London
Ambedkar had arrived in England to meet Clement Atlee. He was sent to negotiate with the British government for their assent to India getting into the security council. Earlier, Netaji had called Atlee to ask for his vote but he was told that Winston Churchill was putting a lot of pressure on the British government to vote against India. In fact, Churchill was actively lobbying the American and Russian governments to deny India entry.
Netaji was also informed of rumours that the British Monarch was quite angered at the Bose government. It was the first time since the American revolution that the British Empire had lost territory. And it was on a just as massive scale as the American revolution. Even more so since it was the crown jewel that had been taken away. This was exacerbated by the fact two prominent members of the British royalty were being held as prisoners in India. This incensed the British aristocracy and the supremacist elements within it and in the conservative party.
Thus, as a result Ambedkar had been sent to negotiate a settlement. A settlement to allow Atlee to show the conservatives a win and at the same time get India into the council.
"Please have a seat, Mr. Ambedkar."
"Thank you, Prime Minister. How are you today ?"
"Well, I am still here, aren't I ? We are in quite a pickle here, Minister."
"That's what we here to figure out, sir."
"Here's what it is, Ambedkar. Churchill wants Bose's head on a platter. His entire party leadership and workers are on a war path. They would eat me alive if I vote for your nation. The Aristocracy is a separate problem."
"I understand that sir and we want to help our cause in any way that we can."
"That's good, Ambedkar, that's good, we're going to need that."
"Pray tell."
"Well, I need three things from you. Firstly, I need you to release both Mountbatten and Linlithgow. Second, I need you to unfreeze the British assets in India. If not all at least those in Bombay and Calcutta. Lastly, we need to start working on a peace treaty. We cannot let the state of war go on indefinitely."
"There are difficulties revolving around this, sir. The people in Punjab want Linlithgow's head on a pike for the attack on the Golden temple-
"I am given to understand he did not authorise it."
"No, he did not but how will you make an angry mob understand that ? Regardless we will release them as soon as we can do it. Regarding the unfreezing of assets that can be done with immediate effect."
"What about the peace treaty ?" We would ideally want to have it signed in Britain itself."
"I am not sure if Netaji would agree to that, sir. He has expressed his strong desire to have the treaty signed in India."
"That is going to be a problem, Bhim."
"Well, how about neutral country ?"
"Which one ?"
"How about France ? Or the United States ?"
"France is ravaged. I think the United States would be a better option."
"We can send both of our representatives to coordinate with Americans."
"Good. We need to make this happen quick, Bhim. Churchill's position is quite strong and we need these wins to weaken him. India and Britain have a very close relationship and I want our nations to reconcile. Friendship is our path to progress."
"I couldn't agree more, Clement. Netaji also wants reconciliation."
Shimla
Lord Mountbatten wondered what Morgan was going to do. It had been a week. He was getting worried about the protestors. The servants told him that there were about a million of them, although he found that figure to be overblown. Shimla wasn't that big. Regardless of their number they wanted Linlithgow dead. Mobs wouldn't care if he himself was not involved. Morgan had managed to gain entry so there was some hope for getting out. It would not be possible to escape elsewhere into India. They were on the lookout for any and every white creature. No, the ports were out of contention. Even Tibet had been taken by Bose. Another route closed. The most optimistic plan was to get to Peshawar and then to Persia. There the allied troops could get him to Britain. But this depended on how tonight went. But Mountbatten wasn't tensed. Yadavindra Singh wouldn't kill him even if he caught him. So it was either escape or back to this hell. Mountbatten was having soup when suddenly he felt something in his mouth--
It was piece of paper, folded a million times and soaking wet. He took his plucker and began to carefully open it. So, this is Morgan's signal, thought Mountbatten.
"We'll be at your room at midnight. 3 of us. Have your military uniform ready. You will know the rest then. Burn this."
Midnight it was then. Mountbatten lit a cigar and sat there waiting for Private Bill Morgan and his associates.
The door was knocked at exactly midnight.
"Good evening, my lord."
"Good evening, young man. How are you ?"
"Very well sir. Here's the servant's uniform sir. Please change into it and hand me your military uniform."
Ten minutes later both men had exchanged their clothes.
"
Alright Private what's the plan ?"
"Well sir, you're going to be leaving with Private Lee and Carson. They will be escorting you through the servants' entry from the back. Your uniform should give you an easy enough disguise. By the time you get out you'll blend into the crowd. Your beard should help. Lee will leave you both in the crowd and you will travel with Carson from Shimla to Ludhiana. From there you will get into a train to Lahore. In Lahore you will meet another one of our associates and you'll ride on horse to Peshawar. One more important thing sir"
"What ?"
"Once Carson gets you into the woods you'll change into another disguise- that of a priest and his disciple. You'll know the next disguise in Lahore."
"Well, you certainly deserve credit for creativity private. What are you going to do ?"
"I am going to impart some good old British justice sir. Nothing that you need to worry about."
"Alright son. Be careful."
"Goodbye sir."
