Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

MISSION EUPHORIA BEGINS

‘Aaj kaafi time baad bina kisi reason ke diary mein likhne ka mann kar raha hai. Toh socha thoda academy ke baare mein hi likh doon. Do hafte ho gaye academy aaye and things are starting to settle down. Well, as much as it can when you’re in a military academy.

Doosra hafta kab aaya aur kab gaya pata hi nahi chala. Subah drills, phir theory classes aur homework aur raat ko thak haar kar so jao. I can’t wish for anything else. I’m living my dream. Yeh academy, yeh training... I can’t believe main sach mein ek commando banne ki training kar rahi hoon. Lag raha hai ek sapna dekh rahi hoon.

Yahan ke log, yahan ki vibe, dono expectations se kuchh zyaada hi achhe hain. Kisi se khud jaakar baat karne ki himmat toh nahi hui naa hi mann karta hai, par kisi ki taraf dekhoon- especially mere subgroup ke cadets- toh ek smile zaroor milti hai mujhe. They seem nice.

Except uss Khadoos ke.

Wo bahut kuchh hai par nice toh bilkul bhi nahi.

Pata nahi use mujhse kya dushmani hai? Ek toh har class mein ek baar toh kam se kam mujhse koi question puchhna hi hai use. Usko kya nahi pata main nervous ho jaati hoon?

Sid ko lagta hai wo yeh sab isliye karta hai kyunki wo mera darr khatam karna chahta hai. Usko pata nahi kyun wo khadoos itna pasand hai. Aur wo darr khatam karna chahta hai ya aur badhaana? Agar Sid sach keh raha hai, toh kyun? Kyun mera darr khatam karna chahta hai wo? Itna dhyaan mujhpar hi kyun?

Abhi toh Khadoos Shergill ki jagah Confusing Shergill bana hua hai woh. Jab bhi woh mujhe dekhta hai, aisa lagta hai jaise koi puzzle solve karne ki koshish kar raha hai. Usko main jigsaw puzzle lag rahi hoon ya crossword puzzle? Shayad wo mujhe figure out nahi kar paa raha, jaise main use nahi kar paa rahi. Par wo mujhe figure out karna hi kyun chahta hai?

Wo mujhe samajh hi nahi aata. Sid ki judgement achhi hai and he believes Khadoos bura nahi hai. Faizi Sir ne bhi kaha tha Karan Sir nariyal hai. Par jo woh sabko dikhaate hain, wo toh in dono baton se bahut door hai.

He’s Special Agent Major Karan Shergill to the world. Shayad Sid aur Faizi Sir sirf Karan ko dekhte hain, Special Agent Major Karan Shergill ko nahi.

I wonder... Karan kaise hain jab wo Karan Sir nahi hote?

Kahan maine academy ki baat karne ka socha tha aur kahan main Karan Sir ki baat rahi hoon. Anyway, I should go, class ka time hone waala hai.

Monami Mahajan.’

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

“Informers par chodkar toh kuchh nahi mil raha”, Karan said. He glanced at Faizi and Sanju, flicking his eyebrows up. “Kya karna hai?”

“Sir ji, hum kehto hain seedha chhapa maarte hain”, Sanju said.

Karan clicked his tongue. “Yeh last plan rakhenge. Public place hai, club mein jo log honge, unki jaan khatre mein padh sakti hai. Aur hume koi idea nahi hai ki kitne log honge, kitne weapons honge. Risky move.”

“Toh aur choice kya hai?” Faizi asked. “Kuchh toh information honi chahiye jis par act karenge. Hume toh sirf itna pata hai abhi tak ki wahan par drug peddling chal rahi hai.”

Silence fell. Karan drummed his fingers idly, thinking. “Humne apne informers ko door rehne ko kaha hai”, he started. “Clearly, yeh toh work kar nahi raha hai. More than a week aur humaare paas kuchh bhi nahi hai. Toh hum paas jaakar dekh lete hain.”

Faizi and Sanju glanced at each other, nodding. “Okay”, Faizi said. “Yeh bhi karke dekh lete hain. Kab chalna hai?”

