Inside the cabin, while all three are quickly getting their work done, Geetika says:
"Anu, give titles to all the photos you have and bring them to me quickly."
"Okay." (She starts sorting the photos.)
"Suraj, give me your points—the ones you prepared."
(Suraj hands over his notes.)
All three continue working non-stop, building little towers of coffee and tea cups.
Geetika says with a smile:
"Done. The article is ready. Ready to fly!"
"I'm exhausted, Geet," says Anu.
"Yeah, really tired. Can I have my kind of coffee now?"
"Yes, yes, absolutely!" (Both say together.)
"Okay! I'll get it." (Geetika goes to get the coffee.)
Meanwhile, Kalpana reaches home on her Bullet bike and hugs her mother.
Her mother asks, "Are you okay, dear?"
"Yes, Amma."
"I saw the news."
"Forget about the news. I'm totally fine. I just need your special tea—the kind that shakes me up from the inside, just like you."
Her mother laughs and replies,
"Go freshen up, naughty girl. I'll bring it."
"Thank you!" (Kalpana leaves.)
Soon, she gets her tea.
The three at the cabin get their coffee.
Sipping tea while looking out, Kalpana gazes at the sky. The events of the day—no one would want a day like this—start replaying in her mind. Then she reaches the moment when she felt something on her face, a sensation. She remembers seeing Geetika's face as she turned around. Her hair flying wildly in the air, covering her eyes, Geetika's frightened face—how she held on tightly when lifted off the ground. That moment… it made Kalpana feel something. She feels it again now. Before the emotion lingers too long, Kalpana shakes herself, closes and opens her eyes, shakes her face, and says:
"No." (Her expression changes.) "She's a brainless woman. Absolutely not."
And again, she gives her face a quick shake, like shaking off water.
The trio talk about the day's incident. Anu asks Geetika:
"Geetika, how did you end up there?"
"I... I was just collecting my points. I felt like someone pushed me. I was shoved."
Suraj asks, "Pushed? Was someone near you?"
"I don't remember. I was so lost in everything, I didn't notice who was near me. Suddenly, I found myself at that spot, sliding downward. I tried to control myself, but I couldn't. The place was like that."
Anu says,
"Yeah, if the Squadron Leader hadn't come—my Squadron Leader—what would've happened to you, Geetika?"
Geetika gets annoyed, grabs her cup, and walks toward the window.
"You and your Squadron Leader! That arrogant lady! If she hadn't come, someone else would've."
"How would someone else come? She went back with the chopper on our request," Suraj says.
"Yeah, and you didn't even thank us! You keep calling her arrogant, but what about you?" Anu squints her eyes at her.
"You've only met her twice and already you're on her side? I've been with you for years! What's wrong with you people?"
"You won't get it. Just drink your coffee and look outside."
Geetika does just that—sips her coffee and looks outside.
She sees Kalpana hanging from a cable right in front of her. She remembers how Kalpana pulled her close, latched the hook, how she was terrified when the chopper rose in the air. She had clung to Kalpana like a protector—maybe even hugged her. That moment, that touch, stirred something in Geetika. She shakes her head and pulls herself out of the feeling.
She mutters,
"Arrogant woman. Proud, conceited."
Kalpana, still looking at the sky, is distracted by her ringing phone. It's a call from Durbhash, and she picks it up quickly:
"Connecting Durbhash."
"Roger, Panda. How are you?"
"Yes, everything is fine. Tell me the update, please."
"Panda, based on the information you gave, what I saw through the telescope shows a very different scenario. A different part… an entirely different picture."
"Please explain, Durbhash."
"The situation about Gaurav that you mentioned… I think there's an active child trafficking gang operating in the valley."
Kalpana is stunned silent for a moment and then says,
"My God, Durbhash. Are you serious?"
"Yes, it's child trafficking. No doubt about it."
"I know your information always proves correct. So you're saying... Gaurav... Oh God, I can't even speak."
"Yes. And what's more shocking is that there are many in the valley who themselves sell their children—or rather, children who aren't even biologically theirs."
