Raju Ganapathy

Thriller

3  

Raju Ganapathy

Thriller

A Physicist, A Spy And A Mission

A Physicist, A Spy And A Mission

16 mins
147


1978 Research, Analysis, Implement and Destroy (RAID) office, New Delhi


Anthony Gonsalvez was pouring over the files of candidates with high IQ who could be drafted. He had been doing so for the past ten hours and had yet to find a suitable candidate. He was meticulous in his job and combined with his intuition, Gonsalvez, field agent, was the man the RAID Project Manager trusted for this job. Director had a long-term vision and the mission was called Project Parmanu. What he was planning to do would take years to achieve fruition and success was not guaranteed also. Yet he had to try. He recalled the Gitopadesh and reminded himself thou shall have the right to labour but not to the fruit. He knew Gonsalvez was the man for the job. Gonsalvez, he thought was the opposite of him. He was the non-believer and scoffed at karma and all that. But when it comes to an eye for detail and gut feeling nobody could beat him in RAID. He wanted to check with Gonsalvez about the progress but dropped the idea. would get in touch with him if he has done the job. At that very moment, he heard a knock on the door and Gonsalvez walked in. He said he narrowed it down to two candidates and briefed the Director. Two files were coded Rag60 and Meg61. Director nodded as he glanced through the files.

 Gonsalvez flew down to Chennai the next day and he was knocking at the door of Rag60. A bright-looking teenager opened the door and Gonsalvez knew he was spot on in his selection as soon as he saw the boy. Gonsalvez introduced himself as an officer from the Education Ministry and asked to meet Raghavan’s dad. As Raghavan’s dad appeared he congratulated both Raghavan and him for his success in getting into Madras IIT in the physics department. Raghavan has been passionate about physics and had already won the national science talent award for his innovation in physics for harnessing kinetic power in a device that converted it into electricity. Raghavan’s mother had brought some south Indian filter coffee and that is when Gonsalvez broke the great news that Raghavan’s education would be supported entirely by the government. He was selected after careful scrutiny of his educational achievement as well as his family background.

Gonsalvez knew that Raghavan’s grandfather Murthy was a freedom fighter and had sacrificed his personal career for the country. He had fought alongside Gandhi and was a true Gandhian in his lifestyle. He had not amassed any wealth and been able to educate Raghavan’s father Krishnan up to graduation only. Murthy died in 1959 at an age of eighty while Raghavan was also born after ten months. Their family guru had predicted that Murthy would be reborn as Raghavan as per his karma. Both Krishnan and his wife firmly believed that Raghavan was Murthy as he had unfinished karma. Raghavan not only resembled his grandfather physically but was deeply patriotic to the country. He had read all that was there to read about the freedom fighters and had gone through the diary that Murthy maintained several times and that too meticulously. Gonsalvez only mentioned that Raghavan needed to visit Delhi for orientation and all expenses would be paid. Gonsalvez knew from the files that Krishnan and his family though did not feel the pinch of poverty but would have found it challenging to meet the educational expenses of Raghavan. Krishnan and his family were entirely delighted to get the news and profusely thanked Gonsalvez and his department for the scholarship and readily agreed to send Raghavan for the orientation program.

 then called up his director and said the mission was completed and he was not meeting Meg61. Director knew not to question Anthony’s judgement.


Rawalpindi, Intelligent Services of Pakistan (ISP)

Unknown to Gonsalvez and his director, Director ISP was briefing his trusted deputy about a similar operation. Abdullah had similarly poured over several files for the last couple of days and narrowed down on the file code-named Nil65. Nil 65 was a brilliant teenage girl and had already shown an IQ nearing 180 and was passionate about physics. Her grandfather Nazim too had fought for the independence of Pakistan sacrificing his career for the country’s freedom. He too had fought beside Gandhiji. Nazim felt betrayed at the time of partition. He was one of those who was against partition and could not reconcile when it actually happened. The violence that had broken out during and after the partition put paid to his beliefs. He with his wife and only son had moved to Pakistan as he had felt that there was no future in India. He had also lost much of his meagre savings. But luck was in his favour and he became a minister in the first cabinet and served the country well. His son Karim with hard work passed his graduation. Nazim died in 1964 when Niloofa was born and the family believed that Nazim had been reborn as Niloofa in 1965. Nilloofa not only resembled Nazim physically but acquired the intelligence and patriotism of Nazim. She had taken a vow at the time of her puberty that she would do anything for the country as she had read about her grandfather’s exploits and wanted to follow in his footsteps. Niloofa had successfully got admitted into the best college at Sialkot and had registered for physics. She was surprised when Abdullah came and broke the news of an educational scholarship from the ministry of education. Abdullah had requested that Niloofa be sent for an orientation program to Rawalpindi with all expenses covered to which Karim had acceded readily.


