CHAPTER 13
OF BOMBS AND FEELINGS
“Faizi Sir!” Koel called. He paused, turning around. He smiled at her.
“Kya baat hai, mahutarma? Subah subah darshan karwaa diye aapne? Ab toh humaara din pakka achha jaayega”, he said.
She smiled a little. “Aap theek hain, na?”
His eyebrows furrowed in confusion.“Haan. Hume kya hoga?”
“Nahi. Woh… woh aap kal mission par gaye the, na? Toh… main thoda…”
“Worried thi?” He asked, a smile stretching over his face. “Aap humaare liye worried thi?”
Her eyes narrowed slightly. “Kisne kaha main worried thi? Main… main bas… curious thi.”
“Curious?” He repeated. “Kis cheez ke liye?”
“Ki… ki mission kaisa gaya?” She asked. “Mujhe… Mujhe undercover missions bahut interesting lagte hain, isliye.”
He chuckled. He nodded, beginning to walk to the training room. “Aap keh rahi hain toh hum maan lete hain”, he said. “Waise… aap worried nahi thi phir bhi hume bata rahe hain. Hum aur Sanju dono bilkul theek hain.”
She smiled a little. “I am glad… I mean, achhi baat hai. Main… main yeh thodi naa wish karungi ki aap logon ko kuchh ho.”
Faizi laughed slightly. Koel froze suddenly. He paused, giving her a questioning look. “Kya hua?”
“Aap awaaz sun rahe hain? Koi baat kar raha hai.” She whispered. He fell quiet, listening carefully. “Training room se aa rahi hai. Iss time par Karan Sir ke alaawa koi nahi hona chahiye. Sanju ma’am toh bathroom mein thi. Koi aur trainer bhi itni jaldi aata hai kya? Ya Karan Sir khud se hi baatein kar rahe hain? Do you think woh bhooth se baat kar rahe hain? Do you think woh finally…” She trailed off, raising her eyebrows, a smile spreading on her face. Faizi sighed, relaxing, and Koel chuckled.
“Tumne hume daraa diya”, he said, shaking his head. “Hume laga tha sirf hum hi dramatic hain. Tum bhi ho. Karan Monami se baat kar raha hoga.”
She frowned. “Monami? Abhi toh time hi nahi hua.”
He smiled fondly. “Use kitna hi bol lo, use time se pehle hi aana hai. Ab toh Karan ne bhi bolna chodh diya hai aur bas accept kar liya hai ki woh pehle hi aayegi.” He pushed up the door. The two paused in their seemingly one-sided conversation- Karan being the one speaking- both looking up.
Karan eyed her. “Tum bhi jaldi aane ki practice banana chahti ho kya?” He asked, rolling his eyes. “Ek bahut nahi thi? Itna hi shauk hai tum logon ko toh main time hi jaldi ka kar deta hoon.”
“Nahi, nahi.” Koel held up her hands hastily. “One time early bird”, she assured. “Kal se baaki sab ke saath.”
He sat down on one of the machines, checking it carefully. Faizi nodded to the corner Monami was sitting in. “Wahan jaakar baith jao aur wait karo.”
She nodded, sitting down next toher. Monami offered her a hesitant smile, before her head dropped. Her fingers fiddled with her boots idly. “So… I am guessing tum baat karne ke mood mein nahi ho?” Koel asked. Her gaze didn’t lift. She shook her head. Koel sighed. “Okay then. Silence, it is.”
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“Kya hua?” Sid asked quietly. “Tu khoyi khoyi lag rahi hai.”
“Bad night”, Monami whispered, doodling something on her notebook. He raised his eyebrows. She shook her head. “Mujhe koi baat nahi karni.”
He sighed. “Tu theek hai?” She nodded.
“Friday”, Koel groaned happily. “Kal half day aur parso, chhuti.”
“Agar hume koi dhang ka plan of action ya kuchh solid cheez nahi mili mission ke regarding, main kisi ko academy ke bahar nahi jaane dunga”, Sid warned. Monami looked up from the notebook, nodding in approval.
