The apartment that Ling liked all his life was now appearing terrible to him. He switched off all lights. But the illumination from outside was too much for him. The apartment was on the first floor of a fifty floor building. He preferred the apartment with a front view on the first floor. As a designer who was supposed to anticipate problems and take care of them while designing, he preferred the first floor apartment, so that he could use the staircase, even if the lifts were not functioning. The garden in front of the building impressed him so much that he never used drapes to cover the full length windows. In fact, everything in his apartment was visible to outsiders, if they watched from the same height. He used to keep his windows open when he slept. He considered the lights glowing in the nearby buildings as stars of the city’s landscape. Anyway, due to lesser known light pollution, one may have to travel at least hundred miles away from the city to actually do some stargazing.

For the last two days, he found himself considering all positive aspects of his apartment as flaws and how exposed he was to any observing enemy or assassin. He wanted to shut himself in. But, he could be seen by anyone. He was not even interested in going out and buying drapes. No point of buying, as there was no provision to hang curtains. No holders or bars. He laid himself on the carpet covering his face in an old fur cap feeling darkness. Ling was tense. After the gruelling experience of facing the politburo for one hour, he was shaken to the core. He expected a bit of perversion in the psyche of military brass. But, the way army brass thinks was beyond his scientific comprehension. If Ling could absorb few gallons of whisky in three days, as an after effect of meeting the generals and politicians, it is no wonder that Qadar became a drunkard after the public humiliation he faced.

He knew that Qadar had gone to North Korea and would return pleasantly surprised next day. He could not sleep even after drinking heavily for nearly two days. He was feeling weak and took support of the wall to stand up and walk. He extended his legs and kept them on the sofa. He spread his arms. He could not recall what he was thinking for the last two days, once the meeting was over. He stretched his legs and lifted them, causing blood to flow down to his head. He was dazed as his head was heavy ever since he walked into the room.

How could they think so casually when at stake was the country’s geography and demography? Who did they think they were? Were they chiefs of some primitive hunting tribe that valued nothing but survival? Or bosses of drug smuggling mafia? Or were they part of a syndicate that controlled a terrorist organisation? Even such worse people would think twice before taking the kind of decision that was taken during the meeting.

It was his fault. He only thought of informing the leaders about the designs being considered by Pakistan. In fact, he could have personally got one nuke for his old friend. He thought that may have been the wrong thing to do. Anyway, Qadar planned something else. As long as Qadar was in control, there may not be a problem. If Qadar was taken out and somebody else became in-charge, then there would be devastation. His academics may be used to protect his country. But not to cause loss to other countries, when there is no war. And now actions that may harm one’s own country and own people were being considered!

Qadar explained to him the plan hatched by the Pakistani army. Ling was worried about some possibilities. One was the location. The location was very near not only to India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, but closer to the western border of China as well. If the plan was carried out, and permanent damage is caused to the Himalayas, the resultant disturbance might not only damage India but all other countries in the vicinity. Moreover, both western provinces of China, Xinjiang and Xizang, were already a sort of headache and wanted to be separate countries. It was the sheer Chinese nationalism that ensured these provinces remained as part of the country. But, if there were no provinces, what would remain as a part? The location that Pakistan might consider would be closer to Afghanistan and China, so that casualties in proper Pakistan would remain less. But it would affect other countries, probably more than India. And Xinjiang would be the one that takes maximum beating. Death of Uyghurs may make China the favourite target for all terrorist organisations. What would be the repercussions in international political scenario? China would be seen as a state that could not control a satellite state like Pakistan that was groomed over six decades. It was another matter that America was already humiliated for its follies by its cronies.

Moreover, if it became known that China had helped in implementing the weird plan, what would its own people think? Ling had considered refusing to entertain Qadar’s request. It would not solve the problem. He may try and find another supplier. Even killing Qadar was not going to solve the problem. His masters would use another person, and become more cautious in their approach. It is easy to deal with known devil. Apparently, this was not being planned by the Government of Pakistan. But, in case of Pakistan, it was difficult to say who the Government was and who was not. He deliberated to himself and kept Qadar as guest till he decided how to proceed further. After a week of brooding over the issue, undecided, he thought of referring it to the top. He expected them to discuss and find a way to stop the plot from being executed.

But, to his dismay, he found leaders of his own country also having brains of sizes similar to those of leaders of other countries. Probably, this may be a qualification to rule a country, he thought. That explains why good leaders are rare, in any country.