CHAPTER 2: CHAMELEON

Three years after the mysterious death of gangster Sridhar Dhanapal in Cambodia, the vacuum he left behind has resulted in an escalating gang war in Kancheepuram district that has sucked in school and college students. Three weeks after 60 youngsters were summoned to the office of the Kancheepuram Superintendent of Police and warned by the SP Samuel Joseph, express met some of them to understand how they got drawn into a vertex of violence.

The Dawood of the South

Once known as the Dawood Ibrahim of South India, Sridhar Dhanapal's death in 2017 split his gang into two factions, each vying to take his place. One faction is led by Dinesh, who was Sridhar's personal driver, and his partner Thyagarajan alias Thyagu. The other is led by Sridhar's brother-in-law Thanikachalam.

The violence started just a month after Sridhar's death with Thanika's men hurling country bombs at Dinesh's car in November 2017. In recent months, the gang war is no longer confined to Kancheepuram district. Thanika's men brutally murdered Dinesh's aide M Satheeshkumar on a moving bus in Cheyyar in Tiruvannamalai district after the latter attempted to murder Thanika's advocate Siva. To avenge Satheesh's death, Dinesh's men hacked Thanika's cousin Karunakaran to death in Kancheepuram. Police sources say there have been more killings, often staged as accidents. Even cops are leery of looking too closely at the deaths lest the war escalates. However, Dinesh and Thyagu are now in prison and detained under Goondas Act. Thanikachalam is absconding and police are struggling to trace the tech-savvy gangster.

The next day, Samuel Joseph holds a meeting with his police officers in Kancheepuram, where he tells the police officers to evade out gangsters in the district and further asks them to handle this unofficially and let this be unknown to the gang of Thanika and Dinesh. They agrees to eliminate the mafia, without any gang wars.

In the area of Thanika in Kancheepuram, there comes a 28-year old guy called Tommy. He is an orphan and a local thug, who do contract killing and murders for money.

He does anything for living. Like kidnapping, Trafficking and smuggling. While smuggling a drug and escaping from police officers, he meets a girl and saves her from a few thugs, when they tried to misbehave with her.

"Thank you so much, sir" said the girl.

"Yeah. It's okay" said Tommy.

"Sir. May I know what's your name?" asked the girl.

"Nand....Tommy" said Tommy.

"Myself, I am Ritu. Friends" said the girl and showed her hands...

Tommy shaked his hands and she introduces her best friend Rithika. Rithika and Ritu grew up together since childhood and they lived together. Tommy notices the good and care taking nature of Ritu, which he missed in his childhood a lot...

Their small things makes him realize, how important our human life is and realizes his mistakes of doing contract killing and murders, for the sake of money.

As he is slowly falling in love with Ritu, he decides to quit his gangster life and plans to start a new life. One day, Tommy proposes his love to Ritu. But, she rejects him stating that, "She is already getting engaged with Eshwar, the son of a local politician Nagendra."

However, unbeknownst to Ritu, Eshwar is a smuggler and womaniser, who would go for any extent to make money and have a lavish lifestyle.

Tommy asks for one week time to Ritu, in order to prove his love worth. She agrees and he starts to follow Ritu and Rithika for one weeks, continuously. Then, he meets Eshwar to whom he asks, "Are you really loving to marry Ritu?"

"What? Are you joking? I marry her just to satisfy my lust" said Eshwar.

"If she learns about this, what will you do?" asked Tommy.

"I will kill her" said Eshwar.

Ritu overhears their conversation and in anger, cancels her marriage with him telling that, "She will never marry a cruel smuggler like him." However, she doesn't know that, Tommy too is a gangster and thug. She thanks him.

Then, Eshwar realizes that, "Tommy have played the smart game."

In anger, he tells to Tommy that, "He will face the dire consequences in the forthcoming days."

Meanwhile, Tanika gets furious that, Dinesh is getting released sooner and plans to finish him off in the prison itself. He plans to bring the bunch of Bihar gangster for this...

However, one of his henchman states Tommy for killing both Dinesh and Thyagu. Tommy demands five crore for the contract killing and he gets the money.

Tommy wears a prisoner uniform after beating the guard in the prison and making him unconscious. He enters into the cell of Dinesh and Thyagu by wearing mask, which cover his face. Then, he brutally shoots down Dinesh and Thiago to death.

