THE MASSACRE ON THE BUS.

Part 5 : The planning.

"श्री गणेशाय नमः". 

At noon, Oman and his group reached the old hamlet of Hakuma in the Blackwood. He saw that there was no one there. Oman warned his group members, "Listen, brothers, last time when I was here, I laid some landmines and traps at this place. So boys, tread carefully. Now, go and find the tribes." They spread out and started searching; overall, they found nothing there.

Then Oman sees that a little smoke is rising in the sky in the distance. Oman says to his group, "Hey, I know where they are." Abruptly, boom! There was a blast, and four terrorists were killed. Oman asked what happened. A man replied, "Oman, four of our men were standing close to each other, and one of them stepped on a landmine." Oman said angrily, "I told you to tread carefully. Now no one else should be killed. Leave their bodies here and follow me."

At H.A.F Campus, in the meeting room, the Colonel said that our drones detected that the tribals had established their new hamlet in the middle of the Black Wood. So it is certain that the group of terrorists will definitely reach them. The Colonel asked an rangroot (recruit) to give her a map. Then the Colonel opened Blackwood's map and said, "So, our plan is that we will attack those terrorists the day after tomorrow. Drany and two soldiers, the three of you are to go into the Black Wood from the massacre site." Then the Colonel pointed a finger at Mesons Town on the map and said, "Caesar, you and the two Rangroot with you will enter the Black Wood from Mesons because the middle of the Black Wood is close from there. So that we can surround them from both the front and back."

Colonel says ,You six soldiers have to catch the leader of that terrorist group alive. Then the colonel looks at me and says again,"Alive! You have to bring him, Caesar, did you hear?" I replied, "Yes, Colonel, I dig it." Then the colonel says to kill the remaining terrorists; not even a single one should be left alive, and no one will do anything to the tribal people. Not even a single tribal should die. After a few minutes, everyone left the meeting room. Even as I was leaving the room, the Colonel said, "Caesar, come here." I went to the colonel. She said, "Caesar, you should leave today for Mesons. Now go to the weapon room and take whatever weapons you want and take two rangroots with you. You should be at Mesons town by tomorrow morning." I saluted the Colonel and left the meeting room.

In the evening, I take those two rangroots along with me towards the weapons room. Those two rangroots are real brothers. This is going to be their first mission. I open the door of the room and say to both of them, "So, friends, welcome to the heaven." One of them says out loud, "Hell yeah !, look at it man, there are machine guns, rifles, assault rifles, pistols, blades (swords ,etc),shotguns, (flash) stun grenades. Well! Well! Well! The DRAGON (flamethrower) is also here." Then I say, "Rangroots, if you both are done. So now let's do what we came to do. You both take whatever weapons you want." few minutes later, I asked both of them "so  what you had taken , guys! ."  One replied shotguns and pistols, General. The other one said assault rifles , some grenades and sniper , General. One of them asked, "General, what about you?" I replied, "Pistol and rifle." Now listen, guys, put the weapons in your bag and give it to me. I'll put the bags in my car so we won't forget. Tonight we will go to Mesons.

At night, rangroots and I are sitting in my car to go to Mesons. Just then, Drany and two soldiers arrive with him. Drany knocks on the car window and asks if we can get a lift to The Knight Raider. Then they join us. After half an hour, we reach the bar. Drany says, "Come on, guys, we will have a feast tonight; who knows what the future will hold." Then I park the car, and we enter the bar to have drinks. The bartender asks me, "So, General, will you have the same pink wine?" I answer, "Not today, just give me water ." Drany, Soldier, and Rangroot are enjoying making fun of each other and dancing with the girls. I was sitting and watching how happy they are. Then I called Qara in the hope that she would answer my call, but she did not answer. It was already midnight. Both Rangroot had drunk too much. Then I took them both to the car. I said to Drany, "Hey dude, I have to go now. It's too late. I'll meet you in the black wood." Then I started the car and left for Mesons.

In the morning, I reach home. Those two boys are sleeping in the car. I don't wake them up; I let them sleep, open the car windows, and park it. Then I go and knock on the door of the house. Qarari opens the door and gets shocked, saying, "Caesar, how are you here?" I hug her and say, "I'm sorry, I'm really, really sorry, Qara." Then we go inside the house. She brings breakfast, and we have breakfast together. Both of us are silent. There is no talk between us.

After finishing my breakfast, I go to the garden. I stand under the Neem Tree and look at the Peepal sapling under which Lyla was buried. The same scene of the massacre appears before my eyes again. My eyes fill with tears. Qarari is watching from behind. I wipe my tears. Qara comes towards me from behind, holds my hand, and says that it has been a month since she left us. Then she places her head on my shoulder and looks at the sapling, saying, "Anyway, she's growing so fast."

Then we sat under the Neem tree, and I lay down with my head in her lap. Qara says, "Hey Caesar, I am also sorry for that night. I should not have slapped you in front of everyone." I say, "It's okay, don't apologize. It was my fault. You did the right thing by slapping me." In those days, I was not able to understand anything. I thought that drinks would help me forget Lyla, but it did not happen. I start sobbing in Qara's lap and say, "I miss Lyla, I miss her smile, I miss her voice, I miss doing stupid stuff with her, I miss watching movies with her, I miss her beautiful face, I love her so much, I love her. Why on earth did this happen to her?" She also starts sobbing and says, "I miss Lyla too."

                                TO BE CONTINUE.......

Written by
Digvijay Singh Kushwah