He glanced at the watch. “Aaj chalte hain. Raat ko. Chal, Faizi, Batra Sir se baat karke aate hain. Sanju, tu ek kaam kar. Hum teenon ke schedules check kar. Agar hum mein se kisi ki 6 baje ke baad classhai, toh use baaki trainers ke schedule mein adjust kar de.”

“Ji, Sir ji”, she said. She saluted them, before moving out of the room.

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

“Mahutarma”, Faizi said, sitting down next to her. He held out a rose. “Aapke liye.”

She smiled, taking it. “Yeh kis khushi mein?”

“Aise hi”, he said. He tilted his head, staring at her. “Pasand aaya?”

“Of course. Bahut achha hai.” She smiled. “Waise, maine suna hai ki aapki class aaj Sanchit Sir lenge? Kyun?”

“Haan, wo hume, Karan aur Sanju ko kuchh zaroori kaam hai. Toh bas, usi ke wajah se bahar jaana hai.”

“Kya kaam hai?”

He shook his head. “Hum bataa nahi sakte.”

“Oh. No issues. Main-” Faizi held out a hand, making her stop. He was staring at something behind her. She followed his gaze, frowning. “Kya hua?”

“Koel, hum tumse kal milte hain”, he said, standing up. “Hume kuchh kaam aa gaya hai.”

“Okay”, she muttered, staring after him in confusion.

“Hume aisa lag raha tha ki koi humaari baatein sun raha hai”, Faizi explained to Karan a few minutes later as they both walked to the security room. “Humne check kara, par koi tha nahi. Phir bhi, humne socha double check kar lete hain.”

“Spy?” Karan muttered.

He shrugged. “Ho sakta hai. Hum kuchh keh nahi sakte. Ho sakta hai hume hi galatfehmi hui ho.”

“Sanket”, Karan said, when they both walked in. “Hume CCTV footage check karni hai. 1500 hours se 1515 hours tak, garden ke paas waale stairs ki.”

“Yes, sir”, he said, typing. The boys stared at the footage, eyes playing around for something unusual.

“Yeh dekh”, Karan muttered, nodding to the person. His back was turned to the camera, mostly hidden by the pillar. “Sanket, iske aas paas ke corridors ki dikhaana.” Karan sighed when the footage played. It was too busy to tell which one was the one looking for them. “Sanket, yeh dono footages mujhe mail kar do.”

“Yeh spy yaa toh bahut smart hai”, Karan said when they were back in their room. “Ya hume do unrelated baaton ko jodh rahe hain.”

“It’s still not concrete evidence ki yeh spy hai”, Faizi said. “Ho sakta hai aise hi koi khada ho, shayad phone chala raha ho ya kuchh soch raha ho ya kuchh bhi.”

“Agar yeh spy hai, toh yeh Euphoria ke baare mein pata lagaana chah raha hoga. Back up team ko alert karne par ise khabar mili hogi, isliye yeh pata lagaane ki koshish kar raha hoga ki hum exactly kya jaante hai aur kya plan kar rahe hain”, he theorized.

“Aur agar yeh spy hai, toh use achhe se pata hai ki academy ke cameras kahan lage hain aur exactly kya cover karte hain. Poori footage mein ek frame mein bhi dhang se kuchh nahi dikha uska. Yeh bhi nahi pata chala ladka hai ya ladki.”

Karan sighed. “Main kya soch raha tha... hum...iss spy ko bait karte hain”, he said.

Faizi’s eyebrows furrowed. “Bait?”

“Euphoria se. Jab hume koi basis milega act karne ke liye, tab hum academy mein news leak karwaa denge ki hum mission par jaa rahe hain. Agar spy hai, toh woh shayad information pata karne ki koshish karega.”

Faizi nodded. “Worth a try”, he said. “Pehle Euphoria ke baare mein information dhoondte hain, phir sochte hain.”

Karan hummed, nodding. He glanced at his watch. He smiled slightly. “Class mein abhi bhi thoda time hai, Faizi. Tujhe Koel se milna hai, toh tu jaa. Shayad wo bhi free hogi.”

