25-10-2026, 10:26 AM
(CHAPTER CONTD)
JULY 21 2005 , VADSAR AIR FORCE BASE , GUJRAT
The celebration at Vadsar Air Base had carried the rare warmth of peace.
Banners fluttered in the dry Gujarat wind as officers, pilots, and decorated servicemen stood beneath the blazing afternoon sky. Applause echoed across the parade grounds as Dhananjay 'Dan' Shankar stood stiffly upon the podium, a gallantry medal resting heavily against his chest. The cheers felt distant to him, unreal, almost undeserved. His palms were damp despite the dry heat. Before him sat commanders, decorated officers, and families of service personnel—faces filled with admiration that only deepened his nervousness.
"You look like you’d rather be inside enemy territory than standing here"
Kirti teased softly as she stepped beside him, straightening the collar of his uniform.
Dan exhaled shakily.
"Combat is easier than this"
Kirti laughed quietly, the familiar confidence in her eyes softening her sharp military composure.
"This is what every soldier dreams of, Dan. To stand here and know your country remembers what you fought for"
Then, for a brief second, something distant crossed her expression.
"I just wish Hemant was here"
Dan gave her a small smile.
"Hemant is part of a bigger world now Kirti. I am just glad he gave an important place to you in that world"
"I know, its been two weeks since he joined AESIR in London"
She murmured, glancing toward the horizon.
"Definitely looking forward to his next visit here!"
Their moment was interrupted as the others gathered around them—Rani with her usual bright grin, Kaya and Aarushi arguing over who looked more intimidating in uniform, while Janki rolled her eyes beside Vishal, Rishikesh, Avinash and Tarun. For a few precious minutes, they were simply young soldiers laughing under the sun, teasing one another like old friends who had survived too much together.
Then the convoy arrived.
At first, it looked ordinary—military trucks rolling through the gate carrying newly enlisted Air Force recruits. Heads turned casually toward them. Someone joked about how terrified the recruits looked.
Then the world erupted. A thunderous explosion split the air apart.
![[Image: Attack-Air-Base.gif]](https://i.ibb.co/1YpMRwkS/Attack-Air-Base.gif)
The first truck vanished into fire. The second exploded seconds later. Then another.
A wave of heat punched through the air as flames swallowed steel and screams vanished beneath smoke. The shockwave rattled windows across the base, sending soldiers diving to the ground as alarms screamed alive.
"CONTACT! WE’RE UNDER ATTACK!" someone shouted.
Gunfire erupted from every direction. Dan’s instincts took over before fear could settle.
"To the quarters! Arm up!" he barked.
The entire base transformed into chaos.
Militants emerged from blind spots across the perimeter, firing wildly as soldiers scrambled into defensive positions. Smoke climbed into the sky while sirens wailed through the airfield. Dan rallied Garuda Force without hesitation, his voice cutting through panic like steel.
"Rishikesh, left flank! Avinash with me! Kaya—cover the northern wall!"
Beside him, Rani moved with terrifying precision, fearless despite the hell unfolding around them. Meanwhile, high above the battlefield inside the ATC tower, Kirti’s sharp eyes narrowed toward the runway.
A transport aircraft had landed. Something about it felt wrong. No clearance. No identification. And armed men stepping out to defend it. Her instincts screamed danger. Taking a rifle, she gathered several cadets and advanced through the tarmac, crouching low beneath bursts of gunfire.
"Push forward!" she ordered.
The militants guarding the plane were neutralized quickly. But when Kirti boarded the aircraft, everything inside her turned cold. Rows of explosives. Enough C4 to turn Vadsar Air Base into ash. A digital timer blinked mercilessly. Her heartbeat slowed. No panic. Just certainty. She stepped back toward the open hatch.
"All of you—back to ATC" she ordered firmly.
The cadets hesitated.
"Ma’am—"
"NOW!"
Her voice left no room for argument.
"And tell control" she added, swallowing hard.
"Under no circumstances is anyone to fire at this aircraft"
Without another word, Kirti climbed into the cockpit. Hands trembling only once, she powered the engines. Outside, Dan and Garuda Force fought through relentless gunfire, forcing militants back sector by sector.
Then—A muzzle flash. A crack. Dan barely turned before something struck the air between him and death. Rani. She staggered. Time stopped. Dan caught her before she hit the ground.
"No—Rani, no, no—"
Her hands trembled weakly against his uniform. Blood darkened the fabric as distant gunfire faded into meaningless noise.
"You’re okay" Dan lied desperately.
