Rameswaran realised long ago that he had a streak of sadism in his mind. He once blackmailed the wife of one senior leader to become an official contestant in the assembly elections. He recorded her dancing with her lover, who happened to be the friend of her husband, and demanded her to push her husband in his favour. He enjoyed her discomfort while he negotiated the settlement. Later when his power was rising, he exploited the lady herself.

Since then, he liked recordings, whether audio or video. After dinner, he called his secretary to his living room and asked him to play the recorded telephone call between Rana and Shah.

It was Rana’s tone that spoke first, “Hello, my dear Shah. How do you do?”

The reply, however, was sarcastic: “Forget me. I am and will be fine. What about you? Seems as if your voice is shaking. Have you got a cold?”

Controlling his irritation, Rana replied, “No. Nothing. I’m fine.”

“So, what made you call me in the evening? You are getting late for the club,” his irritation was growing.

“Forget the club. What’s the news that is on TV? Are you really planning something with nukes?”

“Yes. There will be a nuke that would be dropped on India. So, what’s new in that? All our nukes were meant for that purpose only.”

“Are you serious? Or you are just covering the fact that you also don’t know anything about this?” Rana started retorting.

“Maybe. Maybe not. What difference would it make whether I planned it or not? Even if I don’t know, if there is an explosion, don’t you think it is sufficient?”

“May I remind you of repercussions of such an act of cowardice?” Rana shouted.

“Save the lecture for the press. I’m getting late. I also go to a club,” Shah chuckled. Before cutting the line, he said, “By the way, thanks for providing a topic for today’s chinwag.”

Whether Shah liked the conversation or not Rameswaran definitely enjoyed it. He looked at his secretary and said, “Tonight, I can sleep peacefully.” His secretary smiled understandingly.

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Despite the sardonic conversation he had with Rana, Shah was not in his normal moods. In reality, he cancelled his club visit. He was asked to meet the ambassador of United States at the embassy. His protests were overruled and he was nudged by the President, who was seen as pro-military in the entire establishment. Actually, he was venting out his frustration on Rana. The meeting was scheduled at nine in the evening, over dinner.

He started at quarter to nine and reached the embassy. His car drove directly into the garage preventing anyone from seeing who the visitor was. He was received by the ambassador personally who escorted him to the dining hall. Shah felt like being guided to the guillotine. A decade back, when he was not even in consideration for leading the army, he had the privilege of attending one meeting between American officials and the then army chief. While attending that meeting, he witnessed how his chief was humiliated by some director of CIA and all his wishes to lead the army had died. Unlike fortune, bad luck knocks till one opens the door and he became army chief, against his own wishes.

The dining hall was a long one. The embassy was housed in a large mansion belonging to some zamindar, who left for India during partition. The opulent dining hall could accommodate more than hundred couples and had seen many parties during the days of the Raj. Shah’s grandfather told him many stories of the magnificent balls when the rich and mighty of the land danced till the first rays of sun. He himself had attended a few parties there with his wife and liked the splendid atmosphere of the room.

However, today’s ambience was completely different. Like his own mood, the hall was also dimly lit. Instead of the long dining table, the dinner was arranged in one corner. A small round table surrounded by only three chairs was waiting for him. One of these was already occupied by Ruby Wheat, special secretary to the President. He sighed. He knew “the Bitch”.

She got up from the chair and extended her hand. A brightly lit chandelier was hung above the table keeping the staff who remained in the room in relative dark. He tried to conceal his bad temper, but failed. With a forced smirk on his face, he reached for her hand and shook it.

Gesturing for him and the ambassador to sit, she started playing the host, instead of the ambassador. Shah knew that the ambassador was there only as a mute spectator who would record the discussion and send it over wire.

Ruby snapped at the butler who was waiting for instructions and drinks were served with kebabs and roasted chicken. After ensuring that he could not leave the table, she initiated the talk. “Well, General. Hope everything is fine. How is your lovely wife?”

He mumbled return greetings and conveyed his family’s wellness. He pushed himself back to lean on the high back wooden chair with velvet padding. She sipped from the small cup with a long handle. Holding the glass in one hand, she reached for the kebab. “I like the way kebabs are cooked in Islamabad,” she nodded at the ambassador, “Please convey my thanks to the cook. He deserves the appreciation.”

Shah nodded in consent. Ignoring both Ruby and Shah, ambassador started enjoying the drink and dishes. Ruby looked at Shah and flicked her eyebrows. “So, General, do you have anything to tell me?” She paused to sip again. “You know that I am not here to eat kebabs.”

Shah raised his glass and started sipping from it slowly. She was waiting to hear from him and she’d not speak again. He took his own time to think. Finally he spoke, “All I can say is that I’ll let you know whatever comes to my notice.” The voice in which he was replying was totally in contrast with the voice he used to speak to Rana.

“What is Pasha doing nowadays? I have information that he travels a lot now. And where is Qadar? How could he disappear? We want answers, General. And, we cannot allow any international transgression involving nukes,” her voice was stern.

Rana put down his glass. He leaned back fully stretching his legs, impatient of being submissive. “Do you think we have any nukes with us? No. All we have is some amount of Uranium and Plutonium sufficient for research purposes only. Even for that there are records that are maintained by your people. Minus Qadar, no one in our research organisation has the ability to create or borrow a bomb. And deploying it? I think this talk is simply a rumour. At least I should have known something. I vouch for even ISI. It’s my half-brother who manages it. Yes. Pasha is in the line, for future. He’s good. But, he is orderly. A soldier never wavers from his reporting structure. Though there is no need, he reports to me every week. And, as far as his movements are concerned, it was me who sent him to China. He needs to get acquainted with our other friend. Yes. Despite your differences with China, they are also equally important. And, they don’t threaten us.”

He lifted the glass and emptied it. He was congratulating himself for finding the nerve to reply in such a rigid tone. He got up and said, “And if you’ll excuse me, I’m tired today from answering the same questions again and again.” He looked straight into the eyes of Ruby.

She leaned back on the chair, using the armrest for support. “Wait a minute, General,” she took a kebab and tore a small slice with her canine teeth. “It seems you are under stress. Even if you feel you are talking rudely, I can sense the panic in the tone. For me, there is only one thing. There shall not be any incident involving nukes. That’s all. And you have confirmed that everything is absolutely normal. So why don’t you sit for a while?”

Confused, he turned back and stared at her. Biting into the kebab again, she pointed towards the chair. Slowly, he sat. His glass was refilled by the standing waiter. Shah, still unsure whether he should sit or get out, was watching the bubbles in his whisky. He startled, when Ruby spoke suddenly. “Your daughter is studying where, in London? I heard she went to the caves of Neanderthals for a dig. A student of Anthropology? Yeah! My neighbour’s daughter studies in the same college. I was told your daughter is very adventurous. Mind you. Those caves are dangerous. Especially, for adventurous kids. There were several instances of insect bites resulting in deaths. Those caves harbour some venomous snakes. I suggest you warn her to tread safely.” She took another bite of kebab, leaving traces of ketchup on her lips. For a moment, she looked like a vampire. Shivering to the core, Shah immediately got up and ran out of the building.

Smiling, she continued enjoying kebabs.

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