The Book of Aarav – 2.5

The Opposition Leader

At PMO, South Block, Raisina Hill, New Delhi

Mr. Bheeshma Sinha, Prime Minister of India, sat behind the heavy teak desk—a decorated soldier and the boldest presence in the country. At sixty, he carried a tall, commanding frame and a clean-shaven face, sharp cheekbones, and piercing eyes that seemed to measure everything in a single glance. Every line on his face spoke of battles fought and decisions made. Today, his gaze lingered briefly on the ceiling, pondering the information the man opposite him had just delivered. Calm, yet with a subtle tension lining his jaw, he seemed every inch the leader—measured, composed, and quietly formidable.

Noon sunlight poured through the high windows, slicing the polished floor into long, sharp bars of light. The room was unusually quiet, reflecting only fragments of the glaring afternoon. Curtains barely stirred, yet the air carried a taut, expectant stillness, as though the space itself was holding its breath.

Opposite the desk, a man in ordinary clothes stood, hands loose at his sides, eyes steady. Nothing about him announced danger, yet the silence between the two men was sharp enough to cut. Even the walls—lined with maps, awards, and the weight of past decisions—seemed to lean in, listening.

“Mr. Sadayu, you verified the sources from which you received this information?” Bheeshma asked, coming out of his thoughts.

“Yes, Sir. Agent Srinivas has been working with this informer for a very long time. And I personally verified the information through my sources as well,” Sadayu replied.

“How much were you able to track into IPK’s party account?”

“We were able to trace 151.27 million dollars received through different shell companies. We tracked them back to their origin sources. It included seven different bank accounts and ten MNCs in total, spread across eleven countries—Iran, Guatemala, Chile, Congo, Dominican Republic, Vietnam, Laos, Panama, Nicaragua, Libya, and Iraq. The only link connecting all these seventeen organizations is that they were at some point part of CIA covert operations. Their motive in this operation is unclear, but given how desperate Mr. Chitrasena’s position appears in the upcoming election, we suspect they are attempting to achieve their goal by influencing the country through securing his victory.”

“Since the matter carries such high stakes, I do not want to take your word for it. Bring the entire investigation report in front of me, pronto. Do not discuss this with anyone else. Ask Srinivas not to share this information with anyone in the office either. That person must not catch wind of it. If he does, we will lose the only chance to lock him up,” the Prime Minister said in a calm tone, though a subtle hint of wariness lingered in his voice.

“Yes, Sir. I have already informed Srinivas not to pass any information to anyone else. I will bring you the report by 3 PM tomorrow,” Sadayu replied.

“Make it 2,” Bheeshma corrected him.

“You may take your leave now.”

“Sure, Sir. Thank you,” the man said and left the office. Bheeshma leaned back in his chair slowly, eyes drifting to the ceiling as a tint of disbelief crossed his face. Was my competition really foolish enough to betray our country like this?

(To be continued)