Their relaxed smiles dropped. “Kya?” Bala asked. “Sid Bhai ji, Sunday?”
“Bala G bro, humaare paas 2 hafte hain yeh mission complete karne ke liye. Teen din ho chuke hain, and hume kuchh nahi pata. Instructions mein likha tha, attack kabhi bhi ho sakta hai”, he said. “Yeh video game thodi naa hai ki hum pause karke nikal le kahin bhi.”
They looked at each other, before heaving sighs. “#Correct”, Chitra said.
“Suman ji ko chhuti chahiye”, she moaned.
“Agar hume kuchh mil jaaye, toh chhuti lene mein koi problem nahi hai”, Sid said. “Main bas abandon karke bhaagna nahi chahta. Koi plan of action, koi idea, kuchh toh hona chahiye.”
“Sid, woh sab toh uchit hai, par humaare paas kuchh hona bhi toh chahiye jiske sahaare hum aage badhe”, Prem ji said. “Humne teesri manzil par woh kamra kitni der tak chhan maara tha, par kuchh bhi prapt nahi hua.”
“Par kuchh toh hoga, na, ki unhone code likha hai”, Koel said. “Agar wahan par koi aur clue nahi hai, toh obviously, woh hi place of attack hogi, na? Trick ho sakti hai, I agree, par hum ek bahut obvious clue ko aise hi toh ignore nahi kar sakte hain. Agar yeh hi actual clue nikla toh?”
“I #agree”, Chitra said. “Jo humaara #attacker hai, usne abhi tak apna plan #execute karna start nahi kara hoga, isliye hume uss #room mein kuchh mila bhi nahi.”
“Par attack karenge kaise? Aur kispar?” Bala said. “Woh toh khaali hai.”
“Bomb?” Suman ji proposed, scrunching her nose in distaste. She hated them.
“Most likely”, Sid agreed. “Koi fake bomb ya toy bomb lagaa sakte hain. Yaa dummies use kar sakte hain logon ko replicate karne ke liye. Par bombs ke zyaada chances hain. Civilians par majority of terrorist attacks bombs ke through hi hote hain.”
“Aur agar usne abhi tak bomb nahi lagaaya hai, toh hum log use bomb lagaate hue pakad sakte hain”, Koel said excitedly. “Hum wahan par pehra de sakte hain.”
Monami raised her hand. “I d-don’t th-think pehra d-dena is a g-good idea. Jab h-humaari cl-classes hongi? Ya hum so r-rahe honge? And s-saari energy a-agar l-locker room w-waali p-possibility par l-laga di aur tr-trick n-nikli, toh h-humaara m-mission f-fail ho jayega.”
“Yeh baat bhi uchit hai”, Prem ji agreed.
“Tumhe lagta hai yeh dobara chaal hai?” Suman ji asked.
“Hum possibility rule out toh nahi kar sakte, na?” Sid said. “Ho toh sakta hi hai. Monu is right. Hum log agar saari energy ek hi plan mein devote kar denge, toh mission ke fail hone ke chances badh jaayenge.”
“Phir kya karein?” Koel asked.
Bala grinned suddenly. He tapped Sid’s arm, nodding to the top corner of the mess. “Camera.” Sid smiled.
---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---
Karan leaned back against the wall, stifling a yawn. If there was one thing worse than dancing in a club, it was watching people dance in a club.
Boring and annoying.
He kept the laptop aside, rubbing his forehead. The door opened. Faizi.
“Kya baat hai, Janaab?” He asked, sitting on his bed. “Kuchh nahi mil raha?”
He shook his head. “Nahi”, he said sourly. “Mujhe toh aisa lag raha hai yeh CCTV kahin waste hi naa ho. Do teen bandon ko aur uthaate hain, bulwaate hain aur phir raid maarte hain.”
He laughed. “Sanju ko yeh idea badha pasand aayega.”
He smiled a little. “Usko toh bas logon ko peetne mein mazaa aata hai. Kisi ko bhi saamne khada kar do.”
