{"id":360,"date":"2026-03-18T04:34:43","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T04:34:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vibhashah.com\/?page_id=360"},"modified":"2026-03-18T04:34:43","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T04:34:43","slug":"chapter-20-reunion","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/vibhashah.com\/?page_id=360","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 20 : Reunion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to lose both my sons tonight!\u201d<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  \u201cRebecca! Rebecca!\u201d Phil gasped, dropping to his knees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  \u201cOh, my God!\u201d Roddy exclaimed in shock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  \u201cBe careful, man, the body may be a booby-trapped!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Phil did not care and removed the covering from his precious friend\u2019s face, which was battered and bloody and hardly recognizable; yet, he was in no doubt of the woman\u2019s identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   Weeping and calling out her name, Phil pulled the dirty blanket off Rebecca and saw that her body had fared no better than her face. They had beaten her badly, and blood was seeping out of multiple wounds; he couldn\u2019t tell if they were caused by a knife or bullets, or by being beaten; all he knew was that her blood and maybe life was draining away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   \u201cNo! I don\u2019t believe this is happening; I haven\u2019t come all this way to lose you!\u201d Phil screamed and bawled, crazed by grief. \u201cRebecca! Rebecca!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   The men stood around as Phil cradled the limp body of his friend. Her blood rubbed against him and his clothes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   \u201cPut her down, Phil,\u201d Yousef shouted, but the man would not let her go. It took Ismail, Roddy and Shahzad to calm him somewhat and pull him away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   \u201cWhy didn\u2019t I come sooner?\u201d he wailed. \u201cLook what those bastards have done to you! Rebecca! I\u2019m so sorry! Rebecca!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   \u201cI think I feel a pulse! Get help at once; Shahzad speak to your father only!\u201d Yousef ordered as he began to try to revive the woman who was hovering between life and death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   He lifted her neck and tilted her head back. Pinching her nostrils, he began exhaling into the victim\u2019s mouth. There was no response, yet he kept on trying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  \u201cWe\u2019ve found Rebecca; the others have gone! No, I don\u2019t know if she\u2019s dead or alive!\u201d Shahzad told his father. \u201cYousef says he can feel a faint pulse, but he\u2019s not sure. Send help at once, Abba<\/em>; she has lost so much blood; she\u2019s badly beaten, stabbed, and shot as well! Please hurry!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

   The moan was soft but audible, and Shahzad shouted, \u201cShe\u2019s still alive! She needs immediate help! Please hurry, Abba<\/em>!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  \u201cRebecca! Wake up, honey!\u201d Phil begged. \u201cYou\u2019re safe now; we\u2019ve come to take you home!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  \u201cWe need to keep her steady. She needs a hospital soon!\u201d Roddy insisted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   Within minutes there was a doctor on the phone, asking about Rebecca\u2019s condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   Yousef gently pushed her hair away from her face, looking for the source of the blood. Eventually, he traced it to her side of her head. She had at least three wounds where they had beaten her with a blunt instrument; a large amount of blood was starting to clot. He spoke to the doctor, detailing the injuries as he examined the woman. He lifted the long dress that covered her while his flashlight played over her body. Her clothing was intact, and he sighed in relief at the realization that there was no sexual abuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  \u201cThere are bullet holes where she has been shot, twice in the torso and once in each of her legs. Her legs seem to be crooked and bent in an awkward position; they look broken,\u201d Yousef reported. \u201cThey have stabbed her, and the broken blade of a knife is still visible in her stomach. The skin on both her feet is torn and bloody; every part of her body seems to be injured.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   \u201cShe should lie down; don\u2019t try to shift her, and do not try to remove any foreign objects embedded in the wounds,\u201d the doctor advised. \u201cApply direct pressure to try and control the bleeding and keep her warm. We\u2019ll be with you soon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   \u201cYou\u2019re safe now, Rebecca. Stay with us!\u201d Yousef covered her with a shawl and showed Roddy and Shahzad how to stem the bleeding. There was no response from the woman, and Phil felt like he was sinking with grief. Yousef raised her eyelids and shone the flashlight into them before shaking his head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  \u201cHer pupils seem dilated; they gave her drugs,\u201d Yousef reported. \u201cProbably to keep her quiet while they brought her here.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

   \u201cThey left her to die; with her injuries and blood loss, there\u2019s no way she can come out of this alive,\u201d Yousef whispered to Roddy. \u201cThis was a message. No one will escape from them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  \u201cHow long is it going to take for help to get here?\u201d Phil moaned. \u201cWhy don\u2019t we take her down the mountain so that we can meet the medical party sooner?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  \u201cThe doctor said we must not move her, Phil,\u201d Shahzad reiterated. \u201cHe also said they would be here soon; they have this location; my father will do everything to see help arrives as soon as possible!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

