KarMi OS Collection: Kahaaniyan - Page 6

KYA PYAAR KAAFI HAI:

Her lips touched his cheek, before she pulled away, smiling at him.

"Good night", she said. "I hope tum sapnon mein aao."

He couldn't help but smile a little. "Good night." He sighed a little, tilting his head and watching her walk away, back to her dorm.

He pushed the door open to his room, raising an eyebrow at Faizi. "Tu soya nahi?" He asked.

"Kaam, Janaab", he muttered, typing something on his laptop. He flicked his eyebrows up at Karan. "Date kaisi thi?"

"Uske saath thi toh achhi hi hogi", he said, shrugging. His best friend stared at him. "Kya?"

"Nahi, soch rahe hain ki hospital mein admit karein ya goli maarein?"

"Huh?"

"Tum romantic baat kar rahe ho, toh pakka tabiyat kharaab hai. Toh hospital. Aur date par se waapas aakar itni si bhi smile nahi toh uske liye goli maarni chahiye, shayad akal aa jaaye."

He hit his arm, and his best friend laughed, rubbing it. "Bakwaas kara lo tujhse bas."

"Arey, tum bandi ke saath date par jao, bandi ko girlfriend banao, bandi ke saath full on romance karo, aur hum bakwaas bhi naa karein?"

"Ho gaya?" He asked.

"Karan?" Faizi said, and he sighed, giving him a questioning look. "Tum dono ka jhagdha hua hai kya?"

"Nahi. Humaara jhagdha kyun hoga?" He said, plopping down on his bed. He pulled his phone out, unlocking it.

A picture of Monami and him stared back. Diwali selfie. She had asked him how she looked. What could he have said to that? Beautiful was too short of a word for how she looked. He didn't even think before blurting a word out. Better.

He had wanted to hit himself. Better? She hadn't liked his response, and he had walked away before he could physically hit himself. What sort of response was that?

"Janaab?" Faizi said, and he glanced up. "Kya hua hai?"

"Faizi, relationship mein... pyaar kaafi hota hai kya?"

His eyebrows furrowed. "Matlab?"

"Matlab... main usse pyaar karta hoon. Wo kaafi hai?"

"Karan, kis cheez ke liye kaafi hai? Tum kya baat kar rahe ho?"

He sighed. "Yaar, use hamesha pata hota ki kya bolna hai, kya karna hai. Main kya sunna chahta hoon, kya sunne ki zaroorat hai. Sab kuch. Aur mujhe kuch nahi pata hota. Use kya chahiye, kya achha lagega. I don't know." He paused, trying to think of a way to phrase his feelings. "Faizi... I love her. I really, really do." He sighed, rubbing his face as he tried to make sense of his feelings.

"Hum samajh rahe hain, Janaab." He kept his laptop aside, sitting down next to him and keeping a hand on his shoulder.

He sighed. "Kya samajh raha hai?"

"Yeh toh aisi baat ho gayi ki ladki ko noodles chahiye aur chef ne ek dum achhe se, first class, five star noodles banaaye, aur phir ro raha hai ki upar patte nahi hai, daalne ke liye."

Karan stared at him in disbelief, blinking. He held up a finger. "Tu mere pyaar ko noodles keh raha hai?" He twisted his hand back and Faizi laughed, groaning a little as Karan twisted it a little more.

"Achha, sorry, Janaab", he said, laughing. "Chodho."

He let go of his arm, hitting his shoulder. "Tujhse kuch nahi hoga. Bas bakwaas karta rehta hai."

"Karan, jataane ka tareeka alag hai tum dono ka. Par pyaar toh dono karte ho, na? Aur dono yeh jaante ho ki doosra pyaar karta hai."

"Par Faizi..."

He sighed. "Achha suno. Sanju aur Siddharth ek doosre se pyaar karte hain. Siddharth uske liye badhi badhi dates plan karta hai, restaurants, over the top cheezen. Par Sanju use street food khilaane lekar jaati hai, use boxing sikhaati hai, use bike ride par lekar jaati hai. Par dono khush hain, na? Siddharth street food khaakar bhi khush hai jab tak Sanju uske saath hai, aur Sanju restaurant ka khaana khaakar khush hai jab tak Siddharth uske saath hai. Samajh rahe ho?"

