"I spy you!" - 22

It was the first time she was out of country. She had to get a passport and a visa for her travel.

She was given a new name Muktaa.

“What do you say if they ask you what’s your second name?” asked Durjaya.

“Who are they?” asked Vasupradha... no, Mukta.

She wanted to get used to the new name given under the new identity. She made Durjaya call her Vasupradha many a times and did not turn. She made him call her Mukta and she immediately responded.

After the exercise went on for an hour, Durjaya said, “Oh, Mukta, you are not a very familiar figure in our office itself, then how do you think someone will recognize you outside the country? That too in a Middle East country?”

She thought for a moment and accepted that he is right.

Her boss Bhanu had summoned her. When she went to meet with her, Padmanabha was also there.

“Young lady! Let me tell you straight. This is not a usual mission. The person who was to go is still in the previous mission. I chose you because you have been highly recommended by him” Bhanu nodded her head towards Padmanabha.

“He says that you have spark in your eyes and innocence on your face that no one will ever suspect you as a spy” she said as if she was reciting a poem from a primary school book. Vasupradha was wondering what Bhanu would think about her. Bhanu replied her unasked question saying, “I agree with him to a maximum extent” and smiled.

Maximum extent? Does that mean there is still some doubt?

She was still thinking how to go about it when she was being dropped to the airport by Durjaya.

“Miss chatterbox, where is your tongue? Did the cat take it?” Durjaya teased by moving his left hand in front of her face.

“Hello, please keep both the hands on the steering. I want to go in one piece to Middle East.  I may not come back in one piece while coming though!”

“Hey, please don’t talk like that. I know I only told you that this is a dangerous mission and matter of life and death. That doesn’t give you the right to talk like as if it. I want my elder sister back. Ok?” Durjaya said seriously and parked the car in front of the Airport.

She got down and went to the boarding pass queue.

She found that her plane was on time and left after saying bye to Durjaya.

She could feel that Durjaya was not at all happy that she has been chosen to go to the Middle East to stop a deserter who could be turning a traitor.