FF: Ishq-e-Watan *Chapter 78 Posted* - Page 73

CHAPTER 55

CONFLICTS

The breakfast with Parikshit was a little unusual. It was awkward. Monami wasn't all that sure on how to react. She wasn't angry at him anymore. But she didn't like him either. Should she engage him in a conversation?

In the end, she focused on her poha, eating it quietly. There were a few talks, but no one quite acknowledged the addition of the new member- neither taunting him, nor engaging him.

Parikshit was satisfied with the breakfast. It wasn't welcoming, but it wasn't the other way around either. He ate quietly, before sitting patiently, waiting for everyone to finish. It was already 0930 hours. Would they all just go straight to class or what? They all sat there, even after they had kept their plates on the counter, just chatting idly.

"Parikshit", Chitra said, and he looked at her. "Tum hume apne #baare mein batao."

He glanced at others, who had fallen quiet, looking at him expectantly. Even Monami. "Well, main ek CA hoon. Chartered Accountant. And main 8 saal se corporate life mein tha before I decided to leave it, and serve my country."

"K-Kyun?" Monami asked quietly. "Yeh s-suddenly k-kyun?"

"I guess mujhe hamesha se army bahut fascinating lagti thi. And agar aapko desh ko serve karne ka chance mil raha hai, then chhodna kyun? It's an honor. Nahi?" He looked at her, finding something flickering in her eyes. She smiled a little, nodding. "Aap log batao? What did you do before this aur aapne kyun join kari?"

Prem ji was the first to start, and the rest followed, telling their stories to him in brief.

"Meri Mumma... She w-was in the a-army. L-Lieutenant C-Colonel Dr. Juhi Mahajan", she said proudly. "A-Almost 10 s-saal pehle, woh sh-shaheed ho g-gayi." Parikshit winced. "M-Mujhe h-hamesha se u-unki t-tarah b-banna tha. I am a d-doctor. Main isse p-pehle apne D-Dad ke s-saath unke h-hospital mein ek r-resident d-doctor thi before I r-resigned to c-come here."

"Monami... I am sorry", he said sincerely.

She looked away. "Main y-yeh nahi k-kahungi ki it's o-okay because it's not b-but... l-let's move on." She paused. "S-Sorry for the c-coffee."

"Let's move on", Parikshit assured.

It was slightly more pleasant after that little conversation was out of the way, but Parikshit could see the reservations still. The little looks by Sid, slight weariness by Koel, Monami's quietness, but he was hopeful.

---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---

Karan was drawing something on the board, placing random X's and O's on different spots but as soon as the eight entered the room, he erased it with the duster, turning his attention to them.

"Chess ke rules pata hai?" He asked, leaning against the table. The eight looked at each other, nodding. "Sabko? Nahi pata toh bata do?" They all nodded in confirmation. He crossed his arms. "Good. Aaj ek thinking exercise karte hain."

Monami smiled a little. They didn't have too much of them, perhaps a couple since the training had started, but they were always interesting. They kept her in her head for hours and she always had plenty of things to think about.

"Kisi ko pata hai ki chess mein haathi, ghode, rani, raja, wazir, pyaade, pieces ko yeh kyun kehte hain?" He asked.

Koel raised her hand the first, although a couple others had their hands up too. Karan nodded to Koel. "Chess ko war jaisa maanta the. Strategy soch paane ke liye khelte the."

"Correct", he said. "Chess mein stakes kam hote hain. However good of a strategy game chess is, it's just that- a game. Shayad similarities se zyaada, differences hain. I want you guys to think ki chess aur war mein differences kya hain, and as a strategist, yeh humaare liye achha saabit hota hai ya bura, and kaise. It's an open discussion."

Prem ji, surprisingly was the first to raise his hand after a beat of thoughtful silence. "Shatranj mein hum badhe aaram se apne pyaade, apne mauhre kurabaan kar dete hain par asal mein hum woh sab karte hain ki hum ek ek sipaahi ko bacha sakein."

Karan nodded. "As a strategist, sometimes aapko apne soldiers ko aisi position mein daalna padega jahan par unke bachne ke chances bahut zyaada kam hain. But those are the more dire situations. A successful strategy, not only ends in a successful result, but also, in the conservation of as many resources as possible. And human resource se zyaada koi resource zaroori nahi hai." He glanced at Bala, but he seemed to understand what he had said in English. He smiled slightly.

Monami raised her hand hesitantly, and he nodded to her. "J-Jab hum ch-chess kh-khelte hain, t-tab humaari aur o-opponent ki st-strength s-same h-hoti hai. H-Hume pata h-hota hai ki d-doosre s-side ke p-paas kya hai, k-kitna hai. Ch-Chess mein s-saare p-pieces ke m-moves pata h-hote hain. H-Haathi sirf s-seedha chal s-sakta hai, wazir s-sirf d-diagonal. Par w-war mein naa h-hume y-yeh pata h-hota hai ki d-doosri s-side ke p-paas kitni s-strength hai, n-naa unke koi p-patterns. We are b-blind."