Again, Kalpana goes quiet, then asks,
"Do you have any location on this gang? Where was it last active? Any info?"
"They're very clever. Their last location hasn't been tracked yet. But we're working on it."
"Yes, a gang this big… such a massive operation… Of course they'd be clever. And they always use the valley—it's like the easiest target."
"I'll update you as soon as I get more on their last known location."
"Please do it quickly."
"Roger, Panda."
(The call ends.)
"I should've brought Gaurav home… But I can't even keep him at home. What should I do…"
She lies on her bed, torn with conflict.
Geetika is on a call with her editor:
"Sir, I've emailed the article. Can you check it, please?"
"What's there to check, Geetika? Go ahead."
"Still, sir…"
"Go ahead, Geetika." (And he hangs up.)
Geetika turns to tell Suraj to begin the next step to publish the article in the morning paper. Just then, Suraj comes to her and quietly says:
"Hey, Geetika, about the secret story we're working on… I have something. Look."
Suraj shows her his phone screen. Geetika grabs it and says:
"My God. Our suspicion was right. It's child trafficking. Even in the valley."
They're both shocked. Night moves on.
The morning sun brings new headlines. The incident in the valley—how massive it was, how tragic, how many lives were lost—is now old news. No one asked why or how it happened. Nothing concrete came out. But this morning's newspaper, written by Geetika, has shaken many top-level people. Her words have had a deep impact.
For many, no newspaper means no morning toilet routine. So they take the paper to their private space.
After a long tiring night, Geetika is sleeping deeply. Her phone rings loudly. Anu, sleeping next to her, says:
"Oi."
"Hmmm…"
Geetika ignores the ringing. Anu can't sleep.
"Go back to sleep," says Geetika.
"Your phone won't let me. Make it stop!"
Just as Geetika is about to grab the phone, the ring stops.
"See? It shut up on its own. Now sleep."
Before they can sleep again, the phone rings once more.
"Make it stop!" (Anu complains.)
Geetika picks up the phone and puts it to her ear—modern phones answer automatically when brought to the ear.
Anu turns the other way, her blanket slipping off.
Still sleepy, Geetika says:
"Hello? Who's this?"
Her editor says:
"Geetika, what have you done?"
She tries to open her sleepy eyes and sits up, leaning against the headboard.
"Sir? This early?"
"You've shaken up so many people—including me—and here you are sleeping peacefully!"
"Sir, what happened? And why shouldn't I sleep? You all slept peacefully last night. I didn't."
"I know what you wrote, but it's created chaos."
"I know what I wrote because I wrote it."
"Yes, I know it was you. A politician called me—this very morning."
"What?!"
"He asked for your address. He knows you wrote it. I refused, but I can't stop him from coming to the newsroom. He wants to meet you. And honestly, he seems dangerous. You named him boldly. He's a doctor—and more than that, a contractor. You should've shown me the article once…"
(Geetika's eyes are now fully open.)
"Sir, I asked you to read it. I even mailed it to you. But you said 'go ahead.' And I'm not afraid of these people."
"I know, Geetika, that you aren't scared of anyone. I'm coming to the office."
Geetika turns her neck, then Anu asks:
"What happened? Who was it? Why do you look so tense?"
Geetika gets up, places her phone on the table.
"Get ready—we're going to the office. I told you, ready to fire. Well, the fire's started."
"Yeah, but who's our fire brigade?"
And they both get ready to leave for office.
Meanwhile, Kalpana arrives at the airbase on her Bullet. The CO has called for a meeting. Brave and selected flying officers and squadron leaders from the valley air station, as well as from other states, have been summoned.
Kalpana and her team are talking when officers from another state approach. They stand before them, confident and strong.
Kalpana straightens her shoulders, lifts her chin, puts on her sunglasses—her favorite—and clasps her hands behind her back. She was just talking to a friend, but now stands in front of colleagues. They begin exchanging introductions.
"Namaskar 🙏"