The screams echoing from the basement of Red Fort had stopped an hour ago. Arjun sat in his temporary office, reviewing military deployment plans while the sounds of Khan's interrogation had provided a grim soundtrack to his strategic planning. The silence now was almost more unsettling than the screams had been.
A knock interrupted his concentration. "Enter" he called, not looking up from the detailed maps of the Northwest Frontier spread across his desk.
Colonel Ravi Sharma entered, his uniform bearing fresh bloodstains that he hadn't bothered to clean. Behind him, two guards dragged in what remained of 'Khan' – or whatever his real name was. The man was barely conscious, his face a mass of bruises and cuts, several fingers bent at unnatural angles.
"Prime Minister," Sharma said with professional detachment, "the subject has been cooperative. We have manage to obtain wide-ranging intelligence about Pakistani operations."
Arjun finally looked up, his expression showing neither satisfaction nor revulsion at 'Khan's' condition – merely clinical interest. "Excellent. What did we learn?"
Sharma consulted his blood-spattered notes. "The invasion plan is more extensive than we initially believed. They have three waves planned: first, the tribal militias starting October 22nd, then regular Pakistani forces disguised as volunteers, and finally, if needed, open military intervention. 'Khan' was to provide real-time intelligence on our defensive positions and sabotage our communication lines during the initial assault."
"And his handler?"
"Colonel Sher Khan, operating from Rawalpindi. They have a network of at least twelve other deep-cover agents placed throughout our military and civil administration." Sharma's voice carried a note of grim respect for the enemy's preparation. "Sir, this is the most sophisticated intelligence operation we've encountered."
Arjun nodded, his memory already logging the information and cross-referencing it with his knowledge of the original timeline. "Locations of the other agents?"
"We have partial information. The subject became unresponsive before complete details could be obtained." Sharma glanced at Khan's motionless form. "He may not survive much longer."
"No matter. We have enough to begin counter-operations." Arjun stood and moved to the large wall map. "Colonel, I want you to arrange for Khan to be moved to a more secure location. Keep him alive if possible – he may still have value as a source of disinformation. But first, I need you to understand something about the nature of our enemy."
He traced the border with Pakistan on the map. "This isn't just about Kashmir, Colonel. Pakistan was created as a dagger pointed at India's heart. Their very existence depends on proving that the two-nation theory was correct – that Hindus and Muslims cannot coexist. Every day that India thrives as a secular, unified nation is a denial of their founding ideology."
"Sir, with respect, shouldn't we focus on the immediate military threat?"
Arjun's smile was cold. "The immediate military threat is exactly what I'm addressing. When Pakistan attacks Kashmir, we're not going to limit ourselves to defensive operations. We're going to use their aggression as justification for a total war that will eliminate the Pakistani threat permanently."
The office door opened again, and Sardar Patel entered, followed by a man Arjun recognized as General K.M. Cariappa, one of the few Indian officers he trusted completely. Cariappa's expression showed he had heard rumors about the interrogation taking place in the building.
"Prime Minister," Patel said, his voice carefully neutral, "General Cariappa has completed his assessment of our military readiness."
"General," Arjun said, studying the man who would, in the original timeline, become India's first Indian Commander-in-Chief, "your frank assessment, please."
Cariappa straightened. "Sir, our forces are adequate for defensive operations in Kashmir, but any extended campaign would strain our resources. We have equipment shortages, limited ammunition reserves, and our logistics network is still transitioning from British to Indian control."
"And if I told you we needed to be prepared for simultaneous operations in Kashmir, East Bengal, and Balochistan?"
The General's eyebrows rose sharply. "Sir, that would be extraordinarily bold. We would need significant reinforcement, improved supply lines, and substantial coordination between different command structures."
"How long to achieve such readiness?"
"Six months, minimum. Perhaps longer if…"
"General," Arjun interrupted, his voice carrying absolute authority, "you have six weeks. I'm authorizing unlimited emergency powers for military procurement and deployment. Requisition whatever you need from wherever you can find it. Conscript civilian transport, commandeer factories for ammunition production, and recruit every willing able-bodied man who can hold a rifle."
