Chapter 54: The Foundation of Civilian Security Technology Lab
The sky above Lucknow was overcast, thick with the monsoon's pregnant silence. A low, humid breeze stirred the neem trees outside the Singh residence, and from within the haveli, the rhythmic clanging of steel vessels echoed as the household staff cleared the last of the lunch plates. The smell of turmeric and green chili still lingered in the air.
Inside the newly furnished drawing room of Ajay Singh's administrative wing, Bharat sat cross-legged on a cushion, twirling a pencil between his fingers. His eyes followed the slow rotation of the ceiling fan, lost in a world that only he could see — the weight of memory and the burden of knowledge fused in an eight-year-old body. Across the room, Ajay, Colonel Rajvir Verma, and several department heads gathered around a long wooden table. The overhead fans hummed as papers rustled, and murmurs filled the room like a gathering storm.
"We already have a research unit focused on army equipment," Ajay began, his tone brisk but composed. He tapped the corner of a printed draft titled National Security Development Phase II. "But the time has come to think about our civilians — the people who walk unguarded into markets, board trains, attend schools. They deserve safety too."
Colonel Rajvir Verma, clad in a crisp cream kurta and his spectacles perched at the edge of his nose, nodded. "You're speaking my language, beta. Civilians are the weakest link in times of crisis, and protecting them isn't just duty — it's strategy."
The colonel's voice was deep, grounded in decades of command experience. Bharat turned to observe him, the faint scent of sandalwood from Rajvir's tilak carrying across the table.
"I suggest we divide the initiative into multiple sub-departments," Bharat piped in quietly. All the grown men turned to look at him, half surprised but now used to his unusual wisdom.
Ajay leaned forward, his voice soft. "Go ahead, beta. We're listening."
Bharat laid out his ideas with clarity:
Civilian Security Innovation Lab – Focused on personal safety gadgets, home security systems, school and temple protective protocols.
Urban Surveillance Systems Unit – Emphasis on CCTVs, motion sensors, gate-entry mechanisms.
Rural Defensive Safety Group – For villages: alarm bells, foot-triggered trip wires for boundary alerts, flame-proof granary locks.
Counter-Terror Civilian Response Training Cell – Instructing local volunteers, students, and retired army personnel on what to do during a crisis.
Tech Lab for Emergency Response Gear – Jackets with bullet resistance, low-cost walkie-talkies, fire and gas sensors.
Colonel Rajvir beamed. "This... this is what our Defence Council couldn't even imagine ten years ago. Simple, scalable, and local."
"But we must be realistic," said Mr. Tandon, the head of Legal Affairs. "We can't mass-produce unless we get proper patents, regulatory approvals, and pilot results."
Ajay nodded. "That's why we're forming this lab now. Not just to invent — but to test, to register, and to build partnerships."
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Later that afternoon, as the sky broke open in a soft drizzle, the family gathered in the shaded veranda for chai and samosas. Kavita's mother arranged steel cups on a large thali while her father, Colonel Rajvir, sipped his tea beside Dadaji.
"Bharat is truly a wonder," Kavita said as she pressed a ladoo into Meena's hand. "At this age, to think of public security..."
"It's not wonder," said Dadi with a chuckle, her silver bangles jingling, "it's his previous janam showing itself. He's walked this Earth before."
The children — Ashok, Parul, Deepika, and Vivek — chased each other in the courtyard, their laughter echoing. Nearby, Meena played with her Naani, wrapping her in a cotton saree and pretending she was a queen.
"You shall not enter the palace without answering my question!" Meena declared.
"Then I must bring a gift for the queen!" said Naani, pretending to fall to her knees.
Inside, Ajay and Colonel Rajvir moved into the private study. The rain patted softly against the windows.
"Colonel Saab," Ajay said respectfully, "I need your guidance to form this security team. There are threats, both visible and invisible."
Rajvir placed his hand on Ajay's shoulder. "I will assemble the men. Soldiers I commanded. Some have lost legs, others vision in one eye, but their minds are sharper than ever. They don't just deserve work — India still needs them."
Ajay nodded with gratitude. "And I will fund this personally. The Security Wing will be separate from the Army Research Lab."
"Good. And make me Chief of this Security Department. Not just a figurehead. I want to walk the grounds, meet the recruits, approve every deployment."
"Done."
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The following week saw the beginning of a new chapter in Lucknow's transformation. On a sprawling 10-acre land south of the textile factory, the Civilian Security Technology Lab broke ground. Engineers in mud-caked boots carried surveying poles. Bharat walked with a small sketchpad in hand, pointing at things he wanted changed. The scent of wet cement and earth mixed with the blooming jasmine on the boundary wall.
In the design room, a team of engineers brainstormed.
"We can use light aluminum for these door-bolt sensors," said one.
"What if power fails in the village?" asked another.
"Batteries — rechargeable. Use hand-crank chargers."
"Make them weatherproof! Monsoon is cruel."
One engineer turned to Bharat. "Do we aim for wireless communication, sir?"
Bharat smiled. "In rural India? Not yet. Let's use local radio signals. Keep it simple."
The team nodded.
At the same time, Colonel Rajvir was in the training compound — a covered dome with mats laid out for drills. Recruits lined up in plain uniforms. Some walked with a limp, others bore burn marks — but all saluted with dignity.
"We may be retired," Rajvir said, pacing before them, his boots echoing, "but we are not finished. We protect what others forget — temples, trains, schools, grain warehouses. Our mission is as holy as the uniform we wore."
There was silence, then applause.
Ajay stood nearby, hands clasped behind his back. A young recruit approached.
"Sir, I used to serve under you in Siachen. My leg was frostbitten. I thought I was done. But you called me. Thank you."
Ajay offered a simple smile. "India needs you."
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In the following weeks, new gadgets began testing.
An iron lock with a one-time siren trigger in case of tampering.
Fireproof document containers.
Low-cost grain shed alarms made with repurposed bicycle bells and sensors.
Hidden vaults for homes.
Each device underwent inspection, often by Bharat himself.
"This rusts too easily," he said once, dipping a prototype into a bucket.
"This clasp is too sharp," he said another time, touching a lock edge.
In one corner of the lab, Bharat began sketching something new — a portable tracking system using radio frequency, meant for temple artifacts.
Ajay walked in, curious. "For temples?"
Bharat nodded. "Many idols are stolen in the coming years. We can make devices that look like ornaments, but they emit signals."
Ajay was speechless. He placed his hand on Bharat's head. "Your thoughts are far ahead, beta."
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As the chapter closed, a small plaque was hammered into the ground:
Singh Civilian Security Innovation Campus — Est. 1984
Under the drizzle and peals of temple bells in the distance, the plaque shimmered.
And in that monsoon-soaked soil, India's new chapter of civilian safety had begun.
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