Later, he escapes from the place. However, while going to his home, Eshwar and his father(a minister) kidnaps Tommy with the help of Tanika's son Ashwin.

They takes him to a secluded house and there, Tommy smartly kills them all brutally with a knife. Tanika learn about his son's murder and as a result, he starts to take down the henchman of Dinesh, Thyagu and their entire family by blasting their house. As he assumed them to be responsible for this.

Police officers are left hijacked and one of Tanika's henchman suddenly rushes to his house with a bullet wound telling, "Brother. Our son was killed by an undercover IPS officer. Police are behind us to eliminate our mafia. Be careful and safe."

He dies. Tanika suspects Samuel Joseph and henceforth, decides to kidnap him when he comes to the temple of Kancheepuram. At the same time, Tommy also comes with Ritu and Rithika to the same temple.

There, Tanika's henchman orchestrates an attack against Samuel Joseph, which is seen by Rithika and she immediately rushes to Tommy in order to inform. However, Tommy have already left the place and he starts to gun down Tanika's henchman brutally. This shocks Rithika as she sees his brutal nature.

One of the wounded henchman tells to Tommy, "Hey Tommy. You all can't escape from Tanika. You can kill me now. But, you can't escape anymore."

"He is not Tommy da. I am undercover IPS officer, ASP Bharath Kishore IPS. Our 2017 IPS batch gold medalist in gun shooting. I have sent him in the disguise of gangster and slowly eliminated you all" said SP Samuel Joseph.

Bharath Kishore takes down the henchman to death. Rithika is shocked to know that, Bharath was working as an undercover IPS officer. She tries to go and inform to Ritu, about this.

However, Bharath stops her and pleads with her.

"No Bharath. I cannot live this as such. Please let me go" said Rithika.

"If you go and say this to her, then there's no use for me to fight this war against those gangsters" said Bharath.

She blinks at him.

Bharath continues to say, "You still can't understand ah? In Mahabharata, Pandavas fought Kurusethra War with Gauravas, to get back their dynasty. In that bloody war, both sides met severe consequences. War never gave us peace. In my life, I fought so many wars since childhood. Indeed, I knew Ritu, a long day ago." This shocks Rithika.

Bharath tells about his past life in Trichy to Rithika. (This goes as a narration)

I was brought up by my handicapped bold father Ramakrishna. My mother Devi died when I was 3 months old. My father served as a Colonel in Indian Army during Kargil War 1999. In the war, he lost one of his legs in the hands of terrorists.

My father and I lived in the problematic Kancheepuram. There, atrocities of gangsters and gang war became common. My father raised questions and voice against them. As a result, he was killed by Sridhar Dhanapal's henchman.

I was 12 years old, when he got killed. I rushed towards him and told him, "Father. Nothing will happen to you...Let's go for hospital come. I can't live without you. You are everything to me."

"No da. I won't survive. See I got shot in my chest and a slit in my throat. Bharath. This human birth is something valuable da. You have to live the life, even after my death. Do something which our people will appreciate da. All the best da" said my father.

After doing cremation rights, I seeked the help of several people in my locality. But, none came forward to help me. Since, my father is against the gangsters, they feared that their life would go to ruins.

At that time, Ritu's elder brother Gautham Krishna came to help me. He was 6 years older than me. I joined his house consisting of Gautham's younger sister Ritu.

Gautham's parents died in 2008 Mumbai Bomb blasts near to the Chatrapathi Sivaji International Airport, where they travelled in the car. Right after that, Gautham aimed to join IPS.

For both of us, Gangsters and terrorists were main rivals. My father's final words haunted me a lot and I vigorously studied well under Gautham's guidance.

Bhagavat Gita told both violence and bon-violence as the part of our life. Ramayana told, "Greed for women leads to the ultimate downfall." Mahabharata told, "Greed for nature leads to the ultimate death of all."

Like Kurushetra war, we fought several challenges. Till we completed our college course, part time jobs were the only source of income for us. Anyways, besides all these challenges, we duo took up the UPSC examinations and got passed.

For two years, we were given training in National Police Academy of Chennai. After finishing up the training and interview, I and Gautham Baava(Uncle) returned to Kancheepuram for a leave. Ritu was going to college and is a second year college student.

