This may be reduced to the shortest edge-disjoint paths problem.
Do BFS (breadth first search) traversal from a1 -> a2 and remove the path and compute BFS b1 -> b2. Now reset the graph and do same with b1->b2 first and remove path and then a1->a2. Whatever sum is minumum is the answer.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.