One month later.
Albert sat in the high-ceilinged study of his Delhi mansion, sunlight streaming through the large windows. Stacked reports and files lay untouched on his desk; his mind wandered over the desert mission, the missing Aarvansh, and the growing threat of Aryan.
He idly scanned the newspaper, his eyes catching something unusual: the central elections were approaching, as expected—but then a line made him pause. State elections for every major state were to be conducted this year as well. Highly unusual.
Albert leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. Interesting… he muttered softly, though he let the thought slide. There were bigger problems.
His phone buzzed sharply. He picked it up.
"Sir," Bhalla's voice came through, urgent but controlled. "We have key intel on Aryan. You need to see this immediately."
Albert straightened, his attention sharpening. "Send it to the secure line. I'll review it now."
Bhalla's voice lowered. "I… I can't discuss this over the call."
A moment of silence passed, the weight of unspoken dangers pressing down.
They met near the Red Fort, dressed as civilians. Even AGNI could not be fully trusted, and the city was alive with its usual bustle, unaware of the silent war threading through it.
"Okay… we can talk, Bhalla," Albert said, lowering his hood.
"Sir, since last month, right after the desert incident, Raghu and I have been actively tracing Aryan—but he left no sign. We contacted America—their satellites are always above us—but they denied us access, and… uhmm…"
"And…?" Albert prompted, voice steady but edged with curiosity.
Bhalla inhaled slowly. "Sir, we got to know Aryan is somewhere near Trivandrum. And…"
Albert's eyes narrowed. "What is it?"
Bhalla exhaled. "We need your permission to hack the American satellite."
Albert's jaw clenched. He paused. His cold, controlled demeanor betrayed nothing, but inside, a storm flickered. Finally, his voice came low, clipped:
"How much time?"
Bhalla replied, "Sir, we need thirty minutes with the satellite."
Albert shook his head. "Ten minutes is all you get. It's too risky. If the Americans detect even the slightest hint, this mission is over."
Bhalla nodded, swallowing. "Understood, sir. Ten minutes will suffice if we act precisely."
Albert's gaze scanned the crowd. "Bhalla… this isn't just tracing him. Aryan is always three steps ahead. One mistake, and everything collapses."
Bhalla's jaw tightened. "We know the stakes, sir. That's why we're asking your permission first."
Albert paused, the hum of the city around them suddenly loud, almost suffocating. A fraction of doubt flashed across his face—brief, fleeting, but enough to make Bhalla's stomach tighten.
"Make it count," Albert finally said. "Ten minutes… nothing more. One slip, and you won't even get a warning."
Bhalla exhaled, tension coiling like a spring. "It will be worth it, sir."
Albert turned sharply, disappearing into the crowd without another word, leaving Bhalla standing in the shadow of the Red Fort, every second now heavier than the last.
Bhalla motioned to Raghu. "Time's up. Let's move."
They slipped through a service entrance, avoiding the main gates and security cameras. Every step was measured, every glance over the shoulder alert. The small, abandoned chamber they knew from previous intel waited for them inside the fort.
Bhalla set down the black case and opened the high-powered hacking console. Raghu connected the cables and started typing rapidly. Lines of code scrolled across the screen, green on black, as the satellite's encrypted feed slowly came online.
"Once we breach this, we only have ten minutes," Bhalla said, voice low. "No room for mistakes."
Raghu nodded. "Understood."
They accessed historical data, pulling feeds from Aryan's movements. Soon, the moment appeared on the screen: the exact day Aryan had left the desert in his helicopter. Footage showed the helicopter lifting off, tracking a path across the terrain. Bhalla noted every detail—altitude, trajectory, and final landing coordinates.
"Got it," Raghu whispered, fingers flying over the console. "Coordinates locked. Chopper ID confirmed."
Bhalla double-checked, ensuring nothing was missing. "Good. Let's get out before anyone notices the intrusion."
They quickly packed the equipment, slipping back through the shadows of the Red Fort. Every patrol passed them by, oblivious to the silent operation that had just unfolded within their walls.
By the time they reached the street, the city's noise swallowed them, and Bhalla exhaled sharply.
"Data secured. Now we know exactly where Aryan went."