"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 Sixteen: The Silent Rescuer
Gill gasped for a breath, his eyes widening in surprise. Confused and still in the haze between dreams and wakefulness, he managed to croak out, "What happened?" The abrupt return to reality left him disoriented, and he blinked up at Vasisth, awaiting an explanation for the unexpected intrusion into his slumber.
"We need to start early to locate the hostages," she stated, making her way toward the map.
After entering the restroom, Gill wasted no time turning on the cold water. The shock of the icy cascade hit him, instantly invigorating his senses and calming his racing heart. Steadily, he regulated his breathing, the chill of the water helping to clear his mind and prepare him for the challenges ahead. Refreshed by the cold shower, Gill took a moment to collect himself. The droplets of water glistened on his skin as he turned off the tap, and he dried off quickly.
Refreshed and determined, Gill rejoined Vasisth in the room, his mind clear and focused on the task at hand. Together, they studied the map, searching for any clues that could lead them to the hostages.
Vasisth pointed to a series of markings on the map. "These locations seem to be the most likely hiding spots," she observed, her tone resolute.
Gill nodded in agreement, his gaze scanning the map intently. "We should split up and investigate each area separately," he suggested, his voice confident.
Both of them ventured into the empire, stealthily searching for hostages without attracting attention. Meanwhile, Sukhlal Ji ensured that he delved deep into the information network of Khatri, extracting crucial data from Khatri's systems between his operatives who worked tirelessly to cause further disruptions in other countries. All this unfolded within the tight deadline given by his Sirji and Madamji, who had to find hostages within 24 hours.
On the other hand, Raman found himself reluctantly tasked with repairing Khatri's side table fan, a duty he begrudgingly accepted. Despite his desire to assist Vasisth directly, he understood the importance of his role in supporting their mission, even if it meant performing seemingly mundane tasks.
Vasisth took a seat next to the women who were quietly chuckling, engrossed in cutting vegetables. She sighed, aware of Khatri's cowardly tactics of using women and children as shields to protect himself from authorities. Putting aside her disdain for him, she decided to approach the women, hoping to gather any information that might lead her to the hostages.
"Good morning," Vasisth greeted the woman with a warm smile, masking her true intentions as she pretended to be on Khatri's side.
The women glanced at her cautiously, their eyes narrowing with suspicion. "What do you want?" one of them asked, her tone guarded.
"I'm just here to ensure everything is running smoothly," Vasisth replied smoothly, maintaining her facade. "But I couldn't help but notice your excellent cooking skills. Can you share some of your secrets with me?"