He nodded. "Koshish kar raha hoon."

"Janaab, aapki khushi ke liye usne aapko apne pyaar se azaad kar diya tha. Aapki zindagi ke liye apni dreams sacrifice kar di thi. Aur tumne kitni baar uski jaan bachai hai, apni jaan risk par daalkar. Uske dreams ke liye apna career line par laga diya tha. Toh yeh choti choti baaton se kya farak padta hai?"

"Thanks, Faizi."

"Ab hume kaam karne do", he said, patting his shoulder and moving back to his own bed.

Karan fiddled with his phone absentmindedly, thinking his words over again. It vibrated in his hands, and he clicked it open, opening up Monami's message.

'Agent Shergill, next date kal? Wo jo kulfi stand tha, na, wahan par chalenge, okay?'

He smiled a little. 'Jo hukum, Rani Sahiba.'

'Kaash kal aur jaldi aaye... I love you.'

KHICHDI: A TALE OF CONFUSION:

"#Hello", Chitra cooed. She knelt down in front of the toddler, holding her hand out in a handshake.

It was the three year reunion of their graduation and the cadets had met after a fairly long time. They had of course, worked as civilians and occasionally, gotten calls from Colonel Batra for missions. Between their jobs and missions, they had barely gotten time to catch up with others.

The toddler stuck her thumb in her mouth, sucking as she smiled adorably. She waved, smiling shyly.

"#Aww", she said. "Aapke Mumma Papa kaun hai?"

She stared back, just smiling as she sucked on her thumb.

"Aap kiske saath aaye ho?"

She pointed to someone, and Chitra looked up, following her finger. Her eyes widened. Monami?

Monami was a mother?

"Kavya", Karan called, and the toddler looked up. He hadn't noticed Chitra talking to her, and he gestured to her to come to him. "Kavya, come here, baccha."

The toddler ran up to him, and Karan picked her up in his arms, leaving Chitra staring with wide eyes.

They hadn't talked a whole lot but Monami and Karan hadn't even told them about their daughter?

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

Bala paused as he heard the sound of a child crying. He glanced around, before following the noise, looking around and seeing a toddler.

She was sitting on the floor, rubbing her eyes and crying.

"Yeh baccha kiska hai?" He muttered. He walked closer, kneeling down. "Aapke Mummy Papa kahan hai?"

She stared at him, her sobs dying down a little. Bala stared at her expectantly, and she stared right back. She opened her mouth, and let out a scream that made him fall back, clutching his ears.

"Iss ambulance ko koi chup karao warna mujhe ambulance ki zaroorat padh jayegi", he said, as her screams continued.

"Kavya", a voice called, and they quietened down almost immediately.

Sanju appeared and the toddler stood up, running to her and hugging her. Bala's jaw dropped and he stared at the two.

Sanju picked her up, wiping her tears. "Bola tha, na, idhar udhar naa jaana", she scolded lightly. "Chalo."

She rubbed her back comfortingly, as the toddler hiccupped a little from her crying session, failing to notice a shocked Bala.

"Sid Bhai ji ka baccha hai?" He said. "Aur unhone bataaya bhi nahi?"

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

"Pehle, dekhiye, aap aur Koel kitna ladti thi", Prem ji said "Ab dekhiye."

Suman ji smiled. "Ab dekho, Karan Sir ji aur Monami bhi toh ek doosre se kitni nafrat karte the, aur Sanju madam Sid se, par ab unki shaadi ho gayi hai."

"Satyavachan", he said.

A toddler's laughter made them pause, and they both peeked into Koel and Faizi's room, their jaw dropping open. Koel, Faizi and Nikhil were playing with a toddler and she shrieked with laughter as Nikhil chased her around.

"Kavya, main aa raha hoon", he said, wriggling his fingers and running behind her.

"Mumma", she screamed suddenly, laughing.

Suman ji scowled. "Iss kamini ka ek aur baccha hai aur isne Suman ji ko bataaya bhi nahi? Hamesha apne bacche chhupaati rehti hai yeh kamini. Ab Suman ji bilkul isse baat nahi karegi."

She scoffed, turning around and walking off. Prem ji glanced inside, staring wide eyed before following her.

