Chapter 9

"Its usually said as 'tough nut to crack' " Deb commented. "You better be glad she didnt hear that!" Legolas hissed back. "So! What do we do next?" Mrs. Mani asked. "Wow...she's really into this isnt she...using the word WE...like we are actually going to bring her..." Baihakki whispered to Nury. "Oh yes we are!" Nury replied. "What ah? What are u guys discussing back there?!" Mrs. Mani shouted from the kitchen. "Are you nuts? You wanna bring her along?!" Baihakki whispered angrily. "What?! Bring her along? She will spoil everything!" Firdaus replied. Nury sighed and replied, "You guys don't get it do you? She may be the most irritating, big mouth...and sarcarstic person (ahem...are you forgetting...) Shut up Nadera! SARCARSTIC person...it is also her strength! You saw how she handled Mr. Philip! Even we couldnt stand it!" Nury exclaimed. "Urr..do you really think using Mrs. Mani as a distraction will work?" Nisa asked. "Hey! Am i like a nobody already? No respect to teachers! Didn't you hear me shouting from the kitchen!? How can you forget..."LOOK! Urr...Mrs. Manoii...i mean...Mrs. Mani, we wanted to..discuss it..here! Dsicuss it here so Mr. Philip won't overhear what we are talking! That's why we were..waiting for you!" Vikram replied cleverly. "Now..that's a smart boy! What school are you from?' Mrs. Mani asked, putting her hand over his shoulder and leading him to the table. The rest sniggered as they followed them to the table.

"Okay..now for serious business...no more jokes...it's my life here!" Deborah moaned. "Stop whimpering you!" Mrs. Mani snapped. Firdaus glared at Mrs. Mani. "ALRIGHT YOU GUYS! We just..have to get along!" Nury exclaimed. Firdaus closed his eyes a few seconds, opened them and replied, "Ya...okay...Mrs. Mani, to make you understand everything, we have to tell the story from the start. At the beginning of this year...." Firdaus finished the story. "OH MY! This is..the second time?! Oh those evil creeps! He was a bad egg after all!" Mrs. Mani cried out in shock. "Yes...getting there would be a problem. I searched about the desert and there is no ferry to get there. The place is deserted and would have no visitors. That's why it was easy for Ghazali to smuggle them there. Once you are on the boat, you are absolutely save" Legolas added on. "Wouldn't the police be patrolling that place? Like...check if there are any drug dealers..or some secret hideout?" Zahira asked. The girls looked at her in amazement. "Haha...good one. Well..it seems that the desert is so useless that no one has gained property over it." Legolas replied. "Haha...man...and i thought Singapore and Malaysia would be the first to start fighting over it..." "Ish Nadera...now's no time for politics..." Vikram groaned. "Okay okay...now, we only have 4 more days. Tomorrow is the start of the weekends. Then it's school again. So we have no choice but to carry our plans out tomorrow..." "What! Oh man...can't you all take leave..buy MC or something?!" Firdaus groaned.
"No...we can't...its our final exams period..rememeber...god...and we didn't touch anything...but that is the least of our problems now. Fine, if we have to take MC..then we will..." Nisa stammered. "No! I will not allow that. I believe we can do it!" Mrs. Mani motivated them. The rest smiled...glad that she had finally come to her 'proper' senses!

"Hey, i can help in getting there! I can rent a boat for us to get there. I know plenty of actors and directors. I am sure i can negotiate" Vikram suggested. "That's great Vik..now the thing is what to do there...shouldn't the desert be very hot or something?" Baihakki asked. "Not really..its called a desert because nothing can grow there. So it must be sand all the way...other than that...i think it should be habitable. Or else, how do you think they survived?" Legolas replied. KNOCK KNOCK. "I'll get it..." Firdaus volunteered. "Duh..its your house.." Nury answered. "Hey guys! Look who's here to help!" Firdaus shouted excitely. They all turned around. "Senthil! What are you doing here!? What if we get caught?" Vikram asked nervously. "Nono...don't worry..i'm here because...wait...Mrs. Mmmani?" Senthil stammered. The rest just burst out laughing. "Yes Senthil...its me...i have to talk to you..." "No! Stop! No jokes! Senthil, Mrs. Mani is here to help. No worries..and i think you better come in here. We don't want Mr. Philip to hear you here" Nadera said. Senthil glanced towards the kitchen...went in and sat down glumly. "I'm sorry you can't see him. We feel its better for him to not know you are helping us. It was with your help after all we got him. So, why are you here?" Firdaus asked. "Ghazali told me to spy on you guys and inform him. Then i can go home. And that brings the good news. He has made me to spy on you guys. So you don't have to worry about any other of his men spying on you. You can carry out your work in peace and I promise i will help. Excuse me a sec while i call him and tell him you guys have went home..." Senthil replied and went away. "Poor Senthil..his sister is being held captive. He has already learnt his lesson. Stupid ghaz.." Deb replied furiously. "Ya..he's a good boy..." Mrs. Mani said symphatetically.

"We can plan our entry with Senthil since he's here. He can provide cover" Nisa suggested. "Ya...i think the next thing to do is to ask him about the desert. Where Ghaz's men are located..and stuff like that. Then we will plan and tomorrow...its action time!" Baihakki replied. "I'm scared. Our previous mission wasn't so serious..seeing we only have to rescue one person. But now...its shafiq and family...Faeez and family..and why...even Senthil's sister! How long is he going to manage to his parents of her being overseas? They are bound to suspect and find out sooner or later..." Nadera said sadly. Vikram put his hand over her shoulders and consoled her. "We have to do this. We have to end this once and for all. Once we accomplish everything, e shall go over to the CBI and hand Mr. Philip over, together with the recording of Ghaz talking to us over the phone as evidence. Then all the corrupt officers under him will get arrested. But all this depends on us accomplishing this mission. If we just hand him over now, there are sure to ask questions and everything will have to be told...then...there would be no hope...because somehow...Ghaz may get to know...we must not take that risk" Vikram said. "Hey, i'm back. He believes me. What have we planned so far?" Senthil asked. "First, you have to tell about the desert and where all Ghazali's friends..where your sister and the rest are all being held. If you have a map..." Mrs. Mani hinted. Senthil smiled and drew out from his pocket..." A map! Senthil you are the best!" Zahira exclaimed. "I knew you guys would need this. Ghazali has a number of these and sure wouldn't realise if one goes missing" Senthil replied proudly and began to draw on the map the location of where everyone was held and where Ghazali's men will be stationed and located to ensure no trespassers. The group discussed further. "Okay. That settles it then. Everyone set your watches to Senthil's watch. Time and precision is very important if we don't want any of his men to suspect. Everyone meet at Tanah Merah ferry terminal at 8.30." Legolas concluded.

"This is it isnt it?" zahira asked as she and the rest made their way to the bustop. "Yup..." Baihakki replied. The gang just didn't know what to say. Their plan seemed great. But yet, if a single thing goes wrong, everything will just collapse. It was such a dangerous mission. They hugged each other as they boarded the various buses home. As each reached home, they all prayed for everything to go well; that everyone reaches back safely; that Ghazali will be locked away forever...with great hopes, they went to bed and tried to fall asleep. But even Mrs. Mani couldnt sleep. They were all so afraid. But their worries soon tired them out and all of them eventually fell asleep.