Timeless Bonds : Dhruv Tara × Arjun

14. His Protector

One week later.

ETF Headquarters

The room is filled with the hum of computers and the soft murmur of voices. The ETF team is gathered around a large table, a map of the region spread out before them. The atmosphere is tense.

DIG Coelho leaned over the map. "We have received intel about a Naxal camp set up near the village of Sonabari. It's a small, remote village, some 40 kilometres off Silvassa, but strategically important for their operations."

Tara tilted her head, "The naxals were eliminated from this region more than ten years ago, right?"

Sameer nodded. "Next month end, a tribal festival is being organised. Intelligence agencies are suspecting an attack."

Shree typing on his laptop, "I'm pulling up satellite images of the area. We need to know the terrain and any possible escape routes they might use."

"What about the villagers? Are they in support of the naxals or?" Aisha voices her concern.

Arjun grimly, "We need to gather some solid intel. We might need to evacuate the villages and neutralise the threat."

Aisha smiled with determination. "I can go undercover. I have experience with infiltration missions."

Tara shook her head. "Aisha, Nah, methinks, I shoul' go. Knowin' haw the locals talk makes easier for me ta blend in and gathe' intel."

Coelho nods his head. "But Tara, you don't look like a villager, and you're quite inexperienced with such missions."

"Jus' gimme chance. Me can prove mesel' and makeup can make anyone anythin'." Tara shrugged. "And me dad trained me for this."

Sameer looks at her, considering. "Tara has a point. Knowing the dialect could be crucial in gaining the villagers' trust and getting accurate information."

Arjun reluctantly, "Alright, but be careful. This is a high-risk mission."

Rathod nodded. "Tara, you'll go in as a local villager. Gather as much intel as you can about their numbers and plans. We'll be close by, ready to move in if things go south."

Tara smiles confidently, "Gotcha. Me will get all the info needed."

Coelho smiles warmly at the young girl. "I believe the team should gather information and neutralize the threat as soon as possible. Since it's a forested area and the villages are quite small, sparsely populated, we will have a back-up team of local police from Silvassa and the forest rangers can assist you if needed."

Sameer looks at the team. "Let's move."

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Ghodbari

The team arrives at the village by late afternoon. The local policeman in his mid-40s welcomes them. "Jai Hind, Sir. Ramesh Singh, Constable Ghodbari sub-station. Sir, we have a possible hostage situation."

Sameer frowns. "What?"

"Sir, this week we had a team of doctors setup a rural health camp. Since the rains have just stopped and it's peak for waterborne diseases. One of the doctors has been missing since yesterday. His attending staff told us that they went to Sonabari yesterday and when they returned after lunch, the doctor was nowhere to be found."

"Shree, track the phone."

Ramesh shook his head. "There is no coverage in that area sir. This fifty kilometres track is densely forested and the only tower here is in this village."

"How far is Sonabari from here?"

"About 10-12 kilometres. The population is barely 50 people. Then there's Dudhni, about twenty kilometres. All forest in between and some hilly terrain. The rains have washed away most of the roads too." Ramesh brought out a handmade map. "This is an approximate map, made from the local information."