"Stay with me"
Rani tried to smile. Her lips parted as though she wanted to say something—something important. But the strength never came. Her gaze weakened. And then—Nothing. The light in her eyes disappeared. Dan froze. The battlefield blurred around him. His best friend had stepped between him and death without hesitation. For him. For the rescue. For all of them. By the time the militants were defeated and the air base secured, Dan looked hollow.
Then he noticed the aircraft. Flying away from the base. His stomach dropped. He sprinted toward ATC.
"Get me comms!" he shouted.
Static answered him before a familiar voice finally broke through.
"…Dan?"
Kirti.
"Kira! What the hell are you doing? Turn that plane around!"
Her voice remained strangely calm.
"There’s a bomb onboard"
The room froze.
"It’ll destroy the whole base" she continued.
"There’s not enough time. Bomb squad won’t make it"
Dan shook his head violently.
"No! We’ll figure something out! Just come back!"
Silence lingered. Then softly—
"Is everyone okay?"
Dan’s voice cracked.
"Rani…" He struggled to breathe.
"Rani’s gone"
Even through static, they heard Kirti inhale sharply. For several seconds, she said nothing. When she finally spoke, her voice trembled.
"She fulfilled her destiny as a soldier" Kirti whispered.
"She protected her people"
Vishal broke down beside the radio. Tarun looked away. Even Kaya covered her mouth, tears falling despite herself.
"And now" Kirti said quietly.
"I suppose I’m doing the same"
"No!" Dan shouted.
"Don’t say that!"
The aircraft climbed higher. Farther. Closer to the sea. Kirti looked ahead into endless sky.
"Tell Papa…" she whispered, voice cracking for the first time.
"His warrior girl became brave enough in the end"
Dan buried his face into one hand, unable to stop shaking.
"And Dan…"
He looked up.
"Tell Hemant…"
![[Image: H0MNG.jpg]](https://i.ibb.co/24sMHtz/H0MNG.jpg)
Her voice faltered. The strongest among them suddenly sounded heartbreakingly small.
"Tell him I Lov—"
Static. The transmission cut. And somewhere beyond the horizon—A deafening boom shattered the air. Every screen in ATC flickered. The radar signal vanished. Gone. No wreckage marker. No aircraft. Only silence. No one spoke. No one moved. They all knew. Minutes later, confirmation arrived. Search and rescue teams believed the aircraft had exploded over the sea off the Gujarat coast.
Probability of survival: none.
Dan collapsed onto the floor. His rifle slipped from his hands. Two friends. Gone. In one day. Rani had given her life to save him. Kirti had given hers to save them all. Around him, Garuda Force broke apart under grief. Vishal wept openly, unable to stop repeating Kirti’s name. Aarushi stared blankly at the radar screen as if refusing reality itself. Tarun sat against the wall, silent tears slipping down his face. Kaya held Janki as both cried quietly.
Dan looked toward the empty horizon through the ATC glass. The sky was calm now. Cruelly calm. As if nothing had happened. But somewhere beyond that ocean, two warriors had become immortal.
And for the first time since joining Garuda Force—Dhananjay Shankar felt utterly powerless.
FEW DAYS LATER AT THE RAGHUVANSHI HOUSE , NORTHERN HARYANA.
The bugle's final note faded into the evening air, leaving behind a silence so complete that it felt louder than the ceremonial gun salute itself. Three synchronized volleys had echoed across the cremation grounds, each shot tearing through the hearts of everyone gathered there. Before the pyre rested a coffin dbangd in the Indian tricolour, but beneath it there was barely a body left to mourn. What little had been recovered from the wreckage found in the sea had been wrapped carefully in layers of spotless white cotton, every inch concealed so that no grieving parent would remember their daughter as the mangled victim of an explosion.
She would be remembered as Squadron Leader Kirti Raghuvanshi—the pilot who stole death away from an entire airbase by carrying it into the sky herself.
Retired Colonel Viren Raghuvanshi stood like a broken statue. Years of military service had taught him to salute fallen comrades without trembling, but nothing had prepared him to salute his own daughter. His wrinkled hand repeatedly rose to his forehead, only to fall back again as tears blurred his vision. His lips quivered constantly, as though he wanted to say something to the daughter he had once taught to ride a bicycle, who had later insisted she wanted to fly fighters instead of merely watching them streak across the sky. Beside him, Madhuri had long since lost the strength to remain composed. She clung desperately to Sameeksha, Vinod's wife and their daughter in law, sobbing with the raw agony only a mother could know.
"My little princess..." she cried between broken breaths.
"She promised she'd come home... She promised..."
Every sentence dissolved into inconsolable weeping before it could ever finish.
