second sight

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"Yes, Kumar," Sindhu took a sip of his drink and spoke in a distinct tone, "Now speak, what do you want to say?"

Before replying, Kumar took a sip of his drink and looked in Yadav's direction.

Yadav also took a sip and gestured eagerly for him to continue.

"The matter is a bit complicated," Kumar placed his drink down, lit a cigarette, and said, "And the solution to this complication lies with both of you."

"What kind of complication?" Sindhu asked. "And what solution?"

"Actually, in recent months, there has been a sudden surge in the inflow of certain types of stimulants in Delhi, which has become a major headache for our police force. These specific recreational drugs cater to a particular class of addicts in Delhi, leading to an upgraded impact on the crime graph there."

"So, it's a drug issue."

"'Drugs' is an outdated term, no longer in fashion," Kumar said. "Nowadays, such substances are known by different names, like R.I. (Rave Intoxicants), Rush, or Poppers—new and distinct names."

"Whatever the name, it's still about addiction and drugs, isn't it?"

"Yes, that's true."

"I get that part, but I still don't understand the role of the U.P. and Haryana police in this."

"Before coming to that, I want to elaborate on something else."

"Go ahead."

"To understand the drug trade spreading in Delhi, we need to understand its acquisition source and supply chain, which now starts from Pakistan and enters Delhi through an alternate route."

"How?"

"The whole supply line starts from Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, where poppers are smuggled into our country through unmanned border areas."

"Earlier, this route used to be Punjab."

"Yes, Punjab was an established route, but after the recent elections, the new government there plugged all those drug supply lines. As a result, an alternate route through Rajasthan was developed."

"So, the dirty game of smuggling drugs into the country has resumed."

"Unfortunately, yes."

"So, what are our law enforcement and intelligence agencies doing about this?"

"The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is doing its job, but this meeting isn't about reviewing their efforts. Instead, it's about cutting off the last link of this drug supply chain, which has now been traced to Jaisalmer."

"Hmm…"

"Once the drugs are pushed in from Jaisalmer, how are the consignments handled further?"

"My sources aren't entirely clear on this, but according to the available information, once the consignment enters India, a local handler takes over. That handler then breaks the stock into smaller portions and transports them via various routes to Alwar."

"Why different routes?"

"So that if, by any chance, a portion of the consignment gets caught during its highly unsafe transportation—although that is highly unlikely—the major quantity still reaches its intended destination safely."

"The intended destination being Alwar?"

"Yes."

"But why Alwar?"

"Because Alwar is the key point in Rajasthan where the drug consignment is handed over to another courier, who then moves it further via Gurgaon to Delhi, reaching its consumers."

"So, this poppers trail starts from Jaisalmer, moves through Alwar, then Gurgaon, and finally reaches Delhi's clubs?"

"Not just Delhi, but all across the NCR—illegal hookah bars, rave parties, and other hotspots where buyers pay an exorbitant price for these substances."

"All across NCR?"

"Yes, including Noida, which technically falls under Uttar Pradesh but is an integral part of this network."

"So, this new supply line is the lifeline of illegal drugs in Gurgaon (Haryana), Noida (U.P.), and the entire Delhi region."

"Yes," Kumar nodded in agreement.

"And that is the very reason why the heads of these three states are gathered here in this informal meeting."

"Exactly," Kumar responded, picking up a pakora from the table. "That's the purpose of our meeting."

"Now it makes sense," Sindhu placed his empty glass back on the table and asked, "But who are the people operating this final link of the supply chain in Delhi and across the NCR?"

"There's an interesting detail about that."

"What is it?"

"A few years ago, a quartet had completely taken over this trade in Delhi. They were not only handling the entire operation with sophistication but were also so well-organized that their internal links never crossed each other."

"The notorious quartet!"

"Yes, but then something happened to them. Their entire cartel collapsed suddenly, as if it was wiped out in a single blow."

"How did that happen?"

"We don't have much information on that, but from what we do know, it seems like some kind of divine justice or a well-orchestrated move by an unknown force completely annihilated their empire."

"Without reason?"

"Nothing happens without reason," Kumar said. "There must have been one—there always is—but I never got to know what it was."

"Besides, at that time, Delhi had a different police commissioner."

"Yes," Kumar agreed. "Back then, a strict silence was maintained around the entire episode, and only the top bosses knew the real reason behind their downfall."

"But whatever the reason was, the result was that the established cartel controlling Delhi's drug supply was uprooted, leaving behind a vacuum."

"And several new players emerged to fill that vacuum."

"The gap was bound to be filled sooner or later," Kumar said. "In the lucrative drug trade, someone was always going to step up."

"And who are these new players?"

"There are many, but the one name that stands out is Jagat Gosai."

"Who is he?"

"The new kingpin of Delhi's drug trade."

"What kind of man is Gosai?"

"An artist, a mastermind, and a skilled businessman," Kumar explained. "A man who would set up shop even in the middle of an ocean if the profits were good enough."

"Like he did in Delhi."

"But not a grocery store—a drug empire."

"Exactly."

"Didn't Delhi Police try to hinder his meteoric rise?"

"Of course, they did! They tried everything, but nothing worked," Kumar said.

"One doesn't become a crime lord without spilling some blood," Yadav commented.

"Absolutely. Those who aim for the top don't use ordinary wooden ladders," Kumar explained. "Jagat Gosai, with the help of his trusted aide, Khurram, eliminated several people to establish himself as the new drug kingpin."