, and laced his tactical boots.

Straightening up, he slipped on a pair of fingerless leather gloves and made his way to the armoury room. From the collection of guns and ammunitions in the wall shelves around him, he picked up his favourite handgun; a customised glock 17.

Further added some magazines, tactical tools and a compass to his gear.

The last item wasn't needed but it was special.

Armed and uniformed, he walked out of the room and elevated down to the ground floor, entering the lounge where the forty-four members of the task force created to crush the gangster-cum-smugglers were lined up for a final briefing from the spearhead.

Head held high, feet wide apart, and arms behind his back, the lawman stood tall and erect before his fellow law enforcers.

In a loud, commanding voice, he began;

"This is your last briefing before we leave. We are going to surround the area as planned by splitting into three groups: Squad A will search the targeted houses and make the arrests: Squad B will proceed to crush the underground base of the smugglers that has been on our radar: Squad C will be on standby to seal the area incase of any emergency."

Zain exhaled a breath, eyes and tone hardening as he continued;

"You know the rules but I'll repeat them one more time. Women and children and unarmed civilians must not. be. harmed. I don't want any civilian casualties under any circumstances, am I clear!?"

He received a collective, emphatic, roger sir! from the men as they scattered around to gather the safety and communication equipment, adding final touches to their special operation gears.

"Would've been nice if Wajid was with us." Saif mentioned the fourth member of their team who was currently off-duty as he stood next to Zain, buckling the straps of his ballistic vest.