Chapter 17

CHAPTER 17

GOOD TIMES TOGETHER

Karan glanced around the street. It was peak time on a Friday night. Euphoria would be too full for people to just linger around. His gaze lifted to the back entrance. No guards.

He opened the window, peeking in cautiously. It was empty. He opened it wider, slipping into the corridor. He put the mask up over his mouth and nose, the black cloth covering most of his face. The vent was right above his head. He stretched up, quickly unscrewing the bolts. He lifted himself up, climbing in. He put the vent in, leaving the screws at the end.

“I’m in”, he whispered into the com.

“Seedha jao aur right”, Faizi’s voice said. “Peechhe waali side rooms honge.”

“Copy that.” He crawled through quickly, stopping at the end of an entrance of the vent. He peeked through the middle, eyes flicking around the room. It was empty for now, but there were chairs and tables strewn around. He quickly fixed the camera, before crawling back. It took him over an hour to crawl around the vents and place the cameras in all the rooms, but he was finally done just after 8.

He hopped down from the vent, screwing the bolts quickly. He tightened them, slipping out the way he had come.

“I’m out”, he muttered. “Cameras check kar. Saare chal rahe hain?”

There was a pause. “Sab theek hai”, Faizi said. Karan straddled his bike, wearing the helmet and zooming off, away from Euphoria.

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

Monami hummed to herself, as she filled the water in her water bottle. A vague sense of a figure looming hit her and she lifted her head, looking around. Her eyebrows furrowed. She shook her head. No one.

‘Yeh horror movies mat dekha kar, Monu’, she said. ‘Phattu kahin ki. Paranoid ho gayi hai. Andheri raat mein, bhooth saath mein. Yeh hi sab soojhta hai warna.’ She glanced around, shivering slightly. ‘Chal, back to room, Monu.’

A noise made her pause and she glanced behind herself.

‘Aaj pehli baar itne saalon mein kisi insaan ko dekhne ka mann kar raha hai’, she thought. ‘Koi ho jaao prakat. Aise hi tehelte tehelte. Bas bhooth mat hona. Yeh Sid ‘kuchh nahi, kuchh nahi,’ karke horror movies dikha deta hai. Kal bahut peetungi ise. Achha waala bhoot chalega par. Friendly, funny waala. Woh ho. Insaan se bhi better.’

She turned a corner, pausing when she felt the presence loom again. Her gaze fell on a movement, and her eyes widened, seeing the shadow.

‘Kisi bhi movie mein bhooton ki shadow toh nahi hoti. Matlab, koi insaan mera peechha kar raha hai? Kyun? Mera kyun?’

‘Monami, please thoda dhyaan rakhna. Hum tumhe sab kuchh nahi bata sakte, par bas… academy mein bhi, especially jab koi aas paas nahi hai, toh aankh aur kaam khuli rakhna.’

‘Kahin isi cheez ke baare mein toh Faizi Sir warn nahi kar rahe the?’ She thought. ‘Monu… bhooth chodh, yeh toh insaan hi lag raha hai. Ab kya karoon? Yeh pretend karoon ki mujhe kuchh nahi pata? Nahi, nahi, aage changing room waala chhotu sa corridor hai. Wahan par koi cameras nahi hain. Agar isne attack kar diya toh? Kisi aisi jagah baith jaati hoon jahan par cameras honge. Wahan attack bhi kara, toh bhi pata chal jaayega. Mess! Mess chalti hoon. Coffee pee lungi, thoda calm bhi feel karungi aur ise shaq bhi nahi hoga ki main aise hi kyun random jagah par baithi hoon.’

She turned around, walking to the mess. Her hands tightened around the water bottle, when the shadow moved. She licked her dry lips, glancing at the wall. The shadow was still moving with her. It really was following her.

She opened the door to the mess, and her racing heart almost sighed in relief. Karan.

He looked up from behind the counter, and she glanced behind herself. ‘Bhaag mat’, she thought. ‘Woh dekh raha hoga toh shaq ho jaayega.’

Karan’s eyebrows furrowed. She moved behind the counter, grabbing the milk wordlessly. “Kya hua? Itni dari hui kyun lag rahi ho? Sab theek?” He asked quietly, taking the milk from her and pouring some more in the pan.

“M-Mujhe a-aisa lag r-raha tha ki k-koi m-mera p-peechha k-kar raha hai”, she said to him. “Sh-Shayad p-paranoia hai, par… F-Faizi Sir ne w-warn k-kara tha.”

“Tumhe kaise pata main yahan hoon?”

She shook her head. “M-Mujhe n-nahi pata tha. M-Main toh k-kamre mein jaa r-rahi thi. B-Beech mein ch-changing room w-waala c-corridor aa-aata hai. N-No c-cameras. S-Socha w-wahan se s-safe yeh m-mess hai. K-Kam se kam k-koi k-kuchh k-karega toh r-record ho j-jaayega.”

