𝑺𝒊𝒍𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕

𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬

Chapter Four: Robotic Mask Cracks

Vasisth's eyes widened in disbelief, and she made a face as if she had just tasted something foul. "Anyone but him," she exclaimed, a hint of disgust in her voice.

Gill, too, couldn't hide his own distaste, scrunching his face in an exaggerated expression. "Agreed. I have a more beautiful wife than her, and besides, Vasisth and Raman would make a good pair."

Vasisth shot him a glare, her irritation reaching its peak. She grabbed a stack of papers from the table and smacked them against Gill's arm. "Keep your comments to yourself, Gill. This is a serious mission, not a matchmaking game."

Raghav, attempting to diffuse the tension, stepped in, "Alright, enough bickering. We need to focus on the mission at hand. Pretending to be a married couple is just a small part of it."

Before any other words could be exchanged, Raghav quickly interjected, "Let's save the disagreements for later. Right now, I'll get the team's documents ready for the mission. Vasisth, Gill, start preparing for your roles. We have a tight schedule, and every minute counts."

Vasisth nodded, still shooting an annoyed glance at Gill. "Fine, let's get this over with."

Gill, feeling the weight of Vasisth's irritation, responded with an annoyed glance of his own. He rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath, "This mission would be a lot smoother without the unnecessary drama."

After Raghav left to prepare the documents, Vasisth and Gill made calls to Arjun, Raman, and Sukhlal ji, asking them to join them in Raghav's cabin. Within a few minutes, the team of five assembled, and they all sat down to discuss the plan.

As the discussion progressed, it became apparent that it was already late into the night. The other three team members decided to excuse themselves, wanting to get some much-needed rest before the mission. However, Gill and Vasisth remained in the cabin, their minds still buzzing with the details of the operation.

With just the two of them left, they continued to brainstorm and strategize on how to approach Khatri. They knew that getting close to him was crucial for the success of the mission, but it wouldn't be easy.

Gill leaned forward, his expression serious. "We need to figure out a way to gain Khatri's trust without raising any suspicions. We can't afford any mistakes."

Vasisth nodded in agreement, her mind racing with possibilities. "Agreed. We'll need to play our roles convincingly and find a way to get him to let his guard down."

They discussed various scenarios and tactics, weighing the risks and benefits of each approach. As they delved deeper into their planning, a sense of determination filled the room.

Frustration started to creep in as Vasisth found herself hitting the nip of the ball pen against the notepad, struggling to find the perfect way to get close to Khatri.

Gill noticed her agitation and was about to speak when his phone rang. Glancing at the caller ID, he saw it was his wife calling. He raised an apologetic hand to Vasisth, indicating that he needed to take the call.

"Hey, sweetheart," Gill greeted his wife as he stepped aside for privacy. Vasisth continued to ponder the plan, her brow furrowed in concentration.

"Yeah, boss and I are working on an upcoming project," Gill explained with a fake excitement in his voice. "We're putting together a presentation for the latest deal we managed to grab. It's a big one, and we're making sure everything is top-notch."

Bhumika responded, "Okay. I've left Anamika at your mum's house, and I'll be late tonight."

Gill's eyebrows furrowed at the unexpected lateness. Concerned, he asked, "Late? Why? What's going on?"

Bhumika sighed, "It's my office party. Some high-profile clients might be joining, so I have to stay for a while longer. I hope you understand."

Taking a deep breath, Gill replied, "Okay, just make sure you're safe. Love you."

Bhumika echoed the sentiment, her voice softer, "Love you too." They exchanged a few more words before ending the call.

Gill returned to the planning session with Vasisth, his mind divided between the mission at hand and his wife's unexpected late night at the office. He couldn't shake the feeling of concern, but he pushed it aside to focus on the task.

Vasisth, noticing the shift in Gill's demeanour, asked, "Everything alright?"

Gill, rubbing his face tiredly, said, "Yes." He paused, looking at the planning board. "We should stop here for tonight."

Vasisth resisted, "No, Gill. We haven't found a way to get close to Khatri yet, and we leave tomorrow."

Gill insisted, "Sometimes it's better to think after reviewing things there itself. Let's go to Azmiria, assess the situation on the ground, and then decide our next moves. We'll resume our planning there with a clearer perspective."

Vasisth nodded, realizing the practicality of Gill's suggestion. "Fine, but we need to hit the ground running as soon as we get there. We can't afford any delays."

Gill agreed, "Absolutely. Let's get some rest now and be ready for whatever comes our way in Azmiria."

As they prepared to leave, both Gill and Vasisth packed their belongings, ready for the journey ahead. However, as they approached their respective cars to depart, Vasisth noticed her tyre was punctured. Frustration crept over her, and she kicked the flat tyre with annoyance.

Gill, observing her predicament, approached and suggested, "Why don't you join me? I can drop you home. It's late, and it might not be safe for you to deal with this alone."

Vasisth looked at him with a disbelieving expression, and Gill sighed, realizing his unintentional oversight. "Sorry, I forgot you're more than capable of handling yourself. But it's late, and you look tired. Where would you go to find a repair service now?"

Vasisth sighed, acknowledging the truth in his words. She reluctantly agreed, "Fine, thanks. I could use some rest." With that, she got into Gill's car, both of them now on the way to Vasisth's home

While driving, Gill followed Vasisth's instructions, but at one point, he deliberately turned right instead of left, doing the opposite of her instruction. Vasisth frowned, giving him a questioning look.

Gill chuckled, "Well, I thought you might be too tired to cook. How about grabbing something to eat at my place? It seems like you could really use it, and I can drop you off afterward."

Vasisth scowled at him, "No need for the formality, Gill. You can just drop me home."

Gill teased, "Oh, come on. I can't afford my fake wife falling ill due to lack of food. Let's grab a quick bite, and then I'll take you home, I promise."

Vasisth, tempted by the idea of a quick meal, hesitated for a moment. Gill noticed her internal struggle and added, "My mum cooked aloo parathas today. The aroma alone will make your mouth water. Trust me; it's worth the detour."

The mention of homemade aloo parathas made Vasisth lick her lips, and she nodded reluctantly. Gill grinned, pleased with her response, and continued driving towards his Mum's place.

As Gill parked in the driveway of his parents' bungalow, he looked at Vasisth and said with a laugh, "I don't know if my daughter is awake or not, but let's keep your monotone and robotic expression in control. We wouldn't want to scare my little ball of sunshine."

Vasisth scowled at him, not amused by the teasing. Gill laughed, "Ah, there it is! That's exactly what I was talking about. Keep it light, Vasisth"

If only Gill had waited before entering the house, he would have noticed that Geentanjali had stuck her tongue out – a glimpse of the childish side hidden beneath the robotic exterior of Agent Vasisth.