OPERATION TRIPLE X: A REAL SPY STORY by Maloy Krishna Dhar

Author:Maloy Krishna Dhar [Dhar, Maloy Krishna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mainak Dhar
Published: 2012-05-29T18:30:00+00:00

*

30

“Malika.” Harfan’s voice vacillated like the erratic needle of an overcharged oscillograph.

“Yes, darling.” Jahanara replied in a sweet flat voice.

“Your medicine from the Indian vaid has been procured. Nawab sahib will deliver it.”

“Hang that parasite. I’ve a recital commitment in Lahore. I should be there on the 15th. Come personally; check up with hotel Faletti’s.” Her voice sounded faint, disturbed by loud background instrumental music.

“Perhaps I can’t come to Lahore, my job takes me to Karachi.”

“Come over. I need the medicine urgently.” The soprano crooned in a lilting tone. Jahanara didn’t want her latest acquisition to visit her home in the capital.

“Perhaps you would like Nawab sahib to deliver the packet. It’s he who really organised it.” Harfan suggested.

“No dear, I told you. That lousy fellow is a soggy jelly bag, good for nothing. Does he chew raw asafoetida? He eruct the funny smell.” Jahanara insisted.

“Can’t say ma’am, I’d deliver the medicine if you insist.” Harfan disconnected.

*

General Hyder Bux examined carefully the insignificant piece of Operation Red Rose transcript produced by Brigadier Barqat’s boys in Section S of the Joint Intelligence Bureau Division. Operation Red Rose, the grandiose nom-de-plume assigned to the electronic surveillance operation on Malika Jahanara, often offered interesting insight into the affairs of the State.

A femme ‘fatale’ of infinite virtues, she had gathered admirers all over the country. The President apart, she received kaleidoscopic visitors and conversed with rainbow personalities, who decided or pretended to determine the fate of Pakistan.

What intrigued Hyder was the use of the direct bedroom line of Red Rose by the caller. Only a very few people reserved the privilege of calling her bedroom number. Only the Sadr had exclusive access to it, a sort of honeyed hotline. Her pet attendant, the trusted and castrated habshi, attended all other calls.

Questions were who could this Harfan be, and how did he access the bedroom number. Was it Harfan or Irfan? Is he a new lover boy? An under-the-carpet pet mice, a new competitor for the presidential hotline! A red herring?

What links could he have with Nawab? Nawab and medicine…from vaid Dhanwant of Dehradun! Did he say so? Hyder re-winded the tape and listened to the faint male voice. Yes. This bugger, whoever he was, had spoken about the Dehradun medic and medicines.

‘Hai Rabba’!

Had he not asked the younger Sharif for some energy-boosting medicines from India? Hyder gently massaged his eyes and bushy brows with left big and middle fingers and concentrated on the transcript. Yes. He did.

By Allah, who could this Harfan be? Did he ever bump into any Harfan, in a Pakistan Chambers of Commerce annual dinner? Or was it at a meeting with the Consortium of Defence Suppliers? Did he figure in any earlier tape?

How could a petty nobody have access to the big man’s hotline? Was Malika entertaining a strange lover? Did it have the potential of a new scandal involving the Sadr? Well! juicy scandals were welcome. These should help him in driving in the last few nails on the coffin of the usurper, General Arif Khan.

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