"Very good. But?" He prompted. She paused, thinking. She tilted her head in confusion.

"But jaise hum blind hain, waise doosri side bhi hai", Parikshit said. "Humaari strength, humaare patterns, woh unse bhi toh hidden hain. We are both blind. Aur strength disparity mein yeh bhi ho sakta hai ki hum superior ho."

"Hum log emotions ko factor in nahi kar sakte chess mein", Sid said. "War mein we are not dealing with pieces, we are dealing with humans. Toh fear, anger, saari possibilities hoti hain."

"Jasoos bhi", Bala said. "Kabhi kabhi koi humaare naak ke neeche se gaddari karta hai, aur hume pata bhi nahi chalta."

"What's gaddari, bro?" Sid asked.

"Betrayal", Karan said quietly.

'Academy mein ek spy hai.'

'Usne mere informer ko maara hai.'

His hands clenched around the table he was leaning against. He closed his eyes. All he needed was for them to take the bait. Raawat. He had, for the first time since the exams had started, gone out of the academy on what seemed to be an errand run, and Faizi was following him, keeping an eye out.

Patience. Karan desperately needed that. He was getting really tired of the waiting. He took a deep breath, shaking his head. He opened his eyes, trying to shift his attention back to the class.

The cadets talked amongst themselves and Karan listened quietly, intervening only when they missed a crucial point of discussion. They were good for their time of training, raising points he wouldn't have expected out of them if he hadn't known their capabilities.

He smiled slightly. He had chosen a good team.

---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---

Sid sighed, staring out at the city. He had wanted to spend some time with Sanju- was dying to, would be more appropriate- but she had work to do. He looked down at the beer in his hand, finishing the last of the can. Too much drinking resulted in punishments and he, anyway, couldn't afford a hangover with the new training regime, so he didn't pick another one.

"Itne akele kyun ho?" A voice asked.

He turned around. Faizi. He smiled at him. "Kuchh nahi", he muttered.

There was a slight chuckle. "Bura naa manna agar thoda personal ho gaya", Faizi said. "Sanju ko baare mein soch rahe ho?"

Sid's head snapped up to him. His eyes widened. "Kya?" He asked. The older man merely smiled. Sid rolled his eyes. "Aapko Koel ne bataaya hoga?"

"Nahi. Humaari aur Koel ki iss baare mein koi baat nahi hui hai. Humaara andaaza tha jo sach nikla", he said. He leaned against the railing. "Hume kaafi samay se lag raha tha par kuchh dinon se woh shaq yakeen mein badal raha tha." He paused. "Tum use bataoge?"

"Main unki feelings ke baare mein thoda jaanna chahta tha", Sid said. "Warna pata chala confess karne gaya, hospital pahunch gaya."

Faizi laughed. "Concern galat nahi hai. Woh thodi violent hai." Sid smiled in amusement. Thodi? "Par... humaari maano toh chance lekar dekh lena chahiye."

Sid looked at him in interest. "Aapse unhone kuchh kaha kya?"

He shrugged. "Pata nahi."

"Pata nahi ya bata nahi sakte?" He asked.

"Does it matter?" He countered. Sid reached down in the bag, holding out a can of beer in offer. Faizi shook his head. "Hum bahut kam peete hain." He tossed it back in the bag. "Tum drink karte ho regularly?"

Sid nodded. "Ek point par... I would say it was a problem", he admitted. "But that was a long time ago. Hard time so... thode unhealthy coping mechanisms the. Monu helped me get out." He smiled. He looked up at Faizi. "Ek baat puchhoon?"

Faizi nodded. "Puchho, na? Jo puchhna hai, puchho."

"You're... you're serious about Koel, right?" He asked. "I know she is serious about you. I know woh aapko bahut pasand karti hai and... she is a very good friend. I would really hate to see her heartbroken. I just hope aapki priorities mein woh bhi aati ho."

"Siddharth, hum tumhe assure kar sakte hain ki hum Koel ke saath koi game nahi khel rahe hain. Humaari feelings genuine hain. Hum uske liye bahut care karte hain."

Sid eyed him. "Sir... maine aur Monu ne bahut kuchh dekha hai apni life mein. And one thing I learnt, yeh baat bolna, even believe karna, bahut easy hai ki aap kisi ke saath hamesha rahoge when things are good. But when everything falls apart, that's when you really know. I hear you now, but main aapko tab believe karunga jab main aapko uske saath dekhunga. Not before that."

Faizi opened his mouth, the words dying on his tongue when his phone rang. He took it out. Karan. "Haan, bolo, Karan?" He said.

'Night drive par chalega?'

He frowned. "Matlab?"

'Raawat academy se bahar jaa raha hai.'

"Itni raat ko?"

He hummed. 'Apparently. Chalna hai toh aa jaa. Warna mujhe toh jaana hi padega.'

"Aa rahe hain hum." He cut the call, looking at the cadet.

Sid tilted his head. "Everything okay?"

