It's Called: Freefall

Chapter 14

Author's note: The chapter is a bit long, dark and messy here. Also TW for mentions of torture and miscarriage.

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"We need to act fast. Meghna is one, if not the only agent, who has escaped the clutches of LUCIFER and lived to tell the tale." Col. Luthra was speaking as he skimmed through the files and redacted documents laying open on his desk.

Rubai and a couple of more JOCR agents were standing in attention inside Colonel Luthra's Cabin. He continued,

"10 years ago, she was a part of the team, that was sent on a confidential mission. But she defied our direct orders and was later captured by LUCIFER and his men and kept in captivity for over 6 months."

"Sir, our organisation was aware of this? And no action was taken?" Rishi was the one to speak.

"Son, that is how this system works. We are not responsible for the agents who defy orders. You'll learn with time." The Colonel replied in a strict manner that left no room for further questions.

"We need to bring her in. She could be a great asset. I've been informed by my sources that she's in this city right now. In fact, she was seen with Pathaan last night. They have a history." His eyes caught Rubai who had a face of indifference.

"Rubai. That's where you come in. I need you to make a strategy. I need Meghna in custody within 24 hours. You know how to handle pathaan."

"Sir. What happens to Meghna once she's brought in?"

"That's on need to know basis only. Are my orders clear?"

"Yes sir. We will find her." They're all in attention.

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Pathaan was standing in front of the bathroom mirror, mulling over his outburst and Meghna's reaction just a while ago. Suddenly his phone rang with a new incoming call. It was from an unknown contact. He answered it still.

"Hello."

"Pathaan it's Rubai, I don't have much time. But we just had a briefing with Colonel Luthra a while ago, he told us about one of Meghna's old cases. The files were redacted but i think he was hiding more than what he was letting on. I don't trust him."

"Hold on, what do you mean?"

"Col. wants us to get Meghna in custody. He suspects she knows more about LUCIFER than she's letting on. I've managed to get the original copy of her last mission, I'm sending it to you. Talk to her. We only have 24 hours."

The call was cut after that.

Pathaan looks at the screen, it showed a new email notification. He walked back into the bedroom and sat on the bed, opening the email on his Tablet.

Pathaan went through the attached file. It had detailed reports and several photos from Meghna's Ops. What caught pathaan's attention was the last file.

"Pheonix" , dated 10 years ago.  That was right around the time she had left him, only to show up at his door now.

Pathaan clicked on the folder and found a bunch of incident reports on the OP and Meghna’s  medical reports.

“Multiple bone fracture, Lacerations to back and torso, Shoulder dislocation and early miscarriage.” it read.

His breath was caught in his throat, and vision zooming in on the last word.

-----

Meghna was still sprawled on the couch where he last saw her, seemingly unbothered and relaxed. Pathaan walked up to her and dropped the tablet in her lap.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he questions her plainly.

“What-” she begins as she picks up the tablet and reads through it.

“Oh.” Beat of silence.

"It wasn't the right environment, and then after that day in the cafe, it didn't matter.” she replied with her head  low.

Pathaan took a seat on one of the chairs. He didn’t know how to react. He had spent the last 10 years mourning Meghna. They had told him she didn't make it. But he didn't stop looking for her and when he did find her, she had told him to stop looking for her. And two days ago, when he saw her in his apartment, all he could feel was rage. He was angry with her for leaving him, he was angry with her for not letting him in. He was angry at himself for not trying hard enough to find her. And now he was angry at her for not telling him about their child. He was sure it was his.

“Tell me now.”

He kept staring at her until she picked her head up and looked him in the eye.