Chapter 21: First meeting with [RAW]
Chapter : 20; Animesh's First Encounter with RAW:
After talking with something with President, Animesh also left.
Few Days later.
1996 was a year in which India faced a turning point. Economic liberalization in the early years of 1990 had unlocked the potential lying within but had also exposed vulnerabilities. Northern regions faced terrorism as a silent threat, the unbridled insurgency in the Northeast simmered with discontent, and whispers of espionage silently making headlines seeped into government corridors. It was against this background of uncertainty that fresh mint but extremely idealistic politician Animesh received a clandestine call that would upset his vision of governance for good.
The invitation came through no official channel, but a small envelope slipped under the door. In it was a single sheet of top-grade bond paper, embossed with a non-descript seal with no name or any other emblem. The text was short and easy to send:
"Mr. Animesh,
You are called for a secret meeting. Coordinates and instructions attached. Date: 9:00 PM. March 5, 1996.
This one's for national interest. Not a word to be said.
There was a seal, like a mark, but Animesh has never seen that, even in his previous life, but this letter can came inside his cabin, it shows either there is faulty in the system or this is an governmental agency which is extremely mysterious.
He read it twice. Mystery entrusted to him, but not the usual fanfare of a political summons. He looked at the coordinates: Chanakyapuri, diplomatic enclave in New Delhi. Animesh's curiosity was piqued; he chose to go, there.
In the evening.
Animesh left his bungalow at 8:30 PM, alone, as instructed. His personal driver was sent back for the night and was relieved by another car and its driver arranged for by the sender of the note. The vehicle was a nondescript white Ambassador, perfect to mingle with the capital's traffic at the late hour of night.
The car went through the dimly lit streets of the city and finally turned into a narrow lane, flanked by high, silent buildings. The address would lead to an unobtrusive, two-story building hidden behind high walls and barbed wire. On a small plaque next to the gate, in benign words: "Institute for Strategic Studies".
The man was in simple clothes. He was dignified but not gracious. He opened the gate with no word, motioning Animesh to enter the side entrance and circumvent the main building. It was silent except for the humming of fluorescent lights standing far away.
.
Inside, Animesh was brought into a sterile conference room devoid of personality—no pictures, no knick-knacks, just a big oval table and chairs. As he entered, three men were already seated, their faces calm but unreadable. They dressed in ordinary wear, but their eyes gave away a sharpness that spoke of profession.
One of them stood up, tall in his mid-fifties, with a stern jaw and piercing eyes. He extended his hand.
"Mr. Animesh, I'm Ravindra Kohli. You may call me Director Kohli. Welcome."
Animesh took his hand. All his curiosity was mounting. "Director Kohli, it is my pleasure to meet you. But may I ask—what is this all about? And why the secrecy?"
Kohli gestured for him to sit. "You are here because we've been observing you, Mr. Animesh. Your speeches, your work as an emerging political leader—they indicate a man who values the nation above self-interest. We believe you have the potential to shape India's future, but shaping a nation requires knowledge of its shadows as well as its light."
Animesh leaned forward, his brows knitted in concerned frowns. "I'm flattered, but still, I don't get it. Who are you, exactly?"
Kohli threw a glimpse of his two side men. "We're the Research and Analysis Wing - RAW. India's primary foreign intelligence agency.".
The room seemed to grow colder. Animesh had heard of RAW, of course. It was a name that rarely appeared in the public domain, whispered more often than spoken aloud. It was the unseen hand behind India's strategic moves, a guardian that operated in shadows to protect the country's sovereignty.
---
"RAW.!" Animesh repeated.
"And you've invited me here because.?"
Kohli leaned back in his chair, hands clasped together on the table. "Because you are rising quickly in the ranks, and we believe you are soon going to come into the corridors of power that have direct implications on national security. If you are to be a leader, you must know where the threats lie-not just across our borders, but within."
He gestured to one of the men, who activated a slide projector. On the screen appeared grainy black-and-white photographs of individuals, locations, and documents.
"These," Kohli began, "are some of the most pressing challenges we're dealing with. Espionage from foreign agencies, terrorist cells funded by hostile neighbors, and corruption within our own institutions that compromises national interests."
Animesh studied the images, his expression grim. "How bad is it?"
"Bad enough that we can't fight these battles alone," Kohli admitted. "While we have a robust network of operatives and analysts, we need political leaders who understand the stakes. Leaders who won't be swayed by short-term gains or populist pressures."
Animesh nodded slowly. "And what role do you envision for me in all this?"
We don't expect you to be one of us. You are here for administration, legislation, and to lead. But we do need cooperation when it comes to matters dealing with security or policy. Intelligence budgets, counterterrorism activities, cybersecurity legislation-all these will require support, Kohli said sternly.
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RAW's Reality
Officials from RAW spent the next hour painting a sobering picture of their work. They spoke of covert operations in foreign lands, infiltration of terrorist networks, and painstaking effort needed to dismantle espionage rings. They spoke of sacrifices made by agents-men and women, living double lives, whose true identities had been erased from existence.
Kohli's tone turned grave. "Most people think of intelligence work as glamorous—spy movies, gadgets, and high-speed chases. The reality is far less thrilling. It's a world of long hours, relentless vigilance, and constant danger. Our agents operate knowing they may never return home, that their sacrifices will never be acknowledged publicly."
Animesh felt a spurt of respect for these invisible warriors. "It's a heavy burden," he whispered. "But an essential one."
Kohli nodded. "And now, Mr. Animesh, you are part of this world. Not as an operative, but as someone who can influence how this machinery functions. We're entrusting you with knowledge that few possess. It's not a responsibility to take lightly."
And Kohli asks him a straight one before the meeting adjourned - "Tell me, Mr. Animesh, what moves you? Why do you want to lead this country?
Just when Animesh was put on the spot with a question, he did not give a moment's thought before answering. "Because I believe in (our country) India's potential. We are a nation of immense talent and resilience, but have been held back by corruption, inefficiency, and divisiveness. I want to change this. I want to create an India where integrity is not just an ideal, but a reality.".
Kohli eyed him piercingly and then thrust out his hand once again. "Then we will collaborate with you, Mr. Animesh. But remember—trust is built, not bestowed. The fact that you deserve this partnership has to be proven through your actions."
As he stepped out of that building that day, Animesh's mind was a whirlwind.
As the car that carried him back into his bungalow sped away with lights of the city before the eyes of Animesh, something seemed to build a quiet determination within his heart. He entered into the world of secrets-a world that demanded not just strength but also wisdom. And in his bosom, he vowed to use the knowledge not for personal gain but for the betterment of the nation that lay so dear to his heart.
[A/N: Well, somebody said that the romance part was written badly. Indeed, I am not good in that area. As for whether Vanshika can betray or leave again, read what I have written so far. They both have feelings for each other, but they chose not to confess because of their identities.]
[Bruh, please don't talk about romance. If possible, I'll try to improve, but if I can't, I'm sorry.]
[Well, do you believe that someone that was determined that he will never fell in love girl, until and unless he succesful but now. He falls for a girl, whom he didn't even know and just listen her voice not even face. {In the game}]
Please tell me..!
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