Faizi nodded. "Haan. Baat karne achha laga, Siddharth. Par abhi hume jaana hai."

"Of course", he said.

As Faizi walked away, there was something about the conversation that lingered in his mind. Perhaps this serious side of Siddharth that while he knew existed, he has never quite seen. But mostly, it had to be Koel.

Where was their relationship going?

---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---

"Itna chup chup kyun hain?" Karan asked, turning a corner as they quietly sat in the car, watching the man do whatever he was doing at the market.

Faizi sighed. "Kuchh soch rahe the", he muttered. Karan looked at him, flicking an eyebrow up. "Bataate hain. Jab khud samajh aaye."

He tilted his head, eyeing him. "Sab theek?" He hummed. Karan turned back to Raawat, letting his best friend wallow in whatever thoughts he was so deep in.

His eyes narrowed, focusing on a man that was glancing at him periodically. He grabbed the camera, snapping a few shots of the man.

"Faizi, Sanju ko bhej", he said, handing him the camera. "Use bol database check kare."

His thoughtful gaze sharpened into a focused look and he grabbed the camera. Karan started the car again, following Raawat as he pulled out of the market.

"Raawat ko tail kar rahe hain woh log", Faizi said. Karan nodded.

"Number plate?"

"Stolen", he answered. "No lead."

He would have been very surprised if there was. He tensed up when Raawat pulled up onto a quieter road. It was already late, night having fallen in earnest.

He pushed down on the breaks when the car ahead stopped abruptly, Raawat's car stopping too when another pulled up in front of it. They were mostly hidden, having kept a safe distance.

He grabbed his gun, cocking it and both the men hopped down from the car, mostly shielded by the darkness of the night. Raawat hopped down from his jeep on the insistence of the men, his own gun drawn but not aimed. There were a few words of exchange, some insults thrown from the looks of it, and then one of them raised his gun.

Faizi, beside him, pulled the trigger. The shot didn't miss. The gun clattered to the ground and the man followed, the life drained out of him.

Raawat dove for cover, ducking behind his jeep. Shouts and confused yells were enough of a distraction as the three soldiers raised their guns, pulling the triggers in quick succession.

Karan paused for a few moments, before he walked out from the cover. He paused, looking around. The men were all dead. He sighed.

"Karan", Faizi shouted, alarm and panic shining in his voice. A loud crack followed, his ears ringing from the suddenness.

A man fell to the ground, his gun clattering noisily in the dead of the night. He had two holes in his head. Karan blinked. He looked up between his best friend and Raawat, both with their guns drawn and smoking.

Karan glanced around, reanalyzing the area. No one. He looked at Raawat, who was inspecting the dead bodies too. He looked up at Karan and then at Faizi. "I was the bait?" He asked quietly. His sharp eyes glared at the two and they looked at each other.

"We had suspicions", Karan said carefully.

Raawat gave him a deadpan look. "You want me to believe that you two of all the commandos in the academy were acting as my personal security because of a suspicion?"

Karan was spared to answer when a bullet whizzed past him, and the three ducked instinctively, glancing at the direction. A bike. Two men.

Not another beat missed before the three dove to take covers, guns drawn again.

Faizi narrowed his eyes, taking a deep breath. In. Out. The tire. He flinched as a bullet missed his head by an inch, throwing himself down on the ground.

He peeked out a second later. The bike had stopped. But they had taken covers too, bullets flying between the two sides. Faizi pulled the trigger.

One down.

"Faizi, try kar ki mare na", Karan said.

Faizi narrowed his eyes. The hand was too close to the head. He needed to shoot the hand. The world fell apart around him as his concentration sharpened. He pulled the trigger.

The gun clattered to the ground.

Faizi exhaled, lowering the gun. Karan was the first one out, his own gun out as he carefully approached the man. Faizi and Raawat were quick to follow.

The man glared at them as they approached. "Tum mujhe kabhi zinda mahi pakdoge", he spat. Karan's eyes widened as he crushed a pill between his teeth. He knelt down, checking the pulse. He sighed. Dead. Probably cyanide.

"I am assuming itne saare log aise hi randomly toh aaye nahi honge", Raawat said. "Kya chal raha hai?"

Karan and Faizi glanced at each other. "Sir, matter confidential hai. Hume lagta hai Batra Sir ke cabin mein unke saath yeh discussion better hai", Faizi said. He glanced around. "I think aapko academy jaana chahiye. It is not safe here."

"Cleanup crew ko notify kar diya hai", Karan said. He looked at the shattered glass of the jeep. "Aapko woh log chhod denge."

Raawat didn't seem happy with the lack of answers but he nodded. It was silent for a couple of minutes as Karan and Faizi inspected the bodies, looking for a hint.

The jeeps pulled up, and Karan ordered a couple men to take Raawat back, instructing them to keep their eyes and ears open and warning them of possible attacks.

It was almost an hour of analyzing and patting down the several bodies before the two majors had a chance to return back. Typically, their juniors handled these specifics but they couldn't risk the clues vanishing.

