Ch 18: The Undercover Operation

Written by Kavya and Concept by Sidhant First go to previous blogs if you have not already....

Having bade farewell to her friend-Shree, Cloe made her way to the Raj Palace, where a crucial radio meeting awaited with Mr. Put. The message this time was stark and to the point—"Young lady, Follow up on Absko." It was rare, indeed, that the instructions came so clearly defined, with verbs included. In all the chaos of solving mysteries and growing closer to Shree, Cloe had utterly forgotten to return Absko’s call. She should have at least thanked him for his part in the affair. Moreover, she wondered how news of a catastrophe in India had reached him all the way in Kenya. Frowning, she immediately attempted to contact him, dialing his number, sending a text, trying an email, even reaching out on WhatsApp. But nothing—everything bounced back as though his networks had been deliberately jammed.

It occurred to her that Mr. Put wouldn’t have sent such a message merely to express gratitude. No, there was something far more important, something tied directly to the case. And what she received next confirmed her suspicions: a ticket to Kenya, accompanied by a passport bearing a new identity. It was unsettling—she had once donned the disguise of a man years ago for a case, but why now? Why couldn’t she go herself? Why had she been instructed to become Ruksana, a dark-skinned woman, for the task?

The concept of going “undercover” was familiar to Cloe, though its complexity always fascinated her. It was about evading detection, concealing one’s true identity, and gaining the trust of those whose secrets were being sought. To do so, one had to assume a false persona to penetrate organizations, win confidence, and uncover confidential information. But why Ruksana, and why now? The mystery deepened with each passing moment.

Soon after, another package arrived. Inside, two black robes, makeup materials for darkening her skin, photographs of Ruksana, and a set of coordinates. Cloe wasted no time, applying the makeup to alter her appearance. Her flight was due to depart in an hour, and she needed to make the best of her limited time. The long overnight journey would give her the opportunity to learn some basic Urdu, as instructed. By the time she arrived at the airport, she was confident in her disguise as Ruksana. It wasn’t difficult—her hair remained the same, blonde, but concealed beneath the flowing burqa. With only her face exposed, a dark foundation gave her a passable appearance.

Fourteen hours later, she found herself in Nairobi, Kenya. The coordinates pointed to a flat booked in the name of Mrs. Zawadi, Absko’s mother. But what was she to say when she arrived? The uncertainty unsettled her. She had expected Absko to be the one to offer answers, but it seemed that wasn’t to be. She decided to reveal her true identity to him—if she could find him.

Taking a taxi to the address, she was greeted by Mrs. Zawadi, who recognized her as Ruksana, Absko's childhood friend. Mrs. Zawadi seemed entirely at ease, welcoming her in. As it turned out, Absko had left for work the day before, but he hadn’t returned. Instead, a man from his office had delivered a letter, stating that Absko had been selected for a special assignment in Mombasa.

“What did the letter say?” Cloe inquired.

“It was brief,” Mrs. Zawadi replied. She went to fetch the letter, returning with it shortly. It read:
“Mother, this assignment came at the last moment. It’s a great opportunity for me. Sorry to inform you like this. Please pack essentials for a few days. Love you.”

Cloe absorbed the words, then glanced up at Mrs. Zawadi. She was offering an odd warmth for someone who hadn’t seen Ruksana in years.

“Well, how are you, Ruksana?” Mrs. Zawadi asked with a twinkle in her eye. “Such a lovely lady you’ve become. How is your mother? Why do you act so formal, dear? You always had so many questions. It’s been a while since I last saw you, but Absko is busy. Last week, he went to Finland for work. His father would be so proud of him now.” Mrs. Zawadi gestured for her to come inside. “Let’s talk. Sometimes you children forget the importance of visiting the old folks.”

Cloe was stunned. Ruksana was Absko’s childhood friend, a fact she had not known. Fearing she might blow her cover by revealing too much, Cloe excused herself and promised to return later that evening.