His eyebrows flicked in surprise. “Smart”, he said. “Do you think woh hai jisne tumpar attack kara tha?”

She shrugged. “M-Maybe. P-Pehle l-laga bhooth hai, ab l-lag r-raha hai i-insaan hi hai.”

“Kya laga?” He asked, staring at her. “Bhooth? Yahan bhooth kahan se aayenge?”

“Bh-Bhooth ko koi e-entry ke liye s-sign in, s-sign out n-nahi k-karna p-padta”, she said. “Use p-permission n-nahi chahiye. Woh kh-khud aa j-jaayega.”

“Rani Sahiba, bhooth vooth kuchh nahi hota hai.”

“Aa-Aap toh y-yeh bhi m-maante ho ki m-main r-rich hoon, toh m-main c-commando n-nahi b-ban sakti. Aapke m-manna se k-kya hota hai? M-Mere bh-bhooton ki p-poori e-existence aap q-question k-kar rahe ho? Achha w-waala bh-bhoot bhi toh ho s-sakta hai.” She crossed her arms, huffing.

He glanced away, sighing. “Monami… woh… woh meri problem thi. Tumhe judge karna, tumhe pasand naa karna kyunki tum rich ho, woh… woh meri personal problem thi. Main galat tha”, he said.

Her mouth dropped open. “K-Kya?”

“I am sorry”, he said. “Mujhe tumhe jaanne se pehle, tumhaare baare mein opinion nahi banana chahiye tha. That’s my mistake. I admit it.” She closed her mouth, blinking.

“K-Koi b-baat nahi”, she said. “It’s o-okay.” She stared at him. “Aa-Aapko r-realize hua, b-bahut hai.”

‘Ab yeh kya ho raha hai?’ She thought. ‘Main kisi alternate universe mein aa gayi kya? Yeh Khadoos mujhe sorry bol raha hai?’

Fingers snapped in front of her face, and she looked up. Karan tapped the slab, nodding to the cup. “Coffee”, he said. “Pee lo. Main tumhe kamre tak chodh dunga. Kal subah main aur Faizi footage dekh lenge ki koi tumhaara actually peechha kar raha tha yaa tumhe sirf galatfehmi hui hai.”

She nodded, taking the cup. “Th-Thank you. C-Coffee ke l-liye bhi, aur s-sorry ke l-liye bhi.” He nodded, leaning against the slab and sipping his coffee quietly.

She kept the cup down, hopping up on the slab. She took the coffee, swinging her feet in air as she drank it. Karan glanced down at her swinging feet.

‘Bacchi hai yeh’, he thought, shaking his head.

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

Sid popped his head in, smiling. “Hi”, he said.

Sanju looked up, raising her eyebrows. She stopped the swinging punching bag with a gloved hand. “Yahan kya kar raho hai tu? Teri training ka waqt toh khatam ho gayo hai.”

He hummed, sitting down on the bench next to her. “I know. Main toh bas aapse milne aaya tha. Aaj Saturday hai, half day hai, toh socha aapke saath thoda time spend kar loon. We’re friends but we don’t spend a lot of time together.”

“Hum abhi training kar raho hain”, she said.

“Okay”, he said, leaning back. “I’ll watch and wait.”

“Tu bore ho jaayego. Hum thodi der mein mil leto hain tujhse.”

Sid tilted his head. “Dekhne mein koi problem hai? Ho sakta hai mujhe bhi kuchh aa jaaye dekhkar.”

She sighed. “Baitha reh phir. Hume naa kehno ki humaare saath tu bore ho gayo.”

He shot her a thumbs up, smiling with his cheerful grin. She shook her head slightly, swinging her fist at the punching bag. It was easy to lose herself again once her fists started swinging. Her watch beeped with the alarm, almost an hour later, and she stopped.

Siddharth, she realized with a jolt. She winced, turning her head over. He wasn’t there, was he? Her eyes widened, seeing him looking at his own fists as he slowly tried to mimic her.

“Tu abhi tak yahin hogo?” she asked.

He looked up. “Of course. Maine kaha tha, na, main wait karunga.” He grabbed a bottle, holding it out to her. “Paani?” She took it, gulping some down. She sat down next to him, tilting her head.

“Tu itni der yahan kyun ruka?”

“Hum friends hain, na? I wanted to spend some time, toh isliye aa gaya”, he said, shrugging.

“Tujhe itni der rukne ki zaroorat naa thi. Apna waqt zaaya karo bas tune.”

He frowned. “What’s zaaya?”

“Kharaab.”

