“The commandos are doing all they can to get the terrorists. Sources say that there are about a hundred guests still held up inside waiting to be evacuated. Operations are on in full swing. There are no reports to estimate the number of terrorists holed up inside the hotel. Firing is on. All possible measures are being taken to evacuate hotel guests. We are not aware if there is a hostage situation inside the hotel. This attack….” The reporter spoke outside the hotel which was being targeted by terrorists. Cameras whirred and the live relay was watched by millions.
The screens flashed: BREAKING NEWS: 4 TERRORITS BELIEVED TO BE HOLED UP INSIDE.
The screen flashed again: BREAKING NEWS: EVACUATION OF GUESTS BEGUN
The Man who was watching the television smiled. It was a faint smile but he was relieved. All the while he was watching the live coverage without sound. The flash news brought him joy.
He was about 25 years old, clean shaven clad in jeans and a t-shirt which said, “I swear to drunk, I am not god”
He continued to watch the coverage half expecting the television to blow up.
After all he was in the area where the firing was going on
He was in the hotel. He dare not put on the sound.
He was clean shaven and looked like a typical college going kid who was having a good time.
A shearing pain shot through his leg. He looked at it. The bleeding had stopped. He was lucky the bullet had just grazed the skin. It only hurt and the pain was something he could swallow.
He moved from his place on the floor and uncovered his back pack. He removed a grenade. He had been against this mission but he had no choice. It was a war that no god fearing man could refuse and he was just a soldier. Besides he had been promised to heaven on his return. Only after lying in the room, he had realised extent of the false promises.
A huge explosion rattled the building. He was thrown aside but remained unhurt. Not long till his room also exploded. The army was methodical in flushing out terrorists. He pushed his AK 47 under the bed and picked up a pistol and tucked it into his trousers.
The television flashed again: BREAKING NEWS: GUESTS BEING EVACUATED; MORE EXPECTED TO BE HELD UP INSIDE.
It was time. He had made up his mind. He lifted himself up and hopped across to the door. With utmost care he opened the door and limped out. There were shattered glass and wall plastering which had come off. The walls had bullets buried deep inside them.
The lifeless eyes of the charred bodies stared at him but he had been trained to be insensitive.
The stairway was silent. Every few minutes the sound of bullets or a grenade would shatter the calm. The people who had come with him had left for the higher floors of the hotel leaving him. Injured men were sitting ducks. They had to be left behind. He heard the pattering of feet. He hid himself in the dark behind a door. Through a crevice in the door he saw a few guests scampering about. Then there was silence again. He picked himself up and moved quickly down. He could hear the rhythmic movements of army boots headed up the stairs. He went into a room and looked beneath the bed. There was no one. The occupant had been killed. His body was lying outside. He heard some rustling and froze. Canvas shoes. One of his people. They shouldn’t find him or his plan would go for toss. The door opened and one of his comrades walked in. just then a powerful explosion ripped through the room. He ducked to avoid shrapnel injuring him but a piece of wood from a chair flew at him and ripped out the skin on his arm.
Blood was sprayed all around and his comrade was nowhere to be seen. Only a few unrecognisable bits of him remained.
The man was bleeding but he managed to limp out of the room and went into the next one. He rummaged through the cupboard and found and white shirt and a black blazer and bag full of clothes. he put on the shirt and blazer. There was another explosion nearby. He just went and hid under the bed.
A few hours passed and he had probably fallen asleep out of exhaustion. The door creaked open and he was alert again. Nobody.
“Anybody here? Please raise your hands and come out” said a gruff voice.
“andar koi hai” said one more.
In a few swift moves, a bunch of black boots swarmed the room. Commandos. His plan was reaching the final stage. He didn’t look up.
“Sir, we are from the army, you can come out.” said a masked face clad in black. The eyes were looking into the man.
The man crawled out slowly and raised his hands.
“It is ok sir, we have secured the floor, and you are safe. One of these men will escort you down to safety,” said the masked commando.
“They they took him” “they...” “Killed” he slurred deliberately.
“It is ok sir, you are safe now” just follow this man.
The man nodded and limped out to get his bag.
The commando barked out his position on the walkie talkie.
Downstairs, the man was escorted out of the hotel. Photographers clicked away and cameras whirred.
He was taken to an ambulance parked next to the sea line. He leaned on the wall and saw if anyone was looking. In a swift movement he threw his gun into the sea.
Later at a hospital, he sat with a bandaged hand. The television in the lobby was airing the coverage.
“In a daring move, the commandos stormed the sixth floor of the hotel and killed all the terrorists hidden there. The guests were safely evacuated. It is believed that no more terrorists are alive and the operation is almost over. The injured guests are being treated at various hospitals in the vicinity. After so much anguish we can finally let out a heavy sigh of relief. This is...” the reporter spoke on.
The man smiled. In a very low breath, he said, “Fools”.
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