He smiled. “Hum milkar aate hain. Bye.” He ran out of the room and Karan shook his head, chuckling.

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

Sanju lightly trailed her finger over the figurine, smiling slightly.

‘Sanju ma’am!’ A voice called. Siddharth. She turned around, waiting for him to run up to her. He paused in front of her. ‘Hi!’

She nodded. ‘Ka hua?’

He held out his hand, opening his fist and showing a figurine of a girl with some boxing gloves on. ‘Hum sab bahar ghoomne gaye the aaj. Main apne kamre ke liye thoda decoration ka samaan dekh raha tha toh yeh dikh gaya. Reminded me of you. Toh, isliye socha le loon.’

She accepted it, turning it over. She smiled slightly. ‘Achha hogo.’

He grinned. ‘Take it as a gift, then. Yeh aapka hua.’ He glanced at the clock. ‘Main late ho raha hoon. Faizi Sir ki class hai. I need to rush. Bye.’

She fixed it over, straightening it till it was perfect. She patted it, smiling and beginning to set the rest of the room.

“Nice figurine”, a voice said. Siddharth.

She suppressed her smile, looking up. “Humaare cadet ne diyo hume”, she said. “Uska dil rakhne ke liye humne rakh liyo.”

He grinned, walking in. He plopped down on Monami’s bed. “How nice of you”, he said. “I thought aap toh badhi straightforward types hain. Pasand nahi aaya hota toh rakhti bhi nahi.”

“Kisne kaho hume pasand naa aayo? Achha hogo.” She sat down on her bed. “Tu yahan kaa kar raho hai?”

“Monu se milne aaya tha. Par wo toh pata nahi kahan hai.” He shook his head. “Kisi kone mein baithkar padh rahi hogi. Figurine dikhi, toh thought to comment.”

“Class naa hogo teri?”

He glanced at his watch. His eyes widened. He hopped to his feet. “Oh haan. I need to run. Monu bhi wahin hogi. Almost late. Bye.” He paused, peeking in. “Waise, jis cadet ne diya hai, wo thank you keh raha hai, dil rakhne ke liye.” He waved, before darting out.

She smiled, shaking his head. “Chirkut.”

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

“Tum kise dekh rahe ho?” Faizi asked, trying to follow his gaze.

Karan looked at his plate quickly, shaking his head. “Kisi ko nahi. Main kisko dekhunga?”

“Woh hi toh hum puchh rahe hain”, he said. He glanced around, eyes stopping on Monami. He looked between Karan and Monami.

He raised his eyebrows. “Kya hai?”

Faizi nodded, a smile tugging on his face.“Monami ko dekh rahe the, na?”

“Kya bakwaas kar raha hai? Main kyun dekhunga use?”

“Kyun toh tum batao. Hume toh sirf yeh pata hai ki tum dekh rahe ho use.”

He glared at him. He pointed to his plate. “Tu chup chaap khaana kha aur bakwaas ki cheezon mein dimaag mat daudha. Khaa!”

Faizi chuckled, shaking his head. “Waise”, he said, his mouth full. “Buri nahi hai. In fact, kaafi achhi hai. Try maar sakte ho.”

Karan rolled his eyes. “Mujhe uspar try maarne mein koi interest nahi hai. Mujhe kisi par try maarne mein koi interest nahi hai.” He held up a finger when Faizi opened his mouth. “Monami ke baare mein aur kuchh nahi. Bas.”

He closed his mouth. “Theek hai.”

Karan’s eyes wandered back to Monami.

‘Punishment toh usi lo milni chahiye, jisne galti kari, na? Baaki kisi ko milna toh fair nahi hai.’

‘Tumne naa usse baat kari, naa use jaante ho. Pehli baar mile the. Karan, zyaada hi jaldi judge kar rahe ho tum use.’

He tilted his head, observing her quietly.

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

“Faizi, tu yahan... back entrance par rahega”, Karan said, tapping on a spot on the map. “Main front entrance par rahunga. Sanju, tu yahan beech mein rahegi, apni bike par. Koi bhaagne ki koshish karega, tu chase dena. Faizi, tu aur main bhi bikes par rahenge. Yeh log usually bikes hi use karte hain.”