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

"Karan Sir", Chitra called and he turned out, waiting as she ran up to him.

"Haan, bolo?"

"Karan Sir, #Congratulations", she said. His eyebrows furrowed together. Congratulations?

"Kis liye?"

"Arey, aapke aur Monami ke #baby ke liye", she said. His eyebrows shot up and he stared at her. "Aap ne pehle bataaya hota toh main #gift bhi deti, par later, #promise." She grinned. "Okay, #bye." She ran off because he can ask her anything.

He stared after her, his jaw open. "Baby? Mera aur Monami ka baby bhi hai? Yeh kab hua? Mujhe kisi ne bataaya kyun nahi?" His face cleared into one of understanding. "Monami pregnant hai kya?"

He dashed to their room, pausing as he found his wife sitting on the desk, writing something.

"Monami", he said, and she looked up. She offered him a bright smile, and he smiled back hesitantly. "Monami... tumhe... tumhe mujhe kuch bataana hai kya?"

She frowned, thinking back. She shook her head. "Nahi. Mujhe toh kuch nahi bataana."

'Aapke aur Monami ke #baby ke liye.'

"Are you sure?" He asked. "Kuch nahi bataana?"

She shook her head. "Nahi, Karan. Tumhe kuch bataana hai kya?"

He paused. "Monami... tum theek ho?"

"Haan, Karan, main theek hoon. Kya hua hai? Tum itna weirdly kyun behave kar rahe ho? Jo bolna hai, saaf saaf bolo."

"Nahi, kuch nahi", he said.

'Chitra ko galatfehmi ho gayi hai kya?' He thought. 'Par wo toh kitni confident sound kar rahi thi.' He looked at his wife. 'Yeh pregnant hai ya nahi?'

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

"Monu bro", Sid said. "Yeh Bala G bro ka kya scene hai?"

"Pata nahi, bro", she said. "Tune pakka kuch kara hoga."

They tilted their heads, staring at the passive aggressive Bala.

"Aapne yeh achha nahi kara", he said as he walked past them, shaking his head. "Main aapko kabhi maaf nahi karoonga."

"Bro... do you think yeh paagal ho kya?" Sid asked.

"No idea, bro", she said. "Yeh... Karan bhi itna weirdly behave kar raha tha dopehar mein aur lunch par Suman ji aur Prem ji bhi, aur pata hai? Chitra ne mujhe dekha aur itni weird si smile di. Aur ab yeh Bala. What's happening?"

"Kisi ne khaane mein toh kuch mila diya?" Sid asked.

"Prem ji", Monami called, and the man stopped. "Mujhe aapse kuch poochhna tha."

"Haan, haan, poochho."

"Aap Koel ko lunch par aise kyun dekh rahe the?"

He sighed, shaking his head. "Koel se hum bahut rusht hai. Usne hume nahi bataaya ki uska baccha bhi hai."

The two stared at him before looking at each other. Sid leaned over. "Clinically insane kab declare karte hain?"

"Prem ji, Nikhil ke baare mein toh sabko pata hai", Monami said. "Aap usko baare mein ab kyun gussa ho rahe hain?"

"Nikhil ki vartalaap nahi kar rahe the hum. Uska ek aur baccha hai?"

"Kya?" Sid said. "Koel ka ek aur baccha hai? Kaise hua?"

"Kaise hua ka kya matlab hai, Sid?" Prem ji said. "Jaise hota hai, waise hi hua hoga."

"Prem ji, sexual intercourse ke alaawa bhi bacche ho sakte hain, jaise IVF-" Monami started, and Sid slapped the back of her head.

"Chup", he said, elbowing her. "Point yeh nahi hai ki Koel ka baccha IVF se hua hai ya normal way se, point yeh hai ki Nikhil ke alaawa uska ek aur baccha hai aur usne hume yeh bataaya nahi."

"Correct", she said, nodding. "Par kyun?"

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

"Bala G bro", Sid said. "Kya hua hai? Seedha seedha bolo."

"Yeh hua hai ki aap ne iss Shaitan ke Saale se itni badhi baat chhupaayi", Bala said. "Mujhe laga tha hum bhai hai, Sid Bhai ji."

"Aye, Siddharth, ke baat chhupaayi tune Bala se?" Sanju asked.

