Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16

MISSIONS, FRIENDSHIPS AND REALIZATIONS

Monami closed the geography book, picking up the one on military strategy. She smiled, as she leaned back against the wall of the mess. It was her favorite subject. She flipped to the page of the common strategies she was reading up on for homework, twirling a pencil in her other hand.

"Guys", Sid called out excitedly. She looked up, straightening up to peek over the table at the other cadets who sat at the opposite end of the mess. "Attacker!"

Her eyes widened in surprise, and she hopped to her feet. The others did too, and the cadets all ran out, climbing up the stairs. They slowed down when they reached the third floor, tiptoeing closer silently.

Monami poked her head into the room, looking around. A person was kneeling down, in the same battle gear she had seen three days ago, on Sunday, when she was attacked. She started at the person tinkering with something in a corner. Was it the same person?

A pat on her shoulder made her look back, and her team gave her a questioning look. She nodded, gesturing inside. She poked her head in again. The person was still kneeling. She gestured behind herself, tiptoeing in the room.

The person froze, looking up. There was a beat as all the eight people in the room caught their breath, unsure. The person bolted up, and their team sprang into action as well. Monami stumbled back in surprise, as Bala literally leapt on his back, both crashing to the ground.

"Bala, tu yahin baitha reh", Koel said. Bala shot her a thumbs up, patting the special agents' back he was sitting on.

"Guys, bomb #activated hai", Chitra said. Sid was kneeling down and inspecting the bomb. Monami knelt down as well, inspecting it.

"Bataa", Prem ji said.

"Ek chaped maarni hai maine, seedha hospital mein jaakar giroge", the special agent warned. "Senior hoon main tumhaara. Tameez se baat karo, aur bomb diffuse karne par dhyaan do. Mujhe kuchh bataana allowed nahi hai." He elbowed Bala, twisting him off of himself and pinning him to the ground. "Main sirf isliye yahan hoon kyunki Karan Sir ne kaha tha yeh physical mission nahi, investigatory mission hai. Warna, sapne mein bhi nahi pakad sakte. Ek mahina hua nahi training shuru kare, aur bahut uchhal rahe ho?"

Bala groaned. "Sir ji, maine kya kara tha?" He asked, his voice muffled.

The special agent released him, taking a step back. His gaze snapped to the door when Koel shut it, leaning against it. She narrowed her eyes. "Hum aapko jaane nahi de sakte", she said. "Sir." The special agent rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath as he leaned against the wall.

Monami's gaze snapped around for something to cut wires with. Her gaze landed on Suman ji, who was staring at the bomb with wide eyes. It dropped to her hands, which were clenched into tight fists.

"Monu", Sid said. "Kuchh dhoond, na?"

"Mere paas chaaku hai", Bala said, producing a Swiss knife.

"Toh de, na?" Suman ji snapped. "Moharat ka intezaar kar raha hai?"

The special agent sighed. "Ab samajh aa raha hai ki Karan Sir ka mood itne time se itna bhayanak kyun chal raha hai. Tum logon ke saath deal karne se achha, toh deewar par sar maar loon."

"Yeh sab special agents chalte phir beizzati ki machine hote hain kya?" Koel asked. "Jo dikhe saamne, bas beizzati kar do." He rolled his eyes.

"Phatna mat", Sid muttered, as he grabbed the knife. "Please, mat phatna." He took a deep breath, before slicing the red wire off. There was a beat, and then another, before he relaxed. "Tukka lag gaya!" The bomb started beeping faster, as if protesting his words. "Nahi laga. Nahi laga, nahi laga. Kya karoon main? Kya karoon!? Monu!"

"Arey, koi bhi wire kaatde", Prem ji said.

"Phat gaya toh?" Sid asked.

"Waise bhi, phat jaayega. Kaat de, kaat de."

Sid sliced another one- green- and they stared at it. A beat. "Nahi phata", he said, relaxing. "Ab sahi hai."

The special agent facepalmed. "Kya paagal log ho tum? Asli bomb hota, toh bhi kuchh bhi kaat dete?"

