1995 - Where It All Began

     Victor Khambatta is a dangerous man. More dangerous than his father, Feroze. At only 30 years of age, his demeanour is intimidating. His henchmen have instilled terror in the deepest locales of Mumbai, and extortion, kidnappings and murders run rampant in his name. Even his gangster father fears his audacious moves. But sadly, there is not one strong evidence to put him behind bars. As the city and its protectors grow more and more scared of his power, he grows mightier with every passing day. All hope seems lost, but there are still some of us who refuse to acknowledge his victory, and his clout does not faze our efforts to pin him to the ground and bring him to justice.

     The year is 1995. The Anti-Crime Squad of Mumbai, even in times of corruption, and obscurity, is doing its best to ward off Khambatta's activities and foil his attempts to become the uncrowned King of organised crime in the city, which is a part of his grand plan, and the murders, extortion and kidnappings are just a prelude to what he is slowly getting at. 

      The ACS is extremely proud of its top agent Shiv, who successfully raided one of the containers carrying Khambatta's consignment to Cape Town, and seized enough to give a huge blow to Khambatta's business. Khambatta has become cautious now that he knows he has met his match. He should probably lay low for a while, until the smoke clears  and the dust settles down. But surely there must be a way to put an end to Shiv's movements, in fact it'll be better to put an end to Shiv himself. 

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     Rajiv was ecstatic. His SSC board exams were just over and he was free to paint the town red with his younger brother Sujay, who still had his 6th Std. final exams left, but who'd miss that chance anyway? It was unusual for their father to stay home that afternoon, normally he would be out until late at night, and come home weary, and sometimes all patched up, with bandages. But he'd say he was fine, only mother knew what was truly happening. She would not let Rajiv and Sujay go out these days, and they always had 2 police officers accompanying them to school. Even their sister elder sister Poorva had started coming home early from work, mostly accompanied by her fiance Shiv, who worked with Poorva, Rajiv and Sujay's father - Capn. Rakesh Joshi, a high ranking official in the Anti-Crime Squad, Mumbai. Shiv and Capn. Joshi would then lock themselves in dad's study and discuss at length their plans for keeping the city safe.

     But mother did not let Rajiv and Sujay go out today, not even when Shiv's heroics were all over the papers, and the city was thought to be safe now. Nevertheless, the two brothers would always find some fun to have within the confines of their house, located in the huge suburb of Andheri. The entire Joshi family was home today, surely there was more fun indoors than outside.

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     The awards, the accolades, the applause meant less to him than the relieved look on Poorva's face. They had been meeting every day, but today, it wasn't to ensure that Poorva was safe, but because she was safe. Moreover, today he would be meeting her father Capn. Joshi not to discuss Mumbai's safety, but his marriage to Poorva, which was long due. He even left a message with his senior officer Lt. Roy saying that he would be going to the Joshis' house today at 5 PM. He could not suppress his excitement. He reminisced with the memory of the day he first saw her waltzing into his college library. She smelled of rain, had magical eyes and the voice of an angel. The only saving grace in his life.

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     Khambatta chuckled to himself. The rat had walked into the trap. He could now connect the dots. That's why Joshi and Shiv were ahead of him. They had been practically living together! Anyway, he could now kill two birds in one shot. Roshan had proven to be a good mole. Joshi and Shiv had been too secretive about their meetings. No one in their own department except the two of them knew where they would meet. Their addresses were a bust, and their families were always hidden from the public eye. Until today. They had finally let their guard down. Every strong person has a weak point. Theirs was Poorva. May be that's why it is said that agents should not have families. Khambatta had to be there himself to see them meet their end.

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     "Stay in your room and don't come out!" mom yelled, as their house began tearing down. Shards of glass flew into the room as their house was bombarded with bullets. Sujay's safety is my top priority, Rajiv thought, as their mother locked them into their room. Their father was hit and had instructed Shiv to run away with Poorva and take her to safety. Sujay began whimpering as their furniture ruptured into pieces, and the cacophony of the bullets compelled them to stay where they were. We're all going to die.  

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     This was it. They had been ratted out. He had taken his eye off the ball for one second and it was now going to cost them their lives. Capn. Joshi was already hit, and he had no idea what would happen to his family. Poorva was his responsibility. He would take her to safety. They found a window that was not being bombarded with bullets. He checked if there were any eyes on the window, and quickly began climbing down the pipe, carefully helping Poorva get down too. This was the rear end of the building and was covered by thick foliage from the neighbouring trees; he had supposed it to be safe.

     But the first bullet that hit him cleared his doubt. He fell headfirst on the ground and lost his mobility. Poorva followed him, and when she hit the ground she was already dead. Shiv writhed in pain as he bleakly saw two shiny shoes approach him. He looked up with great difficulty to find Khambatta himself, with a revolver aimed between Shiv's eyes. Apparently he had been waiting here lest they decided to step out the back. His cold eyes did not hesitate as he pulled back the hammer and the bullet pierced Shiv's forehead. It was over.

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     It had been long since had killed. It felt good. Khambatta watched as blood oozed out of the hole in Shiv's forehead that his bullet had made. He instructed his men to stop shooting at the now dilapidated building, and began walking towards his car. The two obstructions in his way to glory were now eliminated. He gave one last look at the smoke coming out of the windows of Capn. Joshi's house, and got in his car. The car screeched and drove off on Khambatta's road to an uninterrupted rule over the organized crime in the City of Dreams.

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     The bullets stopped coming in. Mother opened the door and let the two scared brothers out. Their father was alive, resting on the sofa, although bleeding profusely. All of them were alive, yet mother didn't seem relieved. That's when it hit Rajiv, may be not everyone of them had made it.