"Maine kuch aisa nahi chhupaaya", Sid said. "Bala G bro?"

"Arey, baatein toh kisi aur ne chhupaayi hai", Suman ji said, crossing her arms. A lot of people nodded, before pausing and looking at each other.

"Tumhe pata hai?" Prem ji said, pointing to Chitra.

"#Of course", she said, smiling at Monami.

She frowned, pausing. 'Yeh meri taraf kyun dekh rahi hai? Baat toh Koel ne chhupaayi hai, na? Aur smile kyun kar rahi hai?'

"Sanju madam, aap zyaada bhole mat bano", Bala said. "Aap ne bhi chhupaayi hai."

"Humne?" She said, pausing and thinking. "Naa. Humne toh koi baat naa chhupaayi hogo."

"Accha? Aapke aur Sid Bhai ji bacche ke baare mein nahi chhupaaya?"

"KYA?" Sid and Sanju echoed together.

"Sanju?" Karan asked, staring at her in shock. "Tera baccha hai?"

"Naa, Sir ji. Humaara koi baccha naa hogo."

"Mera baccha hai?" Sid said.

"Matlab, tumhaara ek baccha hai par wo Sanju ka nahi hai?" Faizi asked.

"Nahi, nahi, Sid aisa nahi kar sakta", Monami said.

"Mera koi baccha nahi hai!" Sid protested, holding up her hands as Karan and Sanju took threatening steps forward.

"Siddharth, kaun hai wo?" Sanju demanded.

"Kaun kaun hai?"

"Jiske saath tera baccha hai?"

"Mera koi baccha nahi hai. Naa tumhaare saath, naa kisi aur ke saath. Mummy promise, tumhaari kasam, Monu ki kasam. Pakka nahi hai."

"Arey, Bala, tumhe koi misunderstanding hui hogi", Chitra said. "#Baby toh kisi aur ka hai?"

"Satyavachan", Prem ji said.

"Kyun, #Karan Sir?" She said.

"HAIN?" Monami said, looking at Karan. She narrowed her eyes. "Karan, tumhaara koi baccha hai?"

"Arey, #dono ka hai", Chitra said.

"Mera baccha hai aur mujhe hi nahi pata?" Monami said.

Karan looked equally confused, staring at his wife. "Yeh kab hua? Main kahan tha? Kyun tha? Monami, tumne mujhe bataaya kyun nahi?"

"I want to know too", Sid said. "Bro, tera baby hai aur tune bataaya hi nahi?"

"Mujhe hi kisi ne nahi bataaya toh main kaise bataoongi?" Monami asked. She stared at her stomach as if it will tell her that she was once pregnant and carried a baby and delivered it.

"Ek second, ek second", Suman ji said. "Tune bhi apne bacche ke baare mein chhupaaya?"

"Arey, nahi", Karan said. "Humaara koi baccha nahi hai." He paused. "Ek second. Tune bhi? Aur kisne chhupaaya hai?"

Four hands were lifted and pointed straight at Koel, and she stared wide eyed at it.

"Kya?" Faizi said. "Koel, Nikhil ke alaawa tumhaara koi aur baccha hai?"

She swallowed. "Main bataane waali thi."

Everyone stared at her. "Tumhaara baccha hai aur tumne yeh baat kisi ko nahi bataayi?" Karan said. He slapped Faizi over the back of his head. "Oye, saand. Tujhe kaisi nahi pata?"

"Use kaise pata hoga?" Koel asked.

"Kaise matlab?" Monami said. "Tum dono ek saath rehte ho, na? Faizi, tumhe kaise nahi pata?"

Faizi stared at his wife. "Hume nahi pata. K-Kahan chhupaakar rakha hai tumne use? Aur... aur kiska baccha hai wo? Tum... tum humaare saath aisa kaise kar sakti ho? Kahan hai wo?"

She pointed to her stomach and everyone tilted their heads.

"Oh", several people said at once.

"Tum... pregnant ho?" Monami asked. She nodded.

"Nahi", Suman ji said.

"Kya nahi?" Koel said. "Main pregnant hoon. Is mein kya nahi?"

"Nahi, matlab tumhaara ek aur baccha hai", she said. "Nikhil aur iss waale ke alaawa."