"Achha hai itna late ho raha hai." Faizi shook his head, sitting in the passenger seat of their thankfully intact car, courtesy to the fair distance they had parked it in. He inspected his dirty clothes, brushing off some. He wasn't even sure where the dirt had come from. "Koel sawaal puchh puchh kar jaan le leti agar aise dekh leti", he grumbled.

Karan chuckled. "Goliyan chali hain humpar par tujhe iss baare mein chinta hai ki Koel ko jawaab dena padega?"

The words knocked his breath out and he looked at Karan wordlessly, blinking. The younger major merely started the car, not quite noticing as his world fell apart.

'Humaari feelings genuine hai. Hum uske liye bahut care karte hain.'

'Goliyan chali hai humpar par tujhe iss baare mein chinta hai ki Koel ko jawaab dena padega?'

He licked his suddenly dry lips, staring out at the dark outlines of the trees in the jungle. As the words echoed, and he thought about it, Faizi accepted what he probably knew but was too terrified to accept.

He was in love with Koel.

---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---

Darkness shrouded the room, his own heart pounding in his ears. Faizi turned in his bed, staring at the fast asleep Karan across the room.

'Goliyan chali hain humpar par tujhe iss baare mein chinta hai ki Koel ko jawaab dena padega?'

The words made him flinch. He turned to his back, staring up at the ceiling. He was in love. He took a deep breath. What to do now?

A 6 year old Faizi grinned, staring at his parents quietly. His mother blushed deeply, her fair skin flushed red as she accepted the flower his father offered her.

'Abu, aap Ammi ko phool kyun de rahe ho?'

'Faizuddin', his father said, pulling him onto his lap. 'Jab kisi se mohabbat karte hain, toh yeh sab dene se uss mohabbat ka izhaar karte hain.'

His jaw clenched. Just like the promises of love his father had sworn to his mother, the flowers had wilted. He never quite liked flowers after that, never quite trusted in love as much.

It wasn't that he believed love didn't exist. No. He believed it did. He saw it every day. He saw it in the patient waiting of soldiers to go home to their significant others, saw it in the little gifts sent, the daily calls, the worry when they went for missions. He believed in that love.

He just didn't quite trust it.

'Aapki zubaan se nikle ek bhi shabd par hum bharosa nahi karte', a 23 year old Faizi spat. 'Isi zubaan se aapne humaari Ammi ko kaha tha ki aap unse mohabbat karte hain. Aur isi zubaan se aapne unhe kaha tha ki woh aapki kuchh nahi lagti. Naa aap par bharosa hai aur naa aapke shabdon par.'

He wasn't all that strong, he had long known that. He didn't have his mother's quiet strength, nor Karan's invincible mental fortitude or even Sanju's stubborn persistence. And so, he had kept everyone at an arm's distance. Karan had been the only one who had sneaked past his fence, quietly standing by and never leaving.

And now Koel.

The only problem was that he wasn't sure she wouldn't leave. And that was a big problem. A really, really big problem.

He shifted again, lying on his stomach as he stared at the wall. What was he supposed to do now? His problem wasn't Koel. It was his feelings. So he'd throw these feelings away. He shifted, staring at the ceiling. He nodded to himself.

That'd do it.

He'd throw his feelings away. And for that, he needed to stay away from her.

The thought made his insides twist with displeasure. But he nodded to himself again. He would stay away from Koel from tomorrow.

CHAPTER 56

HOSTILITY

Karan eyed Faizi. He was acting... strange, to say the least. His plate was almost untouched. He poked at the fruit, chasing a grape around the plate idly. What was going on?

"Faizi... kya hua?" He asked.

His gaze lifted. "Woh..." He looked down. "Karan, woh..." He took a deep breath. "Hume lagta hai..."

An unbearable pain sprang up in his lungs suddenly, and Karan's hand flew to his chest, suppressing a groan. The pain dulled, before fading into a slightly lingering ache. He opened his eyes.

"Karan", Faizi said, alarmed. "Kya hua?"

"Kuchh nahi", he said, rubbing his sternum. "Tu bol. Kya keh raha tha?"

His face fell again. "Woh... hum keh rahe the... hume lagta hai..."

"Faizi!" Koel said. He almost froze. Karan's eyebrows furrowed, looking between the two. Koel approached them, smiling at Karan politely. "Hello, Sir. Faizi! Woh..." She trailed off when he stood up abruptly.

"Hume jaana hai", Faizi said, looking at Karan. "Hum baad mein milte hain."

"Faizi?" Karan called, tilting his head as he stared after him. He looked at Koel, finding her just as quizzical. She looked at him, and then at the cadets and then back at the door.

"Isne mujhe ignore kyun kara?" She asked quietly. She looked at Karan hopefully. "Sir?"

"I think woh bas pareshaan hai", he said slowly. "Tum dono ka kuchh jhagdha hua hai kya?"

