12 years old Ayush looked dashing in the camouflaged uniform. His mother, Urvashi, pulled him towards her. “May no evil eye fall on you ever. Here, that should protect you from the evil gaze.” With that, she put a spot of kajal just behind his left ear. Rolling his eyes, Ayush exclaimed, “What is this Maa? Do you really think this a small black spot will protect someone? Superstitions!”. Urvashi slapped his arm lightly and with mock anger admonished him, “Chup. I am older than you and children are supposed to listen to their parents. Now let’s rush to the school drama otherwise you will lose your soldier role.”

The boat eased up on the shore and 6 shadows merged into the darkness shrouding the koliwada. But the koliwada was not the location for their sinister plans. Killing poor citizens do not make global news. Their propaganda machinery required a blockbuster breaking news. Unknown to them, an anonymous call from the koliwada had gone to the authorities.

As they entered through the open door of the green room, a call welcomed them, “Ah, here comes my brave son. Welcome my dashing soldier.” It’s was Supriya, his classmate who was going to play his mother in the play. “Children, be serious. Let’s start our preparations. Chill out”, exclaimed Braganza Ma’am, their English teacher, who was multitasking as their drama director.

A shadow with heavy backpack, moved through the darkness, towards the auditorium.

On the stage, Supriya was gazing at his photograph longingly. She was depicting a sick mother anticipating the return of her soldier son. Ayush was waiting in the right wing, mesmerized by the dramatics of his classmate when he espied some movement in the opposite wing.

A shadow gave a frenzied cry, a machine gun materialized from his backpack. His first burst, and Supriya lay in a pool of blood. He emerged on the stage, waved his arms in the air, gave another cry, and lowered his gun again, this time towards the crowd. Suddenly, screams and cries echoed eerily through the auditorium as parents, teachers and students realized what was happening. Ayush froze where he stood. In the melee, he saw his fright-stricken mother, trying to rush towards the door. Unfortunately everyone had the same idea.

Something, maybe it was the uniform he was wearing or his survival instincts kicked in, but Ayush rushed towards the gunman and body slammed him in the ribs. Both of them crashed to the floor. The gunman aimed his gun towards Ayush…when the rapid action commandos rushed in. The last thing Ayush saw, the gunman had hit a button on his vest and an explosion reverberated through the auditorium.

When a recuperating Ayush was asked in the hospital, what made him do it, he replied, “I had to save my mother, my teachers…I was always inspired by the heroics of Tukaram Ombale.” A proud mother looked on with tears in her eyes.