"Suman ji, itne bacche bhi nahi hai mere ki yeh bhool jaoongi ki kitne hain", she said. "Ek Nikhil hai aur yeh hai. Bas. Koi aur baccha nahi hai mera."

"Toh uss bacchi ka kya jo tumhaare aur Faizi Sir saath thi?" Prem ji said.

"Kaunsi bacchi?" Koel said.

"Arey, main keh raha hoon Sanju Madam aur Sid Bhai ji ka baccha hai", Bala said.

"Nahi, #Karan Sir aur Monami ka."

"Nahi, nahi", Monami immediately protested. "Mera koi-"

"Arey nahi, Faizi Sir aur Koel ka", Suman ji said, talking over her. "Waise bhi, ise bacche chhupaane ki aadat hai. Ek aadh chhupa kar bhool gayi hogi."

"Oh hello", Koel said. "Main koi kidnapper nahi-"

"Siddharth, sach sach bata. Tera koi baccha hai?"

"Nahi hai, Sanju", he said. "Pakka-"

"Monami, tum #Mom ho, right?" Chitra asked.

"Nahi hoon", she said, sighing.

"CHUP! SHUT UP!" Karan yelled, and everyone fell quiet, turning to stare at him. "Sab chup. Ab jo main poochh raha hoon, sab sirf usi ka jawaab denge." He pointed to Sid. "Teri koi baccha hai, Sid?"

He shook his head. "Nope. None. Zero kids."

"Waise bhi, tu khud baccha hai", Karan muttered. He pointed to Sanju. "Tera hai?"

"Sir ji, Siddharth ka naa hogo toh humaara kya asmaan se tapkega? Humaara bhi naa hogo."

"Point", he muttered, turning to Koel. "Tumhaara Nikhil aur new baby ke alaawa koi hai?"

She shook her head. "Nope. And mujhe pata hai mere kitne bacche hain." She glared at Suman ji as she opened her mouth. Karan gave her a stern look to Suman ji and she fell quiet.

He turned to his wife. "Monami, in case I missed any? Baccha hai humaara? Pregnant ho?"

"Nahi, nahi aur nahi", she said, crossing her arms. "And what do you mean missed any? Humaara ek bhi baccha nahi hai, toh agar hoga, toh miss kaise karoge? Baccha hai ya call jo miss ho jayegi. Koi baccha nahi hai humaara."

"Nahi bhi samajh aata hai mujhe", he muttered. "Chitra, tumhe kyun lagta hai mera aur Monami ka koi baccha hai?"

"Maine aapko #ek bacche ke saath dekha tha. Abhi kal ki party mein", she said. "Aur jab maine uss bacche se poochha tha ki wo kiske saath aayi hai, usne #Monami ko point kara."

"Bro, tera baccha hai and you didn't even tell me?" Sid asked.

"NAHI HAI, NAHI HAI, NAHI HAI", she screamed. "Ab agli baar kisi ne mujhse mera koi baccha hai, main goli maar doongi use."

Everyone leaned away from her, staring wide eyed at her.

"#Karan Sir ki company ka asar", Chitra muttered. She slid down in her seat, when both Karan and Monami glared at her.

"Main... main keh raha hoon ki Sanju madam ka baccha hai", Bala said. "Mujhe naam bhi pata hai. Kavya."

"Haan", Suman ji, Prem ji and Chitra said before pausing and looking at each other.

The six stared at him before they all facepalmed in unison.

"Wow, #sync", Chitra said.

"Itni der se yeh Kavya ki baat kar rahe hain", Karan muttered.

"Mera dimaag kha liya hai inhone aur yeh Kavu ki baat kar rahe hain", Sid said.

"Dimaag hai tumhaare paas?" Koel said.

"Ek second, yeh #Kavya hai kaun?" Chitra asked.

Monami and Sid raised their hands, opening their mouths.

"Tum dono ka baccha?" Suman ji shrieked.

"NAHI", they screamed together.

"In dono ke bachpan ki dost ki beti hai", Karan said. "Wo kal busy thi toh isliye Sid aur Monami sambhaal rahe the. Wo hai bhi nahi ab academy mein."

"#Ohh", Chitra said. "Matlab, aap dono ka koi baccha nahi hai?"