Years have passed. Raghav finished his graduation with flying colours and got admission to MIT. He packed his stuff and took a long coffee filter, Madras style. His scholarships continued and so did his yearly orientation which further cemented his patriotism. As he left the shores for MIT Gonsalvez had told him a time would come when he would have to make sacrifices for the country. Gonsalvez didn’t know when that time would be and what would necessitate that. Raghav did his masters in nuclear physics and continued his PhD in the same subject while also working. Money was never an issue as the education ministry provided a top-up for his expenses. Raghav established himself as a top nuclear scientist and was much sought after. It was then secret agents began protecting him discreetly. Raghav had broached the subject with Gonsalvez who said it was needed because of his field of specialization. All of a sudden one unusual request came from Gonsalvez. He requested Raghav to shift to Columbia University and no reasons were given then.


Niloofa too came out with flying colours and pursued her master's at Yale University. She joined Columbia University for her doctoral program. That was when a RAID representative in the US noticed her and signalled to Anthony. Gonsalvez did some research and developed a good profile of her. He particularly was pleased to note that her grandfather was of repute and she carried the same goodwill that her grandfather had carried. When she shifted to Columbia University Gonsalvez sensed an opportunity without knowing what it was. So, he requested Raghav to shift his university to Columbia and continue his research and teaching. Gonsalvez at that time didn’t know he had played the cupid’s role with respect to Raghav and Niloofa.


1991 Columbia University

When Raghav and Niloofa met it wasn’t chemistry but fusion. Both were passionately interested in nuclear physics. Niloofa’s country big wigs had much expectation from her. India by then had already exploded a nuclear bomb and the world was shocked. Pakistan was feeling deeply insecure and wanted to catch up fast in the nuclear bomb matter. Niloofa was expected to play an important role in that. So, she was asked to play the Aphrodite role whenever required. She was not a beauty but attracted attention as she combined her intelligence well with her physical presence. Raghav fell her head over heels to use the cliché. Niloofa played along. It was then Abdullah discreetly met her and suggested he pursue the romance with Raghav. He had checked out for Raghav’s history and didn’t find anything of suspicion but for his grandfather’s background. In any case, Niloofa’s grandfather too had fought for freedom. He felt the passion of the heart would overcome patriotism. He laid out a plan for her. Get married to Raghav and make him a Muslim and bring him to Pakistan. We need both your intellect to develop the nuclear bomb. For Niloofa the plan didn’t sound like mission impossible. As they came closer in heart and when they exchanged their family history it was pleasing to both that their grandfathers knew each other and fought with Gandhi side by side. Murthy had several times mentioned Nazim in his journal a few times with warmth. Raghav wondered if it was karma that has brought him close to Niloofa but was unsure if he was on the right track. He was waiting for his annual meeting with Gonsalvez to clarify this matter of the heart.

Raghav was being tracked by ’s agents at the university. He was pleased to hear that romance was progressing well. If he had heard of Abdullah’s plan Gonsalvez would have readily endorsed it. He would want Raghav to get into the nuclear establishment of Pakistan to keep track of Pakistan’s weaponizing program. So, when Raghav told him about the matter of heart and their grandfathers’ history Gonsalvez knew the time has come for Raghav’s sacrifice. This was the masterful act of the play for which he had written the preliminary script long ago when he had recruited Raghav, the purpose of which had become clear now. Director, RAID thought the move was a master stroke.

