SALIM MUST DIE Read Online Free PDF Page A

head it up.’
    ‘That's an excellent choice, sir. There are few people better suited for the job. Mr Rao has the temperament and he certainly has the experience.’
    ‘I am glad to hear that, Colonel.’ The PM smiled, a trifle wickedly for a change. ‘Because this is where you come in. I want you to depute two of your best officers to work with him for a few months.’
    ‘My officers, sir?’ Anbu had clearly not seen this coming. ‘What pos….’
    ‘Colonel, Rao will need some trusted hands to overcome the initial teething problems. In any case, you had wanted to depute a few of your people to RAW for a few weeks of familiarization. This is going to be even better, because your officers will get some rigorous hands-on training and also an excellent overview of our national intelligence set-up.’
    ‘I see what you mean, sir,’ Anbu concurred. ‘It will be done. I have just the right officers to help Mr Rao get started.’
    ‘I am sure you do, Colonel,’ the PM replied. ‘And finally, one other thing. The NIC will make its first presentation next fortnight. I want you here for it.’
    ‘That's kind of you, sir. I am sure it will be most educative.’
    ‘I am sure it will, Colonel.’ There was a smile on the PM's face as he ended the call and asked his assistant to get Rao on the line for him.
    At the other end, Anbu did not bother to put down the phone. He waited for the dial tone to return before he punched in the numbers he wanted.
    ‘MS,’ he said when it was picked up at the other end by Captain Mohammed Sami. ‘Call from the Headman. We've got another assignment… a domestic one this time. Come on over so that I can brief you. And yes, get Khare and Bhatnagar along. They're going to be in the hot seat this time.’
    ‘Right, sir, I will. Khare is here but Bhatnagar is still at the firing range. I'll call her back and we will be with you in about forty-five minutes.’
    ‘I'll be waiting, MS.’
    Finally putting down the phone, Anbu leaned back in his black leather chair. The room around him gradually receded into darkness and his chair began to swivel gently as his mind wandered away slowly, back along the long, winding road that the calm man now known to the world as Colonel Rajan Anbu had travelled.

Becoming Anbu
    THE UBIQUITOUS YELLOW COLOURED TWO-BEDROOM apartment was situated on the third floor of the building, between Chennai's famous Velankani church and the sea. Lost as it was in the midst of similar looking apartments, this one had two distinguishing features: it was the corner most house in the colony and, being on the top floor, it had a unique view of the sea. The fact that the tiny sliver of sea visible did not make for much of a view did nothing to alter the sea-facing tag, which came with the apartment. Perhaps this was why the family that stayed there always attracted special attention.
    Not that there was anything unusual about them. It was your average middle-class Tamil family, deeply traditional, as such families tend to be. On opening the door, you would be greeted by a pantheon of gods. A deep-seated aroma of incense held sway over the air.
    However, there was something distinct about the young lad who opened the door and raced down the steps towards a group of youngsters waiting impatiently at the foot of the building. The not-so-tall boy had the darkish complexion so typical of Tamil Nadu, but that was about where the stereotype ran out. Even at that early age, his body language bespoke a leader and his face radiated a particular calm that drew your attention to him like a magnet. When you looked at him you got the unmistakable feeling that you were looking at a winner.
    ‘You're late, Anbu,’ one of the kids clustered at the foot of the stairs complained. ‘We have been waiting for hours.’
    ‘What to do, man? Amma would not let me budge till I had finished my homework.’
    ‘Why are you always fretting about homework? I thought you're planning to join the army…