"Nahi", Karan said, sighing tiredly. "Koi baccha nahi humaara."

"Waise, #cute bahut hoga. Kar lijiye", she said. Monami and Karan stared at her, and she shrank back. "#Sorry."

"Ek second, ek second. Hum iss sab mein main cheez toh bhool hi gaye", Sid said. He turned to Koel. "Koel, tu pregnant hai? Kab, kaise?"

"Kaise matlab? Jaise hota hai, Sid", Karan said.

"Nahi, actually, there are other ways like IVF-"

"Arey, tu dobara wahan pahunch gayi", Sid said.

"Toh tu bhi toh dobara 'kaise' par pahunch gaya", she said back.

"Kin paagalon se shaadi kar li hai", Karan said to Sanju, a hand on his face.

"Katayi borante", Sanju agreed.

EK TOOTA HUA KHWAAB:

Faizi smirked a little, seeing the satisfied smile on Aneesh's face, as Monami and Karan glanced at each other before turning to go to their respective rooms.

"Badha has rahe ho, na, tum, doctor sahab", he muttered to himself. "Thoda toh gham banta hai. Kabhi khushi, kabhi gham."

He whipped his phone out, his fingers flying over the keypad.

'Janaab, audience milegi aapke patch up ko. Phool ko mat pata chalne dena.'

'Tu seedha Monami bhi bol sakta hai... Aur kaun hai audience mein? Aur kyun?'

'Jisne aag lagaayi hai. Use bhujta hua bhi toh dekhna chahiye. Koi aur aag jala dena, Janaab.'

'Yeh waali nahi bujha payega wo. Das minute, Faizi.'

He smiled at the response, keeping it inside.

"Doc!" Faizi said and he looked up. "Wo abhi abhi hume Monami ne kaha tha ki usko aapse kuch baat karni hai. Dispensary mein hai wo mahutarma, aapka wait kar rahi hai."

He smiled. "Monami ko? Kyun?"

"Ab yeh toh hume nahi pata."

"Waise... Monami aur Karan ka break up ho gaya hai kya? I mean, jaane se pehle, Karan Monami par itna barsa tha, aur wo bhi ro bhi rahi thi", he said, the two starting to walk to the dispensary.

"Hume toh kuch zyaada pata nahi, Aneesh. Wo Sanju ko lekar hi sab itna busy the ki zyaada baat nahi kar paaya koi bhi. Par tumhe itna interest kyun hai?"

"Monami meri dost hai, bas concerned hoon uske liye."

"Of course. Concerned toh hona hi chahiye."

'Koi zaroorat nahi hai tujh jaise insaan ko concerned hone ke liye. Humaare Bhai aur uski bandi ke beech mein tumhe toh bilkul nahi aane denge hum', he thought.

"Ek second", Aneesh said, typing something on his phone, the two walking into the dispensary. Faizi glanced around, a small smile appearing on his face at the two.

Karan had his hands on Monami's face, gently wiping her tears. He leaned forward, kissing her forehead.

'Waah, Janaab. Aap toh badhe fast hain. Das minute mein patch up bhi kar liya?'

"Hum chalte hain phir", Faizi said. Aneesh nodded, and he walked out of the room, but paused at the doorway, peeking in.

Aneesh looked up from his phone, his gaze zooming straight to Monami and Karan.

Karan was leaning against the wall, facing them with Monami's back to the two. His eyes flicked up for a split second before he tilted his head slightly, looking at his girlfriend.

His hand snaked around her waist, pulling her closer and Monami rested her hands on his chest, staring back up to him.

Faizi glanced at Aneesh, stifling a laugh at his dropped jaw. 'Laga na, shock? Yeh toh trailer hai. Bahut lagenge ab tumhe.'

"Jab tum mujhse gussa hote ho, toh mujhe bilkul achha nahi lagta", Monami said.

"Mujhe bhi nahi. Tumse door rehna nahi pasand. Main bahut pyaar karta hoon tumse", he said. "Aur... koi hume door nahi rakh sakta. Aur kisi ne koshish kari, toh usko duniya se door kar doonga."

She chuckled. "Tum har cheez mein violent ho jaate ho, na?"

"Abhi toh violent hua nahi hoon, jis din hua koi nahi bachega", he said. She chuckled. "I love you, Monami."