   Seeing Rebecca lying there so helplessly, strange emotions filled his being. He had missed her company when he was in Nancowry, but when she went missing, something had happened, and his heart told him that things would never be the same again. Phil had loved her for years, ever since they were children. He loved her still, but now it was different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  \u201cAre you still getting a pulse?\u201d Phil blubbered in a daze. Seeing Rebecca in this state was very unnerving for all the men but understandably, for Phil, in particular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  \u201cI\u2019m not sure; if it\u2019s there, it\u2019s too faint for me to detect; I\u2019m sorry Phil,\u201d Yousef felt he should prepare him for the worst as if this wasn\u2019t bad enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   \u201cIt\u2019s all so brutal and senseless,\u201d Phil shouted. \u201cWhat did these people hope to gain by inflicting such violence on a defenseless woman?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   \u201cKeep it down, Phil!\u201d Roddy said firmly. With Phil fluctuating between shock and grief and rage, he was an added liability. \u201cThe terrorists left very recently; in the time it took them to return from Khar to their mountain hideout, they left. They\u2019re probably still nearby and could return if they hear voices.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   Barely 20  minutes had passed when they heard a helicopter near their position. Yousef drew a circle on the sand in the clearing that was once the terrorist compound. Shining their torches, they guided the army chopper down. The medics rushed to Rebecca and lifted her onto a stretcher while they checked her injuries and vital signs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  \u201cIs Rebecca alive?\u201d Phil asked, repeatedly getting in the way of the medical team who worked frantically to find any sign of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

           She was hooked up to a blood transfusion and intravenous injection. They stopped the bleeding from major wounds and then transferred her to the helicopter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \u201cYou go with her, Phil,\u201d Yousef demanded. \u201cShe needs someone to stay with her; don\u2019t let her out of your eyesight and stay in touch with Clooney only; don\u2019t speak to anyone else!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

           In the blink of an eye, Phil was inside the chopper, holding Rebecca\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \u201cTake care of your friend, Phil,\u201d Yousef insisted. \u201cWould you like to go too, Roddy? Ismail?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \u201cNo, I\u2019m staying with you guys; we still have a missing person, and until we find the boy, we have work to do!\u201d Roddy replied, and Yousef put his arm around the man\u2019s shoulders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

           \u201cMe too!\u201d said Ismail. \u201cThe mission isn\u2019t completed until we go home with Ahmad!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

           \u201cThanks, guys,\u201d Shahzad sighed, his voice filled with emotion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

           \u201cGood! There\u2019s safety in numbers! Phil was of no use to us here, and Rebecca needs him whatever the outcome; he\u2019ll know what to do,\u201d Ismail replied as they waved the helicopter away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \u201cLet\u2019s update Husain Sahib<\/em>,\u201d Ismail suggested. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \u201cI\u2019m going to track the terrorists,\u201d Shahzad insisted when his father gave the all-clear to return to base. \u201cThey have my brother!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \u201cWe\u2019re tracking them too, my son,\u201d the chieftain said. \u201c50 armed Lashkar are on their way; we\u2019re going to catch them before the sun rises; you can be sure of that!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cI\u2019ll help track them down,\u201d Yousef offered. \u201cThey couldn\u2019t be more than five hours away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

   \u201cI must do this, Abba<\/em>,\u201d Shahzad pleaded with his father. \u201cI must find my brother before they do to him what they did to Rebecca!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   \u201cWe\u2019ll help you take care of it, Shahzad,\u201d Yousef spoke for the others who all nodded their agreement. \u201cWe found Rebecca; we\u2019ll find your brother.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   Shahzad nodded as his father said, \u201cGo ahead then but be very cautious; locate them if you can but wait for the Lashkar before you engage. Remember, when cornered, wild animals are most dangerous and will use any means to escape. A few more deaths will make no difference to them, but I don\u2019t want to lose any of my sons tonight!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cWe should seize this opportunity to find Ahmad,\u201d Ismail suggested. \u201cThe soldiers are on their way, but we\u2019re ahead of them. If we spot the camp, we\u2019ll meet them and move in.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    They left behind any cumbersome baggage, just taking the satellite phone, maps, torches, night vision goggles, and their weapons and ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

   \u201cI must find their footsteps,\u201d Ismail pledged. \u201cThey didn\u2019t depart by the path we came up, or we would have bumped into them. Let\u2019s check all possible exits and see if we can find the route they took.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Before long, the men discovered what they were looking for and checked on their map for possible routes. This pathway through the steep ravine behind the camp was well hidden and merged with the closest road; they probably had a truck or two waiting to take them to their next location. They passed on their information to the chief to help the Lashkar pinpoint their position through their satellite phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   Even with their night vision goggles, it was not easy going down the steep mountain trail, but they were spurred on by traces of the retreating terrorists. While they were careful where they put their feet, their minds moved in all directions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

