The final shot

Shridhar nursed his beer. “Dey, Gowri, how about launching a project. Something for Mother India? You know, after all, we have done well here; we really should try to show some gratitude.”
Anand sat up, “Dey you know, I was having that very thought myself.”
“What do you have in mind?” Anil sounded mildly interested.
“I know. We'll get India her first Olympic gold,” Prem was excited.
“Dey, you're drunk. Even God can't help India in that,” Mike joked.
“Listen, I'm serious. We'll hire people. Real pros - to find the right sport and the right person. And we'll do whatever it takes to get that gold,” Prem had it all worked out.
“Let’s do it,” Shridhar raised his mug.

*

McIntyre had the plan. The group of ex IIT Desi Americans listened. It was clear that McIntyre was the right choice. If anyone could do it, McIntyre could. It was going to cost a bundle, but the group did not mind.

*

The search had yielded several possibilities. But the choice was clear. Archery. And the person - Munna, an Adivasi teenager from Bihar, who had never in her life left her village on the fringes of the jungle. She was a natural. But she needed technique. She needed polishing. And discipline. And Shankar Rao was the man to take care of all these. McIntyre was convinced that three years down the road, Munna would bag India's first Olympic gold, coached by Shankar Rao.

*

Munna was puzzled. The naïve girl wondered why these strangers were making such a fuss about her shooting arrows. Her father, Gollu, was shrewd. He knew that something big was coming. For Munna. Also, he could see the end to his family's life of poverty.

*

Munna’s exposure to the world was a wondrous experience. But she faced one serious problem. Shankar Rao. Munna hated and feared Shankar Rao. Something was not right with him. The way he looked at her. The way he touched her. And the other day, she caught him peeping when she was changing.

Munna told her father. But Gollu brushed it aside. “He is old enough to be your grandfather,” Gollu didn't want to lose it all.

*

London. Munna practiced day and night. She had to make it. For her country. For Shridhar sar, and his friends. They had made her what she was, from a nobody to a world renowned celebrity.

*

Munna awoke with a start. No. It couldn’t be. But it was. Shankar Rao was in her room. Pinning her down, and gagging her with the towel.

*

It was the climax event. Munna aimed. She prayed to Shri Ram, her personal God. And released the arrow. Bulls-eye. The cheers in the huge stadium were deafening. '”Jai Hind,” she raised her fists.

*

The strains of Jana Gana Mana echoed across the stadium. She could imagine the hundreds of millions of her fellow Indians, cheering and rejoicing , eyes glued to their TV sets. Munna stooped to take the gold medal. Her bow hung on her shoulder. As she turned, she could make out her father in the stands. Nearby were Shridhar sar, Anand sar, Prem sar and the rest of them. She waved to them happily. Then she saw Shankar Rao. He was walking towards her, smiling widely. Munna raised the bow. Shankar Rao's expression changed. There was momentary pin-drop silence. He stopped. Munna released the arrow. In a split second, it pierced Shankar Rao’s heart. Munna lowered her bow, as the screams of horror reverberated around the stadium.