"I love you too, mere Khadoos Shergill."

Karan pulled her closer, leaning down closer to her. Faizi kept a hand on his face, laughing slightly.

"Karan, tum toh sach mein aag laga doge", he muttered to himself, glancing at Aneesh. He watched his clenched fists and jaw with satisfaction.

"Monami", Aneesh said, and she whirled around.

"Aneesh", she said. "Tum iss waqt yahan kya kar rahe ho?"

"Faizi ne kaha ki tumhe... mujhse kuch baat karni hai", he replied.

"Faizi ne?" She said. She shook her head a little. "Haan, actually, mujhe baat karni thi tumse." She walked closer to him, crossing her arms a little. "I am sure you mean well, Aneesh. Par mujhe Karan se break nahi chahiye. Fights baat karke sort karna is much better. Nahi?"

"Yeah. Of course", he said, forcing a smile on his face. "Main toh bas, as a friend, offer kar raha tha."

"Tumhaari kabhi koi girlfriend nahi thi, na?" She said, chuckling and patting his back. "Anyway, good night, Aneesh. Kal milte hain."

"Yeah, of course." Monami turned around just as he extended his arms in a hug, missing his approach and Faizi kept a hand on his face, trying really hard not to make a sound. "Chalein, Karan? Mujhe tumhe kuch dikhaana hai."

"Of course", he said. Her hand slipped into his, and she pulled him out, leaving Aneesh behind.

Faizi pressed himself against the wall, and Monami walked right past him, pulling Karan along.

Karan turned a little, nodding in thanks, and Faizi held up a thumbs up, a grin on his face.

He glanced again in the dispensary, finding Aneesh with a furious expression.

'Abhi toh shuruwaat hai, doc. Aage aage dekho kya hota hai jab tum special agents se pange lete ho. Aag mein haath daloge toh jala ke tha hai hi.'

ATTENTION:

"Uh... Monami?" A voice said, halting the table's conversations as everyone looked up. A cadet- Mayank- was standing there, his hands behind his back, bouncing nervously back and forth.

"Yes?" His girlfriend said.

Mayank paused for a second, before he thrusted out a rose in front of her. "Aap mujhe bahut achhi lagti hain, Monami", he blurted out. "I really, really love you. Aap mere saath date par chalogi?"

Karan's jaw clenched, staring at him in disbelief. Their relationship wasn't officially out, but didn't everyone know that Monami was... his?

"Mayank... I am sorry. Main... main kisi aur se pyaar karti hoon", she said. "I am sorry."

This was the second time this week. This week! What the hell? She was beautiful and sweet and kind but this was ridiculous.

He deflated. "Aap jisse bhi pyaar karti hain, Monami, wo insaan bahut kismat waala hai. Agar kabhi usne aapko achhe se treat nahi kara, toh mujhe bhi yaad kar sakti hain aap."

Karan stared after him in disbelief as he walked away, shaking his head slightly. He glanced at his girlfriend, finding him glancing at Mayank in concern.

"Mujhe kaam hai. Baad mein milta hoon", he muttered, tossing the rest of his coffee back as he stood up.

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

"Kya hua, Janaab?" Faizi said. "Shakal par 12 kyun baje hue hain aapke?"

"Teri bakwaas sunne ka mood nahi hai mera", he snapped.

"Humne toh kuchh kaha hi nahi, Karan. Tumhaara aur Monami Tsunami ka jhagda ho gaya hai kya?"

He glared at him. "Mera aur uska jhagda kyun hoga? Kuch bhi mat bol."

"Hua kya hai phir? Tum subah se..." He trailed off, tilting his head. "Karan, tum kya uss baat par chidhe hue ho ki Mayank ne Monami ko propose kara?"

Karan slammed his hand down on the wall next to his bed. "Uski himmat kaise hui Monami ko propose karne ki?"

Faizi shook his head. "Karan... tum itna kyun gussa ho rahe ho? Monami ne mana kara toh."

"Faizi! Yaar, yeh doosra ladka hai iss hafte mein. Tu sun raha hai? Iss hafte mein! Jahan jaati hai har jagah koi na koi try hi maare jaata hai."