"Asli bomb hota, toh marathon bhaagte, Sir ji", Bala said. "Wahan thodi naa rehte. Asli nahi tha, na?"

Koel looked at the special agent. "Investigatory mission hai, toh aap khud hi chal lo humaare saath", she said. "Humaara mission ka part, special agent ka pata lagaana bhi tha."

"Pata hai mujhe", he said.

"Aapne apna #name nahi bataaya", Chitra said, smiling at him, as they walked out.

"Special Agent Lieutenant Raghav Singh", he said. He knocked on the door of Karan and Faizi's room, crossing his arms.

"How strange", Koel muttered. "Humaara attacker khud hi chal kar aa gaya saath mein."

"Toh phir kya expect kar rahe the? Teen hafte ki training se hum special agents ko pakad loge? Hum saalon tak training li hai", he snapped.

Koel frowned, opening her mouth. Monami pinched her lightly, and she looked at her. "S-Senior hai", she muttered. Koel huffed, looking away.

The door opened, and Faizi poked his head out, glancing around. He opened the door wider, gesturing them inside. Karan looked up, holding the phone to his ear. He sighed a little. "Bhaiya, main aapko thodi der mein call karta hoon", he said into the phone. "Nahi, nahi, cadets ka kuchh kaam hai. Haan, abhi call karta hoon." He threw the phone on his bed, flicking his eyebrows at them expectantly.

"Mission ho gaya, I suppose?" Faizi said.

"Yes sir", Sid said proudly.

"Good job", Karan said, nodding. "Raghav, I want a report by tomorrow ki inn logon ne exactly kya kara, kaise kara. Ho jaayega?"

"Sir", he said, nodding. He gave them a distasteful look. "Yeh log bahut uchhalte hain, Sir. Woh report mein include kar sakta hoon."

"Tumhaara pehla mission mere under, ek saal pehle", Karan said. "Yaad hai, ya yaad dilaaon?" Raghav looked away. "Cadets hain, itna toh udhenge hi. Sab udhte hain."

"Sorry, Sir."

"Karan Sir ji ke saamne kaise tai tai phish ho gayi inki", Bala muttered lowly.

"Karan Sir #big fish hai, na?" Chitra said.

"Hum small fish bhi nahi hain? Hum kya hain?" Sid muttered.

"Chaara", Koel muttered. Sid opened his mouth, eyebrows furrowed. "Bait", Koel interjected.

Karan tapped on his desk a little, and the cadets fell quiet. "Ek ek report chahiye mujhe tum sab se", he said. "Uss report mein tum log yeh bataoge ki tum logon ne exactly kya kya kara iss mission mein, aur kya kya seekha tumne. Sab apni apni report likhenge, and khud ki learnings likhenge. Any questions?"

The cadets shook their heads.

"Dismissed. Raghav, you stay." The cadets left the room, and his gaze lifted to Raghav's. "Yeh missions ke maamlon mein bacche hain. Missions kitne mushkil hote hain, kya hota hai, unka abhi inhe idea nahi hai. Bacchon ki har baat par tokoge, toh woh khud kabhi nahi seekh payenge. Ek aadh mission dekhenge, toh khud hi samajh jayenge ki jitna achha yeh apne aap ko samajhte hain, utne achhe hain nahi. Abhi akad todhkar zameen par laane chalenge, toh inka motivation bhi chala jayega. Initial months hamesha mushkil hote hain. Agar inhe lagega ki inse ho nahi raha, toh woh kar bhi nahi paayenge. I hope you understand why I cut you."

Raghav nodded. "Sorry, Sir."

"Dismissed", he said. Karan heaved a sigh, shaking his head. He picked his phone again, dialling his brother's number.

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

Monami eyed Suman ji as she pushed her food around the plate. She tilted her head, sipping her coffee- with loads of coffee and sugar, of course. Her gaze followed her as she stood up, putting her barely eaten tray at the counter. She tossed back the rest of the coffee, keeping the tray on the counter and walking after her.