Vinod and Mukesh stood ahead of their parents, shoulders rigid but faces hollow. Neither brother cried loudly. Their grief had frozen into silence, the kind that hurt infinitely more than screams. Vinod occasionally looked toward the white-covered remains, still unable to believe that beneath those layers rested the mischievous little sister who used to steal mangoes from the family garden and later called him excitedly every time she mastered another aircraft. Mukesh clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white, trying to remain strong for their parents, though his trembling jaw betrayed him. Every few seconds he wiped away tears before anyone could notice them.
A few paces away stood Dan, his beret tucked beneath his arm. His uniform remained immaculate, but inside he felt completely shattered. Yesterday he had stood before another funeral pyre, saying goodbye to Rani—the woman who formed a bond with him in Nal Base working at her hangar, who had died taking a bullet meant for him. He had barely managed to leave that cremation ground before being summoned here. Two funerals. Two closest friends. Two salutes. Two pyres. The weight became unbearable. Every crackle of burning wood now sounded identical to the gunfire that had stolen pieces of his own soul.
His mind refused to stay in the present. Instead it replayed happier days that now felt painfully cruel. Kirti laughing loudly in the base canteen while teasing him for trying to act serious. Kirti sharing all kinds of details about Hemant and his new workspace , including the sexual stuff just to make him uncomfortable. Her face glowing with excitement after returning from Shanghai only weeks earlier. She had practically dragged Dan into the cafeteria.
"He's finally going to speak with my parents" she had whispered with flushed cheeks.
"After that...he wants us to settle in London without me leaving the Air Force , making London our second home. We're going house hunting there on my next visit to him , this time at London. Can you imagine? London!"
Dan remembered rolling his eyes while congratulating her. She had laughed, punched his shoulder playfully and declared that he would have to visit them once they settled there. That future had vanished in a matter of minutes in Vadsar.
His eyes wandered instinctively through the mourners, searching for one face that never appeared. Hemant. There was no sign of him anywhere. Not beside the Raghuvanshi family. Not among the Air Force officers. Not even hidden somewhere in the distance. Dan kept expecting a vehicle to arrive at the last moment, the door to open, and Hemant to walk toward the pyre with that calm expression that never betrayed emotion. But the road remained empty. The wind alone answered him. The absence hurt almost as much as Kirti's death itself. She was his life , why is he not here for her?
When the priest finally nodded, Vinod stepped forward carrying the flaming torch. His hands shook so violently that Mukesh instinctively reached out to steady him. Together they approached the pyre. For one impossible second, the world seemed to stop. Then Vinod lowered the flame. Dry sandalwood caught almost immediately. Orange fire slowly climbed higher, swallowing the carefully wrapped white cloth. Smoke rose gently toward the evening sky—the same sky Kirti had loved more than anything.
Dan watched the flames grow until they blurred completely behind tears he could no longer suppress. He covered his mouth, his shoulders trembling violently as months of discipline collapsed within seconds. He had survived bullets, explosions and covert operations without breaking. Watching two dear friends become ashes within two days destroyed him far more thoroughly than any battlefield ever could.
Weeks later, the memorial at Nal Air Base stood beneath a cloudless morning sky. Two polished black granite pillars bore the engraved names of Rani and Kirti, decorated with fresh marigolds and the Indian tricolour. Officers gathered silently as announcements echoed through the parade ground. Flight Engineer Pranali 'Rani' Gupta would receive the Kirti Chakra for sacrificing herself to save a fellow commando. Squadron Leader Kirti 'Kira' Raghuvanshi would receive the Param Vir Chakra posthumously for preventing the destruction of Vadsar Air Base. Applause never came. No medal could return either woman. Even Vishal was fighting back tears hearing this great honor given to his fallen friend. Dan merely stood at attention before their memorial, saluted until his arm began aching, and whispered a farewell that only the morning breeze carried away.
Life refused to stop, even when grief demanded it should. A month later, Dan sat across from Sachiko during what used to be their peaceful evenings together. Instead, every revelation she spoke made the room colder.
"What's been going on Sachi? You're tenser than me" Dan asked concerned.
"I could not be any more tense Dan. Things didn't exactly as we wanted" Sachiko said
"What happened?"
"Well , we went our separate ways to restore SENTINEL and build influence over it. Turns out SENTINEL itself changed in ways like never before"
"Changed how?"
"SENTINEL is no longer a UN backed Task Force anymore. It is now a glorified PMC working on military contracts now. We figured going corporate was the right way to make sure we had control over the Task Force. Will , Sharon and myself lead its board now. No more blockade , no more denial of action"
"And what about Hemant"
Sachiko's exppression turned darker as she continued.