"Sir, jhagdha toh tab hoga, na, jab dhang se milenge. Exams ke time se dhang se baat hi nahi hui. Woh hi toh puchhne aayi thi abhi since Raawat Sir chale gaye hain. Par..." Hurt flickered on her face, and Karan scowled, seeing the tears well up in her eyes. She turned around, quietly walking out of the mess. He glanced at the Foxtrot cadets, finding them staring after her in concern too.

'Yeh Faizi ko ho kya gaya hai? Koel ke saath chodho, yeh toh kisi ke saath aisa behave nahi karta hai.'

---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---

Monami peeked up from behind her book, eyeing her best friend. He was staring up at the ceiling, a contemplative look on her face. She nudged him with her knee, kicking him harshly when he didn't even twitch. Sid looked up. "Kya hai?" He asked, kicking her back slightly.

"Kya soch raha hai?" She asked.

He glanced around. He leaned closer. "Main soch raha hoon... main Sanju ma'am ko ek date ke liye puchhoon."

Her eyebrows shot up. She kept the book aside, looking at him in interest. "Yeh sudden decision kyun? Kuchh hua hai kya?"

"Bro, kal, na, main raat ko chatt par tha. And I talked to Faizi Sir there. Unhe pata hai ki main Sanju ma'am ko pasand karta hoon. And he told me to go for it."

She tilted her head. "So, you think Sanju ma'am confessed to Faizi Sir ki woh tujhe pasand karte hain? Faizi Sir ne yeh kaha tujhe?"

He shook his head. "Nahi. But I do think Sanju ma'am ne Faizi Sir ko bola. Or at the very least, Faizi Sir ko yeh lagta hai ki Sanju ma'am bhi mujhe pasand karti hai, because if that wasn't the case, Faizi Sir mujhe kabhi maut ke muh mein nahi bhejte."

Monami eyed him, thinking it over. "Gear pehenkar jaayi", she said after a moment. "Helmet wagera. Ma'am ka raudra roop bahar aa gaya toh pit jaayega."

He frowned. "Who's raudra?"

She rolled her eyes. "Gusse waala roop."

His face cleared in realization. "Good point", he said. He frowned. "Par phir achha nahi dikhunga."

She clicked her tongue. "Unhe pata hai teri gandi si shakal kaise dikhti hai. Agar impress hona hota, toh ho chuke honge. Aur nahi hona hota, toh nahi hi hue honge. Par agar tu bina gear ke chala gaya aur unhone tujhe punching bag samajh liya, toh tu alive se dead hota zyaada der nahi lagegi. Itni jaldi toh main bhi nahi aa paungi."

"Gandi si shakal?" He repeated. "Chasme ki zaroorat hai? Tujhe kahan se gandi lag rahi hai meri shakal?"

She clutched his jaw, turning it a little. She released it. "Ek bhi angle se achhi nahi lag rahi."

"Kya baat kar rahi hai?" He asked, pulling her closer. He pushed her down on the bed, putting his weight on her. She groaned, struggling underneath him. "Kabhi achha nahi bol sakti mere baare mein."

The door opened and the two paused, looking at it. Sanju looked from her file, tilting her head quizzically. Sid released her, climbing off of her and Monami sat up, setting her hair. She shot Sid a look, hitting his arm lightly.

"Kaa khel tamasha karte rehto ho tum dono?" Sanju said, shaking her head.

"Ma'am!" Monami complained. "Yeh m-mujhe m-maar raha tha."

Sanju looked at Sid and he gave her a nervous smile. "Maar nahi raha tha", he said. "Main... Main massage de raha tha." He glared at his best friend.

The trainer merely shook her head, keeping the file on her bed. She crossed her arms. "Kabhi kabhi hume lagto hai ki tum dono bachpan se bahar hi naa aaye ho. Abhi tak bachpan hi chal raho hai tum dono ka. Kabhi badha hono hai ya nahi?"

Monami looked at Sid from the corner of her eyes, finding him biting his lip as he listened. His eyes drifted to her as well, and he narrowed his eyes, glaring at her. She glanced away, innocently inspecting the wall. The paint was chipping off. It should be painted again.

---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---

"Can I ask you something?" Parikshit asked hesitantly.

Chitra looked up, nodding. "#Of course. Puchho."

He glanced around, leaning closer. "Faizi Sir aur Koel... they are dating, na?" He asked. She hesitated. "I know. Subah mess mein dikha. I just wanted to confirm."

She nodded hesitantly. "They are a #couple. But..." She pointed a finger at his chest. "Don't you #dare tell anyone."

"Kis kis ko pata hai?" He asked.

"Our team. All of us. The #trainers, us cadets. #Everyone. But iss ke bahar #kisi ko nahi. And no one should know. Woh log yeh nahi chahte."

He nodded. "And what about Sid and Sanju ma'am?"

She frowned. "#Pata nahi. Sometimes, lagta hai they #like each other. And sometimes lagta hai, they are #just friends. Toh I don't know."

"Aur Karan Sir aur Monami?"

