Free Mumbaistan by Piyush Jha Page B

disguise oneself in Mumbai— everything is available off-the-shelf.' This time, his high-pitched laugh didn't bother Tanvir so much as he fell into step with the others and walked towards the Stock Exchange building. Aalamzeb raised a quizzical eyebrow at Hyena, who contained himself and said, 'The last of the policemen left about fifteen minutes back. I have told the Stock Exchange security people that I will be coming back shortly with engineers and remote-sensing equipment to be installed on the terrace for additional security. They are waiting impatiently for us.' He could not contain himself anymore and broke into his signature laugh. Aalamzeb graced him with an indulgent smile.
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    As the elevator started its upward journey to the terrace, Tanvir could not help but marvel at the Pakistani terrorists' detailed planning. They all had impeccable IDs from one of Mumbai's largest engineering firms. What had impressed him the most was that they had even had an ID for him. Now, as they roared up in the lift towards the terrace, he swallowed hard and prepared for what lay ahead.
    As Aalamzeb and the three Pakistanis stepped onto the terrace of the building, they were completely surrounded by armed policemen. The element of surprise was absolute! Before they knew it, their duffel bags had been grabbed out of their hands and they were lying on the floor with police guns pointing at every inch of their bodies. In a reflex action, the Pakistanis raised the cylindrical pendants around their necks to their mouths and bit into them. But the police had soda bottles ready. The constables sprayed the soda on their faces to wash away the cyanide powder in the pendants. Unfortunately, the rat-faced one and the constipated one had already bitten into the pendants and were foaming at the mouth. Aalamzeb and Hyena were slower, and all the cyanide was washed out of the pendants before they could swallow it.
    Aalamzeb tried to rise. But ACP Hani stepped forward and pushed him down with a booted foot. Aalamzeb blinked at the ACP. Then he began to smile, 'Mr ACP, you are not that smart. This is only part of the plan.' He began to laugh like a maniac. Hyena joined him in his laughter, and was even more hysterical. ACP Hani pulled out his pistol from its holster. Stepping forward, he pistol-whipped Hyena. As luck would have it, one of the blows cracked his skull, and without a word, he fell dead. Aalamzeb swore, 'You behenchods have no clue. In fact, you're so foolish, you thought me to be the leader. I wish I were! My leader is the one with the brains, the one who called all the shots in this operation. I'm envious of my leader, who will go to jannat, whilst we will have to suffer fools like you.'
    The ACP didn't react. Aalamzeb seized the advantage. 'Here, call this number.' He gave a local Mumbai mobile number. 'Our leader wants to give you all a goodbye message.' An incredulous Tanvir took out his phone and dialled the number given by Aalamzeb.
    Rabia answered the call. Hearing Tanvir's tentative 'Hello,' she spoke in a voice that seemed entirely alien, 'I am at Churchgate Station, I have forty kgs of RDX strapped on me—'
    Tanvir interrupted her, 'Rabia! Please, I know you're not one of them. I love you! Tell me you're not their leader!'
    'Of course I am,' Rabia's pat reply left him dazed.
    Tanvir didn't stop, 'Rabia, please. You will die!'
    Rabia broke into chilling laughter. 'Death is a small price to pay for immortality.'
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    Behind Tanvir, Aalamzeb added, 'You fool, when I was visiting Rabia, I wasn't sleeping with her but delivering RDX from its hiding place in Mumbra, one kg at a time. As soon as you appeared, we figured out that you must be in league with the cops. So we decided to play out this whole charade to understand your every step, and used you to throw the police off track.'
    Tanvir's expression was one of rage mixed with disappointment. Leering at him, Aalamzeb continued with his sarcastic laugh, 'She was even ready to