Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Episode 4: Behind the code.
26 November
07:15 IST
Vipul Mahajani's Residence,
Navi Mumbai
Vipul stressed out, describes whatever he found last night in a text and messages to Storyteller, within few minutes, he gets a call back.
Storyteller: Do you know this guy Mishra?
Vipul: Yes, We worked together during initial days of NATI (National Agency of Technical Intelligence). He was later working in data distribution unit. But we gave up our positions at the same time. As far as I remember, He was an honest guy.
Storyteller: You are very bad at knowing people, I hope you have understood this already. Don't trust anyone. You will have to meet him and try to get more information about this. If something goes wrong, we will have him. Don't worry. Just try to secure the data first.
Vipul: How can I? I alone cant do anything. You have to help me.
Storyteller: You will find a pistol in your car's right rear wheel guard. Use it wisely, there is a spare magazine too. And yes, don't hesitate to use it. You are not alone.
Call disconnects.
Vipul goes towards his car, and finds the gun wrapped in plastic and 2 spare magazines. It's the first time he is touching a weapon. He secretly takes it inside and manages to keep inside his bag.
He is afraid but decides to call Mishra for the meeting.
26 November
09:38 IST
Leopold Cafe,
Colaba, Mumbai
[Talking in slightly lower voice]
Vipul: Its been 10 years today, see how much rush we have in this cafe, just like it was 10 years ago. when randomly fired bullets hit and kill the customers and staff of this cafe. There were children, adults, elderly everyone was hurted. I hope we never see this again Mishra.
Mishra: You wanted to tell me something important, you said.
Vipul: I had a dream last night, since then I am feeling very confident, I saw that there is a white collar terrorist in front of me, he is someone I know, but he is doing something that I can't tolerate, Suprisingly I had a pistol, I took it out and I shot him.
Mishra: What do you mean to say Vipul?
Vipul: Everything in my dream has come true now, except the last part. If you don't want me to shoot, then speak. [Opens the bag to show the pistol]
Mishra: I can't.
Vipul: I know what you are doing Mishra, for what? For money? Tell me. Otherwise I will do what I said.
Mishra: Not for money, They have my wife and daughter. I had no choice.
Vipul: That data was very sensitive, if that data goes in wrong hands, Security of whole country is breached. There will be disasters. No one will be safe. Our soldiers, Scientists
Mishra: But they said, they will use it for smuggling.
Vipul: Smuggling what? Weapons? Bombs? Do you really trust them Mishra?
Mishra: No, But I had no choice. They somehow knew everything about me, What happened at bureau? Why we had to leave intelligence? They initially tried to blackmail, when I didnt agree they abducted my wife and my daughter.
Vipul: But who are they?
Mishra: I don't know. They are behind us for last 8 years. From 11 of us who resigned, we are only 4 alive now. Please help me Vipul.
Vipul: How did you manage to insert a data transmitter in my laptop?
Mishra: I just did it, but everything was planned by them, they told me the time when I can execute it.
Vipul: Did you give the data to them?
Mishra: Yes, they have already got the data, they are going to plan something today, after which they will release my family.
Vipul: What the... Are you out of your mind? How can even trust them?
Mishra: You can't understand my situation, you don't know how it feels when you get calls by someone unknown and then he decides your fate.
Vipul understands that Mishra has done this under pressure.
Vipul: I can understand, I will help your family come back. But you have to do something for me.
Mishra: What?
Vipul: You have to provide them another packet of data, which I will give you.
Mishra: But nothing should go wrong. Otherwise I will lose my family and my life too.
Vipul: Trust me, It's my word. Your family will be safe.
Mishra: Thanks Vipul, You have changed a lot. Except that old wrist watch, that you still wear. I have noticed, everytime you rest somewhere for a long time, you take off your wrist watch. How do you never forget your watch?
Vipul: Actually, It's too heavy, I am wearing this watch for so many years but I am still not comfortable with it. But it's precious for me, It's a gift from a soldier.
26th November,
12:30 IST
Conference Room,
Storyteller's safehouse.
Vipul: Why do you kidnap me everytime? I can drive Man! Just give me an address.
Storyteller: I never showed you my face and you expect my address. Dont waste time, what is your plan? Are you sure you want to do this? Because we don't know our enemies.
Vipul: We never knew that, Even if Samidha is involved, we will locate them.
Vipul: I have given Mishra a file which contains a hyperlink embedded, which will open a page including information which is already published. So we are at no loss, now the profit, this link will not open the document directly, it will download a file in the device, which will generate the document. The same file will also have a small program just like the one in my laptop, it will run in background and start uploading the data of the device. We can get that data to find the device's location. And if they are handling calls and messages, we can get that too.
S: What if they find this suspicious?
V: They won't come to know, I have tested this, it's full proof. And they won't use any malware protection as these intelligence files have no security certificates. So they will turn it off to open these files. And best part is that if we come to know that they don't have any backup, we can induce a virus through that program into that device which will terminate the memory of that device and it will crash.
[VIPUL'S PHONE RINGS]
Vipul: Vipul Mahajani, Who is it?
Caller: Sir, I am calling from Sterling Hospital, your wife Samidha has been admitted here. She has been through a road accident. I request you to come over.
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