The room fell silent. Cariappa looked stunned, while Patel's expression showed growing concern about the scale of what was being planned.
"Prime Minister," Patel said carefully, "such measures would require approval from others as well"
"Others will approve whatever I present to them," Arjun replied with absolute confidence. "Especially after they learn about the extent of Pakistani infiltration and the imminent threat to Kashmir. Sometimes, Sardar sahib, democracy requires leaders who are willing to act decisively while others debate."
He turned back to the map, pointing to specific locations. "General Cariappa, here's what we're going to do. When Pakistan launches their tribal invasion, we're going to let them advance just far enough to commit their forces. Then we strike – not just in Kashmir, but everywhere. While they're focused on their northern adventure, we take Karachi, we liberate East Bengal, and we seize the Balochistan coastline."
"Sir," Cariappa said slowly, "such an operation of this scale would mean... significant casualties. Both military and civilian."
"War always requires sacrifices, General. The question is whether we're willing to pay the price for permanent victory, or whether we'll settle for temporary peace that allows our enemies to regroup and attack us again." Arjun's voice grew harder. "I know what happens when enemy is shown restraint. It invites further aggression. This time, we end the threat permanently."
Colonel Sharma, who had been listening intently, stepped forward. "Prime Minister, what about international reaction? The British, the Americans…"
"They'll do nothing," Arjun said with certainty. "The British are too busy managing their own imperial collapse to interfere effectively. The Americans are focused on Europe and the emerging Cold War. And the Soviets will be happy to see Western influence reduced in the subcontinent."
He moved to his desk and pulled out a thick folder. "Which brings me to our next move. Did Lord Mountbatten agree for the meeting regarding the discussion for India's place in UNSC?"
"Yes, he agreed to meet you in a week or two" Patel said. "But I still doubt that the existing permanent members will never agree, especially if they saw us as an aggressor in this war"
"They will, when we present them with a fait accompli," Arjun replied. "India deserves the permanent member status not just because of our current capabilities, but also because of our contribution in WWI and WWII."
The phone on his desk rang. Arjun picked it up, listened for a moment, then hung up with a grim smile. "Gentlemen, it appears our timeline has been on the point. Maharaja Hari Singh has just reported increased tribal raiders activity in the areas near Muzaffarabad. The invasion has imminent."
General Cariappa straightened. "Sir, our forces would need time to reach Kashmir, and that too if the Maharaja Hari Singh even allow for the presence of Indian troops in Kashmir."
"You don't have to worry about that General, I will convince him for the immediate and unconditional accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India. Right now, you need to start the preparations and when it's time, the soldiers needs to ready to be airlifted to Kashmir," Arjun said, his voice taking on the tone of absolute command. "Let Pakistan commit their forces. Let them believe they're succeeding. And when their forces are fully stretched out, we'll strike, we'll show them what happens when they threaten the territorial integrity of India."
He turned to address the room. "Gentlemen, what begins today will reshape the entire subcontinent. By the time this campaign is over, Pakistan will exist only as a landlocked state, if it exists at all. The two-nation theory will be proven false not through Gandhi's moral arguments, but through the superior application of military force."
As the meeting broke up and the officers hurried to implement their orders, Arjun remained alone with his maps and plans. In his previous life, he had studied the 1947-48 war extensively, analyzing India's strategic mistakes and missed opportunities. The original conflict had dragged on for over a year, ending in a stalemate that left Pakistan in control of significant portions of Kashmir.
This time it would be different though. This time, India would demonstrate the decisive leadership that had been missing in the original timeline. And when the dust settled, majority of the subcontinent would be unified under a single flag – with him as the draftsman of that unification.
The screams from the basement had stopped, but the real violence was just beginning. And unlike the leaders of the original timeline, Arjun had no qualms about doing whatever was necessary to secure India's destiny.
Arjun picked phone and rang the Maharaja Hari Singh.
"Your Highness," he said into the phone, his voice calm and reassuring despite the gravity of the moment, "tell me exactly what you have found."