Chapter 42: chapter 42

"As much as I regret my actions, I was once a pawn in their game. They targeted me, exploiting my vulnerabilities, and forced me into this web of deception," Kaushal confessed, his eyes reflecting a mix of remorse and fear.This revelation came as a shock to Neha. "I don't understand; I don't believe you!"Neha and Kaushal were sitting at a quiet café on the outskirts of Kaushal's office. Tension filled the air as they sat at a corner table.Neha, determined to uncover the truth, looked Kaushal in the eye. "No more games, Kaushal. You have suffered enough due to your arrogance; don't add more pain to your miserable life."Kaushal sighed, "I am telling the truth, Neha, but you have to understand the complexity of the situation. It goes beyond personal vendettas and career ambitions. Please listen to me first, and then you can decide."Neha nodded, urging him to continue."There is a large network at play, a confidential organization known as the Crimson Dagger. This organization is manipulating events to achieve its sinister goals. When I came here, I was broken and thought of changing myself completely. I was even taking therapy and medicines for my mental condition to get back to normal. I was doing meditations to get rid of my past, but you know my marriage with Sheetal was cancelled. Colonel Prakash was furious at me. I love Sheetal very much, but she stopped talking to me to push me to get better and confront Col. Prakash. All this was happening every day, and I was cursing myself every day for my wrongdoings. Myself pushing you, Riya and other junior officers wrongfully was all my bad Karma."Neha listened intently, absorbing the shocking confessions."I was trapped, Neha. Every day I was trying to get rid of my past, but something didn't let me sleep at night. I was becoming an insomniac when one day someone called me on the office landline."Kaushal paused, his gaze distant as he recollected the haunting memories. Neha, though skeptical, couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for the man sitting across from her."That call changed everything. The voice on the other end was from the Crimson Dagger. They had been forcing me to do things in Leh as they knew about my past, my mistakes, and they exploited every vulnerability I had," Kaushal continued, his voice filled with a mixture of regret and bitterness.Neha, still grappling with the shock of this revelation, questioned, "But why you? Why would they target you specifically?"Kaushal sighed deeply, "I was a rising star in the military, and my influence was growing. They saw an opportunity to use me as a pawn in their grand scheme. They fed me information, manipulated my decisions, and coerced me into playing their game."Neha frowned, trying to make sense of it all. "So, everything – the false accusations, the schemes against Riya, the attacks on the cantonment – it was all orchestrated by this Crimson Dagger through you?"Kaushal nodded solemnly, "Yes, Neha. I became a puppet in their hands, dancing to their tune. They had a plan, and I unknowingly became a part of it."The weight of the truth hung heavily in the air as Neha processed the information."No, I cannot believe you; this sounds so absurd! How could you be useful to them from here? What was your vulnerability after a demotion, something is missing here Kaushal.""See, if you cannot believe me, then there is no point in telling you because if I do, your life will get in danger as well. They may be watching us right now.""What do you mean, watching us?" Neha's eyes widened."Yes, they are watching every one of us all the time. That's why I got trapped, Neha; they can play with our vulnerabilities anytime if they know our weaknesses. You have to simply believe me, or else let's quit this conversation." Kaushal's facial expression changed; he looked annoyed.Neha couldn't deny the sincerity in Kaushal's eyes, but the magnitude of the deception left her feeling insecure."Why are you telling me all this; do you want to scare me now with one of your new lies?" Neha charged Kaushal, her voice a mix of anger and confusion.Kaushal looked at her with a sense of urgency, "Because they may have plans for you, too. I couldn't let you walk into the same trap. You're a good officer, Neha, and I cannot bear to see you suffer the way I did."Neha's mind raced, trying to comprehend the depth of the conspiracy. "What do they want with me? Why target me?"Kaushal leaned forward, his expression earnest, "They see you as a threat – someone with integrity and the potential to expose them. You've been getting too close to the truth, and they won't let that happen. I had no intention to tell you all this, but now that you are here, I cannot stop myself from warning you either before it's too late."A sense of vulnerability crept over Neha as the significance of the situation sank in. "So, what do we do now? How do we stop this Crimson Dagger?"Kaushal's eyes flickered with determination, "We expose them. We gather evidence, reveal their true identity, and bring them down. It won't be easy, and it'll put us both at risk, but it's the only way to end this.""I understand the situation now, Kaushal, but I need time to process all of this. It's a lot to take in," Neha admitted, her mind reeling from the revelations.Kaushal nodded understandingly, "I know, Neha. This is a heavy burden to bear, and I never wanted to involve you in this mess. I thought you will forget all this after our conversation over phone, but you have come down to me and now your life is also in danger because now that you know, you're a part of it, whether you like it or not."The two sat in silence for a while, each lost in their thoughts. The quiet café seemed to offer a momentary sanctuary from the chaos that had unfolded.Finally, Neha broke the silence, "What about Riya? What happened to her? Was she also a victim of this Crimson Dagger?"Kaushal sighed, "Yes, Neha. Riya was also part of their plan. Her promotion was waitlisted and she got transferred to some far-off place, and that's when I lost control. I never wanted things to escalate to that point, but once Crimson Dagger realized I was losing my grip, they took matters into their own hands."A sense of guilt washed over Neha as she thought about her involvement in the schemes against Riya. "I played a part in ruining her career, didn't I? What can we do to make things right?"Kaushal looked at Neha with a hint of regret, "We have to find a way to clear her name, expose Crimson Dagger's involvement, and ensure justice for Riya. It won't be easy, and we have to be careful every step of the way."Neha nodded, purpose replacing the confusion in her eyes. "I'm in, Kaushal. I can't undo the past, but I can try to make amends. Let's gather the evidence we need and bring Crimson Dagger down."Kaushal's expression softened, appreciative of Neha's willingness to help. "Thank you, Neha. I never expected you to be on my side after everything that has happened."Neha gave him a small smile, "I may not agree with your past actions, but I can't ignore the present danger. We need to protect ourselves and those around us. Now, where do we start?" ~~~~~