Chitra gave him an incredulous look. "Un dono ke beech #kuchh nahi hai. They are #friends. Bas."

Parikshit tilted his head. "Tum itna sure kaise ho?"

"Tumhe aisa #kyun lagta hai ki un dono ke beech kuchh hai? I can't #imagine them dating anyone. They are #closed off. Woh log dost hain, yeh hi kabhi kabhi #strange lagta hai. But they are pretty good #friends." She smiled at him. "Tum batao? Do you have a #girlfriend?"

He nodded. "Haan", he admitted. Chitra looked at him in interest. "Kaafi cliché hai. Hum log bachpan se dost the. And it turned to love."

"#Bachpan ka pyaar", she said, chuckling. "How sweet." He smiled, shrugging. "Ek kaam karoge? Mere liye koi #hot sa ladka dhoond do. Bilkul #Karan Sir jaisa hot?"

His smile dropped. "Did you just call Karan Sir hot?"

She nodded. "#Hottie."

He shuddered. "Please, no. I mean, I admit woh good looking hain. But... do you really have to use the word hot to describe him?"

Chitra sighed. "Sabko kya #dikkat hai? Sab aisa hi react karte hain jab main Karan Sir ko #hottie bolti hoon."

He winced. "Please don't. Stop saying it."

"Kitne #overdramatic ho tum." She huffed. "Fine. Nahi bolti kuchh bhi main."

---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---

"Ambar bahut gussa hua tha", Colonel Batra said.

Karan shrugged, leaning back in his chair. "It was important", he said. "I hope forensics ko unn bodies mein se kuchh mile because nahi mila, toh this lead is dead too."

"You don't think they'll attack again?"

He shook his head. "Woh jo bhi karna chah rahe hain sab chhupakar karna chah rahe hain. Waise bhi, Raawat waapas Delhi chale gaye hain. I doubt they'll put in that much effort. Unke majority forces Maharashtra mein hi hain." He leaned forward. "Ek cheez thi kal raat ke attack mein jo mujhe bahut strange lagi."

"Strange? Kaise?"

"Woh do log. Jo baad mein aaye. On that bike. I don't think woh hume maarne aaye the. Sirf do log? They didn't come to kill us. Mujhe lagta hai they came to ensure ki unke logon mein se koi zinda naa bache. They were making sure ki there is no one to interrogate."

Colonel Batra nodded. "Tumhaari next move kya hogi?"

He sighed. "I don't know. I am hoping ki forensics se kuchh pata chale. Warna... I don't know. Wait karenge? I am running..." He trailed off as a pain stabbed his lungs. He groaned lightly, his hand flying to his chest. What was going on?

"Karan?" The pain faded slightly, and he opened his eyes again. "Karan. Tum theek ho? Kya hua?"

He shook his head. He rubbed his chest again, rubbing away the dull ache. "I am fine", he assured.

"Kya fine?" He demanded. "Kya hua tha?"

"Bas... ek dum se dard hua", he said.

Colonel Batra frowned. "Tumhe kal raat chot lagi thi kya?"

Karan shook his head. "Aise hi hoga, Sir. I am fine. Ab toh dard bhi nahi ho raha."

"Agar yeh dobara hua, toh I want you to get yourself checked out", he said. "Samajh aayi?" Karan nodded. The colonel narrowed his eyes. "Nahi kara, toh main tumhaari ma'am aur tumhaari Bhabhi dono ko bata dunga."

His eyes widened. "Bilkul check karwaunga", he assured.

---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---

"Faizi!"

He closed his eyes, biting his lip. He paused, waiting for his girlfriend to catch up. "Koel, zaroori hai kya?" He asked. "Hume kuchh kaam hai."

She crossed her arms. "Haan, zaroori hai. Tum mujhe avoid kyun kar rahe ho?"

"Hum tumhe avoid nahi kar rahe hain", he said. "Hume bas kaam hai."

She sighed in frustration. "Jhooth toh mat bolo mujhse." She stepped closer. "Did I do something? Let's... let's talk, na? Jo bhi hai, sort karte hain, na?"

His phone rang and Faizi thanked whoever had made the call. He fished it out. Forensics. "Haan, bolo?" He said, accepting the call.

"Sir, report taiyaar hai. I think aapko, Sanju ma'am aur Karan Sir ko aana chahiye."

"Hum aate hain", he said. He looked at his girlfriend. "Koel, hume sach mein jaana hai. Hum baad mein baat karte hain."

She hesitated before nodding. "Raat ko?"

"Dekhte hain", he said. She stepped closer, leaning up and pressing a kiss to his cheek. He blinked in surprise, glancing around. No one. He smiled at her, before moving to the forensics lab.

His smile waned. Away. He needed to stay away. He needed to get out. He was in too deep.

He fished his phone out, shooting a text to Karan and Sanju. Forensics ki report taiyaar hai. Aa jao.

---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---

"Maine suna hai tum first aayi ho?" A voice said. Abhi.