 Gonsalvez suggested to Raghav to go ahead and propose marriage to Niloofa and move to Pakistan. Raghav understood that the moment of his life had come. When he did get married to Niloofa his father was heartbroken and succumbed to cardiac arrest. His mother followed suit. In the media, he was castigated as a traitor and lost all the goodwill that he had gained in the academic community. Niloofa stood by him as a rock and so did the Pakistani establishment. They were both given a tumultuous welcome befitting the Pakistani cricketers. Raghav was given a key position in the nuclear establishment and was put under high security befitting a very important person. For Abdullah, Niloofa was enough to keep an eye on Raghav and even feel his pulse and heartbeat. He felt he had made a prize catch in Raghav becoming a Pakistani citizen. His gamble of heart winning over patriotism had paid off. He didn’t know of Raghav’s mettle and he had erred in working out Raghav’s background. The credit should go to Gonsalvez for that discretion.


The plan was progressing well for both Gonsalvez and Abdullah. Niloofa was a proud mother of a baby boy at the end of two years after marriage. Pakistan media was boasting about how close is their country to the nuclear bomb thanks to Raghavan in particular. Gonsalvez was finding it more and more difficult to communicate messages to Raghavan as his security had increased manifold. He also began to doubt if Niloofa was used as bait for Raghavan. He started doubting himself as well as Raghavan. From Raghavan’s point of view, his scientific work was progressing well and he knew Pakistan was close to a bomb now than they were earlier. What was his role? He was not clear. Unlike Niloofa who was clear about her own role. If it came to a question of country or Raghavan, she was clear it was Pakistan and she was keeping a close eye on her husband. She didn’t find any suspicious activity on his part but she sensed his dilemma in arming Pakistan with nuclear technology. She would often subtly tell him how he had become a namakharam in the eye of India. with his parents’ death, he has nobody in India that would care for him and he should live his life as dictated by his heart. Niloofa thought she was in his heart all the time and failed to understand that at heart Raghav was still a patriot.


Geneva, 1994

An opportunity arose for a meeting at Geneva in Palexpo Convention Centre on nuclear disarmament. There were concerns in the world that should a state (army controlled) like Pakistan go nuclear it would destabilize the world. Pakistani establishment felt that a scientist like Raghavan should forcefully state the case that Pakistan needs nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and for her defence as well. Abdullah had arranged for a meeting with Saudis and other rich Arab representatives on the sides to inform them of Pakistan’s progress in getting the nuclear bomb. Pakistan needed funds badly and who else but Raghavan could be the credible face to make a statement? knew this was an opportunity that had to be exploited. The question was how. He thought somehow Niloofa has to be tackled and for about half an hour separated from Raghav. He had studied the building plan of the Palexpo Convention Centre and an idea emerged in his mind. Likewise, both Niloofa and Abdullah had obtained the building plan and decided to take care of security and rendezvous points.

Just a day before they were about to fly Raghav had a window of opportunity as Niloofa had left a bit early for a home to pack their baby’s stuff for Geneva. Raghav took a sip of his filter coffee and took out the special button-like device in hand and his mind went back nearly a year. As was customary in the last few years both Raghav and Niloofa went for their annual shopping pilgrimage for some defence equipment at Stockholm Global Exhibition. All the modern gadgetry was on display usually at the defence convention. The who is who among defence weapon specialists came from among Israelis, Americans, the French and the Germans were there, some Chinese settled in the US too come. This was a private affair and an invitation was issued to select people across the globe. Raghav was one such person and he was allowed one companion. Last year due to Niloofa’s pregnancy the doctor had prohibited her travel and Abdullah came instead. As Abdullah was not well versed with the latest in technology Raghav could purchase a few gadgets on the sly. Among one was a device which too was shaped like a pen that could interfere with the system and block the camera eye that was watching him all-time at work without the system knowing it. To the security, the camera would still show some action but it was faked when the device was on. Raghav got a few precious minutes to download some important files in his other pen-like device that showed the status of the nuclear weapon’s progress. This was something he wanted to pass on to Gonsalvez. Though Raghav attributed his edginess to his inexperience in leading a diplomatic team for the Geneva conference Niloofa’s intuition said it was something else besides that. Niloofa kept watching him keenly but never revealed her suspicion. Gonzalvez too was anxious as he had received no news from Raghav. The Director told him that vigilance has been tightened at the Pakistani end. There was a lot more at stake for Pakistan. They had to find a way to escape the diplomatic noose that was tightening around Pakistan. A world was making a pariah out of Pakistan for her efforts to go nuclear.