"That is the more sadder part Dan. He has completely changed , not so long ago he was focused on his mission. But when we offered him position at the SENTINEL board , he straight up rejected it. Saying he wants nothing to do with SENTINEL. I met him a day after Kira's death. And I can say pretty confidently Dan , that Kirti wasn't the only person who died on that plane crash"
Dan leaned his head down now understanding his absence from her funeral. Sachiko eventually revealed.
"When I asked why he didn't come see her on her final rites. Hemant said he prefer to see her final time with that smile at the Shanghai airport rather than wrapped in a cloth disfigured. He was dead inside Dan , like Kirti's passing sucked the life out of him. And the only thing left is.....Michael King!"
That name, it made Dan intrigued. Sachiko explained it was his undercover name but he seems to have embraced it.
"Where is he now" Dan asked.
"London , he joined AESIR Corporation as its Operations Lead. He is running their Drone tech and Manufacturing and Modern Hardware Wing. But its more sinister than that. He is waging a direct war with AZRAEL as Michael King. Which brings me to the part that might affect you"
"What is it"
"The attack on Vadsar Air Base, the Mujahideen outfit that did it , they were supplied materials and weapons by a faction loyal to the Russian Mafia , specifically Yosef Tarasov , the Godfather of the AZRAEL Syndicate!!!"
This shocks Dan to the core. The attack , it wasn't just a terror attack, they were targeted intentionally. Sachiko continued.
"Its safe to say AZRAEL used those terror group to hurt Hemant and his loved ones with that attack. But I honestly don't know whether their attack worked in their favor or set up their doom!"
"Most likely its the latter....considering how it changed Hemant....they killed the man that controlled the Hunter in him , now he is loose!"
Sachiko saw his depression and decided to change the subject to comfort him.
"We're talking a lot about him. How about we talk about something else...like us!"
"Definitely...."
"Then I have some good news!"
"What is it?"
"I've talked with Will....apparently being a Board Member, I don't have to be always present at SENTINEL HQ so.....I am planning to apply for a citizenship in India"
Dan's face lit up as Sachiko continued.
"And you know.....that process can be a bit easy if I have a life partner that is....Indian!"
Dan didn't respond with words , he responded with a kiss. The next moment , he carried her into the bedroom and stripped their clothes. Their lovemaking that night was wholesome , Dan found a piece of happiness in this constant pain of loss. He promises her of a share future of love and understanding with each other as they went to sleep.
SIX MONTHS LATER
Dan received his own transfer orders. Promotion to Major. Posting to a forward operating base in Srinagar. His years guarding Nal Air Base had ended. His years being a GARUDA commando has ended. He was moving to new grounds , climbing new responsibilities. On the morning he packed the last of his belongings. During that time , he recieved a call from Sachiko.
"Hey Sachi"
"Have you moved already!"
"Not yet , but I am all prepped , transport will be landing soon"
"Great , so I am guessing I am calling at the right time"
"What do you mean?"
"I called you to give you some closure"
"Closure?"
"Remember what I said about Yosef Tarasov"
"The creator of AZRAEL?"
"Yes well. He was assasinated by unknown men at a shootout in Serbia. The media is claiming its the Russian Bratva , but I think you have an idea who it might be"
"hmm....Mr. You-Know=Who?"
"Exactly , turns out it was pretty graphic , I did some digging. From what I've learned. Whoever killed him , made him bleed. Tarasov was stabbed multiple times with a long weapon possibly a sword or something. And his bleeding corpse was left hanging on a cross at a nearby cemetary!"
"Damn!"
"So when you leave NAL today....don't leave with regrets....start fresh in the new place closing old wounds darling....I'll see you soon.....love you!"
"Love you too!"
Dan ended the call with a relief that eased his shoulders. At that moment , he was gladh. Kirti and Rani , they were avenged. Hemant avenged his love's death. The score was settled. Dan picked up his duffel bag, and walked out to the tarmac where his old friends were standing for him. Avinash who was now promoted as the New Commander of Garuda Task Force , Dan's old job.
"Do your job well Commander , I expect nothing but the best from you" Dan shook his hand.
"Will do Major" Avinash saluted him.
Then came Vishal with his smile. As Dan hugged him.
"Cannot believe I used to hate you when I first arrived here!" Dan confesses.
"And now here we are crying like brothers being separated forcefully!" Vishal said.
"Take care of yourself and fly high Victor , you have to honor her sacrifice!"
Dan said referring to Kirti.
"I will....from now on. Maybe I will find her in the sky.....now flying like an invisible pheonix guarding her squadron!"
Fealing teary eyed again remembering her. Dan walked away as his old squadmates and Nal Base cadets waved goodbye. He boarded the transport aircraft bound for Srinagar. As the plane made its ascend from the runway , he saw in the distance his friends waving at his place. But eyes finally landed on the two memorials placed at the base. He whispered to the empty cabin of the aircraft as he braced for his next responsibilities.
