'We began drills, meeting in a new location each time, and we were looking forward to the action, though we had no idea what the mission was. I thought it was to attack some Army or government building, since the Afghans kept talking among themselves about entry routes and neutralizing guards.'
Arnab had so far said nothing but now interrupted.
'Look Arif, I don't know what you want from me, but give me one reason why I shouldn't just bust you now and haul you to the police as a terrorist.'
Arif looked at Arnab and smiled, 'Because I can help prevent many people from being killed.'
'And why would you do that? Or does a cold blooded killer suddenly develop a conscience?'
Arif didn't take the bait, and stayed calm as he replied.
'My fight was with the Indian police and government, and all I wanted to do was to avenge my father. I've never killed a civilian and had no intent of doing so. A few days ago, I overheard the Afghans talking about the mission. I didn't catch everything, but I did hear one of them mention blast damage, and the other say something about likely civilian casualties being in the thousands. That's when I knew this mission was more than just an attack on a government or Army installation and I bolted.'
Arnab asked him why he hadn't gone to the Police.
'Are you crazy? They would kill me and with just the information I have, they wouldn't be able to do much about the attack. Plus, as I said, I have no love for the Police, but I thought I could help prevent a massacre of innocents.'
Arnab looked at Khan to see if he had any ideas, but the old man shrugged his shoulders.
'Look Arif, I can't do much with what you have. I need more information. Where are they planning to attack, when, what is the nature of the plan? Without that, I can't do much either. Why don't you join your friends again and find out more?'
Arif shook his head.
'It's too late for that. I was scared and ran. Now I'm sure they suspect that either I've chickened out, or worse, that I've changed sides. Those Afghans are cold-blooded killers. They won't bother asking where I was, they'll probably just kill me to be sure'
'Then what's the point of calling us? What do you expect me to do?' Arnab asked in exasperation.
'I've read the papers. I know you are special. I know that you could stop them. I can get more information but don't know how to pay for it.'
'Pay?' Arnab didn't know what he meant.
'I asked around, checking with old mates still in Kashmir, and one of them has contacts in Pakistan who may know more. But in our line, as in anything else nowadays, money talks. His contacts want ten million Rupees to get the information. For all I know, my mate is taking his cut, but that's what he told me.'
'You stupid bugger, where do you think we can get that much money from?' Khan exploded.
As Khan and Arnab left, Arnab was deep in thought. On the way back home, Khan sensed his contemplative mood.
'Arnab, are you thinking of how the hell we could arrange that ridiculous sum of money?'
Arnab just nodded. In fact, he was thinking about the quandary in which he now found himself. On the one hand, he could just forget this meeting had ever happened, and get on with his life. Take up the bank job, start a settled life, get married someday, have a family-all the things his mind told him he should focus on. Or he could embark on this crazy crusade, which may be nothing more than a wild goose chase, and re-enter the world he had vowed never to enter again.
As for the money, it was the least of his concerns. He knew where he could get that kind of money. The question was, whether he was willing to pay the price needed to get it?
TEN
When they got back to Arnab's apartment, it was past midnight, and Arnab had said no more than a couple of sentences during the one and a half hour journey. Khan could sense just how agitated Arnab was, and did not try and bring up the evening's meeting till Arnab was ready. At one level, Arnab was furious with Khan for having dragged him back to a side of his life that he wanted to leave for good. At another level, he realized that it was silly to blame Khan. The old man had just done what anyone else in his position would have considered the right thing to do. It was not Khan's fault, but that did not make the dilemma he faced any easier to deal with.
Khan stood by his door, waiting in silence for Arnab to say something. After a few minutes, Arnab sighed and looked straight at Khan.
'Khan chacha, I can't blame you for asking me to accompany you. But I need some time to decide what I do. I hope you understand.'
To his surprise, Khan did not try and persuade him. Instead, he clasped Arnab on both shoulders and said,
'Arnab, take your time. I have no right to make any demand of you, but all I will say is that when all is said and done, sometimes thinking too much about an issue does not lead to any solution. Just clear your mind and go with what feels right. I will respect and understand whatever you choose to do.'
The next morning, for once, Arnab was glad to be at work. Just being around the comforting familiarity of the bookshelves, listening to Jayantada crib about how the Principal was being slow in releasing the promised funds, and wrapping up his project before he left, almost made him forget that there was another world out there. A world of corrupt policemen, selfish politicians, ruthless criminals and a mysterious terrorist called Arif. A world that he was trying to forget and consign forever to the dustbin of forgotten memories. A world which the meeting with Arif threatened to pull him back into.
As the day unfolded, Arnab realized that there was nobody else who could help him make his choice. As he made his way home, he realized that he had no need to feel guilty about just getting on with his life. He had done more than he had ever imagined, and more than most people would ever bother doing, in terms of sticking his neck out to help others. And what had he got in return? A tattered reputation, being ambushed and left for dead by those who were supposed to be upholding the law, and being courted to use his services to rig elections. That was a world he could do without. As for Arif, perhaps there was a terror attack being planned. Perhaps it would indeed happen soon. But so what? There was no real concrete information to act upon, and it wasn't as if another terror attack would be the end of the world, was it? Hardly a day went by nowadays without a bomb blast or attack somewhere and if the government and police were helpless to prevent them, one man's chasing a mirage of another supposed attack wouldn't make much of a difference, would it?
By the time he returned home, Arnab had more or less made up his mind to call Khan and tell him that he wanted nothing more to do with this affair. He had respected Khan's request to go and meet Arif, and hadn't Khan himself told him that he could back out if he wanted? Arnab was both surprised and pleased to see Khan waiting for him outside his apartment.
'Khan chacha, I was just thinking of calling you. How long have you been waiting? Why didn't you just call me?'
Khan had a sombre expression on his face.
'Arnab, its something I felt we should talk in person. I wanted to ask if you would come with me.'
Arnab had no idea what Khan was talking about and asked what he meant.
'To meet Arif.'
Khan said it casually, but those three words threw all of Arnab's plans into a tizzy.
'Khan chacha, I was planning to tell you that I didn't want to pursue this any more.'