Where to Start (2)

There was a reason that Aditya wanted to weaken Raipath's family before making the final move. Raipath family was deeply entrenched into the system, be it politics, military, business and administration. With the addition of those powerful, multinational conglomerates into this soup, it became a toxic mix. If he revealed this information all at once, there was no doubt that the country would be affected adversely on a considerable scale.

In the 'dream world', the central government had collapsed in one month after Maahi's death. It was followed by two awful years of minuscule development and unemployment rates skyrocketed. Aditya did not want to this to repeat. So he planned to cut the roots of Raipath family one by one, like a surgeon, so that the system would not be affected on a noticeable scale.

Aditya also planned to fill in the gaps left by Raipath family, with his influence. If he did not make a move, this space would be filled in by others. No one would see a piece of pie and ignore it. Aditya did not want to take chances with these people's morality, who might turn out to be another Raipath family. It was better that he became a part of this system and had his influence.

Aditya had all the tools and capabilities to build his influence. He wouldn't shy away from his responsibilities. It would be false modesty to think that he should not vie for supremacy when he had the necessity.

Aditya emerged from his thoughts as he tapped the armchair in a slow pattern. Everyone was exhausted as they had been working for ten hours without a break. Just as Aditya was about to wrap up today's work, Tya said, "Aditya, I can't hack this phone."

Aditya's other arm had patches, with wires attached to it. These wires were attached to a device and the device to a mobile phone. This mobile phone belonged to the person who had just defected to his side. Aditya's pupil shrank when he heard this, Tya could easily break into a military-grade intranet, and here he was saying that he couldn't hack a mobile phone.

"What seems to be the problem?"

"Well, the processor core of this mobile is nothing like I have seen before. It is more complicated and the most important thing, this thing does not respond to binary code," Tya said in his cute voice.

"You mean that this mobile's processor core does not function with '1' and '0'," Aditya's face became grim as he asked.

"Yes, this core functions with '1', '0' and a unique combination of '1' and '0'. It is like the binary codes are merged into one singular entity. If the regular processor has the efficiency of a kindergarten student, then this is at the level of third grade, I guess."

Aditya's pupils trembled as a shocking thought emerged in his mind. He raised his head and asked the person who was nursing his injuries, "Where did you get this mobile? Who gave it to you?"

The person, trembled when he heard the sharp tone in Aditya's voice. His neck shrank a little as he said, "it was given by that Manjunath, who is the representative of 'Raipath family'. He asked me to keep this mobile with me, at all times..."

Just as he was about to continue, the mobile screen lit up as an indifferent voice was heard. "Mr Shashank, I did not expect that you would betray us. It is a pity."

Aditya did not pay attention to these words as he made a hand gesture to Thomas. Thomas and other followers' eyes expressed shock. They could not believe that a day would come that the Boss would make that decision.

That hand gesture meant that they had to escape. Also, it was not a typical escape. It meant 'each one for himself'. All people had to flee in different directions so that even if one of them was caught, the others would be able to escape.

Thomas and the others laughed when they saw their boss teach this manoeuvre as they felt that such a situation would never arise. But their laughter earned them extra practice hours of this manoeuvre till this action was ingrained in their muscles and spirit.

So after a brief moment of shock at Aditya's action, Thomas and others escaped in all directions of the bungalow. Not one of them stepped on the road. These people who grew up on the streets were the most natural Parkour practitioners. Aditya honed their skills even more as he felt that this skill was going to become crucial in the future. They jumped, climbed and vaulted over all obstacles in their path. They moved into the surrounding environment efficiently and naturally.

Aditya did not manage his followers after he gave out the order. He removed a phone from his pocket and left it near Shashank's phone. Aditya placed the phone in a dark corner. Hence he did not worry about the camera. Even if the camera somehow got a visual of his face, he did not fear as he could change looks like that. 'Rudra' was not a face; it was an identity.

Thomas and the others knew that their boss was a master of disguise. In the beginning, they did not believe their boss as they could not find any hint of camouflage. But, they had to believe him when Aditya appeared like Thomas.

It was quite a shock to them, but they slowly became accustomed to it. Aditya did not base the way of communication between 'Rudra' and his followers on 'seeing'. Aditya trained them in this fashion.

'Shashank' was still in shock as he saw the frightening figures escape just because of a phone call. Aditya looked at Shashank as he mouthed 'sorry' without making a sound and escaped.

The voice on the phone seemed to pause a little as it continued, "As for you, the other people referred you as 'Boss', so I shall also call you as such. Boss, I don't know who you are, but you shouldn't have tried to go against the 'Raipath family'. Since you did, then I can only offer my condolences. Wait for your death." The person who was talking did not seem to overthink as if he was passing judgement.

By the time that person had finished speaking, Aditya had already left the building. He started climbing the multi-storey building, which was behind the bungalow. Aditya spoke, "I did not think that you bastards of Raipath family have joined hands with that 'organisation'. But I am interested to know one thing. Are you guys considered helpers or as slaves?" Tya transmitted Aditya's voice to the other phone. His voice was modified into a mechanical tone. Aditya climbed with his bare hands. His voice did not shake a little as he scaled, let alone sweat.

The voice on the phone lost it's calm and indifference as it stuttered, "Wha...what are you talking about?" It was clear that the other person was rattled when he heard Aditya's words.

Aditya reached the terrace as he sat on the wall so that he could have a clear view of the bungalow. Compared to his other abilities, 'urban climbing' was just complimentary. A cold wind breezed past his face. It felt refreshing. The city was calm in the night with vehicles passing through the road occasionally.

A sneer appeared on Aditya's face as he said, "You know what I am talking about. Since you are stuttering, it means that the time is not ripe for others to know about this. But since I know, then you people would hunt me, right? That's great. I am staying in Bangalore. Come at me with your full force. I want to see what you bastards are capable of?"

The other voice regained it's calm as words infused with fury were heard, "You will regret these words." Aditya scoffed as he cut the connection and initiated a self-destruction protocol in the mobile which he left with the 'Special' mobile. No one would be able to trace that mobile back to him.

This self-destructive mechanism was quite easy. All Aditya had to do was install an expandable polymer inside the phone, which could be triggered by electricity, remotely. This polymer would borrow the charge from the battery to destroy the chip in the phone and burn the battery itself, subsequently.

Aditya knew what Tya meant when he said that the '1' and '0' of the binary code seem to merge. That was not a typical mobile processor. It was a 'quantum' processor core, and that technology was way ahead of contemporary times.

Aditya had heard that military technology is usually ten years ahead of the technology available to civilians. So he was not sure if this phone was a product of military or belonged to 'those' people. Aditya threw a bluff at the opposite party, and it paid off. Now he was sure that Raipath family was in cahoots with 'that' organisation.

"Boss, I knew you would be here," Thomas panted a little as he came from behind. Aditya nodded as he continued to look below. When he figured out that Raipath family might have a connection with that 'organisation', he did not take chances as he ordered his followers to disperse. Aditya wanted to see the efficiency of these people. Aditya was quite satisfied with their response rate.

Thomas also looked at the bungalow. It was dark, and he could see the outline, clearly, from such a height. Suddenly, he saw the bungalow go up in flames in a few seconds. His body trembled as he looked at these flames, "Boss, who are these people?" Aditya did not reply as flames reflected in his pupils. Finally, he knew where to start.