"Fly peacefully now Kirti....... Rani will be there with you to fix your Cosmic Jet!!"
JULY 21 2005 , VADSAR AIR FORCE BASE , GUJRAT
The celebration at Vadsar Air Base had carried the rare warmth of peace.
Banners fluttered in the dry Gujarat wind as officers, pilots, and decorated servicemen stood beneath the blazing afternoon sky. Applause echoed across the parade grounds as Dhananjay 'Dan' Shankar stood stiffly upon the podium, a gallantry medal resting heavily against his chest. The cheers felt distant to him, unreal, almost undeserved. His palms were damp despite the dry heat. Before him sat commanders, decorated officers, and families of service personnel—faces filled with admiration that only deepened his nervousness.
"You look like you’d rather be inside enemy territory than standing here"
Kirti teased softly as she stepped beside him, straightening the collar of his uniform.
Dan exhaled shakily.
"Combat is easier than this"
Kirti laughed quietly, the familiar confidence in her eyes softening her sharp military composure.
"This is what every soldier dreams of, Dan. To stand here and know your country remembers what you fought for"
Then, for a brief second, something distant crossed her expression.
"I just wish Hemant was here"
Dan gave her a small smile.
"Hemant is part of a bigger world now Kirti. I am just glad he gave an important place to you in that world"
"I know, its been two weeks since he joined AESIR in London"
She murmured, glancing toward the horizon.
"Definitely looking forward to his next visit here!"
Their moment was interrupted as the others gathered around them—Rani with her usual bright grin, Kaya and Aarushi arguing over who looked more intimidating in uniform, while Janki rolled her eyes beside Vishal, Rishikesh, Avinash and Tarun. For a few precious minutes, they were simply young soldiers laughing under the sun, teasing one another like old friends who had survived too much together.
Then the convoy arrived.
At first, it looked ordinary—military trucks rolling through the gate carrying newly enlisted Air Force recruits. Heads turned casually toward them. Someone joked about how terrified the recruits looked.
Then the world erupted. A thunderous explosion split the air apart.
The first truck vanished into fire. The second exploded seconds later. Then another.
A wave of heat punched through the air as flames swallowed steel and screams vanished beneath smoke. The shockwave rattled windows across the base, sending soldiers diving to the ground as alarms screamed alive.
"CONTACT! WE’RE UNDER ATTACK!" someone shouted.
Gunfire erupted from every direction. Dan’s instincts took over before fear could settle.
"To the quarters! Arm up!" he barked.
The entire base transformed into chaos.
Militants emerged from blind spots across the perimeter, firing wildly as soldiers scrambled into defensive positions. Smoke climbed into the sky while sirens wailed through the airfield. Dan rallied Garuda Force without hesitation, his voice cutting through panic like steel.
"Rishikesh, left flank! Avinash with me! Kaya—cover the northern wall!"
Beside him, Rani moved with terrifying precision, fearless despite the hell unfolding around them. Meanwhile, high above the battlefield inside the ATC tower, Kirti’s sharp eyes narrowed toward the runway.
A transport aircraft had landed. Something about it felt wrong. No clearance. No identification. And armed men stepping out to defend it. Her instincts screamed danger. Taking a rifle, she gathered several cadets and advanced through the tarmac, crouching low beneath bursts of gunfire.
"Push forward!" she ordered.
The militants guarding the plane were neutralized quickly. But when Kirti boarded the aircraft, everything inside her turned cold. Rows of explosives. Enough C4 to turn Vadsar Air Base into ash. A digital timer blinked mercilessly. Her heartbeat slowed. No panic. Just certainty. She stepped back toward the open hatch.
"All of you—back to ATC" she ordered firmly.
The cadets hesitated.
"Ma’am—"
"NOW!"
Her voice left no room for argument.
"And tell control" she added, swallowing hard.
"Under no circumstances is anyone to fire at this aircraft"
Without another word, Kirti climbed into the cockpit. Hands trembling only once, she powered the engines. Outside, Dan and Garuda Force fought through relentless gunfire, forcing militants back sector by sector.
Then—A muzzle flash. A crack. Dan barely turned before something struck the air between him and death. Rani. She staggered. Time stopped. Dan caught her before she hit the ground.
"No—Rani, no, no—"
Her hands trembled weakly against his uniform. Blood darkened the fabric as distant gunfire faded into meaningless noise.
"You’re okay" Dan lied desperately.
"Stay with me"
Rani tried to smile. Her lips parted as though she wanted to say something—something important. But the strength never came. Her gaze weakened. And then—Nothing. The light in her eyes disappeared. Dan froze. The battlefield blurred around him. His best friend had stepped between him and death without hesitation. For him. For the rescue. For all of them. By the time the militants were defeated and the air base secured, Dan looked hollow.