“Woh toh hai. Hum sach mein yeh plan execute karenge kya?”
Karan shook his head. “Pehle dekhne de. Shayad kuchh mil hi jaaye. Dhang se dekh hi nahi paaya hoon main. Bahut hi boring hai. Achha, sun, apne informers ko keh ki yeh definitely terrorist related hai toh careful rahein.”
His eyebrows furrowed. “Tumhe kaise pata?”
He patted the spot next to him. He typed a few things on the laptop, pulling up a file. “Baaki saari mails toh deleted aur unretrievable hain. Yeh shayad galti se reh gayi hogi. 10 mahine pehle ki hai kisi anonymous account se. 13 June ki.” He turned the screen a little to him. “‘School bus. Aaj dopehar 3 baje. Kaam ho jayega.’”
Faizi’s eyebrows shot up. “13 June, last year. Matlab… woh bomb blast jis mein 40 bacche mare the. Poore desh mein hangama hua tha.”
Karan nodded. “Probably. Club ke computers par milna, too much of a coincidence to be something else. It has to be terrorists.”
Faizi pulled his phone out. “Informers ko warn kar dete hain”, he muttered.
“Ek kaam kar. Last year ke woh bomb blast aur uss bus ke jitne footage milte hain, sab nikaal. Bus kahan parked thi, kis kis red light ke CCTV ne uss bus ko capture kara, bomb blast ki pics, sab kuchh nikaal.”
Faizi nodded. “Copy that.” He glanced at his watch. “Class ka time hone waala hai.”
He groaned. “Sunday kab aayega? Inn cadets se toh ek din ke liye chhutkara mile. Kisi din kasam se inhe jungle mein trek bolkar lekar jaunga, aur inn jaanwaron ko jungle waale janwaaron ke beech mein chodh aaunga."
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“K-Kaun jaayega?” Bala asked, as they peeked from behind the pillar. Karan was standing at the door, talking to Sanju. He had a scowl on his face, arms crossed. “Karan Sir ji toh bahut gusse mein lag rahe hain.”
Monami stared at him. ‘Yeh toh Karan Sir ka phatne waala avatar hai- Exploding Shergill. Saare clues waste hain, yeh hi attacker hain, aur yeh hi bomb hain. Bas cartoon ki tarah kaan se smoke nikalna baaki hai, warna jitne irritated aur gusse mein lag rahe hain, dimaag toh 500 degree Celsius tak garam ho hi chuka hoga. Bomb ki tarah agle insaan par phatne waale hain jisne inki taraf aankh uthaakar dekh liya.’
“Toh teh hua?” Prem ji said. “Monami jaayegi?”
Her head snapped to them. “Kya?” She said. “M-M-Main? Nahi!”
“Monami, jao, na?” Suman ji said. “Tumhe Karan Sir kuchh nahi kahenge. Tum aur Sid toh best cadets ho, na?”
“M-Mujhe toh s-sabse z-zyaada k-kahenge”, she said. “Mujhe woh p-pasand nahi k-karte.”
“Achha?” Koel said. “Jab subah baat kar rahe the, tab toh nahi lag raha tha ki pasand nahi karte. Mujhe toh aisa lag raha tha ki he has a soft spot for you.”
‘Soft spot?’ Monami thought incredulously. ‘Soft nahi, diamond se bhi hard spot hai mere liye. Abhi toh kaam niklwaane ke liye kuchh bhi bolegi yeh. Khud nahi jaana, toh jo kam bolti hai, use bhej do, woh toh kahan hi protest karegi. Koi nice nahi hai. Mujhe bali ka bakra banaakar phenk rahe hain andar.’ She looked at Sid, widening her eyes and sticking her lip out in a pout.
“Haan, main chal raha hoon tere saath. Hum dono ko jaana hai.” She stuck it out more. “Nahi, Monu, main akele nahi jaunga.” She jutted her chin out to the rest of the cadets. “Nahi, Monu, un mein se koi nahi jaayega. Hum yaa toh yahan argue kar sakte hain, ya phir jaldi se jaakar baat kar sakte hain.” She widened her eyes even more. “Monu…hum kuchh galat thodi naa kar rahe hain jo Karan Sir hume daantenge. Woh itne bure nahi hain.” Her eyes narrowed. She nodded to Karan Sir furiously. Sid rolled his eyes. “Main akele nahi jaunga. Chal.” She deflated.