The first day of the conference passed off peacefully. Niloofa noticed that Raghav had eased off a bit. She didn’t know that Raghav had made eye contact with Gonsalvez who had come as part of Indian invitees and felt assured. That evening at the wine and cheese party a woman dressed in a Muslim attire approached Niloofa and whispered the nickname of her maid known only to Raghav and her. Niloofa panicked and made eye contact with Raghav and rushed out in her car. As she turned around the signal, she intuitively felt something was wrong. She asked the driver to go back and dialled Abdullah who was hanging out outside the hotel. Raghav felt that was the opportunity and made eye contact with Gonsalvez and followed him. Niloofa guessed rightly that Raghav’s rendezvous would be at the security office of the venue. Gonsalvez noticed that the car carrying Niloofa returned through the entrance when Raghav took out a device and handed it to him. Niloofa got there quickly and noticed a Raghav-like figure rushing out of the security room followed by another figure. As she quickened her step, she heard a shot ring out. Gonsalvez quickly made the decision that Raghav would not be safe in Pakistani hands and shot him in the back. Simultaneously the warning siren started and there was a rush of security forces. Gonsalvez momentarily stopped to tell Raghav who was breathing his last that he did in good faith. Raghav nodded and whispered Jai Hind. That was the last thing he said. He didn’t realize he had passed on the wrong pen device to Gonsalvez in his panic.

Abdullah had just rushed then and he saw a figure crouched over another figure. Shots were exchanged but Gonsalvez made good his escape. That is when Niloofa arrived and they both rushed out of the corridor and escaped being sighted by the security forces. A few minutes later Abdullah was seen consoling Niloofa as he had broken the news that it was Raghav who was shot dead. He didn’t know who the assailant was.

Half an hour later Pakistani ambassador to Sweden called his counterpart and requested him to place the news of Raghav’s death on suspension. He asked to give access to Raghav’s body. When Abdullah and Niloofa checked the body they found a device, upon its examination had files downloaded with some updated diagrams which Niloofa confirmed that of the nuclear device. Both wondered why Raghav didn’t pass on the file if he had downloaded the same with that intention. Later in the morning, the Pakistani Ambassador announced the shooting incident and the death of Raghav. He also said the suspected forces were from Mossad as the bullet used was traced to an Israeli origin. He vowed revenge for this brutal killing of the country’s top nuclear scientist. But he said Pakistan is well on her way to becoming a nuclear power.

 Gonsalvez reached his hideout half an hour later. He quickly opened the laptop and downloaded the file from the pen device but found an empty file. At that very moment, he felt overpowered by guilt and failure of the mission. He shot himself to death. Director, RAID woke up from his sleep when he received the news. A tear escaped his eyes as he sighed why Gonsalvez? He had told Gonsalvez many times that the mission had only half a chance to succeed. The next day morning at 700 hrs he went up to the PM’s residence and tendered his resignation. So, the PM asked, “Is Pakistan well on her way to becoming a nuclear power?” Director nodded his head and said Project Parmanu had failed and went out. When Abdullah’s boss heard of ’s suicide he put two and two together and came to the conclusion that Raghav’s death was a result of a botched-up job by Gonsalvez and the gang. Unlike him Director, RAID never knew who killed Raghav!

Abdullah was fired from his job and barely escaped death as the investigation by Pakistan Intelligence Agency concluded no information was passed on by Raghav. He now runs a private detective agency in Karachi. Niloofa was asked to resign and in lieu of services rendered by both Raghav and her was given a decent pension for life.


Postscript

Summer of 1998

Pakistan announced its arrival in the nuclear club when it exploded its own device. The PM flanked by the Army General proclaimed it to be an Islamic device and would be made available to anyone to defend the followers of Allah from counter-jihadists.


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