Page 35 of The Pursuit
“If we fail to do this for them, who will? What sets GLEN apart from other organisations if we neglect to acknowledge and protect our assets when they’re in trouble? If GLEN has the power to punish criminals, it should also have the power to safeguard its agents. If we can’t do this, what separates us from the monsters we’re trying to eliminate then? Our agents are our assets, Dad. We should be protecting them at all costs, not sacrificing them for some higher purpose.”
To my surprise, my father listened without interruption. When I finished speaking, he nodded thoughtfully.
“That’s...” Dad shook his head slowly. “That’s a compelling point, Krish. One I’ll need to... consider very carefully before I can offer any change like that. I’m not the only one who can make that kind of decision in protocols. But for now, you are benched for three months.”
I accepted the decision with a sense of relief, grateful for the opportunity to step back from the chaos of my responsibilities. “I badly needed a break from all of this,” I admitted. “So, thanks.”
As I turned to leave, my father stopped me with one final question.
“One more thing before you’re dismissed.” His voice stopped me. “What about Agent Trisha? Don’t tell me you’re planning on chasing
after her again during this newly granted leave?”
I felt my jaw flex as I shook my head, refusing to shy away from answering him.
“No more chasing after her, Dad,” I replied with sincerity. “Trisha was an integral part of my life for a long time, that much is undeniable. But some people... some people are only meant to be with you for a short while. Until they’ve taught you whatever vital lesson you needed to evolve as a person. Trisha showed me that harbouring hopes of finding love in our profession is nothing but self-delusion,” I continued. “I won’t forget it. Never again.”
I lifted my gaze then to meet his. Something flickered deep in Dad’s eyes, the briefest glimmer of paternalremorse. He said nothing more, offering only the faintest of nods in response.
With my chest inexplicably tightening, I turned and strode for the exit without another word, blinking rapidly to disperse the hot tears blurring my vision. I would not weep, not in front of him or anybody. Not for Trisha, nor the hollowness left in her wake.
2 Years Later…
Mumbai. I returned to Mumbai again from Austria, where I had been for some paper trial work the last two weeks.
After my suspension from GLEN two years ago, I had spent those three months alone, licking my wounds from the Trisha ordeal. Those were dark days, but somehow, it helped me to toughen up my heart so it couldn’t be crushed again. Ever.
Once I rejoined GLEN as a director, things finally seemed to be looking up. Dad and the committee had heeded our suggestions about preserving assets over sacrificing lives for intel. That policy change was a huge win, making all the struggles worthwhile.
Life in Austria was going smoothly as we successfully dismantled numerous criminal organisations worldwide. However, everything took a turn when Ayaan decided to visit India to celebrate his father Kailash Shergill’s birthday. Ayaan ended up falling in love with Meher, the daughter of Pratap Walia, a political rival of the Shergills. While this was initially acceptable, Kailash uncle’s sudden accident brought me to India to support Ayaan and uncover the truth behind the incident.
The Maze of suspicions, alliances, and potential targetsbegan to unravel slowly, and as we delved deeper, it became apparent that a third party, likely a mafia group, was involved in Kailash uncle’s accident, with the intention to frame Pratap Walia. Despite this revelation, Ayaan shocked us all by blackmailing Pratap Walia into agreeing to Meher’s marriage with him. We all knew the Walias wouldn’t agree to this, but when Ayaan Shergill, the king, played his moves on the chessboard, every other chess piece had to fall in its rightful place. So, true to his nature, Ayaan’s plans always seemed to succeed.
Two days from now, my best friend would be tying the knot with his sweetheart. Ayaan had given me a crucial assignment: hire a personal bodyguard for his soon-to-be wife Meher. Despite the Walias’ security detail—including Vishnu, Pratap’s illegitimate son, and Meher’s half-brother—she had still been abducted once before. Ayaan didn’t trust them to protect his wife anymore.
He was right, of course. As the spouse of a GLEN director, Meher’s safety would now be our responsibility. No more relying on the Walia family’s inadequate measures. I would find her the best bodyguard money could buy and hand-pick a whole new security team myself if needed. Meher’s well-being was about to become my top priority.
Having just returned to Mumbai, I wasted no time in briefing Ayaan about our plans to deal with the elusive Bat Gang, a group that had been targeting both the Shergills and the Walias for reasons yet unknown. The Shergill Mansion was bustling with activity as preparations for Ayaan’s wedding were in full swing.
As I contemplated our next moves, Ayaan returned to the room, his mind already focused on a lot ofthings happening around him. “Krish, any progress with hiring Meher’s personal bodyguards?” he inquired, and I presented the three best candidates I had selected.
However, Ayaan dismissed them all with a shake of his head. “None of these will suffice,” he declared, his expression thoughtful. “In fact, I just realised we already have the perfect candidate for the job. I just had a conversation with Sudesh, and he informed me that she isn’t currently assigned to any mission and is in India. This makes her a suitable candidate to take on Meher’s security responsibility,” Ayaan explained.
“Who are you talking about?” I asked, taken aback.
“Trisha Chaudhary,” Ayaan replied. “You remember her, don’t you?”
Trisha? My heart skipped a beat, flooding with her memories after two long years.
How could I forget? Two years ago, she had shattered me. I had worked relentlessly to rebuild myself, toughening my injured heart. Throwing myself into missions for GLEN had helped dull the ache. But even after all this time, just hearing her name ripped the emotional scars wide open again.
“Of course, I remember her,” I managed to reply evenly, keeping my tone casual despite the roiling storm inside me. “But I don’t understand. Why would she be a candidate for Meher’s security?”
Ayaan sank on the couch next to me. “Sudesh informed me that Trisha recently completed a high-risk protection assignment in Europe. She has top-notch close combat skills and knows personal security protocols like the backof her hand.”
He raised an eyebrow at me. “Plus, you knew her better than anyone. You can vouch for her abilities, right?”
I swallowed hard, feeling like I was trapped in some cruel joke. After everything Trisha had put me through, did Ayaan really expect me to welcome her back into my life, even in a professional capacity? Of course, he had no idea I had feelings for Trisha; otherwise, he wouldn’t be bringing her back into my life after knowing how she had crushed my heart once.