“Mera toh din bhi bura jaa raha hai”, she whispered to him.
“Haan, toh distract ho jayegi”, he whispered back. “Aur Karan Sir kuchh nahi kahenge. Woh itne bhi bure nahi hain.”
Monami heaved a huge sigh. ‘I swear agar Sid se itna pyaar nahi karti, na, main…’
Karan suppressed a sigh, crossing his arms as he waited for Sid to approach. He tilted his head slightly, seeing Monami almost covered by him. He shook his head. ‘Chhup toh aise rahi hai jaise main insaan nahi, bomb hoon. Aur Siddharth iski shield hai.’ He glanced up, spotting the rest of the Foxtrot cadets behind a pillar. He almost smiled in amusement. ‘Yeh kya bomb squad bheji hai inhone aage? Baaki sab safe distance peechhe raho.’
“Yes, Cadet Siddharth Ganju?” He said. Sid reached behind himself, yanking Monami out from behind him. He gaveher a stern look when she moved to hide again, and she stilled, fidgeting nervously. “Cadet Monami Mahajan, aap ko main bomb lag raha hoon jo aap itna darr rahi hain?”
“Haan”, she said. His eyebrows raised. Her eyes widened, as her brain seemingly caught up with her word. She shook her head. “M-Mera m-matlab hai, n-nahi. B-Bilkul bhi n-nahi.” She smiled nervously.
He shook his head, sighing in exasperation. “Kya chahiye?”
“Sir, woh hume tech support chahiye”, Siddharth said.
He heaved another sigh. “Andar aao aur mujhe sab kuchh explain karo. Agar mujhe laga valid hai, toh main allow kar dunga. Come in.” He sat down on his chair, leaning back. “Bolo.”
“Sir, humne code solve kara aur hume code mein clue mila ki attack ki possible location third floor waale abandoned locker room mein hogi. Humne woh room search kara par hume uss room mein kuchh bhi nahi mila jo aage ka clue de sake. Hum wahan par nazar rakhna chahte hain.”
He nodded. “Aur tumhe tech support exactly kyun chahiye? Tum kya karoge?”
“Hum wahan par camera install karenge, jise hum ek laptop se connect karenge. Hum use observe karenge. Agar woh hi place of attack hai toh hum log uss special agent ko bhi pakad lenge aur possibly, attack bhi stop karenge.”
Karan hummed. “Kisne figure out kara ki real code invisible ink mein likha hua hai?”
Siddharth grinned proudly. He looked at Monami, patting her back. “Monu ne.”
“Good job.” She smiled slightly, ducking her head. Her open hair fell to the front, hiding her face. He looked at Siddharth. “Hum tumhe tech support allow kar denge. Main Ustaad ji ko keh dunga, tum unke paas jaakar cheezen le lena.” He held up a finger in warning. “Hume exactly pata hoga ki tum uss laptop par kya kar rahe ho. Agar tum logon mein se kisi ne bhi uss laptop ko mission ke alaawa kisi bhi cheez ke liye use kara, toh tum sab ko severe punishment milegi. Do you get me?”
“Yes sir”, Siddharth said. “Thank you, Sir.”
“Dismissed.” Monami looked at Siddharth, and then at Karan. She muttered something to her best friend, and he nodded, moving out of the room. Karan raised his eyebrows. “Boliye, Rani Sahiba.”
“Th-Thank you”, she said.
He furrowed his eyebrows. “Kis liye?”
“Aa-aapne m-mujhe h-hint diya. H-Help k-karne ke l-liye th-thank you. Aap h-hint n-nahi dete toh m-main yeh f-figure out n-nahi kar p-paati.”
“Maine sirf hint diya tha. Credit goes to you, Cadet, for figuring it out.”
