Amitava Basu Chapter 1: The Disguise The heat was dry and biting as the prison gates of Bhairavgarh creaked open, the ancient iron groaning like it was waking from a deep slumber. Asha Rane stepped through with her head lowered and shoulders slumped, wearing a plain khaki salwar kameez and a bruised expression painted with theatrical precision. Her wrists bore plastic bruises from makeup, and her gaze was dulled intentionally — years of investigative journalism had taught her how to camouflage confidence into submissive silence. She clutched her forged file of charges — embezzlement, impersonation, Section 419 — all part…