"Main dekh kar aayi", Koel said. "Suman ji pareshaan lag rahi thi."

"Koel", Chitra said, nodding to the door where Monami was leaving after her. "Thodi der mein chali jaana."

She nodded, sitting down. She sighed a little, looking at the door, concerned.

"Aap chinta mat karo, Koel Madam", Bala said. "Monami Madam hai, na? Woh Suman ji ko dekh lenge."

Monami peeked into the open room, looking around. Suman ji was sitting in a corner, hugging a photo frame. She tilted her head a little. That posture, that expression, all was so familiar. She hugged her Mom like that. She knocked on the door gently, and Suman ji looked up. She wiped her tears away, giving her a smile.

"Arey, Monami? Tu... tujhe kuchh chahiye tha kya? Aaj Suman ji ke paas kaise aa gayi?" Suman ji said.

"Aap th-theek h-hain?" She asked, walking into the room.

"Haan, Suman ji ko kya hoga?" She stood up, smiling at her. "Baith. Kuchh chahiye tujhe?"

Monami sat down on Koel's bed, quietly staring at her. "Aapko p-pata hai, j-jab S-Sid m-mujhse p-puchha karta tha ki m-main th-theek hoon, m-main bhi a-aise hi a-acting k-karti thi. Aap bhi k-kar r-rahi hain."

Her smile dropped. She sighed. "Suman ji theek hain. Bas... Suman ji ke maa baba ki yaad aa gayi uss bomb ko dekhkar. Uss... uss din ki yaad aa gayi."

"M-Meri M-Mumma kehte the ki j-jab k-koi ch-cheez aapko h-hurt karti hai, toh it's o-okay to c-cry a-about it, but... usse s-sirf l-lessons aur s-strength l-leni ch-chahiye." She played with the hem of her sleeve. "M-Mujhse toh n-nahi hota, par aap... aap b-bahut s-strong hain. Aap y-yaad r-rakhna, sh-shayad aa-aapko s-strength m-milegi."

"Kehte the matlab? Ab nahi hai?" She asked.

She shook her head. "Mumma a-army m-mein the. She w-was an a-army d-doctor. Sh-Shaheed ho gaye."

"Suman ji ko, na, bahut log kehte hain, ki itne saal ho gaye. Ab bhi roti hai unke marne par", Suman ji said, wiping her tears. "Sahi nahi hai yeh. Tujhe bhi yeh hi lagta hai?"

"D-Dard jab h-hota hai, toh r-rona is o-okay. It's... it's g-good. A-Andar ch-cheezen r-rakhna... that's not h-healthy. Ch-Chaahe 10 s-saal ho jaaye, ya 100. If it h-hurts, it h-hurts. Us mein s-sahi g-galat n-nahi hota. Aap a-apne p-pain ko m-motivation ki t-tarah use k-karke, l-logon ki j-jaan b-bachaana ch-chahti hain. Woh s-sahi hai. A-Agar aapke p-parents d-dekh rahe hain, toh woh aa-aapar b-bahut p-proud honge."

Suman ji smiled at her. She scooted closer to her, clutching her hands. "Thank you", she said, pulling her into a hug.

Monami tensed up a little. She took a deep breath. 'Tere baare mein yeh nahi hai, Monu. Unhe ek hug ki zaroorat hai.' She lifted her arms, gently patting her back. Suman ji pulled away, and she relaxed slightly.

"Suman ji!" Bala called and the girls looked up, seeing the rest of their subgroup enter. "Aapne hume miss kiya?"

"#Group hug", Chitra announced.

Monami ducked down from the arms that came in, smiling a little as Suman ji was engulfed into hugs by the rest of the cadets. She felt her insides twist with dread, when Koel gestured to her. She shook her head, slipping out of the room quickly.

She took a deep breath, leaning against the wall next to the door. She peeked in. Suman ji was happily talking to the rest, as they engulfed her with random talks. She smiled slightly, walking back to her room.

