A New India

It was a typical day in Delhi.

Prithvi, a seasoned operative with the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), sat in his office on Lodhi Road, sipping on a glass of cold water.

Prithvi was no stranger to intelligence reports crossing his desk.

Some were crucial, others merely noise.

After years of fieldwork and covert operations, he had grown a keen sense for picking out what mattered.

As the fan rotated lazily above, a clerk entered his office carrying a small, nondescript package.

"A diplomatic pouch just came in from Karachi," the clerk said, placing it on Prithvi's cluttered desk.

He didn't think much of it at first, diplomatic pouches came in all the time, often full of routine information.

But when the clerk added, "It's addressed to you directly, sir,"

Prithvi's hand paused mid-air.

Directly to him? That was unusual.

Prithvi's instincts sharpened as he carefully opened the pouch.

Inside, he found two sealed envelopes. He tore open the first one, and his eyes immediately scanned the page.

Within the first few sentences, his heart began to pound.

The note was from Alfaz Shaheed, a Pakistani military captain known to R&AW as a discreet source, though they had never met.

Alfaz had sent valuable information in the past, but what Prithvi was reading now was on another level altogether.

The words jumped out at him: Chagai Hills, nuclear test, foreign involvement.

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Prithvi leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples as the full gravity of the situation sank in.

He had suspected something was brewing in Pakistan, but nuclear testing?

And not just by Pakistan alone, but with the backing of foreign powers?

This wasn't just a regional concern, this had the potential to shift the balance of power across the subcontinent.

He quickly flipped to the second envelope, which contained schematics, logistics reports, and intelligence gathered by Alfaz.

As he read through the documents, Prithvi's face tightened with tension.

It was all here, evidence of foreign scientists, technical materials being smuggled into Pakistan, and heavy military convoys heading toward Chagai Hills, the remote area known for its isolation.

The reports detailed movement patterns and foreign assistance that Pakistan couldn't have managed on its own.

Prithvi's eyes narrowed. If this information was accurate, and all signs pointed to it being legitimate, Pakistan was on the path to test Nucelar weapons.

This wasn't just an intelligence concern, this was a national security crisis.

"This is… huge," Prithvi muttered to himself.

He knew he couldn't sit on this.

Without wasting another moment, Prithvi grabbed the files and stuffed them into his leather satchel.

This needed to go straight to the top, K.N. Rao, the chief of R&AW.

Rao was not a man to be rattled easily, but Prithvi knew even he would be shaken by this revelation.

---

Prithvi walked through the corridors of the R&AW headquarters, barely noticing the glances from junior officers as he passed by.

His mind raced.

He had to present this information in a way that Rao would immediately understand the urgency.

Time was of the essence.

If Pakistan was on a path of nuclear test, India needed to act fast.

As he approached Rao's office, the secretary barely had time to look up before Prithvi pushed through the door.

K.N. Rao sat behind his large wooden desk, reviewing some files when Prithvi stormed in.

Rao was known for his calm demeanor, even in the most pressing situations.

But today, Prithvi was about to test that composure.

"Sir, we need to talk. Now," Prithvi said, breathless but composed enough to know he had to choose his words carefully.

Rao glanced up from his papers, surprised by the sudden intrusion but noting the serious expression on Prithvi's face.

"What is it, Prithvi?"

Prithvi stepped forward and placed the documents on Rao's desk.

"A report just came in from one of our contacts in Pakistan. I think you'll want to see this."

Rao picked up the top sheet, scanning the first few lines.

As he read, his expression changed from mild curiosity to intense focus.

"Chagai Hills?" he murmured.

His eyes moved faster across the page, taking in every word.

When he reached the part about foreign scientists and nuclear testing, he put the paper down and looked up at Prithvi.

"Are you sure about this?" Rao asked, his voice controlled but laced with concern.

Prithvi nodded. "Sir, this is from Alfaz Shaheed. He's been feeding us reliable information for years, but this… this is different. This is big."

Rao leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapped beneath his chin as he processed the information.

"You're telling me Pakistan is on the path of conducting a nuclear test, and they're not doing it alone?"

"That's what it looks like," Prithvi replied. "Alfaz uncovered evidence of foreign assistance, scientists, funding, the works. They've been moving equipment and materials into Chagai Hills under the radar. If this test happens, sir, it changes everything."

Rao let out a slow breath, his eyes narrowing as the full weight of the situation settled in.

"Who's behind it? Which country is helping them?"

Prithvi shook his head. "That's the part we don't know yet. Alfaz didn't have the exact names, but the documents show clear signs of outside involvement. It's someone with the resources and knowledge to pull this off. It could be USA, UK or even France and USSR or even a rogue element. We don't know yet, but whoever it is, they're serious."

"We need to verify this," Rao said, his voice steady despite the urgency in the room.

"We need to get more eyes on the ground. I'll activate some of our deep-cover assets in Pakistan. If this is real, we can't let it happen."

Prithvi nodded. "I'll send word to our field officers. We need surveillance on Chagai Hills immediately."

Rao stood up, pacing behind his desk, his hands behind his back. "And Alfaz? Where is he now?"

Prithvi sighed. "He's on the run. He managed to escape Pakistan after sending us the report, but I don't know where he is now. My guess is he's heading for Afghanistan. The ISI is probably hunting him down as we speak."

Rao stopped pacing and turned to face Prithvi, his expression grim. "He's a dead man if they catch him."

"I know," Prithvi replied quietly. "But he got us this far. We owe it to him to use this information."

Rao nodded, his face hardening with resolve. "Alfaz has done his part. Now it's our turn. If this happens, the entire region will be at risk. We need to act fast."

Prithvi shifted on his feet.

"What do we do next, sir?"

"We prepare," Rao said finally.

"Quietly. We can't afford a public panic, but we also can't let this go unchecked. Get me everything we have on Chagai Hill, intelligence reports, the works. And reach out to our allies. If Pakistan is playing with fire, we're going to make sure they don't burn the rest of us in the process."

Prithvi nodded and moved toward the door, the weight of the mission pressing on his shoulders.

"Prithvi," Rao called after him, his voice steady but deadly serious.

"This is bigger than any operation we've ever run. We can't afford to miss a single detail. I will brief the Prime Minister on this"

"Understood, sir," Prithvi replied, closing the door behind him.