“Aapko lagta hai maine time waste kara. Mujhe toh nahi lagta”, he said. He smiled slightly. “Mere Mummy ji kehte the ki agar aap kisi aise insaan ke saath ho jiski aap qadar karte ho, toh jo time aapne spend kara hai, woh kabhi waste nahi ho sakta. You enjoy it.”

“Par humne toh tujhse baat hi naa karo.”

“Haan, so what? Zaroori thodi naa hai ki baat ho. Aapko punching bag ko punch karte hue dekhkar mujhe mazaa aa raha tha, toh I stayed.”

She shook her head. “Humse iss sab ki aasha mat rakhno. Hum itni der naa intezaar karenge tera.”

“I promise main aapko itni der intezaar nahi karaunga”, he said, grinning. “Ab toh aapki training ho gayi, na? Aapne woh waali story nahi complete kari jo aap kal sunaa rahe the. I want to hear.”

She chuckled. “Kahaaniyon ka bahut shauk hogo, na, tujhe?” She smiled slightly, continuing the tale.

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

“Humne footage dekh li”, Faizi muttered, as the two entered the mess. It was empty, with it being past lunch time. Karan glanced at Faizi, flicking his eyebrows up in question. “Koi toh tha, jo uska peechha kar raha tha. Par camera mein dikhaa nahi. Use bahut achhe se pata hai ki cameras kahan lage hain aur kya capture karte hain. Mess ke bahar thodi der intezaar kara, par phir chala gaya.”

Karan hummed. “Do you think woh Monami par attack karne ka mauka dhoond raha tha?”

“Ho sakta hai.” He shrugged.

Karan glanced around the mess. She wasn’t there. “Monami ko warn karna padega”, he said.

“Batra ma’am bhi waapas aa rahe hain, pata hai?” Faizi said.

His eyes widened. “Kya? Kab?”

“Aaj”, he said.

Karan sighed. “Woh jab bhi aati hain, meri diet ki dhajiya udhaa deti hain”, he said. “Unke chakkar mein ek ghanta extra gym karna padh jaata hai.”

He chuckled. “Ek woh aur Bhaiya hi hain, jo tumhaari band bajaa sakte hain.”

He rolled his eyes. “Chup kar”, he said. “Woh kisi ki bhi band bajaa sakte hain.” He put his spoon down on his empty plate, grabbing a napkin.

“Karan!”

His head snapped up, and he winced, seeing Mrs. Batra walk in. “Oh God, lunch time par kyun?” He muttered. He stood up, as did the rest of the special agents.

“Ma’am”, he said.

“Kitna patla ho gaya hai tu. Main thodi sa time kya chali gayi, tune toh khaana peena hi chodh diya hai”, she cooed. “Aur yeh kya hai? Tu itne time baad aa raha hai waapas? Mujhse milna nahi hota tujhe?”

“Ma’am, main…” He trailed off at her glare.

“Chup. Bas bahaana banaa liya kar tu. Aur Faizi”, she said. He heaved a slight relief, when her attention turned to the other male. “Tum bhi mujhe itne time baad mil rahe ho. Yaad nahi aati meri?”

“Ma’am, aapki yaad naa aaye aisa kaise ho sakta hai?” Faizi said, grinning at her. “Hum toh tab se intezaar kar rahe the jab se hum academy aaye hain.”

Mrs. Batra smiled at him. “Ab main aa gayi hoon waapas.” She kept her hands on their hands, patting them affectionately. “Apne cadets se milwaaoge nahi mujhe?”

“Haan, haan, chaliye”, Faizi said.

“Mujhe kuchh kaam hai”, Karan said. “Thoda urgent hai, ma’am. Main baad mein milta hoon.”

“Aisa kya kaam hai?” Mrs. Batra demanded.

“Academy ki security ek baar check karni hai. Do teen din se check nahi kar paaya hoon. Ma’am, main baad mein milta hoon, na, aapse? Aap… Aap Faizi ke saath jaaiye, aur cadets se mil lijiye.” He nodded at her, before quickly walking out of the mess.

Mrs. Batra shook her head. “Bas bahaane banwaa lo isse. List hamesha ready hoti hai iske paas.”

Faizi chuckled. “Hum aapko sabse milwaate hain.”

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

Monami smiled slightly, as Koel twirled Chitra around. The cadets had all randomly collected themselves in her room for a little group bonding. One thing led to another, and there was currently a dance party active in her room.

Her mother sang along, laughing, as she twirled her around. Monami burst into giggles, as she picked her up, spinning her.

‘Dobara!’ A 6 year old Monami demanded, laughing. Her mother smiled, spinning her around again. She laughed again gleefully as the wind rushed by her.

Fingers snapped in front of her face, and she glanced up, blinking. Sid sat down next to her. “Kya hua?” He asked. “Kya soch rahi hai?”

“Tujhe yaad hai”, she muttered softly. “Jab bhi Mumma missions par se aate the, toh hum aise hi dance parties karte the.”

