Berlin, East Germany — November 1989
Fear and disobedience were in the air in East Berlin. Behind closed curtains, people muttered fantasies they could not say aloud, plaster flaked off grey concrete walls, and booted boots echoed along tiny passageways.
Indian diplomat Ravi Varma, 37, walked across the Wilhelmstrasse with composure. He attended art exhibits and embassy dinners and was regarded as a kind man who always had a nice grin on his face. Beneath that amiable exterior, however, was a guy skilled in deceit. Since 1986, Ravi has served as an R&AW agent, based in East Berlin. Observation and upholding Indian interests in the split metropolis had always been his task. However, the situation had shifted with the German Democratic Republic on the verge of collapse.
A new target had emerged: the Sinha family
Once a well-known nuclear physicist from India, Dr. Shantanu Sinha had been enticed to East Germany in 1978 with the prospect of academic freedom and top-notch research prospects. Instead, he discovered seclusion, monitoring, and mounting pressure to develop Soviet weaponry. His entire family was under continual surveillance by the Stasi following an unsuccessful attempt to return to India in 1983. The classical dancer Meera, his wife, was prohibited from performing. Their 14-year-old son, Arjun, was raised in a world of quiet and terror.
The intercepted letter was read twice by Ravi. It had been sent covertly via the diplomatic pouch of a Pakistani journalist, an antiquated means of getting classified communications out.
It was brief: "Please assist. We are unable to breathe. -Sinha.
Ravi sensed a disturbance. He had previously read hundreds of letters like this. Most were thought to be too dangerous. However, this one stuck with him for some reason. Maybe it was Sinha's desperate handwriting or Meera's previous performance that Ravi had witnessed while attending college in Delhi. It could have been the boy. It was his choice. He would assist them in getting away.
November 6, 1989
Both diplomats and dissidents attended the peaceful Café Kuhn. Ravi read The Spy Who Came in from the Cold while enjoying a cup of coffee at a corner table. He put the book under the bill the waitress gave him and handed it back. The following day, the book arrived in Meera.
When heated, the note scribbled in lemon juice on page 143 would show itself:
"NOV 9 — 2300 HRS — NORDBAHNHOF — PLATFORM 2 — RED UMBRELLA"
Ravi was aware that his actions were not only risky but also, by East German standards, traitorous. Diplomatic immunity would not exist if detected. The Sinhas would vanish. Or worse, he would be exchanged.
The window was modest, though. There was increasing unrest. The checks saw a rise of crowds. The border guards didn't know what they were supposed to do. The wall itself was muttering about its death.
November 9, 1989 — Morning
As usual, the drapes were drawn and the Sinha flat was dark. Shantanu's hair was prematurely greying, and he seemed older than his 48 years. While interpreting bits of German for her husband, Meera watched the newscast. Arjun sat quietly, holding a little tape player that played old Bollywood music that Ravi had sneaked in weeks previously.
"Is it tonight?" Meera enquired.
With sorrowful eyes, Shantanu nodded. "Yes. Tonight, we're going."
"What if they shoot us?" Quietly, Arjun enquired.
By him, Meera knelt. "Then we run faster."
2100 HRS
Ravi verified his fake paperwork, which included a temporary maintenance clearance and an inspection badge from the East German railway. A light in the darkness, he held a crimson umbrella and donned a trench coat.
He dialled one of the Indian embassy's numbers.
"Yes?" the voice said.
At the Western S-Bahn, get in touch with our buddy. Verified. Nordbahnhof, 2300.
"I get it. Have a safe trip.
Knowing that it may be his final time seeing the embassy, he departed.
2245 HRS — Nordbahnhof Station
The chilly wind cut across the empty platform. With a crimson umbrella in hand, Ravi stood under a faint bulb. He felt his heart thumping like a drum. Every stride reverberated in the distance and chilled him.
He noticed them at 2252. With their hands securely clutched and their gaze flashing, the Sinhas moved swiftly.
Ravi remained silent. He turned and started for an old maintenance entrance down the platform. Then came the Sinhas.
A voice called out as they were 10 steps away from the hatch.
Staatssicherheit! Anhalten!
Out of the darkness came two Stasi officers.
Ravi took a step ahead. "They are diplomats from India. The ambassador's nephew is this youngster. We are cleared.
One yelled, "You think we are fools?" "This family was identified. Join us.
Shantanu took Meera's hand in his. Arjun stopped. Ravi gestured to wait with subtle finger movements.
And then—BOOM!
The station was jolted by a distant explosion. A neighbouring checkpoint had been set on fire by protesters. Alarms sounded. There were shouts.
Ravi risked it. "Now!"
They took off running.
There were gunshots. Tiles were broken by bullets. Meera let out a scream. Ravi pushed the maintenance door open.
It was dark inside.
Tunnel
They travelled over soggy, winding roads. Arjun faltered. He was apprehended by Meera. Where a bullet touched Ravi's arm, it bled. But they persisted.
There's a junction up ahead. Death was one incorrect turn away. Ravi examined the markings that had been scraped into the walls. On the left.
They came out onto a defunct S-Bahn track. One automobile, its motor humming, waited on the far side. A man waved from inside. A contact from West Germany.
"Hurry!" Ravi yelled.
They went over the railroad. Meera stumbled. She was raised by Shantanu. Despite crying, Arjun continued to run.
The door of the train banged. The vehicle stumbled.
Agents of the Stasi rushed into the tube behind them.
It's too late.
West Berlin — November 10, 1989
Freedom.
The Brandenburg Gate was where the Sinhas were standing. Thousands applauded. People hugged each other. Troops wept.
Ravi watched from the shadows.
Meera looked him in the eye. She grinned. Arjun gave a wave.
Ravi did not return the wave. He turned and vanished.
1995, New Delhi
At a worldwide conference, Dr Arjun Sinha gave a presentation on his study on renewable energy. A greying-haired man in the audience cheered.
Following the speech, Arjun came over.
"You carried me that night, didn’t you?"
Ravi grinned. "You ran too fast for me to keep up."
He disappeared again.
However, some shadows are cast by light rather than by darkness.
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