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

"Tune Koel se puchh liya?" Karan asked, stifling a yawn as he stared at the map. "Date ke liye?"

He clicked his tongue. "Nahi."

"Bhaiya ko bolkar pandit ko bulaata hoon", he said. Faizi shot him a confused look. "Mahurat nikalwaane ke liye."

"Apne taane apne paas rakho", Faizi said. "Humaare paas abhi bas waqt nahi hai. Hum usse tab puchhenge jab humaare paas thoda kaam kam hoga. Abhi training ka kaam hai, Euphoria ka kaam hai, spy ka kaam hai. Lekar kab jayenge?"

Karan rolled his eyes. "Main hoon, na? Tu puchh toh sahi. Haan karegi, toh tu jaana. Main sab sambhaal lunga."

"Nahi, Janaab. Hum aise saara kaam aap par chodh kar nahi jaa sakte. Thoda sa kam hoga, hum puchh lenge."

He sighed. "Teri marzi. Par jaana hai, toh main sambhaal lunga. Tu uski chinta mat karna." Faizi hummed. "Achha, sun, mera informer keh raha tha ki Euphoria mein vents hain. Tu vent ke andar se shoot kar sakta hai?"

Faizi nodded. "Haan, hume koi problem nahi hai." He looked up, flicking his eyebrows up. "Kya soch rahe ho?"

"Bas... plan banaane ki koshish kar raha tha. Keh raha tha ek vent hai jo peechhe waale corridor mein khulti hai." He sat up straighter. "Main kya soch raha tha... vents ka use karte hain."

"Kaise?"

"Abhi ke liye, andar ghuste hain aur cameras lagaate hain. Strength ka idea hoga, aur yeh bhi ki exactly kis cheez se deal kar rahe hain."

"Andar jaayenge kaise?"

"Main jaunga. Tu behind the scenes monitor karna."

Faizi hesitated. "Akele? Hum bhi chalte hain. Ya Sanju chalegi."

"Sirf cameras lagaane hain. Jitne zyaada log honge, utne zyaada chances hain pakde jaane ke. Faizi, chhota sa kaam hai. Tu chinta mat kar."

He sighed. "Theek hai."

Karan nodded. "Batra Sir ko jaakar bataa de."

Faizi groaned. "Hume nahi jaana uss cabin mein. Itni lambi lambi meetings rakhte hain woh. Tum jao, na?"

He rolled his eyes. "Kitna dramatic hai tu. Main kar dunga." He grabbed a pillow, throwing it at him. "Aalsi."

"Thank you", he called after him, laughing slightly.

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

"Sid... main theek hoon", Monami said, as he cleaned the wound. "Ek do din mein stitches bhi nikal jaayenge. Main khud kar sakti hoon clean. Teen din se har roz aa jaata. I am a doctor. Main kar sakti hoon yeh."

"Chup", he said, putting the medical tape on the wound. He closed the box. "Kar sakti hogi, par mujhe karne ka mann hai. Tera dhyaan rakhna mujhe achha lagta hai."

She sighed. She smiled slightly. "Theek hai. Teri marzi." He nodded, keeping the box away in her room. Monami's eyebrows pulled together in a frown, and she inspected him. "Kya hua?"

"Mujhe? Kuchh bhi toh nahi", he said. "I am fine. Mujhe kya hona hai? I am totally fine." Monami raised an eyebrow incredulously. Sid sighed. "Tujhe kaise pata?"

"Bol, na? Kya hua?"

He sat down in front of her. "Monu... woh... Sunday ko, na, Daddy ji ka call aaya tha."

Her eyes widened. "Really?" She smiled. "Teri baat hui?"

He nodded. "Keh rahe the ki unhe... unhe guilty feel ho raha hai ki woh mujhe time nahi dete. Kehte he wants to mend his ways. Unke dost ke bete ki death par unhe realize hua ki... ki woh mujhe kitna ignore karte hain."

