Nov 1–Nov 5, 2016
"The Arteries of the East"
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Scene One – North Block, New Delhi
The thick walls of North Block echoed with tension as senior ministers, generals, and bureaucrats crowded the cabinet meeting. Maps of the North-East were spread across a large teak table — red pins marking treacherous terrain, collapsed bridges, and fragile passes.
The Home Minister spoke first:
> HM: "Gentlemen, the North-East is choking. Poor roads, slow supply lines, and impossible terrain. If Bharat InfraWorks can really deliver tunnels as fast as they claim, we must act."
The Defence Secretary leaned forward, eyes sharp:
> DefSec: "This is not just infrastructure. This is strategy. All-weather access to the Seven Sisters will change our military posture against both China and Myanmar."
At the end of the table, Arjun Rao adjusted his tie. Calm, confident, rehearsed. He carried the weight of the MC's shadow.
> Arjun Rao: "Bharat InfraWorks proposes a comprehensive tunnel network linking all Seven Sister states — Arunachal, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya. These will reduce travel time from weeks to days."
A stunned silence followed. Ministers exchanged looks of disbelief.
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Scene Two – Signing the Pact
The Prime Minister himself signed the memorandum.
The deal:
3000+ km of mountain tunnels and sub-road links.
TBMs deployed in parallel across multiple sites.
Target completion: 6 years.
But privately, the MC knew Aarya's designs could deliver it in half the time.
When cameras flashed for the ceremonial handshake, the headlines were already rolling:
"Government Signs Historic Pact: Seven Sisters to be Connected by Bharat InfraWorks."
Opposition leaders screamed about corruption, favoritism, and secrecy. Yet none could deny the necessity of the project.
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Scene Three – A Soldier's POV
In a remote Assam camp, an army captain read the news on his phone. He looked at the broken mud roads outside his barracks, where supply trucks routinely got stuck in monsoon sludge.
> Captain (thinking): "If these tunnels are real, it means no more waiting weeks for reinforcements… no more men dying because a bridge collapsed. Whoever this Bharat InfraWorks is… they're not just businessmen. They're guardians."
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Scene Four – TBM Convoys in Motion
Night fell across Arunachal Pradesh as a convoy of massive trucks rolled through foggy passes. On their backs were titanic machine parts — circular steel segments, power cores, boring heads that gleamed like alien suns under floodlights.
Drivers whispered nervously.
> Truck Driver (murmuring): "Feels like we're carrying gods' tools. Who builds machines like this?"
Locals gathered at hilltops, watching in awe as the convoys passed — headlights stretching like rivers of fire into the night.
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Scene Five – The Hidden Hand
Back in his estate control room, the MC watched a holographic projection of the Seven Sisters master map. Green lines snaked across mountains, rivers, and valleys — future roads carved by machines still hidden from the public eye.
Aarya's voice chimed softly:
> Aarya: "Projected completion: 2022. Estimated reduction in logistics cost: 60%. Civilian benefit: immeasurable."
MC (smiling faintly): "Let the world think it's six years. We'll finish in three. And by then, they'll realize India doesn't just dream anymore… it delivers."
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Scene Six – Whisper Abroad
Meanwhile, in Beijing, a Chinese intelligence officer slammed a report onto his desk.
> Officer: "Impossible! At this speed, India will dominate the Northeast frontier. Find out the source of Bharat InfraWorks' machines. No matter the cost."
His hand trembled slightly. He had seen the satellite images: TBM convoys moving like an army of steel dragons.
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Closing Reflection
The MC leaned back in his chair, the glow of the holograms dancing on his face.
The tunnels of Ladakh had been proof. The arteries of the East would be legend.
And through it all, his name remained a whisper — never written, never spoken.
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