He rolled his eyes. "Wo sundar hai, sweet hai, kind hai, toh ladke toh notice karenge hi."

He sighed in frustration. Faizi sighed, sitting down on his bed.

"Yaar, Faizi, kitne log uske peechhe mar rahe hain. Mujhe aisa lag raha hai jab se mujhe realize hua hai ki main usse pyaar karta hoon, tab se sab ko wo itni appealing lagne lagi hai. Wo Aneesh, KD, yeh stupid Mayank. Matlab, kitne!?"

Faizi chuckled, shaking his head. Karan stared at him in disbelief.

"Tujhe hasi aa rahi hai?"

"Janaab, aap Kartik ko bhool gaye. Wo waala jisne 4 din pehle use propose kara."

He laughed as Karan clutched his neck, gritting his teeth in frustration, shaking him. "Duniya naa bhula doon tujhe main."

"Arey, Karan, wo tumse pyaar karti hai, toh tumhe kis baat ki chidh?"

"Chup kar. Teri waali attitude aur thappad deti hai baaki sab ko toh koi try nahi maarta, isliye tujhe pata nahi. Meri waali, na, uske liye bura feel karti hai jisko wo reject karti hai. Toh sabko lagta hai 'kya problem hai? Try karke dekhte hain.' Tujhe wo KD yaad hai? Monami ko dekhkar ek minute ke liye uski bolti band ho gayi. Dushman tak uspar try maar rahe hain."

"Haan, toh tum bhi to try maar rahe ho", Faizi said.

"Oh hello! Main try nahi maar raha hoon. Wo already meri girlfriend hai", he snapped. "Pyaar karti hai wo mujhse."

"Wo hi toh hum keh rahe hain."

"Kya keh raha hai tu?"

"Yeh ki wo tumse pyaar karti hai. Naa ki in ladkon se jiski list jo tumne ginaayi hai. Kya farak padta hai ki ek aur pasand karta hai ya sau?"

"Sau?" He muttered, shuddering a little.

"Point samjho, Janaab. Wo tumse pyaar karti hai, na? Yeh Aneesh, Mayank, inse use ghanta farak nahi padta."

He sighed, nodding. "Ek baar yeh training khatam hone de, main apna aur Monami ka relationship open mein declare kar doonga. Uske baad, kisi ko paas nahi aane doonga. Aakar dekhe, wheelchair par waapas jaayega."

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

"... Aur tumhe main apne best friend Gappu se bhi milaoongi", Monami was saying, gently caressing the leaves of a plant. He smiled slightly, seeing her walk around the terrace. She kept the plant down, spraying some water on it.

Karan hugged her from behind, making her jump lightly. A smile lit up her face as she tilted her head back, looking up at him.

"Hi", she muttered. He released her as she turned in his embrace, smiling back at her. "Late ho gaye?"

"Batra Sir ke saath meeting thi", he replied. "It went longer than I expected."

"Anything serious?"

"Bas... kaam", he muttered. "Tum batao. Din kaisa tha?"

She shrugged. "Normal", she said. "Kuchh khaas nahi hua."

His mind flickered back to the morning proposal. His eyebrows furrowed. "Kuchh nahi?"

"Nahi", she said. "Kyun?"

"Aur wo... jo Mayank ne tumhe propose kara, uska kya?"

She shrugged. "Uska kya?" She said. She shook her head. "Wo important nahi hai, Karan. Main poore din se tumse nahi mili aur tumhe uske baare mein baat karni hai?"

"Tumhe kya baat karni hai phir?" He muttered, leaning closer.

Her phone rang, and he sighed, releasing her. Her eyebrows furrowed as she read the message. "Look down from the terrace?" She read aloud, walking over to the edge.

Karan's eyes widened, seeing Kartik standing there with a board saying 'Will you go on a date with me?'

"Tumne toh isko mana nahi kar diya tha?" Karan asked.

"Haan", she muttered, staring at the board in surprise.

Karan closed his eyes, irritation bubbling in him. He grabbed his gun and Monami's eyes widened, as he cocked it.

"Karan!" She kept a hand on his. "Kya kar rahe ho?"

"Target practice, Monami", he said. "Ek baar mana kar diya tumne. Doosri baar ise main target practice ke liye use karoonga."

"Karan!"