"Yeh toh achhi baat hui, na? That's what you wanted, right?" She asked. "Uncle aur tera relationship waisa hi ho jaaye jaise itne saal pehla tha. Tu sad kyun hai phir?"

"Main... main sad nahi hoon. Main unsure hoon." He sighed. "Monu, you know, na, ki tu meri family hai? Jab Daddy ji mujhse door hote gaye, apne business ko zyaada important samajhne lage, toh tu thi. Pehle, bahut bura lagta tha, but maine accept kar liya. Main nahi chahta ki aaj woh yeh keh rahe hain ki he'll make time for me, aur phir main hope karoon, and it all comes crashing down."

"Sid... Uncle ko agar iss baat ka realization hai ki tu unke liye business se upar aata hai, toh chance dene mein kya problem hai?" She asked softly. "He loves you."

He shook his head. "Mujhe iss baat par kabhi doubt nahi tha ki woh mujhse pyaar karte hain. But... but unhe business, kaam, woh sab karna bahut pasand hain. He loves it more than he loves spending time with me." He shot to his feet, shaking his head. "Bro... tujhe yaad hai, jab... jab tu kidnap hui thi, uske baad jo hua... mera support system Daddy ji the. Tujhe itne dara mein dekhne mein jo pain hota tha, woh pain Daddy ji ease karte the. Main tera support system tha, aur Daddy ji mere. Mera darr, mera pain, unhone kam kara hai. Agar... agar mujhe raat ke 3 baje baat karni hoti toh woh raat ke 3 baje mujhse baat karte the. He went from there to the point ki woh mujhse mahinon tak milte bhi nahi the."

He turned around, sitting down again. His eyes stung, and he rubbed them.

"I know if it comes down to choosing business and me, woh mujhe hi choose karenge. I don't doubt that, Monu. Unhe realize nahi hota ki kab woh mujhe ignore karte hain, aur business ko importance dene lagte hain. He doesn't realize it because he loves business so much. I know woh genuine hain, shayad sach mein guilty feel kar rahe hain. Par agar aaj kar rahe hain, toh kisne kaha ki... ki kal woh dobara business ke pyaar mein slip nahi ho jaayenge? I'll be the one hurt. I... I don't want to be hurt, Monu."

He leaned into her embrace when she wrapped her arms around him. He sniffled, burying his face in her shoulder. Her hand rubbed his back gently, one buried in his hair. He closed his eyes. He vaguely remembered his mother doing this to comfort him.

He pulled away after a couple of minutes. Monami wiped his tears, and Sid wiped hers. "Tu mat ro, idiot", he said, kissing her head.

"Tu royega, toh mujhe rona nahi aayega kya?" She said. "Ek tu hi hai, jo mere pain mein mere saath royega? Buddhu kahin ka." He chuckled. "Sid... tu hi keh raha hai, na, ki woh tujhse pyaar karte hain, woh business se upar tujhe rakhenge. Bas... unhe realize nahi hota kab woh tujhe time nahi de rahe." She smiled at him. "Hum hain, na? Hum unhe yeh realization denge. Hum unhe slip nahi hone denge."

He looked down, taking a deep breath. "I'll... I'll try."

She hummed. "Hum bhi toh ziddi hain", she said, nudging him. "Aise kaise haar maan jaayenge?"

"Bilkul bhi nahi", he agreed. "Haar maanna... not our style, bro." He engulfed her in a hug and she chuckled, hugging him back. "Love you, bro."

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

Sanju folded her clothes, keeping them in her cupboard. A knock sounded on the door, and she leaned back, peeking from past the open door. Siddharth.

"Chirkut?" She said. "Monami yahan naa hogo."

"I know", he said, walking in. He smiled at her. "Main aapse hi milne aaya hoon."

She closed the cupboard. "Kyun?"

"I just remembered ki aapne mujhe apne village ke baare mein bataana tha", he said. "Toh main woh hi sunne aaya hoon."

Her eyebrows raised. "Tu... humaare gaon ke baare mein sunne aayo hai?"

