THE NEGOTIATOR( NaNoWriMo Day 23, HWR)

THE NEGOTIATOR

Rathod walked briskly in the sun-caked alley of a hamlet in Rajasthan. His footsteps spoke of authority and urgency. A team of armed men followed close behind him. The village folk parted to make way and stood on the sides with folded palms…almost pleading with them to get them out of this ordeal.

" How many people are inside?", Rathod's voice boomed.

" Sahib, there's an entire family of 4…2 children and a stranger with a menacing look. Never seen him in these parts."

" Okay, let me handle this", Rathod reassured them.

He rapped on the intricately designed door.

" Rathod here! I heard you have some demands. I'm here to make the deal. Are you listening? "

Footsteps shuffled inside and inched closer. " There's no bargaining. Get me what I want or else I'm going to horrendously execute these people one by one without any mercy."

Everyone's blood ran cold and there was chaos on the outside. " You can't let this happen, sahib…Give them what they want."

The voice rang from inside, " These illiterates are wiser than you, Rathod! Listen to them."

Rathod signalled to his team. It did look like there was only one person holding hostage. It wouldn't take long to disarm him. They had handled many operations like these successfully. The only catch was that they didn't know what arms he possessed.

Rathod took a chance. " You're bluffing! Execute, you say? How? Do you have the guts to do that? Are you going to blow them up or shoot them down? "

"I will blow them up!"

Rathod knew he had to act swiftly. The snipers were already on the terrace of the opposite house. It was a split second when they had a view of him through a window. Taking expert aim, a single shot blew his brains out!

Pic Courtesy: Pixabay

©️ Sangeetha Kamath

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