She shook her head. “Th-Thank you”, she insisted.
He nodded. She opened her mouth, taking a step forward. She paused, shaking her head. Turning around, she ran out of the room. He stared after her, tilting his head.
‘Aisa lagta hai ki tumhaare iss nervousness ke peechhe tum kuchh aur hi ho- kuchh aisa jiski jhalak bhi tum sirf apne paas rakhna chahti ho. Tumhe dekhkar kaun kahega ki tum meri best cadet ho? Darti ho, stammer karti ho, chhupti ho, par haar nahi maanti ho. Aisi spirit ke saath itna fear, itni insecurity? Ho kaun tum? Tumhaare baare mein kya opinion banaoon main, Monami Mahajan? Tum toh samajh hi nahi aa rahi ho mujhe.’
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“Monu, tu… and she’s not here again”, Sid said, sighing and pausing in the doorway.
Sanju spun her chair around, raising her eyebrows. “Woh kitaabe lekar kahin bahar gayi hain. Shayad mess mein ya chhat par hogi. Use wahan padhna achha lagta hai.”
He walked in. “Main usse puchhne aaya tha ki woh humaare saath Sunday ko bahar chalegi kya par…”
“Use inn sab ka shauk naa hai. Tu toh use batero jaanto hai. Tujhe toh pata hi hogo.”
He sighed. “Pata hai. But miracles hote hain, na?” He smiled slightly. “Monu se toh main puchh lunga. Aap apna bataaiye.”
“Hum kaa batayein?”
“Aap chalengi?”
She narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms. “Hum? Tumhaare saath? Kaahe ke laane?”
He shrugged. “Aise hi. Hum sab bahar jaayenge. If you don’t have any plans, join us. It’ll be fun.”
“Agar hum aaye, toh kisi ke laane fun naa hoga.”
“Mere liye toh hoga”, he said. “Aap mere saath aa jaao.”
“Aur baaki jhingoor, humaara matlab, cadets ka kya?”
“Unka kya? Hum ek saath jaate hain because we’re friends. Iska yeh matlab nahi hai ki sabko necessarily har time saath hona hi chahiye.” He hopped to his feet. “For example, hum sab Monu ko apne group ka part maante hain. Par woh kabhi sabke saath hang out nahi karna chahti.” He shrugged. “That’s fine. Isse kisi ko bura nahi lagta. Agar fun mein bhi itne rules honge, toh fun fun nahi rahega.” He smiled. “I get it. Aap kaafi busy rehti hain. Par… if you want, you’re welcome to come. I’ll be happy.” He glanced at his watch. “And… I need to run. Mujhe Monu ko dhoonda hai aur bahut saara homework karna hai. Bye.”
Sanju stared after him as he ranout of the room. She smiled slightly.
‘If you want, you’re welcome to come. I’ll be happy.’
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Karan glanced up when Faizi sat down across him, keeping his plate down. “Kuchh mila?” He asked.
He shook his head. “Abhi tak toh nahi. Samajh hi nahi aa raha exactly dekhoon kis cheez ke liye. Sirf actual club ka CCTV hai, baaki andar ke rooms toh hai hi nahi. Main dekhoon kya?”
“Arey, tum toh hawaa mein se clues nikaal lete ho”, he said, unconcerned. “Tumhe kuchh toh mil hi jaayega.”
“Kuchh toh hona chahiye, na, yaar?” He sighed. “Woh bomb blast waali details ka kya hua?”
“Humne keh diya hai. Keh rahe the ki aaj raat ya kal subah tak tumhe de denge.” Faizi suddenly paused, staring at the entrance behind him. Karan followed his gaze, turning to look.
Koel.
His eyes flicked between Koel and Faizi, who stared at her with a smile on his face. “Faizi…”
He hummed. “Kya hai?”
“Woh darr jayegi”, Karan said. “Blink toh kar le.” Faizi blinked a couple of times. “Zyaada blink kar raha hai.” He stopped. Karan shook his head in exasperation. “Kya chal raha hai yeh? Paagal ho gaya hai kya?”