   They made slow progress for almost an hour. Ismail led the way like a hound dog following a scent. Intent on the trail, the men were taken by surprise when suddenly, a turbaned man with a rifle stepped out in front of them. Training instinctively kicked in, and Ismail aimed at the man who did not have the benefit of the night vision goggles to see clearly. The shot took him out instantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   Yousef was beside Ismail in an instant, and as they looked back for possible retreat, they saw another person behind them. This one was without a turban but seemed as sinister as his downed companion. Then another man crept out from behind a rock, and the two stood menacingly, daggers and rifles ready for use. There was only one thing to do in that narrow space; they raised their guns and opened fire. If they were to die, they might as well go down fighting the good fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   A bullet grazed Ismail\u2019s cheek while Yousef took a shot in his shoulder. One man behind was shot dead while the other one turned and ran, shouting for backup. Yousef aimed and gunned him down before he could alert the others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   \u201cSo, there are others!\u201d Yousef confirmed. \u201cLet\u2019s go get them!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   Roddy and Shahzad were lagging; when they heard the commotion, they ran down and were stunned to see what had taken place. Three of the insurgent group were lying dead in the dust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  \u201cLet\u2019s go!\u201d Yousef shouted, and the four men sprinted as fast as their legs could carry them. Flying bullets made the men dive for cover behind the rocks. As Ismail peered around a corner, he saw three men running away. Were they being lured into a trap? Yousef didn\u2019t wait to weigh the situation and dashed after the assailants hoping to stop them before they could prepare another ambush. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

   One of the guys among the three retreating terrorists was a fast runner, but he tripped and fell, sliding down the steep passage and landing just in front of the men who were after him. Ismail jumped on the guy\u2019s back; he punched him while Shahzad grabbed the man\u2019s rifle and kicked him in the head.   The man twisted and squirmed under Ismail, and Shahzad saw a dagger in his hand. He hit the guy on the jaw with the butt of his rifle and knocked him out cold. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

   As they stood and looked down at the unconscious man, several shots rang out. Ismail managed to get to a vantage point and saw there was a small boy with the other two men who had run away. The turbaned man held the boy\u2019s arm and seemed angry, judging from his gestures. He spotted Ismail and fired a few shots to keep him at bay while they fled, dragging the boy with them. Ismail considered giving chase but then thought it might be a trap and ran back to Yousef and Shahzad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   They were okay despite their wounds, which seemed superficial. Ismail looked around for Roddy, who was nowhere in sight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   \u201cWhere\u2019s Roddy?\u201d Ismail asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   \u201cShit! I thought he was with you!\u201d Yousef yelled as they made ready to look for their missing companion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   Just then, Roddy came racing back, followed by a volley of bullets that ricocheted off the rocks, sending pieces of stone flying in all directions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   \u201cThat kid just came out of nowhere! I think it was Ahmad! He pushed the guy who was about to shoot me. Don\u2019t let him get away!\u201d Roddy ordered, panting as the color drained from his face. He had a bullet in his thigh and grimaced in pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   \u201cWe\u2019ll go after them, but first we need to sort you out, Roddy,\u201d Yousef emphasized as he checked the injured man.    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

   \u201cI must find my brother!\u201d Shahzad cried emotionally, ready to dash out and run after the men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   \u201cWait a minute while I deal with this chap; then we can go together,\u201d Ismail said as he tore strips from the man\u2019s turban and trussed up his hands and feet behind his back so he couldn\u2019t move. A tight gag made sure he couldn\u2019t shout out for help. They shoved him into a tight crevasse and moved on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   \u201cIf you\u2019re in too much pain, you can hide here, Roddy,\u201d Yousef suggested. \u201cYou can guard this guy till we get back!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   \u201cNo way, man!\u201d Roddy stumbled along. \u201cI\u2019m with you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   There was no sign now of the men and the boy who ran away. Ismail used the satellite phone to call Chief Naseer and fill him in on the latest developments. He informed the village leader that they had one man in custody, a possible sighting of Ahmad, and now had two injured members of the team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   \u201cShahzad?\u201d the father in him asked, and Ismail could hear the anxiety in his question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   \u201cShahzad is fine. Roddy and Yousef have sustained bullet wounds, but they\u2019re still on their feet. We\u2019re in a tight spot; when can we expect the backup to arrive?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   \u201cWe\u2019ve pinpointed your location, and the soldiers are still two hours away,\u201d said Husain Sahib. <\/em>\u201cThe Lashkar has now been joined by 20 regular army men, many of whom are being parachuted into the area as we speak. The terrorists don\u2019t stand a chance in hell of escaping this time. Better you try to hide until then, and don\u2019t create a situation that forces the terrorists to kill Ahmad if it\u2019s him.\u201d  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cI don\u2019t want to lose both my sons tonight!\u201d   \u201cRebecca! Rebecca!\u201d Phil gasped, dropping to his knees.   \u201cOh, my God!\u201d Roddy exclaimed in shock.   \u201cBe careful, man, the body may be a booby-trapped!\u201d   Phil did not care and removed the covering from his precious friend\u2019s face, which was battered and bloody … Continue reading Chapter 20 : Reunion<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-360","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vibhashah.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/360","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vibhashah.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vibhashah.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vibhashah.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vibhashah.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=360"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/vibhashah.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/360\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":361,"href":"https:\/\/vibhashah.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/360\/revisions\/361"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vibhashah.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=360"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}