#1

A London based metro train was going on at night. Vihaan Bakshi was sitting inside the train. He was in his late thirties. He stood tall at the height a bit less than six feet. He had worn a black blazer and a pair of black trousers. He had tied a wrist watch around his wrist. The train arrived at the platform. The passengers began to move out of the train one by one. Cornell, an assassin in his early thirties too came out of the train. He had worn a woolen cap on his head. He walked ahead among the crowd. Vihaan climbed stairs and came out of the subway. He went to a newspaper stand from where he picked up a brochure. He opened the brochure and took out a visiting card. He kept the brochure back in the stand and started walking. He crossed the street and made his way to a passage. While Cornell was walking ahead he spotted Vihaan who was going to a passage. He increased his speed and got his hand to his holsters which was hidden under his black sweater. Cornell arrived near the passage. He took out his gun and held it with both of his hands. He entered the passage. He began to walk forward slowly and cautiously through the dark passage. He saw a scooty which was approaching towards him. He lowered his gun. The scooty passed by him. He kept looking at the scooty for a while until it exited the passage. As turned ahead, Vihaan punched him on his chest. Cornell groaned. Vihaan grabbed his neck and rammed him into the wall which made Cornell to drop his gun. Vihaan was about to punch him again but he grabbed his hand. He kicked him on his waist. Vihaan groaned and stepped back. Cornell stepped towards him but Vihaan held his throat and punched him on his nose twice. Cornell began to bleed. Vihaan left his throat. Cornell fell down on the ground. Vihaan went to the gun. Cornell was still groaning. He tried to stand up from the ground with help of his right hand. He stood up. He turned to Vihaan. He was about to step up when Vihaan turned to him and shot him on his head. Cornell fell down and died. Vihaan gasped. He heard the police siren sound and got a glimpse of the siren lights. The police car arrived the passage. A cop came out of the passage. Vihaan dropped the gun and ran away from the passage.

He came near to a TX4 cab which was parked at a roadside. He sat on the backseat of the cab. The driver turned to him and asked him as a gesture with his hand. Vihaan took out the visiting card and showed it to him. The visiting card had a label on it ' ORGANIC FARM BAKERS '. The driver nodded. He turned and ignited his car. He geared up and began to drive. The cab arrived near a bakery. Vihaan came out of the cab. He went to the bakery. He opened the door and entered the bakery. The bakery was of moderate size. There was no customer in the shop. He looked at the counter where there was no one behind the table. He went to the table and rang the table bell twice. He got no response. He began to roam casually in the shop. He picked up a chocolate bottle.

" Coming. "

A female voice came from the store room. Rubina (in her late twenties) came out of the store room with a carton in her hand. She looked at him.

" May I help you? "

He looked at her.

He said, " I am looking for something special? "

" If you don't know the name of chocolate, you can tell me how does it look like. "

" I am not looking for any chocolate. "

She remained still for a while. She kept the carton on the ground. She came to him and took the chocolate bottle.

" I got it why you are here. Alpha? "

" Ofcourse. "

She kept a briefcase on the reception table. He picked up the case.

She interrupted, " It's strange. "

He looked at her.

" What? "

" I have only heard your stories till now. Can't believe I am talking to an Alpha agent. I'll be glad to work with you. "

He huffed.

" Will meet again. "

He came out of the shop with the briefcase his left hand. He sat inside the cab and shut the door.

" Go. "

A week ago, Brigadier Ashok Dwivedi (in his mid fifties) was at an officer's party in a hotel at Patiala in Punjab. A soothing music was being played at the background. There were only officers in the party and not their families. Some of them were having dinner while some were still busy in having drinks. Ashok was the second one. He kept the glass on the wine counter. The sommelier poured a wine the glass. Ashok was standing in the balcony alone facing outside while having the wine. He was joined by his colleague, Colonel Anil Biswas (in his early fifties) who had a glass of wine in his hand.

" You are having your drink alone here. "

" Really? Thanks for informing me. "

Anil chuckled. He pat on his shoulder.

" Oh man. You nailed it. Did you have the meal? "

" Not yet. I don't feel like eating. "

" Come on, man. It's your favourite dinner. Chicken curry. "

Ashok shook his head.

Anil asked, " Everything good? "

Ashok nodded.

" I am just thinking. "

" About what? Retirement. Enjoy the vacation after leaving the army. "

" No. I am actually thinking about Ritika. She is coming to India next week. "

" Great. It's been a long time since I saw her. How is she there? "

" She is good. Enjoying. Her semester exams are about to end that's why she is coming. She'll live here for a month. "

Anil nodded.

" It's good. Taanvi talks a lot about Ritika. She still remembers how she played with her in her childhood. "

Ashok smiled.

Anil asked, " It's a good news. Why are you tensed then? "

" Nilima wants me to talk to her about her marriage. I don't agree with her. "

" Marriage? Ritika is just twenty two. Why so early? "

" Only her mother can answer this one. "

Anil hummed. His phone rang. He took his phone out of his pocket of his jacket.

" Oh. It's Taanvi. I have to attend this one. "

He attended the call.