"Haan." He shrugged, sitting down on Monami's bed.

She crossed her arms. "Sach sach bata ki tu kyun aayo hai?"

"I really did come for that", he said. "Main bas aapse thodi der baat karna chahta tha. Aise hi."

"Aiso hi?"

"That's what friends do, ma'am! Hum aise hi bhi baat karte hain."

She narrowed her eyes. "Kisne kaho ki hum dost hain?"

His smile dropped. "We're not?" He asked. "I thought aapne mere saath poora Sunday spend kara, humne street food aur hotel waali baat bhi kari, toh... toh we must be friends." He shook his head, standing up. "My bad."

"Ruk", she said, before he could leave. She looked away, crossing her arms again. "Hume naa pato tha ki tu hume dost maanto hai. Par... hume iss baat se koi dikkat naa hogo."

He turned around in surprise. He smiled. "Friends?"

She nodded. "Friends", she repeated slowly.

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

"Faizi Sir", a voice called. He paused, turning around. He smiled, seeing Koel run up to her. "Hi."

"Hi", he said. "Kuchh chahiye kya tumhe?"

Her smile dropped a little. "Chahiye matlab?" She asked. "I... I know aap busy hain, but I thought we were friends. Main bina kisi kaam se aapke paas nahi aa sakti?"

He shook his head. "Humaara woh matlab nahi tha, Koel. Tum hume usually sirf garden ki stairs par hi milti ho. Hume laga aise aayi ho toh shayad kuchh kaam hoga."

"Woh... Woh main bas puchh rahi thi ki... ki aap shaam ko free hain?"

"Kyun?"

She shrugged. "Bas, aise hi. Actually... woh..."

He smiled a little. "Aap hume miss kar rahi thi?"

"Haan", she admitted. "Aaj Wednesday hai. Aapke paas Sunday ke baad time hi nahi tha. I get it. Aap busy hain, toh no issues. Main bas..."

"Hum koshish karte hain", he said. "Thoda kaam zyaada hai, par ho saka, toh hum zaroor aayenge aapse milne."

She smiled. "See you then", she said.

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

"Aap humaare saath hi kyun nahi rehte, Chachu?" Baby said. "Aap yahin toh rehte ho."

He smiled slightly. "Baby, yahan kaam hota hai, na? Kabhi bhi zaroorat padh sakti hai. Isliye academy mein hi rehna zaroori hai."

She sighed. "Next time aaoge, toh aap mere saath bahut saari masti karna. No bahaana. Okay, Commando?"

He chuckled. "Yes ma'am. Ab aap so jao, kal aapka school hai, na? Phir uth nahi paoge. Aur aapke Papa meri class le lenge."

"Bye, Chachu. Good night."

"Bye, Baby. Good night." He smiled, disconnecting the call. He turned around, pocketing it.

A sniffle.

He paused, glancing around. He peeked on to the terrace, eyebrows furrowing at the figure. He walked closer. "Monami?" He said gently. The sniffling stopped. She swiped at her face, looking up.

"Sir", she muttered.

"Kya hua?" He asked. "Ro kyun rahi ho?"

She held up the book in her hand. "M-Mar g-gaya woh", she said, tears rolling down her face. He glanced down at the book. He tilted his head.

"B-Book character mar gaya?" He asked in surprise. "Isliye tum ro rahi ho?"

"Uski w-wife... uska b-baccha. Sab u-usko k-kitna m-miss karenge." More tears rolled down her face. She sniffled.

He stared at her. "Tumhe pata hai, na, woh asli nahi hai, Monami. Woh fictional hain."

"Toh?" She said. "Agar k-koi r-real insaan m-mar gaya, toh aa-aapko d-dukh n-nahi hoga? Ab f-fictional hai, toh bh-bhedh bh-bhaav hoga? U-Uska ch-chaar saal ka b-baccha tha."

"Tum... har fictional character ke marne par roti ho?" He asked slowly.

