Captain Vikram couldn’t believe that he had been in the army for five years. He had seen his fair share of fighting from Kargil to fire fights across the border. He had followed the hallowed traditions of his family in serving the country……….his grandfather and father had previously served in the army under the Madras Regiment. As a kid he was always excited at the prospect of following his father’s footsteps.
But the five years had changed him……….as it would anyone who serves the nation. At times he felt he knew more about what it meant to be an Indian than its ordinary citizens and it angered him to see the way the fallen were treated at times by his own government and the people. What angered him even more was the way the news channels often used wars to sell screen time. It brought tears to his eyes whenever he thought of his friends who had given their lives for the nation and who will never be known. He made it a point to visit their families whenever he could.
Vicks as he often called by his regimen because of his obsession with his vicks vaporub was an excellent marksmen and courageous leader. By the time most people his age were pursuing successful careers in law, software engineering or even holding cushy jobs in air conditioned offices he was leading men into counter insurgency operations into places that would be a nightmare for most people.
It was this fame that brought him in touch with Colonel Vikrant. Vicks was having his favorite rum with coke at the officers club when the colonel pulled a chair to his table. The colonel started the introductions “Hello Vikram……….my name is Vikrant, Colonel Vikrant”. “Good evening Colonel” answered Vikram and he was about to solute him when the colonel interjected “At ease lad……..no need for all the niceties now”. “Thank you Sir!!” continued Vikram. “Son, I am here in Chennai for a special reason and I would like to meet with you tomorrow at 0900 hours near the officers’ mess………this is top secret so please keep this request to yourself” the Colonel requested. “Of course Sir” answered Vikram a bit surprised at the request “I will meet you there”. “Good see you tomorrow then…..I am sorry I can’t stay with you longer I have another important meeting to attend” replied Colonel Vikrant and left abruptly leaving time for Vikram to just stand before he left.
That night Vikram couldn’t sleep, he kept thinking about his meeting in the morning. He got up early in the morning and made his way to the mess at the time specified by the colonel. As he came closer to the mess he could see that the colonel was already there. Vikram greeted him “Good morning Colonel” and saluted. The colonel returned the salute and said “Walk with me son” and so they made their way up to the residential quarters.
“I have heard about your skills Vikram and of the missions you have led in Srinagar which is why I am now in touch with you” started the Colonel. “After the recent terrorist strikes in Delhi and Bombay the government is sick and tired of us living in this nightmare and has finally grown the balls to do something about it!!!!” continued the Colonel. “I am talking about the formation of a special group with special individuals like you. Not only are we looking at the Army, but we will also recruit people from the Navy and Airforce for this group” exclaimed the Colonel.
“This is indeed excellent Sir……….but may I ask what group is this. Under what command will it come under since it includes everyone” queried Vikram. The colonel laughed and said “We will come under no particular command son, we will directly report to the PM himself!!!! All this will be kept low profile though……only a few people will know about the group”. “It will be christened TOF” continued the Colonel. “I am sorry Sir could you please repeat the name……I thought I heard you say tough” asked Vikram. “It is T-O-F my boy or the Tactical Operations Force!!!!” said the Colonel proudly “And you are looking at the man responsible for forming and leading this group and we require an individual of your skills and expertise……..and I am here to ask if you are interested in joining our cause” continued the Colonel.
“What will the group do?” asked Vikram. “Well Vikram, let’s say that we have finally decided to take the war to those God forsaken terrorists…….we will go out and hunt them down like the animals they are no matter which country they hide in” the colonel exclaimed.
“But like I said, the missions will never be known and if you die or get captured in any of these missions the Government will deny any knowledge of it………..I can only imagine what would happen if the media ever got wind about this!!!” the Colonel thought to himself. “What about the people that refuse this offer, they would know about such a group how do you handle them??” asked Vikram with interest. To this the colonel cunningly answered “Well I only ask those individuals who I know for certain will join…….as for the the chance that someone does go yellow, well lets not go there shall we” the Colonel smiled while answering.
“So what say you Captain………ye or nay?” questioned the Colonel. Vikram thought to himself “Finally a chance to kill the people responsible without worrying about a fair trial!!!!”. A chance to do something was finally laid down in his lap but Vikram found himself hesitating……..”Disowned by the very same Government who has given me this opportunity if I fail………I cannot fail, I must not fail” he thought to himself. He felt his slain friends calling out to him…….a chance to take revenge. The thought excited him……….but still the hesitation was eating at him!!! “What will I do??” he asked himself.