Monami looked up. She offered him a polite smile, nodding. He smiled back, walking closer. He sat down next to her on the ground.

"Congratulations", he said.

"Th-Thank you", she said hesitantly. He didn't go overboard or anything, did he?

"Main tumhaare liye kuchh laane ka soch raha tha, as a congratulatory gift. But... then I figured zyaada ho jaayega", he said. She almost sighed in relief. "I hope you don't mind ki main koi gift nahi laaya."

"N-Nahi", she said. "I am th-thankful aa-aap n-nahi laaye." She eyed him. He seemed to be... drained, to say the least. She had always known to be energetic, too expressive, too... out there. But now, he could almost be classified as... quiet. "Aap... aap th-theek h-hain?"

He looked at her for a long moment. He nodded. "Bas..." He shook his head a little. "This life... it gets to you sometimes."

"K-Kuchh h-hua hai?" She asked.

He paused. "Have you ever hurt someone you love intentionally?" Her eyebrows furrowed. She slowly shook her head. "Shayad... usse zyaada aapko hurt karta hai."

"Sir..." She looked at him, tilting her head. "Aapne... k-kisko hurt k-kiya?"

Abhi was quiet for a long time, drowning in his own thoughts. She fell silent too, his words lingering in her mind. It was strange, worrying to see him like that.

It was some time later that she stood up. "Monami", he said. She looked at him. "I know tum mere liye aisa kuchh feel nahi karti ho, par... I do genuinely, really love you."

She tilted her head. "Aa-Aap m-mere baare mein k-kuchh nahi j-jaante hain. H-How can you l-love me?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. Main sirf itna jaanta hoon ki tumhaare saath rehkar jo sukoon milta hai... woh kisi aur ke saath nahi milta."

She wasn't sure how to answer that, so she didn't. Turning around, she walked off the terrace, his strange mannerisms lingering in her mind.

---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---

"Paperwork saara ready hai, Param", Colonel Batra said. "Bas ek cheez bachi hai. Psychological evaluation. Maine kal ke liye schedule kari hai. 1100 hours."

Param nodded. "Psych eval ke baad kitna time lagega?"

"Bas kuchh din", he said. "Aaj Thursday hai. I think Monday tak sab ho jaana chahiye, granted tumhaari psych eval mein koi dikkat naa aaye."

"Do you have a mission in mind for me?"

Colonel Batra sighed deeply, nodding. "I am hoping tum mere trainers ka thoda pressure kam karo", he said. "Karan, Faizi aur Sanju kabhi kahenge nahi but they are working to their limits. Tum ek field agent nahi ho toh bahut saara kaam hai jo tum nahi kar sakte ho." He glanced away. "But... tumhaari assistance invaluable hogi mission mein."

"Woh hi mission jiski wajah se Karan ko death threats aaye hain?"

"It's a complicated mission. Badha bhi aur bahut dangerous bhi", he said. "Main tumhe koi bhi detail abhi nahi bata sakta, but once you are officially in, main tumhe briefing de dunga. Abhi ke liye, tum apne psych eval par dhyaan do. It'll probe deeper than regular psych eval. Tumhe yeh pata hai, na?"

He nodded. "Of course."

"Param... woh sirf tumhaare legs ke baare mein nahi puchhenge. They'll ask about everything. Suraj, tumhaari Mom... Mission Pari", he pushed deeper.

"I know", Param said. He took a deep breath. "I'm ready."

---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---

Karan raised an eyebrow at the smiling face of the forensic expert. "Shaadi hai tumhaari aaj?" He asked. The expert shook his head slowly. "Toh itna khush kyun ho? Daant dikhaana band karo."

"I found something on one of the bodies", he said.

"Mic chahiye? Ya mauhrat?" He said. "Bolna shuru karne ke liye."

"Right", he muttered. He led the three agents through the bodies, pulling the sheet off of one. The cyanide guy. "Hume iske hands par se ek bahut interesting cheez mili hai."

"Tum kaa beech mein ruk jaato hai?" Sanju asked, when he paused, looking at them. "Taali bajaaye? Kaa milo iske haath par se?"

"Chemical ke traces", he said. "RDX."

"Yeh bomb banaa raha tha?" Faizi asked.

"Sirf iske haathon par nahi, iske kapdon par, iski saari skin par. Doosre bike waale ke upar se bhi mila hai", he said. "Jitna amount mila hai, I would estimate ki ek nahi, dozens of bombs banaa raha hai yeh."

"Bomb blasts?" Karan muttered. The map sprang up in his mind.

'Could it be... uss map par inn bomb blasts ke baare mein koi information ho? Par... kaise?'

---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---

Sid whistled lightly to himself as he adjusted the books in his hands. He needed to turn in the cryptology homework by tomorrow. He looked up when he heard some footsteps, freezing.

Param.

He was coming down from the stairs, his attention on his phone. Sid stared at him. He looked up suddenly, and he paused too, his foot hovering in mid-air.

A glint of metal drew his attention and he glanced down. Those were prosthetics. His gaze lifted up again, meeting with the older agent's.