Then he noticed the aircraft. Flying away from the base. His stomach dropped. He sprinted toward ATC.
"Get me comms!" he shouted.
Static answered him before a familiar voice finally broke through.
"…Dan?"
Kirti.
"Kira! What the hell are you doing? Turn that plane around!"
Her voice remained strangely calm.
"There’s a bomb onboard"
The room froze.
"It’ll destroy the whole base" she continued.
"There’s not enough time. Bomb squad won’t make it"
Dan shook his head violently.
"No! We’ll figure something out! Just come back!"
Silence lingered. Then softly—
"Is everyone okay?"
Dan’s voice cracked.
"Rani…" He struggled to breathe.
"Rani’s gone"
Even through static, they heard Kirti inhale sharply. For several seconds, she said nothing. When she finally spoke, her voice trembled.
"She fulfilled her destiny as a soldier" Kirti whispered.
"She protected her people"
Vishal broke down beside the radio. Tarun looked away. Even Kaya covered her mouth, tears falling despite herself.
"And now" Kirti said quietly.
"I suppose I’m doing the same"
"No!" Dan shouted.
"Don’t say that!"
The aircraft climbed higher. Farther. Closer to the sea. Kirti looked ahead into endless sky.
"Tell Papa…" she whispered, voice cracking for the first time.
"His warrior girl became brave enough in the end"
Dan buried his face into one hand, unable to stop shaking.
"And Dan…"
He looked up.
"Tell Hemant…"
Her voice faltered. The strongest among them suddenly sounded heartbreakingly small.
"Tell him I Lov—"
Static. The transmission cut. And somewhere beyond the horizon—A deafening boom shattered the air. Every screen in ATC flickered. The radar signal vanished. Gone. No wreckage marker. No aircraft. Only silence. No one spoke. No one moved. They all knew. Minutes later, confirmation arrived. Search and rescue teams believed the aircraft had exploded over the sea off the Gujarat coast.
Probability of survival: none.
Dan collapsed onto the floor. His rifle slipped from his hands. Two friends. Gone. In one day. Rani had given her life to save him. Kirti had given hers to save them all. Around him, Garuda Force broke apart under grief. Vishal wept openly, unable to stop repeating Kirti’s name. Aarushi stared blankly at the radar screen as if refusing reality itself. Tarun sat against the wall, silent tears slipping down his face. Kaya held Janki as both cried quietly.
Dan looked toward the empty horizon through the ATC glass. The sky was calm now. Cruelly calm. As if nothing had happened. But somewhere beyond that ocean, two warriors had become immortal.
And for the first time since joining Garuda Force—Dhananjay Shankar felt utterly powerless.
FEW DAYS LATER AT THE RAGHUVANSHI HOUSE , NORTHERN HARYANA.
The bugle's final note faded into the evening air, leaving behind a silence so complete that it felt louder than the ceremonial gun salute itself. Three synchronized volleys had echoed across the cremation grounds, each shot tearing through the hearts of everyone gathered there. Before the pyre rested a coffin dbangd in the Indian tricolour, but beneath it there was barely a body left to mourn. What little had been recovered from the wreckage found in the sea had been wrapped carefully in layers of spotless white cotton, every inch concealed so that no grieving parent would remember their daughter as the mangled victim of an explosion.
She would be remembered as Squadron Leader Kirti Raghuvanshi—the pilot who stole death away from an entire airbase by carrying it into the sky herself.
Retired Colonel Viren Raghuvanshi stood like a broken statue. Years of military service had taught him to salute fallen comrades without trembling, but nothing had prepared him to salute his own daughter. His wrinkled hand repeatedly rose to his forehead, only to fall back again as tears blurred his vision. His lips quivered constantly, as though he wanted to say something to the daughter he had once taught to ride a bicycle, who had later insisted she wanted to fly fighters instead of merely watching them streak across the sky. Beside him, Madhuri had long since lost the strength to remain composed. She clung desperately to Sameeksha, Vinod's wife and their daughter in law, sobbing with the raw agony only a mother could know.
"My little princess..." she cried between broken breaths.
"She promised she'd come home... She promised..."
Every sentence dissolved into inconsolable weeping before it could ever finish.
Vinod and Mukesh stood ahead of their parents, shoulders rigid but faces hollow. Neither brother cried loudly. Their grief had frozen into silence, the kind that hurt infinitely more than screams. Vinod occasionally looked toward the white-covered remains, still unable to believe that beneath those layers rested the mischievous little sister who used to steal mangoes from the family garden and later called him excitedly every time she mastered another aircraft. Mukesh clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white, trying to remain strong for their parents, though his trembling jaw betrayed him. Every few seconds he wiped away tears before anyone could notice them.