Gautham Baava gets married to sister Yashika, whom he loved for three years in the college. I and he got selected for IPS with a gold medal. Then, both of us were given posting in Kancheepuram as the ASP.

At the first instant meeting with the former SP Hanumantha Rao, we were sent undercover to eliminate the gang of Sridhar as soon as possible. We didn't unveil this to Yashika. I convinced Gautham Baava to hide this from her.

They both got married and Yashika delivered a girl child sooner. Later on, SP Hanumanta Rao betrayed both of us and sent the photos of Gautham and mine to Tanika and Sridhar, telling that we are undercover cops.

But, to Hanumanta Rao's horror, my photo was sent wrongly with another man's face in Tanika's gang. As a result, I luckily escaped.

Ritu fell in love with me at the same time. But, I heard the grievance of Gautham brother, who told me that, "He wanted her to be happier and doesn't want to get her married to any police officers. As she would lead a hell life like his wife."

"I am sorry Ritu. I cannot override my brother's words. Because, I wish to stay loyal to him, till my death like Karnan to Duryodhana." I said to her.

We all were leading a happier life. But, one day Tanika's goons entered into Gautham's house and killed him and Yashika sister. Ritu too got beaten brutally in her head. And I didn't know what happened to Yashika sister's child till now. She wasn't there in the crime scene.

I went outside at that time. I soon entered into Gautham brother's house and got shocked to see them all lying with the pool of bloods. Gautham brother asked me to take care of Ritu as he knew that, "She and he love truly and begged me to leave the police. Since, he have met his fate for joining the police force."

After his cremation, I saved Ritu. But, she lost her past memories and only remembered me. Since doctors told me that, "If she learns her past, it's dangerous to her life."

I doesn't let this informed to her. But, she eventually left from my house and have been living with you. Because, she forgot me due to the injury.

When I was lamenting and mourning for Gautham's death, new SP Samuel Joseph met me(Hanumanta Rao was transferred). He asked me to continue the mission, not for revenge. But, for the welfare of people.

Since, if they kill Sridhar's mafia, it's a big peace for students and youngsters. Since, they also follow Sridhar's footsteps and tried to spoil their own life. I named this mission as "Operation Green Light."[it means to give green light for the Kancheepuram district. Since it is having red and orange light, till now.]

Hence, I planned to eliminate Sridhar once and for all. First, I targetted Hanumanta Rao and killed him brutally brutally death for betraying us and being responsible to Gautham family's death.

Then, I learned that Sridhar Danapal have went to Cambodia for a work. I too took passports and visa with the help of Samuel. I followed him for a week with the help of a local thug Jim.

With the help of Jim, I took Sridhar Dhanapal to a secluded forest and brutally hacked him to death. However, I didn't expect this kind of drawbacks in my mission. As I killed Sridhar, it led to a widespread gang war and in addition, Students too clashed with several people.

As a Henceforth, I went in disguise of a thug and learned how youngsters and people are brainwashed in such a way that, "They would be a puppet to gangsters."

(Narration ends)

"I finally planned to eliminate the gangsters silently and using the rivalry of Dinesh and Tanika's as an opportunity, I gunned down their henchman . They clashed each other and I killed Dinesh. Then, Dinesh's family was killed as I killed Tanika's son" said Bharath.

"Bharath. I understand the cause of your mission. But, think about Ritu and leave this path" said Rithika.

"If I leave this path for the sake of Ritu, then there's no use for my father and Gautham's sacrifice. I can't stop this war as it's already started. I should think off to conclude this war" said Bharath.

Then, Samuel informs Bharath that, "Gautham's child is alive" and brings her back to Bharath. He tells that, "She was adopted by him and grewed her up in his house. As Bharath became busier with investigations and he planned to reveal this later on."

Aftermath, Tanika enters into Rithika's house. He tortures her to reveal the truth about the undercover police officer, which she refused to tell.

As a result, he stabs her hand and shoots her abdomen two times. She is left for dead. While, Tanika kidnaps Ritu and Gautham's daughter, fleeing from the place with his henchman.

Bharath meets a dying Rithika and remembers the same situation that he saw when his father died.