Mountbatten and the two privates made there way through the back-entrance. Apparently the guards were hobnobbing with protestors, allowing them a smooth escape. Once they made their way into the protestors, Mountbatten saw effigies of Linlithgow, Churchill, and King George. He was sort of relieved over his effigies not being burned. Regardless, when they reached what appeared to be the epicentre of the protest, Private Lee began to dismount the sack he was carrying on his back.
"What's that ?"
"Diwali."
"What do you mean ?"
"I am national- level hammer throw player sir. I am going to throw them around as far as I can and kill as many of these assholes as I can."
He took out a contraption whose innovation and cruelty shocked Mountbatten.
Fifeteen dynamite sticks were tied around a tank shell. Lee was going to explode it in the middle of these people. Men, women and children. Hundreds would die. and Lee was carrying three of them.
"Don't do this. Come with us."
"All due respect sir, you need to fuck off. Carson, take him."
"Let's go sir."
Back at the Palace
Maharaja Hari Singh of Jammu & Kashmir, Maharaja Sawai Man Singh of Jaipur and Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan had come to visit Lord Mountbatten and Linlithgow. Notably, these three kings were the most opposed to Bose's interference with their affairs and had been flirting with idea of independence. They wanted their discussions to evolve into that direction and reach the top quarters of the British executive. The newly-appointed minister of princely affairs, Maharaja Yadvindra Singh was set to arrive the next day since he was to host their meeting/party.
The next morning, Lord Mountbatten came dressed in full military attire and a long overcoat, within which he was carrying a Thompson submachine gun, which he had assembled in his room. The three kings sat in their night suits in the garden sipping tea as they awaited his arrival.
"Good morning gentlemen"
"Ah, Lord Mountbatten, it is good to see you. How do you do ?"
"Fine and dandy, Hari Singh. How are you ?"
"I am good sir. Are you alright ? Your voice seems different today."
"Oh, its nothing Maharaj. Only the sound of vengeance."
"Vengeance ?" interjected Man Singh
Suddenly the Nizam stood up and shouted,
"You are not Mountbatten. Who the hell are you ? He is an imposter gentlemen!"
"GUAR--
Morgan whipped out his gun from underneath his coat and emptied a hundred bullets into the three premier Maharajas of India and ironically ended Britain's hope for getting the Indian aristocracy to rise up in rebellion against Bose.
As the three Maharajas lay dead at the table, Morgan reloaded his gun and began to shoot at the guards. He murdered twelve of them before being shot dead himself.
Delhi
"It is true your majesty. About 800 people have been killed in bomb blasts outside your palace."
"Who did it ?"
"Hard to say at this point sir, there are no witnesses."
"Only men or women and children as well ?"
"Women and children as well sir. About 300 of them."
"My god."
"I have more bad news sir."
"More ? What ?"
"Maharaja Sawai Man Singh of Jaipur, Maharaja Hari Singh and the Nizam have all been shot dead and Lord Mountbatten has escaped his captivity."
"Bloody hell. Bose is going to skin me alive. Alright leave me alone and call Sardar Patel. I am not going to face Bose alone."
"Yes sir."
"Wait a minute who shot them ?"
"He was dressed in Mountbatten's military uniform, a white boy. 19, we think. British Army. We still haven't been able to identify him."
"What is this I am hearing, Yadvindra ?"
"It is true Vallabhai. Mountbatten backstabbed us. He took advantage of my hospitality and he murdered three kings."
"Dear god, this is terrible. We are in a bad situation here. Shall we go tell the Prime Minister ?"
"After you."
In Netaji's office, two hours later
"GODDAMNITT! Is this how you do your job ? You had 10,000 guards for fuck sakes are they that incompetent ?"
"I am sorry for the lapses, sir I-
"No Yadvindra this is inexcusable. I would sack you if I had another option to appoint to your position."
There was uncomfortable silence in the room as Netaji got upto the window and sipped his scotch. Suddenly he spoke up.
"Here's what's going to happen. Yadavindra, you need to visit all these princely states and ensure smooth succession. Have the new rulers swear an oath of fealty to us. These were the ones poking their heads. We have a silver lining her. If they dont listen to you feel free to appoint a government agent as a caretaker until they budge. Vallabhai, martial all your resources. Everything you have and find where Mountbatten has gone. At any cost, we need him alive. And find out the identity of this assassin. This is not the work of a lone wolf. He rescued an allied commander and killed three kings. This is the work of an outfit. Find out which. One more thing. Also find out why didn't they try to rescue Linlithgow."
"Yes sir."
"Now get out of my sight. Habib, call Ambedkar and tell him to gauge what our situation would be regarding the council if Mountbatten were to die."
"Yes sir."
Netaji went back to the window and returned to his scotch.
"Fucking royals"
Dead bodies of protestors being stacked together before their identification in Shimla.
Bhimrao Ambedkar and his delegation with Indians living in London
Bill Morgan's dead body in the Shimla palace
Maharaja Yadvindra Singh and Sardar Vallabhai Patel attending the funeral of Nizam Osman Ali Khan in Hyderabad.