She wiped her tears. "Aap... Aap m-mazaak udha r-rahe hain m-mera?" She thrust the book towards him. "Aap p-padhiye. Aapko bhi r-rona aayega."

"Mujhe inn sab ka shauk nahi hai", he said, pushing the book away from his face. "Aur main koi mazaak nahi udha raha hoon tumhaara. Mujhe bas... believe nahi ho raha tum... tum fictional character par itna ro rahi ho." He shook his head. "Tum... tum asli mein bhi... kisi ki bhi death par rone lag jaati ho?"

"M-Main unki d-death par n-nahi, unse jo p-pyaar k-karte hain, unke d-dukh par r-roti hoon", she said. "Unka d-dukh m-mujhe f-feel hota hai. Unki s-sadness mujhe f-feel hoti hai. R-Rona toh aayega hi, na?"

"Dard toh unhe ho raha hai. Tumhe kaise feel ho sakta hai?"

"Aa-aap k-kya k-kabhi kisi aur ke d-dukh mein d-dukhi nahi h-hue hain? U-Unke d-dukh p-par r-roye n-nahi hain?"

Tears stung his eyes, and he slid to the ground, sobs shaking his body. 'Karan', his Bhabhi said. She knelt down in front of him. He threw himself in her arms, hugging her tightly.

'Bhabhi... main Bhaiya ko itne pain mein nahi dekh sakta. Woh marna chahte hain. Main nahi dekh sakta yeh, Bhabhi.'

He nodded. "Hua hoon."

She clutched her knees close to herself. "Aa-Aap kabhi a-aise in-insaan se m-mile hain, j-jinhe kisi ki z-zindagi b-barbaad k-karke bhi f-farak nahi p-padha?"

'Karan, unse galti hui hai', his Bhabhi said.

He shook his head. 'Nahi, Bhabhi. Aap galat samajh rahi hain. Mujhe unki galti ki wajah se unse nafrat nahi hui hai. Galtiyan sabse hoti hain. Kabhi kabhi aisi galtiyan hoti hain, jo aap zindagi bhar regret karte ho. Gussa aata, par aaj nahi toh kal, main maaf kar deta. Mujhe inke indifference se nafrat hai. Inhe farak hi nahi padta. They don't care. They don't care ki inki ek galti ne kisi ki zindagi kharaab kar di. Inki ek galti ki wajah se Bhaiya ke legs amputate karne padhe. Inhe maaf kar deta, par agar inhe maafi chahiye hi nahi, toh main kaise aur kyun maaf kar doon?'

He nodded. "Haan."

She tilted her head. "Aa-Aapko bhi g-gussa aaya unpar? N-Nafrat k-karte hain aap u-unse?"

"Shayad zindagi bhar karta rahunga."

She nodded. "Main bhi", she whispered. Her fists clenched her leggings, eyes fixed on a spot in a glare. "Chaahe try bhi kar loon, par unhe maaf nahi kar paungi."

She was almost trembling with anger. She didn't stutter, he realized in surprise. "Tum kisse itna nafrat karti ho?" He asked.

She blinked, snapping out of whatever trance she was in. She looked away, wiping her face. She shook her head, standing up. He tilted his head back, staring up at her. "G-Good n-n-night."

He stared after her, looking away only when she disappeared from his line of sight. His eyebrows furrowed.

'Itni nafrat ki stutter se bhi distract ho gayi?' He leaned back. 'Monami, tum mujhe bilkul samajh nahi aa rahi, par ek baat zaroor samajh aa gayi. Main galat tha. Tum chaahe rich ho, privileged ho ya spoiled ho, usse ek sach badlega nahi. Tumhe logon ki parwaah hai. Jo insaan kisi fictional character ke fictional bacche ke liye itna ro sakti hai, use real life mein bhi kisi ki zindagi ki qadar toh hogi hi.'

'Unka d-dukh m-mujhe f-feel hota hai. Unki s-sadness mujhe f-feel hoti hai. R-Rona toh aayega hi, na?'

Monami Mahajan was a lot of things.

Indifferent wasn't one of them.