"Rithika. What happened? Who done like this? Come. Let's go to the hospital" said Bharath.

"Bharath. I have been shot two times in the abdomen. I won't survive. Save Ritu at any cost da" said Rithika.

Bharath cried and tells her, "No...Nothing would happen to you Rithika. Come with me. Bear the pain for some times kindly."

He carries her in his shoulders. But, sees her hand let down and her eyes gone up.

"Rithika. Rithika" said Bharath and he cries, recalling all the memorable moments, that he have spent with her and Ritu.

Now, Tanika calls him and he answers the call.

"ASP Bharath. How are you?" asked Tanika.

"Tanika. Don't do anything to Ritu and Gautham's daughter. You are angry with me only, right. Show your anger with me. Already I have lost Rithika" said Bharath.

"If I kill you means, you will go peacefully. What's use of it? You have to die. Not that easy. Till your death, you should cry for clashing with me. Not only Rithika, the one who are close with you will also be killed by me. You don't even have time now. You should rush and rush to pick their body" said Tanika.

"Tanika" shouted Bharath.

"Oh! Cool ASP. Are you feeling painful? For me too, it would be painful right. For this itself, you are let down means how...encounter specialist....come...I am waiting for you" said Tanika.

Bharath decides to go and rescue Ritu and Gautham's daughter. However, Samuel stops him. Since, he fears that, "Tanika is mad and would not even dare to finish him."

But, inspite of his words, he proceeds. Since, Bharath's plan is not only to rescue them. He have in addition, planned to finish off the entire gang of Tanika and make Operation Green Light successful and worth, as planned.

Meanwhile, Ritu remembers her past when she hears about the name of Gautham and how they got killed. Initially, she faints down. But, later she wakes up and realizes that, "Bharath was her brother's adopted guy and waits for his arrival."

Bharath arrives to the spot told by Tanika. He successfully kills his henchman with their respective guns and grenade bombs(which he had took secretely). Later, he rescues Ritu and Gautham's daughter safely.

However, Bharath is hit by Tanika and gets beaten up badly. He falls down fainted.

"Bharath. I remembered my past. I know how my brother and you suffered because of gang wars. Come on. Get up da" said a crying Ritu. Bharath still doesn't get up.

"Come on Bharath. If your love for nation is true, if your love for my brother and your father is true and if your love for myself is true, come on. Get up da" said Ritu.

Bharath gains upper hand. He overpowers Tanika.

When he was about to kill Tanika, he tells to Bharath, "Bharath...Bharath...you will killed me...but, the resultant will be a gang war....the students and youngsters, whom I have brainwashed will make this whole Kancheepuram, a graveyard. How are you going to stop this?"

"Like this only, Tanika" said Bharath and he stabs in Tanika's abdomen.

"If you are alive, there won't be peace in the minds of people as well as the young generations. If you are dead, either gang war or riots may happen. You must be alive as well as you must die" said Bharath.

He burns him alive in a forest and asks Samuel to meet the students. Since, they are all eager to see Tanika. Students raises various questions.

Finally Samuel tells them that, "They are shouting and raising voice for a criminal. But, have they ever raised their voice for terrorism? Have they ever raised their voice for corruption?" He further says them about the importance of patriotism, unity and love for nation.

Then, he pleads with them to leave the path of violence and lead a peaceful life. But, he asks them to take violence, if the situation arises. For that, he quotes Kurushetra War as the example.

When the media people asked about Tanika and their gang Samuel tells them that, "Tanika and his henchman have gone for hiding, fearing for the police as well as death."

Three months later, Bharath and Ritu are now happily married and they takes care of Gautham's daughter.

Bharath receives a phone from Samuel who asks him, "Bharath. How are you?"

"I am fine sir. Why have you called suddenly? Any problem sir?" asked Bharath.

"No...problems are over. Our Operation Green Light too is over. Why don't you take official charge as ASP now?" asked SP Samuel Joseph.

"No sir. Still, Operation Green Light is going on. We have responsibility to eliminate all other gangsters in parts of India like Hyderabad, Lucknow and Uttar Pradesh. The mission is still alive sir. Until then, I work undercover. My name should not be unveiled to anyone sir..."

Samuel agrees and Bharath tells to him, "Mission Continues sir." He ends his call. While, Ritu hugs him...