A few paces away stood Dan, his beret tucked beneath his arm. His uniform remained immaculate, but inside he felt completely shattered. Yesterday he had stood before another funeral pyre, saying goodbye to Rani—the woman who formed a bond with him in Nal Base working at her hangar, who had died taking a bullet meant for him. He had barely managed to leave that cremation ground before being summoned here. Two funerals. Two closest friends. Two salutes. Two pyres. The weight became unbearable. Every crackle of burning wood now sounded identical to the gunfire that had stolen pieces of his own soul.
His mind refused to stay in the present. Instead it replayed happier days that now felt painfully cruel. Kirti laughing loudly in the base canteen while teasing him for trying to act serious. Kirti sharing all kinds of details about Hemant and his new workspace , including the sexual stuff just to make him uncomfortable. Her face glowing with excitement after returning from Shanghai only weeks earlier. She had practically dragged Dan into the cafeteria.
"He's finally going to speak with my parents" she had whispered with flushed cheeks.
"After that...he wants us to settle in London without me leaving the Air Force , making London our second home. We're going house hunting there on my next visit to him , this time at London. Can you imagine? London!"
Dan remembered rolling his eyes while congratulating her. She had laughed, punched his shoulder playfully and declared that he would have to visit them once they settled there. That future had vanished in a matter of minutes in Vadsar.
His eyes wandered instinctively through the mourners, searching for one face that never appeared. Hemant. There was no sign of him anywhere. Not beside the Raghuvanshi family. Not among the Air Force officers. Not even hidden somewhere in the distance. Dan kept expecting a vehicle to arrive at the last moment, the door to open, and Hemant to walk toward the pyre with that calm expression that never betrayed emotion. But the road remained empty. The wind alone answered him. The absence hurt almost as much as Kirti's death itself. She was his life , why is he not here for her?
When the priest finally nodded, Vinod stepped forward carrying the flaming torch. His hands shook so violently that Mukesh instinctively reached out to steady him. Together they approached the pyre. For one impossible second, the world seemed to stop. Then Vinod lowered the flame. Dry sandalwood caught almost immediately. Orange fire slowly climbed higher, swallowing the carefully wrapped white cloth. Smoke rose gently toward the evening sky—the same sky Kirti had loved more than anything.
Dan watched the flames grow until they blurred completely behind tears he could no longer suppress. He covered his mouth, his shoulders trembling violently as months of discipline collapsed within seconds. He had survived bullets, explosions and covert operations without breaking. Watching two dear friends become ashes within two days destroyed him far more thoroughly than any battlefield ever could.
Weeks later, the memorial at Nal Air Base stood beneath a cloudless morning sky. Two polished black granite pillars bore the engraved names of Rani and Kirti, decorated with fresh marigolds and the Indian tricolour. Officers gathered silently as announcements echoed through the parade ground. Flight Engineer Pranali 'Rani' Gupta would receive the Kirti Chakra for sacrificing herself to save a fellow commando. Squadron Leader Kirti 'Kira' Raghuvanshi would receive the Param Vir Chakra posthumously for preventing the destruction of Vadsar Air Base. Applause never came. No medal could return either woman. Even Vishal was fighting back tears hearing this great honor given to his fallen friend. Dan merely stood at attention before their memorial, saluted until his arm began aching, and whispered a farewell that only the morning breeze carried away.
Life refused to stop, even when grief demanded it should. A month later, Dan sat across from Sachiko during what used to be their peaceful evenings together. Instead, every revelation she spoke made the room colder.
"What's been going on Sachi? You're tenser than me" Dan asked concerned.
"I could not be any more tense Dan. Things didn't exactly as we wanted" Sachiko said
"What happened?"
"Well , we went our separate ways to restore SENTINEL and build influence over it. Turns out SENTINEL itself changed in ways like never before"
"Changed how?"
"SENTINEL is no longer a UN backed Task Force anymore. It is now a glorified PMC working on military contracts now. We figured going corporate was the right way to make sure we had control over the Task Force. Will , Sharon and myself lead its board now. No more blockade , no more denial of action"
"And what about Hemant"
Sachiko's exppression turned darker as she continued.
"That is the more sadder part Dan. He has completely changed , not so long ago he was focused on his mission. But when we offered him position at the SENTINEL board , he straight up rejected it. Saying he wants nothing to do with SENTINEL. I met him a day after Kira's death. And I can say pretty confidently Dan , that Kirti wasn't the only person who died on that plane crash"
Dan leaned his head down now understanding his absence from her funeral. Sachiko eventually revealed.
