Rajat Vardhan 1 The banquet hall of the Trident Hyderabad buzzed with soft conversations and clinking glasses as some of India’s top defense scientists gathered to celebrate an internal milestone — Phase 2 clearance of Project Vajra. Among the crowd, Dr. Ranjan Mehta, lead propulsion scientist, raised his glass without much enthusiasm. His eyes drifted often toward the large digital clock above the dais, almost as though he were waiting for something. It was just past 9:30 p.m. when he excused himself from a conversation, stepped outside for some fresh air, and collapsed near the rose garden, clutching his chest.…