The Master Stroke ***

Ghosal’s mind was in turmoil. He was not prepared for this. He had been indoctrinated for far too long. It was supposed to have been a lifelong struggle. The cause was paramount. Death or victory. Those were the only options. So how could Jain do this now? It was like abandoning ship. In mid-ocean.

Ghosal looked at the others. He could see listless faces. It was obvious that the others were equally aghast. They all sat like zombies. Ghosal’s gaze shifted to the back of the large warehouse. The plastic explosives were stacked high. The complicated electronic gadgetry was strewn all over the benches. He thought back at all the efforts that had gone into the project. All the preparations. All the training. And now, Jain had just dismissed everything. He had effectively surrendered.

Jain looked at them pitifully. The relentless courage, idealism, unquestioning loyalty, which he had at one time seen in these men and women was gone. They sat there devastated. Broken and aimless. But he had had no choice. The announcement by the Government was a master stroke. It was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back.

The Government of India had enacted a new Visa rule. It required a 2-month cooling off period between visits. It was aimed at thwarting terrorists. And it had worked. Jain had realised the futility of his group's struggle. He had announced their disbandment.