Faizi smiled slightly, looking at him. “Tumhe pata hai, woh humaare liye worried thi.” He raised an eyebrow. “Aaj subah, woh jaldi humaare liye uthi thi. I think woh bhi hume pasand karti hai.”
“Really?” Karan said. He nodded. “I have to say. Bahut hi buri choice hai.”
“Tum rehne do. Tumhe bataane ka faida hi nahi.”
“Tu jaise use nihaar raha tha, na, mujhe kya, poori academy ko pata chal jaayega.” He flicked his forehead. “Thoda tone down kar. Warna, woh paagal samjhegi. Waise, sahi hi samjhegi. Continue.”
“Hum use date par puchhna chahte hain”, Faizi said seriously.
Karan’s gaze lifted in interest. He glanced at Koel again. “Faizi… wo cadet hai. Dekh, tu use sach mein pasand karta hai, toh puchh le. Par agar aise hi hai, toh yeh dhyaan rakhna ki tu kitna bhi try kar le, par personal life professional life ke beech mein aa hi jaati hai, especially naraazgi. Agar tujhe lagta hai ki yeh worth it hai, toh go for it. Bas… time pass mat karna, please.”
He shook his head. “Koel time pass waali ladki nahi hai.” He smiled a little. “Hume woh sach mein pasand hai.”
“Uska baccha hai, Faizi. Tujhe pata hai, na, tu apne aap ko kis cheez ke liye sign up kar raha hai?”
“Karan, hum tumhaari tarah nahi hai. Hum har cheez naap tol kar nahi kar sakte hain, har cheez ke baare mein itna soch nahi sakte. Hume itna pata hai ki hum Koel ko itna pasand karte hain ki hum uske saath yeh chance lena chahte hain. Nikhil, training, agar yeh sab kabhi problem banti hai, toh hum tab dekhenge. Abhi ke liye, hum yeh sab accept karte hain.”
He smiled a little. He nodded. “Woh achhi ladki hai. Bas… dhyaan rakhna.”
Faizi grinned. “Tumhe humaari chinta ho rahi hai? Tum humaari kitni fikar karte ho, na?” He faked a sniffle.
He rolled his eyes. “Itna drama mat kar. Tujhe Koel ke saamne hi peet dunga.”
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Sanju looked up in surprise when Monami shot up in bed. Her eyes were wide open in fear, sweat drenching her.
“Monami”, she muttered, walking closer to her. She whimpered, flinching as her eyes darted to her. Sanju paused, slowing down. “Kaa hua, Monami? Tu theek hai?”
Fat tears rolled down her cheeks. She brushed them away, taking a deep breath. She nodded. Sanju sat down in front of her on the bed.
“Bura sapna dekha kya?” She asked softly.
She nodded. Her hands fisted the blanket. She squeezed it, clutching it close to her chest. Sanju poured a glass of water, holding it out to her. She took it with shaky hands, taking a tiny sip. Her hands trembled as she kept the glass back down, the water splashing around a little. Sanju scooted closer.
“Baat karni hai tujhe?” Monami shook her head. Sanju reached out slowly, clutching her arm. She flinched, ripping it out of her grasp in instinct. Sanju held up a hand in surrender. “Tu… tu bahut dari hui lag rahi hai, Monami. Sab theek hai?”
She nodded again, wiping more tears she had shed. She pulled her knees close to her chest, staring at a distance. “M-Main w-washroom j-jaakar aayi.” She got out of the bed.
Sanju stared after her. “Yeh itna darr gayi hai. Aisa kaa dekh lao isne?” She muttered to herself. She looked back at the door. “Ise aise akela… ek baar dekh leto hain ise.”
She stood up, walking to the bathroom. She stepped in quietly, glancing around. Sobs made her freeze, and she looked at the only occupied stall. Sanju leaned against the slab, clutching it till her knuckles whitened. She closed her eyes.
Few seconds passed, perhaps few minutes.
Sanju turned away, walking out quietly. She didn’t want an audience.
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