A New India

The next morning, Rohan sat at his desk, the early light filtering through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. Neeraj entered, his expression calm but focused, as always.

"Sir, we've received word from our contacts in Nepal. They've noticed an uptick in Chinese-backed activities in the border regions," Neeraj reported, handing Rohan a detailed briefing.

Rohan read the papers quickly, his face tightening as he absorbed the information. "I expected this. China's going to push us, test how far we'll let them go. We need to respond, but subtly. If we overreact, we'll give them exactly what they want."

Neeraj nodded. "I've spoken with our intelligence teams. We're keeping a close watch, but we'll handle it quietly. No public moves until absolutely necessary."

"Good," Rohan said, setting the report down. "The last thing we need is an international incident before we're ready."

Just as he finished speaking, Keshav Mehra entered the room, his face showing the seriousness of the situation.

"Prime Minister, we've begun the first phase of training for the officers who will eventually form the core of the National Security Guard. The military is on board, and we've selected our top men from the police and intelligence agencies. They're undergoing specialized training in counter-terrorism and intelligence gathering," Keshav reported.

Rohan leaned forward, his attention fully on Keshav. "And how's it progressing? Any pushback from the military?"

Keshav shook his head. "None so far. We've kept it discreet, as you requested. The men are fully aware that they're part of something new, something important. Morale is high."

Rohan smiled, just a hint of satisfaction showing. "Good. This has to be done carefully. We're laying the foundation for something that will protect this country for generations. We can't afford to make any mistakes."

As soon as he finished speaking, Atma entered the room with a classified file in his hand

"Sir, We've had reports of increased arms smuggling along the eastern borders. It's possible that these shipments are connected to local insurgent groups, or worse, being funneled to destabilize our presence in Nepal."

Rohan's face darkened. "We can't let this get out of control. I want a full investigation into this. Use the best agents we have, and if necessary, pull resources from the military intelligence. We need to cut off these supply lines before they turn into a bigger threat."

Atma responded quickly, "I'll take care of it."

Rohan paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts before speaking again. "We're walking a fine line here. On one side, we have China testing us, probing for weaknesses. On the other side, we have insurgent groups looking for any opportunity to strike at us. And then there's the international community, waiting for us to make a mistake."

Neeraj added, "The Soviets and Americans are watching too. They're waiting to see how we handle ourselves. One wrong step, and they'll either try to pull us into their fold or use our mistakes to their advantage."

Rohan nodded, his mind racing. "That's why we need the NSG. Not just to deal with internal threats, but to ensure that we have a force ready to respond to external pressures without relying too heavily on the military."

He looked out of the window, his thoughts traveling far beyond the borders of India.

He could almost see the future, the rising tensions between China and India, the inevitable conflicts that would come if they didn't strengthen their position now.

"Every move we make from now on has to be deliberate," Rohan continued.

"We're being watched closely. We need to show strength, but not aggression. We need to show that we're prepared, but not provoke unnecessary conflict. This is a chess game, and right now, we're setting up our pieces."

Neeraj, leaned in. "We've been speaking with some of the new leaders about this, making sure they understand the situation. They're eager to prove themselves."

Rohan glanced at Neeraj, grateful for his efforts. "The new generation is going to be key to all of this. They're not hold down by the old ways of thinking. We need their energy, their drive."

Atma stood up, preparing to leave the room. "I'll keep you updated on the arms smuggling investigation. We'll nip this in the bud."

With Atma, Keshav also took his leave and left the room,

Neeraj looked thoughtful for a moment. "There's a lot of chatter in the diplomatic circles. Some countries are wary, others are reaching out quietly, trying to figure out where we stand. They want to know what our next move is."

Rohan stood up, walking over to the window. The city stretched out before him, bustling with life, unaware of the monumental shifts happening behind the scenes.

"We'll stay the course," Rohan said, his voice calm but firm. "We won't rush into any alliances. The non-aligned movement is our path forward. We need to show the world that India is not going to be a pawn in the Cold War. We're our own nation, and we'll stand on our own terms."

Neeraj nodded, his respect for Rohan clear. "Understood. I'll make sure the message gets across."

As the day went on, the work never stopped. Rohan was in and out of meetings, discussing everything from economic policies to military strategies.

A soft knock on the door in evening broke his concentration during which he was reading a classified report given to him by a committee Rohan formed secretly.

Though the file was not visible but 2 words were visible from the document, Siachen Glacier.

Rohan closed the file and placed it inside the desk as Neeraj stepped in once holding a small folder.

"Sir, I thought you'd want to see this before the day ends. It's the initial draft of the National Security Guard proposal," Neeraj said, handing over the folder.

Rohan opened it, scanning the pages. He smiled slightly. It was starting to come together.

"Good work, Neeraj," Rohan said, closing the folder. "This is just the beginning."

Neeraj gave a respectful nod. "It's all thanks to your vision, sir."

Rohan stood up, walking around the desk and clasping Neeraj's shoulder. "It's not just my vision. It's our future."

As Neeraj left the room, Rohan sat back down, looking at the folder once again. The creation of the NSG, and the strengthening of India's borders, it was all falling into place.

He had the advantage of foresight, and he intended to use it.

The battle for India's future had begun, and with the right steps, Rohan knew they would win.

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