The Presentation

27-Nov-2008 , Bangalore ,Morning 6'o clock Rehan was in sound sleep when his mobile buzzed with his father's No. Reluctantly he picked up the phone... "Hello beta... Have you seen TV? They have struck at the very heart of the Mumbai Bloody people have taken the entire Taj Hotel as Hostage. Beta you be careful... one of the news channel said Bangalore is on high alert" Rehan can feel the fear in his father's voice and as well as in himself. But in a very calming voice reassured his father that nothing gonna happen to him. " No dad, I was busy with an important presentation work. Slept off preparing it. I will check the TV now, You don't worry about me". He switched on the Times Now as his room mates woke up to the harsh realty Mumbai had witnessed the previous night. The Breaking News were flashing..." Terror strikes Mumbai, VT station in Bloodshed " "Terror strikes again , Three Police Men, 12 Civilians Dead, Several Injured". " Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Chennai on high alert" "What the hell is going on in Mumbai?" screamed Ravi, Rehan's Room mate. Several other comments came from Ajay also. But Rehan was calm. This calmness had come from his childhood days in the valley. The Heaven on the earth or so called was burnt infront of his eyes very often. Now what he saw was the same Terror spreading across the country. He saw the feared people on the TV and thought how these people were successfull in their work i.e instill the terror in the common man. But more importantly he had a presentation for which he had almost spent a month of preparation. He was more worried about that. All the three glued to the TV screen for more than two hours when Rehan's mobile beeped again. It was a alert set for his presentation. His presentation was due at 10.30. And it was already 9. He got up for getting ready for the most important presentation of his career. Rehan was in and out of the Bath in 5 min and finished his 15 min long prayer asking luck and strength from the almighty for his presentation. Rehan knew this one presentation will propel his career to new heights. Just before he was leaving Ajay shouted "Look at this man" There was one more Breaking News on CNN-IBN ..." Terror Threat on Bangalore's Public Transport " "only on CNN-IBN : Letter from the Terror Group to our Channel" The news took voice out of Rehan but still he can't miss his presentation. He assured his room mates to dont worry. He will be alright. 27-Nov-2008 , Kuvempu Nagar Stop-Bangalore ,Morning 9:40 am Rehan was now very wary of the flash news just shown on the TV. Now every other person on the road was threat to him. He climbed 201D Volvo bus. He was looking everyone with suspicion. He took a seat just beside the door and kept his bag besides his leg. He was in desperate need of calm. He switched on Radio 91.4 fm. As usual some PJs were being cracked on the Phone Lagao Gaana Bajao program as though nothing has happened in the country. In the past Rehan had tried many times to call the show but was had failed everytime. Today he gave another chance and he was lucky this time. The operator said " your recording will start in 2 seconds " "Hello Rehan..Very Good Morning ... this RJ Nisha in your service.. Which song you wanna play n for whom it is dedicated to?" Rehan was still in the mood of Terror...said " Hey Nisha ... Dedicate Sochon ke Jheelon ka Ek shehar ho from Mission kashmir to my Girl Friend Sanya " RJ Nisha :"Hmmm Lover boy... where is she?" Rehan : " She is dead..... Dead in the Valley " and the line went dead. RJ Nisha " Sorry to hear that .... Here the song goes for your eternal love " Rehan slipped back to his memory just two years down the line: It was chilly evening of January. The Dal lake was re-opened a month before to public by the Govt to show there was no place for Terror in the Valley. It was like a challenging the terror group to strike at Dal lake. Sanya n Rehan were just anchoring their boat on the edge of the lake when a rocket hit the wooden dock. There was deafening blast near Sanya n Rehan. Both some how remained unscathed. But not for long. They weren't that lucky. There was huge exchange of fire between the army and terrorists. Unfortunately an AK47 bullet from the army commando peirced the heart of Sanya. Rehan helplessly saw his love taking her last breath in his arms. He saw the Commando who had no guilt on his face. Miraculously Rehan didn't get a single injury. This was their destiny. Rehan came back to the present when suddenly driver applied the breaks at Silk Board stop. Now the bus was getting full. Rehan now had a young reddish colored man in late 20s sitting beside with a Green bag in hand. Again fear got over Rehan as soon as he saw the man keeping his bag under his seat.He was almost sure about the guy was not the usual traveler. He remembered the terrorist in Mukul Deva's Lashkar doing similar thing before setting the bus into flames.Rehan looked around the bus and it was crowded to the full. Rehan's destination was just two stops away. He just wanted to slip off from the bus before anything can happen. 27-Nov-2008 , Koramangala Bus Depot Stop-Bangalore ,Morning 10:25 am Rehan's stop came. He jumped out of the bus empty handed. He left his presentation bag in the bus only. Rehan stood and saw the bus passing away from him. He saw the same reddish young man waiving with Rehan's bag from the wind sheilds of the bus. Rehan just stood their with a broad grin on his face. Said "bye bye young man".... Took out his electronic detonator n detonated his presentation. "For you Sanya....for you.... This is for the promise made when you died in my arms" were his last words. But the his presentation didn't show up on the screen at all. He tried to trigger it few more times but all his tries went in vain. In a haste he had forgot to switch the battery on, which was off for his own safety. It was a bit late when it crossed his mind as he was shot at head before he could set it on. A thin, pale begger in a long overcoat on the other side of the road took an aim at Rehan. He obeyed his General's order.... leave no trace when the job is done... he thought the job was done as soon he saw the Rehan pressing the button. 10 minutes later ...The Headlines Today showed "Breaking News : First on Our Channel :- Massive blast averted in a bus in Bangalore ... Terrorist shot dead" The slides of Rehan's presentation never came up.