"Sid", he said, walking down.

Monami stared at the front door, knees clutched to her chest. Sid sighed, sitting down next to her. 'Monu...' She looked up. 'Bhaiya nahi aayenge.'

She scowled, glaring at him. She hit her fist at the couch, staring at him determinedly.

His jaw clenched. 'Woh nahi aayenge', he said. 'You need to accept that. It's been a month.'

She stood up, running up the stairs and Sid flinched when she slammed the door shut. His jaw clenched, and he glared at the door. 'Kabhi maaf nahi karunga main aapko', he muttered. 'Never. Maine aapko apna bhai maana tha. And you left jab mujhe aapki zaroorat thi.'

Sid turned around. He didn't want to say anything. He didn't have anything to say to him.

---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---

Karan stared at the map, biting his lip in concentration. If this was a clue, what was hidden in here? And how?

He winced, his hand flying to his lip. Blood. He had cut it. He shook his head, wiping the blood away. He frowned, feeling some liquid trail down his lip and he grabbed a handkerchief, wiping it. Blood? He pressed the cloth to his lip, holding it for a couple of seconds.

He pulled it away, shaking his head at the red drops. He ran his finger over his cut lip, pulling it away. No blood. He grabbed his bottle, gulping some of the water down to neutralize the copper taste of blood.

The door opened and he glanced behind, finding Faizi walk in. His eyebrows furrowed. "Tu Koel se milne nahi gaya?" He asked. "Itne din se ro raha tha ki Raawat Sir ke chakkar mein dhang se mil nahi paa raha hai. Aur ab woh chale gaye hain toh mil nahi raha?"

Faizi looked at him. "Woh... hum... bahut thak gaye hain. Kal mil lenge."

Karan's eyebrows furrowed. He crossed the room, keeping a hand on his forehead. "Faizi... teri tabiyat theek hai?"

"Haan, haan", he said.

"Tu itna pareshaan kyun lag raha hai? Kya hua hai?"

He sighed in frustration. "Karan... hume kuchh samajh nahi aa raha hai ki hum kya karein." Karan's eyebrows furrowed. Faizi hesitated. "Hum... Hum Koel se pyaar karte hain."

Karan's eyebrows shot up. Say what now? "Huh?"

"Hume kuchh samajh nahi aa raha."

"Kya samajh nahi aa raha hai?" Karan asked. "Jo samajhna tha, woh toh tu samajh chuka hai. Ab kya nahi aa raha?"

Faizi was silent for a long time, and Karan sat down on his own bed, watching his best friend quietly. "Agar woh hume chodhkar chali gayi toh? Isse achha toh yeh hai, na, ki hum apni feelings ko hi khatam kar dein."

He tilted his head. "Feelings hain. Tera manpasand khaana hai, jo khaakar khatam kar dega."

Faizi looked at him. "Hum mazaak nahi kar rahe hain."

"Main bhi nahi kar raha. Seriously bol raha hoon. Feelings aise thodi naa khatam hoti hain." He shook his head. "Don't tell me... tu Koel ko isliye avoid kar raha hai?" He sighed. "Mujhe laga tu relationships ke maamle mein isse zyaada samajhdaar hai."

"Tum, na, apne taane apne paas rakho", he snapped. "Hume nahi chahiye."

"Tujhe kya lagta hai? Usse door rehne se teri feelings magically vanish ho jaayengi? Aur milega kya tujhe khatam karke feelings? Aur chal, maan bhi liya ki feelings fade ho gayi? Phir kya?"

"Yeh hi toh nahi samajh aa raha hai hume", he cried out frustratedly. "Hume nahi pata yeh relationship ka future kahan hai aur yeh hume daraa raha hai."

Karan stared at him. "Tune hi mujhse kaha tha, na? Tu har cheez dimaag se, naap tol kar nahi soch sakta. Tu calculated nahi hai. Toh ab kyun itna soch raha hai?"

Faizi fell quiet, looking down and fidgeting with his sleeve. "Sochna toh chahiye hi naa", he said after a moment. "Hum nahi seh paayenge agar humne use apne itne nazdeek aane diya aur phir woh humse door ho gayi."

"Aur iss darr mein use jaane dega?" Karan shook his head. "Itna darpok toh nahi hai tu."

Faizi looked away. "Toh tum kya keh rahe ho? Hume kya karna chahiye?"

"Bas itna ki darr mein aakar kuchh aisa decision mat le lena jisse tu naakhush rahe. Time le le. Soch le. Tujhe yeh rishta nibhaana hai, toh teri marzi. Aur nahi nibhaana, woh bhi teri marzi. Par jo bhi soch raha hai, kar raha hai, woh Koel ko pata hona chahiye. Use beech mein guessing mein mat rakhna."

Faizi heaved a sigh. "Woh hurt thi, na?"

Karan nodded. "Tujhe usse baat karni chahiye", he said.

Faizi glanced at the time. "Kal", he promised.