"When I asked why he didn't come see her on her final rites. Hemant said he prefer to see her final time with that smile at the Shanghai airport rather than wrapped in a cloth disfigured. He was dead inside Dan , like Kirti's passing sucked the life out of him. And the only thing left is.....Michael King!"
That name, it made Dan intrigued. Sachiko explained it was his undercover name but he seems to have embraced it.
"Where is he now" Dan asked.
"London , he joined AESIR Corporation as its Operations Lead. He is running their Drone tech and Manufacturing and Modern Hardware Wing. But its more sinister than that. He is waging a direct war with AZRAEL as Michael King. Which brings me to the part that might affect you"
"What is it"
"The attack on Vadsar Air Base, the Mujahideen outfit that did it , they were supplied materials and weapons by a faction loyal to the Russian Mafia , specifically Yosef Tarasov , the Godfather of the AZRAEL Syndicate!!!"
This shocks Dan to the core. The attack , it wasn't just a terror attack, they were targeted intentionally. Sachiko continued.
"Its safe to say AZRAEL used those terror group to hurt Hemant and his loved ones with that attack. But I honestly don't know whether their attack worked in their favor or set up their doom!"
"Most likely its the latter....considering how it changed Hemant....they killed the man that controlled the Hunter in him , now he is loose!"
Sachiko saw his depression and decided to change the subject to comfort him.
"We're talking a lot about him. How about we talk about something else...like us!"
"Definitely...."
"Then I have some good news!"
"What is it?"
"I've talked with Will....apparently being a Board Member, I don't have to be always present at SENTINEL HQ so.....I am planning to apply for a citizenship in India"
Dan's face lit up as Sachiko continued.
"And you know.....that process can be a bit easy if I have a life partner that is....Indian!"
Dan didn't respond with words , he responded with a kiss. The next moment , he carried her into the bedroom and stripped their clothes. Their lovemaking that night was wholesome , Dan found a piece of happiness in this constant pain of loss. He promises her of a share future of love and understanding with each other as they went to sleep.
SIX MONTHS LATER
Dan received his own transfer orders. Promotion to Major. Posting to a forward operating base in Srinagar. His years guarding Nal Air Base had ended. His years being a GARUDA commando has ended. He was moving to new grounds , climbing new responsibilities. On the morning he packed the last of his belongings. During that time , he recieved a call from Sachiko.
"Hey Sachi"
"Have you moved already!"
"Not yet , but I am all prepped , transport will be landing soon"
"Great , so I am guessing I am calling at the right time"
"What do you mean?"
"I called you to give you some closure"
"Closure?"
"Remember what I said about Yosef Tarasov"
"The creator of AZRAEL?"
"Yes well. He was assasinated by unknown men at a shootout in Serbia. The media is claiming its the Russian Bratva , but I think you have an idea who it might be"
"hmm....Mr. You-Know=Who?"
"Exactly , turns out it was pretty graphic , I did some digging. From what I've learned. Whoever killed him , made him bleed. Tarasov was stabbed multiple times with a long weapon possibly a sword or something. And his bleeding corpse was left hanging on a cross at a nearby cemetary!"
"Damn!"
"So when you leave NAL today....don't leave with regrets....start fresh in the new place closing old wounds darling....I'll see you soon.....love you!"
"Love you too!"
Dan ended the call with a relief that eased his shoulders. At that moment , he was gladh. Kirti and Rani , they were avenged. Hemant avenged his love's death. The score was settled. Dan picked up his duffel bag, and walked out to the tarmac where his old friends were standing for him. Avinash who was now promoted as the New Commander of Garuda Task Force , Dan's old job.
"Do your job well Commander , I expect nothing but the best from you" Dan shook his hand.
"Will do Major" Avinash saluted him.
Then came Vishal with his smile. As Dan hugged him.
"Cannot believe I used to hate you when I first arrived here!" Dan confesses.
"And now here we are crying like brothers being separated forcefully!" Vishal said.
"Take care of yourself and fly high Victor , you have to honor her sacrifice!"
Dan said referring to Kirti.
"I will....from now on. Maybe I will find her in the sky.....now flying like an invisible pheonix guarding her squadron!"
Fealing teary eyed again remembering her. Dan walked away as his old squadmates and Nal Base cadets waved goodbye. He boarded the transport aircraft bound for Srinagar. As the plane made its ascend from the runway , he saw in the distance his friends waving at his place. But eyes finally landed on the two memorials placed at the base. He whispered to the empty cabin of the aircraft as he braced for his next responsibilities.
"Fly peacefully now Kirti....... Rani will be there with you to fix your Cosmic Jet!!"
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