Today is August thirty-first. Inaya is presented in a small court at the Secretariat Building in New Delhi. The defense minister of India is sitting on the desk facing her. The desk on her left is occupied by Gautam Bhatia, who is the chief of IB, Intelligence Bureau. The desk on her right is taken by Naushad Khan, Chief of RAW. He is prominently known as Agent Panther. She glances at the three males before her and looks down at her feet. She is wearing jeans and a white top. The defense minister opens the file on his desk and looks back and forth between the file and Inaya.

DM: Ms. Inaya Khan, you were sent on a mission in Thailand. Am I right?

Inaya: Y-yes sir.

DM: You met with Agent D?

She simply nods her head.

DM: You two were involved in a personal relationship?

She stares at her feet.

DM: I'll take that as a yes. Did you inform him of your identity?

Inaya: N-no.

DM: Since how long have you been working in IB?

Inaya: Three years, sir.

Naushad: Then, how in the world can you be this careless?

Gautam: Naushad!

Naushad: Don't because of her carelessness I lost one of my prime agents to the Thailand law enforcement. The report sent by them clearly shows that they were suspicious of her, but he was arrested due to their relationship and them living under the same roof.

Gautam: C'mon Naushad! He's not a little child. He was the one being foolish to choose her life over his. He is blinded by love.

Naushad: Better if you don't talk about it! RAW agents never leave their fellow companions behind. From what I see right now, it seems like your agent used Agent D to get a promotion which she did receive.

Inaya is on the verge of crying. The back and forth between Naushad and Gautam continues for a few minutes.

DM: Enough! I have the final say, in this case, so listen up close!

They all stiffen and focus their attention on the defense minister.

DM: Looking at the situation we have at hand, I have concluded that Ms. Khan will receive her promotion looking at her track record. She will be joining RAW as a trainee, keeping in mind the results of the mission at hand. This was a joint mission between RAW and IB, but seeing that the two departments can't work together, I assign this mission to RAW. Along with this mission, RAW will deal with the Agent D scenario. I want the best team to be working on this mission as the enemy is still unknown to us.

Naushad: Yes sir!

DM: Naushad, where is Agent Shakti currently posted?

Naushad: Northern Command!

DM: Call her over! She will lead this mission.

Naushad: Yes sir.

Gautam: Sir, this is a huge risk! We all know that Agent Shakti does what she wants. She never follows the rules and guidelines set up by the departments.

DM: That's why she is the best!

Naushad: Just to remind you Gautam, you are talking about the same person who has led all the missions in the Gulf and Iran in the past three years.

DM: The valley itself has calmed down after her posting there. I don't know of anyone that is more fit than her for this mission. Do you know anyone?

Gautam: But...

DM: Naushad, transfer Agent Shakti back to Delhi. I also want Agent Alpha and Spider on this mission as well. I will meet Agent Shakti in the eve along with you three.

Naushad: Yes sir.

The defense minister exits the room along with Naushad. Gautam gives Inaya an assuring smile before stepping out to attend a call.

In the evening, the four meet up in a small room. The only source of lighting in the room is a small bulb hanging over their head. The lighting is enough to give them a proper view of their surroundings. They look through the glass window in the wall in front of them. They look into the other room to see it covered by smoke. It is illuminated by white light making it hard to make out anything in that room. The lights go out for a split second. They look around and then, focus their attention on the window again. They see a figure walking into the room. It stops in the center. They can see it's a female due to the long hair flying in the air. Her body is not visible due to the smoke and dim lighting.

DM: Good evening Agent Shakti!

Agent Shakti: Evening, sir!

Her voice showed dominance while portraying respectful manners at the same time.

DM: Nothing is hidden from you, so I am assigning you the current mission at hand. You will have Agent Alpha and Spider in your team as well.

Agent Shakti: Yes sir!

DM: I also want you to transfer back to Delhi. The valley has calmed down and you are much more needed here than in the valley.

Agent Shakti: Let me have a look into it sir before coming to a conclusion.

DM: Agent Shakti, you have been traveling back and forth between Delhi and other parts of India in the past three years. It's high time that you settle your feet down in the Delhi headquarters because all the commands are given from here.

Agent Shakti: Sir, let me just consider my options.

Gautam: Agent Shakti, you are disrespecting him!

Agent Shakti: I am not disrespecting anyone, Mr. Bhatia! I am a free citizen of India regardless of my profession. I was born with the right to make a decision.

Gautam: Sir, do you really think Agent Shakti is a good choice for this mission? Look at the past, if the trio gets together again then, destruction is not far away!

DM: Gautam, I have already had a word with you regarding this matter. And the destruction created by the trio was for a better future ahead.

Naushad: The last time I checked blowing up a few terrorist camps is not called destruction! This is what IB does as well.

DM: Enough of you two being Tom and Jerry for the day! If I hear another word from you two then, prepare yourself for an upcoming field mission in which you two will be partners in a foreign country. You two will have to be a gay couple there, so the choice is yours.

Naushad and Gautam apologize.

DM: Agent Shakti, the mission in Thailand is yours from now on. Agent Alpha and Spider will meet you up at the headquarters. I hope to hear a yes regarding your decision to move back to Delhi. You have been filling in for Agent D whenever he's out since you joined your duty. Now it's time for you to be one of the primary field agents and take the charge.

Agent Shakti: I assure you sir that I will think through before coming to a conclusion.

DM: Good luck! I'll see you at the victory party for the mission.

Agent Shakti: Most definitely sir!

DM: Agent Panther will fill you in with details.

She simply nods her head. The defense minister exits the room.

Naushad: Ms. Khan, I will meet you in the office next week.

Inaya nods her head and takes it as her cue to leave. Gautam leaves after a few minutes as well.

Naushad: Agent Shakti, you know that I will tell you what's on my mind, right?

Agent Shakti: Yes sir.

Naushad: We were tipped about the human trade that is going on back in February of this year. RAW and IB had to do this mission together in a sense, but both the branches worked independently and had different approaches to the situations. RAW had sent Agent D to Thailand where the hub is. IB had sent Inaya Khan. The Thailand law enforcement had developed suspicion on Inaya, but... those two became involved in a serious personal relationship. Inaya from what I understand was using Agent D as a tool to get information, so she can be promoted to RAW. She knew about him before she left for Thailand, but he found out about her through me. He found out her true identity two weeks before his arrest. They both were given a choice. Agent D chose to save her and she chose to save herself. Agent D is arrested.

Agent Shakti: When did Agent D last contact RAW or anyone in his family?

Naushad: A day before his arrest on the twenty-eighth of August. He was planning to confront Inaya about the truth.

Agent Shakti: And?

Naushad: He was not able to confront her till a few moments before their arrest. I fear that he will be executed under spying charges. I want you to finish him for good and make sure the Thai government doesn't get a hold of him ever after you finish him.

Agent Shakti: Yes sir.

Naushad: But before you leave for Thailand, you have to end the supply chain that is in India. I want you to make sure that those links will never join again to form a chain. Don't bother thinking about what Gautam said. You have the full freedom to make sure this mission is successful and prove to the world that an Indian cannot be touched anywhere in the world!

Agent Shakti: Yes, Agent Panther!

Naushad: I'll see you soon at the office!

She hums in response. Naushad departs from the room. Agent Shakti quickly wears her burka before going her own way.

**********

Naushad Khan as Naushad Khan

Manoj Pahwa as Gautam Bhatia