They nodded. Karan glanced up.

“Dhyaan rahe”, he warned. “Kisi ko pata nahi chalna chahiye hum Parakaram SAF se hain. Agar unhe bhanak bhi lagi, toh yeh alert ho jayenge aur humaara misson fail ho jayega.”

“Sir ji, par hum kaahe ke laane nahi jaa rahe?” Sanju asked.

“Jayenge par aaj nahi”, he said. “Pehle thoda idea lagaa lete hain. Blind jaana dangerous ho sakta hai.” He glanced at his watch. “We’ll leave at 1930 hours.”

“Sir ji”, Sanju said. Faizi nodded, staring at the map and the photos that were spread on the table.

“Sanju, mission ko naam de.”

“Mission Euphoria.”

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

Karan sat on the bike, head bowed as he pretended to stare into his phone. His eyes roamed around, occasionally dropping to the phone and then up and around again.

He glanced at his watch. 2045 hours. There was still plenty of time.

“Karan, Sanju, come in”, Faizi’s voice said in the ear com.

“Go for it, Faizi”, Karan said.

“Hume lag raha hai koi chhoti moti drug deal horahi hai. Hum picture bhej rahe hain.”

Karan tapped on his message, opening it. His eyes narrowed as he studied the picture. A young boy, perhaps just out of teenage, was handing over something a little white plastic pouch- probably drugs- to a young girl.

“Iss ladke ko maine kayi pictures mein dekha hai”, he said into the ear com. “Mujhe pehle bhi laga tha yeh involved hai.”

“Toh uthaato hain, Sir ji”, Sanju said.

“Abhi ruk jaa, Sanju”, he said. “Yeh yahan nahi rehta. Har raat 11 baje ke aas paas nikal jaata hai yeh. Abhi pakdenge toh unhe pata chal jayega. Thodi der rukte hain, dekhte hain kuchh aur pata chalta hai. Warna, ise utha lenge.”

“Copy that”, both the agents echoed.

Silence fell between the agents again as they went back to observing. It wasn’t long before 11 rolled in.

“Target bahar aa raha hai. I repeat, target bahar aa raha hai”, Faizisaid.

“Sanju, thodi der peechha kar aur sunsaan gali mein utha lena”, Karan ordered. “Faizi, move.” He started his bike, wearing the helmet before taking off.

“Sir ji, Street 5 ki taraf mudh raho hai.”

“Copy that”, he said, hearing Faizi’s words. He turned into the streets, following Sanju’s updates before pulling to a stop when he saw Sanju’s bike parked. She was unmounting it and the boy ahead looked between him, Sanju and Faizi, who had pulled up on the other end.

“Kaun ho tum log?” He yelled, producing a knife.

“Sanju”, Karan said, nodding to him. He took off his helmet, leaning against the bike.

“Chup chaap aa jaa humaare saath, warna ghaseet kar lekar jayenge”, Sanju said, advancing towards him.

He snarled, lunging onto her, the knife raised. She grabbed his hand, twisting it behind him easily. Her leg hooked with his, tripping him, and she produced a gun, pointing it at his head.

“Tu toh ek minute bhi naa tiko”, she said. She hauled him up. “Ab, chal, warna chal kar nahi, utha kar lekar jaana padego tujhe.”

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

“Bina maare hi bol diya”, Faizi said, entering the room.

Karan flicked his eyebrows up. “Kya bola?”

“Keh raha tha ise kuchh nahi pata. Chhota mota kaam karta hai, actual dhande ke baare mein kuchh zyaada pata nahi ise. Kehta bartender ise drugs deta tha, aur yeh aage bech deta tha jise wo bolta tha.”

“CCTV cameras ke baare mein kuchh pata hai ise?”

He nodded. “Actual club ke paas ek room hai, down the hall. Wahan par saari footage hogi. Aate jaate dekha tha.”

Karan drummed his fingers on the desk in thought. His gaze lifted to meet Faizi’s. “Sanju ko andar bhejte hain footage lane ke liye.”

[NOCOPY]