Shadows Of The Stumps

Chapter - 79

The briefing room was heavy with silence as Colonel Singh finished outlining the mission. The table was scattered with maps, photographs, and intel files, each marked with the insignia of the operation. The Colonel's voice cut through the room, authoritative and steady.

"The mission," he began, pointing at the map, "is as follows. First, we neutralize a chain of local terrorist gangs operating at the outskirts of the state. These groups have blended seamlessly into village life, making identification and neutralization a challenge. Second, we extract hostages held by these groups. We have limited intelligence on their numbers and exact locations, which makes this operation high-risk."

The team listened in tense silence. Meera's eyes narrowed as she studied the map. Ayan leaned back in his chair, his expression calm but thoughtful. Arjun, stoic and unflinching, crossed his arms while Arya sat forward, ready to absorb every word.

Colonel Singh's voice took on a firmer tone. "There's a change in the team structure for this mission. It's not Ayan-Meera and Arjun-Arya this time." He looked at each of them in turn before continuing. "This isn't a reflection of past performance. It's about playing to your strengths and matching the mission's requirements. The new pairings are as follows: Arjun and Meera, Ayan and Arya, and Bakshi with Ira."

There was a moment of quiet as the team absorbed the change. Meera exchanged a quick glance with Ayan but nodded, her expression determined. Arjun gave a short, affirming nod, while Arya and Ayan silently acknowledged the shift. Bakshi, leaning on the table, muttered, "Interesting. Let's see how this plays out."

"You'll be entering from different directions," Singh continued, his pointer tracing the map. "This will give us maximum coverage while reducing the chances of detection. Communication will be maintained via earpieces, but it will be limited-use them only when absolutely necessary."

His gaze sharpened as he straightened, addressing them with a tone that carried both urgency and trust. "Understand this: the stakes are higher than anything you've faced before. This is an undercover mission. If we succeed, there will be no medals, no headlines, no recognition. If we fail, there will be no protection from accountability. It's a suicide mission-but I have faith in you. You've trained for this. You're ready."

The Colonel's words lingered in the room as he paused. "If there are no questions, you're dismissed. Take some time to talk things through before you deploy. You'll need each other out there."

As the team saluted and filed out of the room, they found themselves in a smaller briefing space, away from the commanding officers. Meera was the first to speak.

"Alright," she said, her voice steady, "we've got our orders, and we've got new pairings that aren't exactly new but It doesn't matter who's with whom. What matters is that we work as one team. We don't leave anyone behind, and we trust each other."

Arjun nodded, his voice low but firm. "Focus on execution. We adapt and deliver. That's the job."

Arya glanced at Ayan, a flicker of determination in her expression. "We've trained for situations like this. We know what to do. Let's just do it"

The group filed out of the briefing room, the weight of the mission pressing down on their shoulders as they moved toward the armory. Silence hung between them, but it wasn't empty; it was filled with determination, unspoken promises, and a silent understanding of what lay ahead.

Meera walked alongside Ayan, their steps in sync, while Arya and Arjun followed close behind, their expressions focused. Bakshi and Ira brought up the rear, quietly discussing tactics.

Inside the armory, the team methodically checked their gear. Meera slid cartridges into her holster, only to have Ayan hand her another.

"You always end up needing more bullets," Ayan said, a small smirk tugging at his lips.

Meera chuckled, her fingers brushing over the cartridge as she took it. "And you always know that. I'll miss kicking down doors with you." She paused, glancing at Arjun. "But Arjun's not a bad partner either."

Ayan grinned. "High praise, coming from you."

Before Arjun could retort, Arya laughed. "Alright, alright, stop buttering each other up. We've got a mission to focus on."

Arjun nodded and gave Meera a quick pat on the shoulder. "Bas bas. Let's move."

Arya raised her hand, rallying them. "We know what we're capable of, and we know what we're going to do. Let's stay sharp and stick together."

The group raised their hands together, sealing their unity with an unspoken vow. Meera turned to Ayan, her face briefly softening as she gave him a quick hug.

"No herogiri, alright? Promise me I'll see you and Arya di at the end of this-celebrating with us."

Ayan's gaze locked with hers, intense and unwavering. "I promise. Take care of yourself-and Arjun too."

Arjun, sensing the moment, nudged Ayan lightly. "We're all coming back safe and sound. That's not up for debate. Let's move, cadets." He gave Arya a quick, reassuring squeeze on her shoulder.

Just then, Colonel Singh entered the armory, his authoritative presence instantly grounding them. His eyes scanned the team, and a small smile played on his lips.

"Alright, prodigals," he said, his tone a mix of sternness and affection. "Gear up and make me proud." He turned to Arjun, his expression softening slightly. "And you, son-you owe me a good breakfast when this is over."

Arjun laughed, the sound brief but genuine. "Yes, Dad."

The Colonel's gaze swept over the rest of the team. "You're all my children. Come back safe, all of you."

With that, the team straightened their postures, their resolve fortified. They knew the mission was dangerous, but they also knew they had each other-and that was enough.