The Agent: Amir’s Secret Mission to China

The Dual Life of Amir

Amir is a regular guy who is kind, honest, and caring about people and the neighborhood he lives in. He runs a grocery shop with his younger brother, Rohan. At twenty-five years old, Amir is a typical New Delhi resident, trying to eke out a living as a small-time business owner. He regularly engages in banter with ten-year-old Rohan, who is lazy and bossy despite his young age.

What many people don’t know is that Amir is a secret agent for the Intelligence Bureau (IB). He occasionally has a stint with the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) because he is so skilled that they utilize him whenever either agency is in dire need. He is also a lethal operative when the government needs to assassinate any threat to the country and its citizens.

The Unexpected Visitor

Our story starts one particular morning when Amir and Rohan were in the store trying to make sales. A customer arrived to purchase something.

"ROHAN!" "What is it?" "Attend to the customer." "I'm busy." "Get on with it now, lazy kid." "I said I'm busy!"

Amir sighed and shook his head, wondering how a ten-year-old could be so annoying. He blamed their mother for the way she gave him too much freedom.

The customer was Zahara, the daughter of the Prime Minister of India. She liked to stay informed about the daily affairs of the country and its secret agents. She is very close to her father and has vowed to marry one of the best agents as a form of patriotism. She argued that if they could give their lives for the country, she could certainly do the same for them. She had already told her father a firm "No" to any arranged marriages for political gain.

One day, she came across Amir’s file and became fascinated by his exploits, which led her to visit his store that fateful morning.

"Good morning, ma'am, what can I get you?" "Sorry, I just want to have a chat with you." "What is it about?"

Rohan’s Interference

At that moment, there was laughter. Amir turned to see Rohan watching him from behind. "Rohan!" "What?" "What are you doing here?" "Where am I supposed to be?" "Aren't you busy?" "I'm busy, as you can see, watching you and your girlfriend." "What girlfriend?" "Oh, don't stop on my account. Go on and chat her up," Rohan said, winking at Zahara. "Please ignore him," Amir pleaded. "He’s just lazy and useless." "Never mind, I will talk to you another time. Bye for now," Zahara said, and she left.

Amir turned toward where Rohan was standing, but the boy had already vanished. Amir couldn't shake the frustration, wondering what a pretty girl like that wanted to talk to him about. He fumed, "ROHAN!"

A Clash of Sisters

Zahara went back to the car where her younger sister, Aditi, was waiting with the driver. She wondered at her own boldness; she guessed it was because she had read everything about him and felt like she already knew him.

"Sister, how did it go?" "Not what I was expecting." "You mean he turned you down?" "No." "So what happened?" "His younger brother spoiled everything." "You mean a kid spoiled your show?" "Yeah," Zahara said distractedly. "So, what are you going to do about it?" "Let us go back home. I will think of something later."

Aditi smiled inwardly. She had been against this madness since her elder sister told her about the "buffoon agent," but all her complaints had hit a brick wall. Aditi might only be eleven, but her father often confided in her about the government. She knew his enemies, his friends, and the sacrifices made by agents.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the driver slamming the brakes. "What is the matter with you, Khan? Do you want to break my neck?"

Before Khan could explain, Zahara pointed. "That is the little shit who spoiled my day." "Who?" "That agent's younger brother."

The Street-Smart Rohan

Aditi watched as a kid across the road whistled and moved as if he owned the street. People hailed him and thumped him on the back. A woman even gave him a sweet; he pocketed some and popped one in his mouth, grinning.

"You mean that street urchin?" Aditi asked. "He is not a street urchin," Zahara corrected. "Wait for me, I'm going to talk to him," Aditi said, getting out of the car. "I know how to handle a kid like this one."

Aditi approached Rohan. She decided that being friendly was the best strategy. When she was a few steps away, she coughed to get his attention. He turned around, studying her with a distracted look.

"If you are lost and hungry, you can go to the police station over there," Rohan said, pointing. "Do I look like a lost and hungry person to you?" "Sure," he said, still looking at a nearby building. "I'm not. My name is Aditi. Are you not going to tell me your name?" "What for?" "So we can act as civilized people. What do you want, kid?" "Who are you calling a kid?" Aditi snapped. "Isn't it obvious? Is there anyone else here?" "How dare you!" "Yes, I dare. What are you going to do about it?"

Rohan went back to staring at the building. "Now run off and get on with what they sent you to do." "You are impossible! I never thought I would meet someone so insolent." "Welcome to the twenty-first century, kid."

Aditi fumed. "Anyway, I was asked to call you by my sister. She's in the car over there." "Go and tell your sister to go to hell," Rohan said, turning away.

The Secret Protector

Amir closed the shop at 6:00 PM, happy to have peace without the "little termite" Rohan around. Meanwhile, Rohan was walking home, feeling tired of being an errand boy. He thought about his other brothers, Arjun and Ayaan. They were even tougher than Amir, but at least his mother was home to protect him.

When he reached home, Arjun clipped him on the ear. "Little rat, why are you alone? Where is Amir?" "Ow! That hurt!" Ayaan cuffed him on the back of the head. "Get to the kitchen and help mother." "I'm tired! I've been running the shop!"

