With all preparations complete, the nightly deliveries of metal frames commenced, signaling the start of the underground construction.
They began excavating beneath the house, diligently softening the earth with water.
To maximize efficiency and ensure adequate rest, they established two work shifts, one operating during the day and the other at night.
Varun, with his extraordinary physical and mental fortitude, worked alongside them, capable of 16-hour shifts without fatigue, his pace rivaling that of an entire team.
As the days passed, the tunnel gradually took shape, measuring 2 meters wide and 2 meters high.
A spherical gate, installed in the floor, provided access from the room to the tunnel.
The tunnel's ceiling was reinforced with metal frames and pillars, adhering to Daivik's meticulously calculated design.
The completion of the initial tunnel section ignited a surge of motivation among the workers, who pressed on with renewed vigor and anticipation.
An emergency escape route was also constructed, cleverly concealed within the lower left corner of the tunnel wall-floor, hidden behind the metal framework.
This perfectly camouflaged exit, undetectable to prying eyes, led to a small forest three miles from the courtyard.
They proceeded to build several halls branching off from the tunnel's side walls.
A large hall was designated for research and development, while multiple warehouses were erected to store materials.
Production lines were established in separate halls for the manufacturing of devices, ammunition, and arms.
Crucially, they constructed 50 hidden living quarters, each capable of accommodating 30-50 people, complete with toilets and bathrooms.
A sewage system was connected to the river near the temple, its discharge point cleverly concealed within the forest where the river flowed, ensuring it remained undetected.
The entire project, involving over 700 workers, spanned more than three weeks.
The sheer volume of metal and tools required for construction was so immense that it depleted the entire stock in Bombay, necessitating replenishment from merchant ships arriving from other regions.
Hence the construction of the underground secret hidout was completed.
The sheer scale of the underground complex, coupled with the arsenal they were amassing, instilled a sense of security.
They reasoned that even if their enemies were to discover the hideout in the future, they would be met with overwhelming force.
The vast quantities of ammunition and grenades stored within, combined with the advanced weaponry they were developing, would be more than sufficient to obliterate any opposition.
Their enemies, unprepared for such sophisticated arms, would be utterly decimated.
Inside a vast hall within the newly constructed hideout, the original group members and several senior leaders gathered.
The sheer scale and sophisticated design of the underground complex left them in stunned awe.
However, Varun and Lakshman, their minds focused on the next phase of their plan, remained unfazed by their reactions.
They engaged in a serious discussion regarding the extraction of their leader, V.D. Savarkar, from British custody.
Savarkar, a formidable figure who stood against extremist ideologies, was a crucial asset to their cause.
While the British had initially maintained a tight grip on Savarkar, their stance had softened.
Savarkar's pragmatic approach, his understanding of the potential for catastrophic Hindu-Muslim clashes in a hasty British withdrawal, had earned him a degree of leniency.
Furthermore, the British, reeling from the aftermath of World War II, had deprioritized the strict containment of Hindu leaders.
Therefore, Varun and Lakshman devised a strategy that bypassed a risky, direct rescue. Instead, they proposed a ransom exchange.
The British, desperate for funds due to their precarious financial situation, exacerbated by the recent Nizam's death, would likely find the offer appealing.
Savarkar, in their eyes, was no longer a significant threat, and a substantial ransom would alleviate their immediate financial woes.