"Sir, we could have been traced because of him!" she exclaimed with frustration.
"I just wanted to call home once and let my wife know that I love her and my daughter. I wasn't certain if we could have made it out of that mission," he retorted, defe...
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Chapter Three: Hitched Operation Scheme
Both of them nodded, knowing that Khatri was the name always on the criminal board, but he had always managed to escape the clutches of justice. And this time his activities were affecting their country's reputation.
Raghav leaned forward, his eyes locking onto theirs with a grave intensity. "The mission is not just about bringing back Khatri," he said, his voice carrying a weight that mirrored the gravity of the situation. "He has captured our nurses and a few officials, and he's making political demands that threaten the stability of our nation."
Raghav slid a dossier across the table, containing a series of photographs and documents outlining Khatri's demands. The images depicted the captured nurses and officials in distress, their faces etched with fear.
"He's demanding the release of some of his key associates currently in our custody. If we don't comply within the next 72 hours, he's threatening to harm the hostages and release sensitive information that could compromise our national security," Raghav explained, his jaw tightening as he spoke.
Gill's eyes narrowed, absorbing the information. "Blackmail and hostage situation. This just got a lot more complicated."
Vasisth's expression hardened. "Khatri knows he's playing a dangerous game. He believes that by involving the lives of innocent people, we'll be forced to comply with his demands."
Raghav nodded. "Exactly. We cannot let him succeed. Our country's reputation, the lives of our citizens, and the future stability of the region are at stake."
Gill clenched his fists, a determined fire burning in his eyes. "We can't let him manipulate us. We need a solid plan to neutralize Khatri and rescue the hostages."
Vasisth bit her lips, her mind working swiftly as she considered the dire situation. She took a deep breath and looked at Raghav. "What if we approach the Prime Minister and agree to release a few of Khatri's associates? It might buy us some time and ease the immediate threat on the hostages."
Raghav raised his eyebrows, a mixture of surprise and scepticism on his face. "Release his associates? Are you suggesting we negotiate with a criminal?"
Gill rolled his eyes, his frustration evident. "Are you mad? Negotiating with criminals only emboldens them. We need to go in, take him down, and rescue the hostages."
Vasisth held up a hand, her expression determined. "No, hear me out. Release a few of his associates but insist on holding the others. This will take time in legal procedures, giving us an opportunity to act. I know he'll agree, and we can use this time to plan a strategic operation. But, there's more to it."
Raghav leaned back in his chair, intrigued but cautious. "More to it? What do you mean?"
Vasisth glanced around to ensure no one was eavesdropping. She lowered her voice. "Khatri is a mastermind. If we release some of his associates, it will satisfy him temporarily, but he'll know we're not completely bending to his will. He'll be cautious, possibly even scared that we're playing a game of our own. This uncertainty might just make him reveal more about his plans, giving us an advantage."