The older brothers burst into laughter. "A lazy turd like you running the shop?" Arjun teased. "MOTHER! They are torturing me!" Rohan yelled.

The Matriarch: Amrita Singh

Amrita Singh, a slender, attractive woman in her fifties, raised her head from the parathas she was making. She was a doctor who had raised four sons alone after her husband left.

"My little warrior, how was your busy day?" she asked with a mocking smile. "You know the usual stuff, mum. Working, carrying things. Amir never gives me a break!" She laughed and smudged his nose with flour. "So, where is Amir?"

The Confession

While the family gathered, Zahara, Aditi, and Khan arrived at the house. Zahara entered and met Amrita’s steady gaze.

"What's the matter? Why are you after Amir?" Ayaan asked, suspicious. "Nothing is wrong," Zahara said firmly. "Only a woman knows when she is in love."

Rohan burst out laughing. Arjun cuffed him. "This is serious, you fool!"

Zahara took a deep breath. "My father wants me to marry, but I’ve vowed to marry an agent—someone who risks their life for our country. I've read Amir's file. He is the best this country has to offer, and I want to be part of this family."

Amrita looked at her son, Amir. He was a hardened soldier, capable of taking a life without flinching, yet he was currently shaking like a leaf because a pretty girl had confessed her love.

"Amir," his mother said, taking his calloused hand. "As your mother, I have no objection. This young woman has shown real courage. Go ahead and talk to her. Stop acting like a scared hen."

Turning to Zahara, she added, "My daughter, my blessings are with you. Win my Amir."

"Thank you, Mother," Zahara replied. She took Amir’s hesitant hand. "Please lead me to your room."

Rohan shouted, "Whoa, slow down, Amir! So fast, eh?" Ayaan cuffed him again. "Shut it, rat!"

Sibling Rivalry and a Mock Funeral

"You're embarrassing me!" Rohan whined, glancing at Aditi, who shook her head with a scowl. Arjun snuck up behind him and flicked his ear.

"Ow, that hurt!" Rohan yelped, jumping around and sticking his tongue out at Arjun.

"Boys, leave my son alone and stop bullying him," Amrita scolded her two grown sons.

"The rat deserves a flogging—he's too troublesome," Arjun grumbled, stepping toward Rohan, who darted behind his mother for cover.

"Is this how he is?" Aditi asked no one in particular, eyeing the two elder brothers.

"Who?" Ayaan replied.

"Him," she said, nodding at Rohan.

"Yeah, the kid's a pain," Arjun interjected, shaking his head as he sat down to continue eating. "Come have a bite," he offered, extending food to Aditi.

"Thank you," she said, accepting it. "Your brother's mouth is stronger than his muscles, I bet."

The Outnumbered Rat

"Hey, I'm right here! You're talking about me!" Rohan burst out angrily.

"So what are you going to do about it?" Ayaan teased.

"Mother!"

"Wow, what a kid," Aditi laughed. "You want your mother to save you?"

Rohan's face flushed red with embarrassment as the rest of them burst into laughter.

"Serves the rat right," Arjun chuckled, sitting back down and motioning for Rohan to join him.

"This is like my funeral," Rohan exclaimed, reluctantly taking a seat and bracing for the inevitable attack from all three. But it never came—for at that moment, Amir hurried back out.

The Quick Departure

Rohan couldn’t hold back the chuckles escaping his mouth. He quickly clapped a hand over his lips to muffle them, but he wasn’t fast enough. Arjun turned with a stern glare.

“What’s wrong with you?” Aditi asked.

“That was so fast,” Rohan smirked. “Mother, are you sure our Amir is okay?”

They all shouted, “ROHAN!”

He just shrugged, still chuckling. Amir hurried to his mother. “Mum, I need your phone.”

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Nothing serious—just Khaike Paan Banaras Wala blasting from my beeper.”

She handed it over. He dialed the number tied to the ringtone, the one issued to every agent.

Mission: China

“The sky is blue, the grass is green, and the sun still shines under the rain,” he said into the phone.

A pause. Then a voice: “Listen.”

“Go to China. You’ll be contacted by our agent there. More details when you arrive safely. You know the rules—security can’t be compromised.”

“Yeah,” Amir said and hung up. He turned to face the expectant looks on his family’s faces. “What’s with all the staring?” he asked, sitting down.

“Don’t do your secret shit here,” his mother snapped. “We deserve to know where you’re going.”

“What makes you think I’m going anywhere?”

“Cut the crap,” Ayaan said, flicking Amir’s ear. This drew a chuckle from Rohan—until Arjun flicked him too.

A Vow and a Celebration

“Well,” Amir admitted, “I’m going to China. No details. They just told me to go.”

“What about me?” Zahara asked.

“Eh…” He coughed.

“Wow. What a kid,” Arjun laughed.

“My answer is yes,” Amir said to Zahara. “I will marry you. Mum’s already accepted you.”

“This calls for celebration!” Rohan declared, turning to Aditi. “Hey, sister-in-law!”

“Shut up,” she shot back.