In the evening, Kim reclined in a sofa while watching the five o’clock news on television. Su went back to her work after a long leave. She had been working part time for a local tabloid. Now, she intended to be a fulltime journalist. For this reason, she had a plan to quit her present job with the gas distribution company.
Kim was quite surprised to see Lee’s flag bearing vehicle arrive under the porch. At this time of the month it was not supposed to be here. She noticed Lee’s adjutant Captain Un stepping out of the dark green four-wheel drive. Through the tinted window of the vehicle, she couldn’t see who else was inside. At the door of her living room, Kim gave a warm welcome to Captain Un and led him to a sofa. Then she said to Un, “I don’t see your boss, isn’t he in Yangon with you?”
“Madam, sir is at the army headquarters. He has come to Yangon to attend an important function. He has sent me to take you and Miss Su to the headquarters.”
“What’s the occasion for this program?”
“Sir has told me not to disclose it.”
“When is this function?”
“At seven thirty in the evening.”
“Su has returned home from her office a few minutes ago. She looked very tired. Let me see what she has to say.”
After saying this Kim went to Su’s bedroom. Su had been lying in her bed with her eyes closed. She was supposed to return to Aung Syke, but so far, she couldn’t manage time to travel back to Aung Syke. She struggled to get over her drowsiness as she opened her eyes and stared at the door. Seeing her mother entering the room, she collected herself and sat on her bed. Because of her daughter’s weary look, with a touch of sympathy, Kim said to her, “Sweetheart, I can see that you’re very tired.” Then she paused for a moment before saying, “Your dad wants us to go to the army headquarters. He has sent his adjutant to pick us up. There’s a function at the army headquarters. He’s over there right now.”
“What kind of function?”
“Captain Un hasn’t disclosed it to me.”
“I don’t know why dad is so obsessed with secrecy!”
Kim smiled at her daughter and responded with a question, “Why do you always display such negative attitude towards your dad? Your dad simply wants to give us a surprise. Now tell me if you would like to attend the function.”
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As a journalist, Su knew that from these military gatherings, valuable information could often be obtained. It would be a nice surprise for Rafiq and his companions in Medina. Induced by this thought, she shrugged off her hesitation and presented a beautiful smile to her mother. This meant she was willing to attend the function at the army headquarters.
Kim was taken aback by her daughter’s compliance. She whispered to herself, “Never saw you so willing to attend your father’s program. What’s the reason behind it?” However, Kim suppressed her feelings and with a smiling face, said to her daughter, “Alright, get ready; I’ll be waiting for you in the living room.”
In the evening, the program commenced at the Mingaladan Army Headquarters, in the presence of hundreds of high-ranking officers. A major was performing as the moderator. Those who would speak, one by one their names and ranks were announced. Then the moderator announced that some officers of the Tatmadaw were going to be awarded for their extraordinary contribution in safeguarding the security and sovereignty of the state. It was clear from this statement that this was the chief purpose of the function. Behind the podium, the entire program was being broadcast live on a huge LED screen. In the hall room, huge chandeliers hung from the ceiling with engraved designs upon them which greatly enhanced the beauty of the hall room. The floor of the hall room where the invited guests were to take their seats, was covered by a red carpet with huge yellow star on it.
The seating arrangements for the VIPs were in the first and second rows. The total number of guests was at least a thousand. The newly recruited cadets of Tatmadaw were given the responsibility to show the dignitaries their respective seats. The guests kept waiting for the arrival of the chief guest after the invited guess had taken their seats. Exactly at seven thirty, through the glass wall and door everyone saw the motorcade of the chief guest arrive at the scene. He was escorted into the hall room by his personal security and given a standing ovation by the crowd inside. The dignitaries shook hands with him while he was being accompanied to his seat by the chief of staff, Senior General Maung Shui Pon.
The moment the chief guest had occupied his seat, the moderator announced the beginning of the program by highlighting the main agenda. Then, one at a time, he called out the names of the speakers and asked them to address the crowd. At one stage, it was time to distribute medals. The chief guest was requested to come to the podium to distribute the medals to their recipients. Before he was to do so, the enlisted names of the recipients and their ranks were announced by the moderator. First in the list was the name of Brigadier General Lee Bu Sun. Lee gave the traditional stiff salute to the army chief when he was introduced to him. Of course, it was followed by the moderator’s brief description of Tatmadaw’s successful operation against the Rohingya terrorists and Lee’s pivotal role in that mission. The confidential information that led to the successful execution of the Kudaung operation, and how it was later modified and exploited by Lee, was also vividly described by the moderator. Tatmadaw lost only one soldier while hundred and twenty Rohingya terrorists were killed during this mission. Suddenly, Lee looked a bit confused and uneasy, but when he was about to say something, quietly the chief guest took Lee’s hand in his own and gave it a gentle press. Lee was candid and very sharp as well. He understood what the army chief wanted to tell him. Hence, he desisted the urge to speak out the truth. Then the audience learned how the terrorists had planned to attack a military installation across the Mayu River. Su wanted to record this description of the Kudaung operation, but there were restrictions prohibiting the use of any kind of electronic device inside the hall room. So, she listened very carefully in order to have it instilled in her memory. Tatmadaw had its own video team who recorded the whole program.
The moderator concluded his description with an earnest request to the chief guest to add another star over Brigadier Lee’s shoulder. Obviously, prior to this, those generals who controlled all activities of the Tatmadaw, knew all about it. Subsequently, Brigadier Lee became Major General Lee. First Lee received his star, and then the chief guest decorated him by adding a medal on his chest for the Kudaung operation. The chief guest was visibly very cheerful at the time. He was seen whispering something to Lee, but from a distance, neither anyone among the audience, nor the moderator could hear what he said.