Mainak Dhar - 1 January

PRAISE FOR SNIPERS EYE

Dhar masterfully captures the political tensions between India and PakistanA taut thriller that refreshingly departs from genre norms with its multilayered protagonist and South Asian setting.

- Kirkus Reviews

PRAISE FOR MAINAK DHARS WORK

03:02

"The plot, the tactics and the description is as realistic as it can get."

- Frontier India

"When terrorism is a daily part of our lives, the book seems very relevant to our times."

- The New Indian Express

"The action never seems to leave the pages even when there are no bullets flying or RPGs being fired. And it is for this reason that it is going to stay in my mind for long."

- Arvind Passey, Blogger and former Army Officer

If this book is ever turned into a movie, then Akshay Kumar would be a perfect choice. Once you end reading the book, you might just actually clap, stand up and say Vande Mataram."

- Kitaabikeeda Blog

LINE OF CONTROL

An outstanding book. Better than Tom Clancy any day. "

- Air Commodore Jasjeet Singh (Retd.)

"Captures very well the cut and thrust of combat. A thrilling read."

- General V.N Sharma, Former Chief of Army Staff

"A scenario that seems possible yet apocalyptic."

- The Hindustan Times

"By placing readers in the thick of action, similar to the circumstances that we find ourselves in today, Dhar has actually managed to find a connect that cannot be missed easily."

- HT City

"A page-turner right the word 'go', this racy war-thriller is exciting, to say the least, as the reader is drawn deep into the action of war."

- Deccan Herald

"The spine-chilling war scenario entertains, by all means, with skilful plot, well-drawn variety of characters, thrilling action, a high degree of intrigue, suspense and tension, grim humour."

- The Tribune

HEROGIRI

"Strikes a chord somewhere, chronicling his journey from a nobody into a somebody and this theme for a dream - to dream big, rather - is what makes it endearing."

- IBN Live

"The plot is engaging, and wholesome Bollywood film material. Herogiri ends on a high note, the action sequence is exciting."

- Hindustan Times

"A delightful take on the superhero genre."

- LiveMint

"Excellent, Herogiri also has a surprisingly refreshing take on politics and society. Arnab 'GA' Bannerjee is the unpretentious hero you want by your side.... The most super man ever, this affable, retiring 25-year old is possibly the most likeable of all characters you shall meet this summer."

- Financial Express

"Here's a delightfully engaging take on the superhero genre...Racy roller coaster"

- Mid Day

"Exhilarating!"

- Tehelka Magazine

Book I of the 7even Series
Snipers Eye

One Shot, One Kill

Mainak Dhar

4 HOUR BOOKS

4 HOUR BOOKS

Flat 6, Khan Market, New Delhi 110003
Ph: 24694610; Fax: 24618637
www.indiaresearchpress.com
contact@indiaresearchpress.com

2018

Snipers Eye

Mainak Dhar

Copyright 2018 Mainak Dhar

Mainak Dhar asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work. This novel is entirely a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The rights of Mainak Dhar to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved; no part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

ISBN : -978-81-8386-143-4

Printed and bound in India

As always, for Puja & Aaditya

But Heaven help me to forget
Them fellow men I've slain,
The bubbling flow of blood I've let...
I'll never kill again:
To swat flies gives me pain.

Just let me dream when we will see
And end of soldierin';
When flags of famous victory
Will be amoulderin':
An' lethal steel an' battle blast
Be nightmares of the past.

-The Sniper by Robert William Service

You figure your movie date wont end well when the man in front of you gets shot.

He had been walking hand in hand with a woman I presumed to be his wife, perhaps on his way to watch the movie we were headed to as well. Zoya had nudged me in the ribs when we overheard their conversation his wife telling him to relax, that she didnt want to get to the movie hall early like always, and have to watch all the ads and trailers. He had laughed and said something about a cop always being on time. I had been rushing a bit, perhaps without even consciously realising it, my own standards of punctuality as strict as that mans, drilled into me as well by people similar to those who had taught him. Zoya had been happy just loitering around the open courtyard of the mall, holding hands, chatting about all sorts of things, happy to finally be out by ourselves.

Zoya had joined the firm where I worked just six months earlier, and, with her ready laugh, infectious smile and copious supply of gossip, had quickly made more friends than I had in my three years there. I had been content to have lunch alone and never went out with colleagues after work, preferring my privacy and with no intention of getting too close to anyone at my new workplace. However, when Zoya came into my life, she was an irresistible force before which my defenses seemed to crumble. First, I found myself invited to her lunch group; then we were having coffee together with colleagues; and before I realized it, I was beginning to look forward to meeting this vivacious, young woman who had begun to arouse feelings in me that I had thought were long gone. We had been dating just over three months and that Sunday afternoon, we were on our way to the movies.

I was normally not the one for romantic movies, but when she had suggested the name of the latest Bollywood romantic spectacle involving another fifty-something superstar cavorting with a twenty-year-old starlet, I had nodded enthusiastically. Putting up with the overacting, melodrama and gratuitous song and dance that I suspected was in store for me seemed to be a price well worth paying to be with Zoya. Yes, she had that kind of impact on me.

It had been perfect so far. Holding hands with Zoya, listening to the couple in front of us exchanging the easy banter that perhaps came naturally to couples who had been together for decades. Given the short time that we had been together, I couldnt help but wonder if Zoya and I would have a future like that couple. When we had initially started going out together, I had heard the scuttlebutt about us being the beauty and the beast. I felt Zoyas thin fingers clasped in my large, calloused hands; I saw her almost waif-like figure contrasted against my own bulky frame; her flowing hair that seemed to play across her face, as if with a life of its own, contrasted against my close crop that was more utilitarian than anything. As she leaned against me, I felt her head rest on my shoulder and smiled as I inhaled that faint and familiar hint of lavender that she loved so much. Believe it or not, before I had met her, I had never smelled lavender up close. I came from a world where the odours I was familiar with were far more earthy and elemental the smell of burning, the whiff of soil inches from your nose as you crawl along it, the sickly sweet stench of death. That simple flowery fragrance every time I was close to her told me just how different her world was from the one I had come from, and at the same time, gave me hope that my future could be better with her than the past I had left behind and tried so hard to forget.