Read Mumbaistan for Free Online

ACP Hani handed him two typed sheets of official papers, bearing the signature and seal of the Mumbai commissioner of police.
    'I hope Tanvir Khanzada and Rabia Bano have not been harmed?' hissed the ACP through his teeth.
    Parab, who was reading the official papers, now stood up, defiant. 'Just because you have letters from the CP, it doesn't make you something special. I will hand over the prisoners after their proper interrogation.'
    The ACP stepped closer to him and whispered, 'I don't want to insult you in front of your juniors, so please, hand over both of them to me right now, and let me be on my way.'
    Instead of complying, Parab chose to start grandstanding. 'You think you can march in here and order me around... Who the fuck do you think you are?'
    The ACP said, 'My name is Hani. I am with the ATS. I am on a mission, and I have orders to do whatever it takes to achieve my mission. What my mission is, it's not important for you to know, but please understand that it is to ensure the safety of lakhs of people.'
    'So you are the man who ordered that bhadva criminal to shoot at my constable?' said Parab, his face contorted with jealousy and hatred.
    ACP Hani replied in a measured tone, 'I didn't order him. It was a necessity for a larger purpose.'
    'So for a "larger purpose" you are ready to sacrifice a fellow policeman's life?' Parab was in no mood to let up.
    The ACP sighed, 'The constable was never under threat. I figured that it was just an initiation strategy, similar to one used by the FLN revolutionaries in Algeria in the late 1950s. In those days, it was the ultimate act of courage, the act of shooting a policeman pointblank on the streets. The gun was not loaded, but the shooter believed it was. If the shooter refused to pull the trigger, it was believed that he was with the police, and he was executed. If he did pull the trigger, he was inducted. The men that we are dealing with are highly knowledgeable in various techniques and well trained.'
    Parab was incredulous. 'How can you be so sure? It was just pure luck that the gun did not fire. What if my man was killed?' He spoke loudly, with the obvious intention of inciting his men.
    The ACP shook his head, exasperated, then turned and nodded towards his men. Like a well-oiled machine, the ACP's men fanned out throughout the room in positions that blocked any movement in or out. From the folds of their clothes, they produced automatic machine guns. They kept their guns pointed to the ground, but the threat was clearly communicated to all. Parab and the other policemen in the room were stunned at the turn of events. Before they could recover, the ACP confronted the senior officer, 'Listen, you two-bit rat, my time is precious. I don't want to get into any politics with you...'
    Parab was rabid now. 'I will show you politics... How dare you threaten me?' He punched a number on his mobile. 'I want to speak to Nandkar Bhau... Yes... Hello Bhau, there is an ACP here whom I don't know. But, he is threatening my men that if I don't release some prisoners...his name...I think it is Hani... What? Why? But...' he stopped speaking and extended the mobile phone towards ACP Hani. 'The home minister wants to talk to you.'
    The ACP took the phone. 'Yes, sir...no problem, sir...okay, sir, thank you.' He handed the phone to Parab, who blustered, 'Sir, I want action against...' The corners of his mouth drooped as he listened to the minister. 'But...but...' he blubbered, then cleared his throat. It was obvious to everyone in the room that the line had been disconnected. He stood, looking at the ACP with a crushed expression, then put down the phone and cleared his throat again, but still didn't say anything.
    ACP Hani spoke instead, 'Six months of planning have gone down the drain because you decided to play a political stunt to gain sympathy among your policemen. Today, you've only lost your posting... I hope that no lives are lost because of your stupid