He smiled slightly. He hummed. “Humne bhi bahut time se nahi kari, na? Just you and me?”

She nodded. “Kaafi time”, she agreed.

There was a knock on the door, and then the door slowly being pushed open. Faizi poked his head in. His eyebrows raised as he pushed it open wider, walking in. A woman followed him, and Sid quickly reached over, shutting the music off from his iPod.

“Party chal rahi hai?” Faizi asked.

“Kahan, Sir ji?” Bala said. “Khaane ke bina party thodi naa hoti hai. Hum toh bas aise hi thodi masti kar rahe the.”

He nodded. “Yeh Batra ma’am hai”, he said, gesturing to the woman. “Batra Sir ki wife. Academy mein hi rehte hain par abhi thode time kahin gaye hue the. Tum logon se milna tha inhe.”

“Ma’am”, they said, saluting her.

“Itna formal hone ki koi zaroorat nahi hai”, she said, smiling at them cheerfully. “Aur gaana kyun band kiya? Chalo, thodi masti hum bhi kar lete hain tum sab ke saath.”

The cadets grinned, glancing at each other. Sid turned up the music again. He held out a hand. “Ma’am?” He said, bowing slightly.

Mrs. Batra laughed a little, clutching his hand and keeping a hand on his shoulder. He smiled at her, swaying to the music with her. Faizi smiled, sitting down next to Monami.

“Kya baat hai, mahutarma?” Faizi said. “Aapko naachna nahi pasand?”

She shrugged. “S-Sirf a-akele ya S-Sid ke s-saath.”

He nodded, leaning back and watching the rest of the cadets dance around happily. “Humne CCTV footage check kari kal raat ki”, he said quietly, not taking his eyes off the cadets. Monami looked at him. Faizi turned his head towards her. “Koi tumhaara peechha kar raha tha. Dhyaan rakhna.”

“Woh m-mujhse k-kya ch-chahta hai? M-Maine k-kya k-kara hai?” She asked.

“Kuchh nahi. Tum bas galat jagah par galat samay par thi.”

“Mere s-saath h-hamesha yeh h-hota hai.” She huffed. “S-Sid k-kehta hai ki m-main agar gh-ghar m-mein bhi hoon toh bhi k-koi na k-koi m-musibat h-hello b-bolne aa j-jaayegi m-mujhe. M-Mujhe i-insaanon se h-hello b-bolne ka k-koi sh-shauk nahi hai, y-yahan m-musibat bhi aa j-jaati hai.” He laughed.

“Faizi Sir”, Koel said. “Aap… mere saath dance karoge?”

“Aap hume dance ke liye puchhe aur hum mana kar dein? Aisa kaise ho sakta hai?” He replied. He stood up, pulling her to the middle. Monami smiled slightly. They looked cute together.

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

“Tumne cadets ke liye koi welcome party bhi nahi rakhi?” Mrs. Batra demanded. “Hum kal hi rakhte hain.”

“Welcome party?” Karan repeated. “Ma’am… unhe aaye hue ek mahina ho gaya. Ab welcome party ka kya point?”

Mrs. Batra sighed. “Thodi masti bhi zaroori hai. Tumne hi bataaya, na, ki unhone abhi abhi ek ek mock mission complete kara hai? Toh unhe agar thoda relax karne ka time de bhi diya, toh kya badhi baat ho gayi? Aur waise bhi, kal Sunday hai, na? Training thodi naa miss ho rahi hai.’

“I don’t see why not”, Colonel Batra said. “Chhoti si party rakhne mein koi problem nahi honi chahiye.”

Karan hesitated. “Agar aapko yeh hi theek lagta hai, toh theek hai. Par… please, alcohol nahi. Main nahi chahta ki Monday ko hangover ho, aur training par asar padhe.”

“No alcohol”, Colonel Batra assured.

“Khaana hoga, naach gaana hoga”, Mrs. Batra said, smiling. “Alcohol ki zaroorat hi nahi.”

“Main cadets ko bataa dunga. I’m sure woh bahut khush honge.”

“Baith”, Mrs. Batra said. “Aaj tu yahin humaare saath hi khaana khaa le. Bahut time ho gaya tere saath baithkar khaana khaaye mujhe.” He nodded slightly. Her smile widened. “Tujhe yaad hai, Karan? Jab tu chhota tha, toh hum har roz tere saath dinner kara karte the. Aur ek baar hume kahin bahar jaana tha, toh tune tab tak nahi khaaya, jab tak hum ghar nahi aaye.”

He shook his head. “Mujhe yaad nahi. Mujhe yaad hai aap dono hamesha mere saath khaate the, par yeh nahi.”

“Tu shayad 4 saal ka tha. Param ne kitni koshish kari ki tu khaa le, par nahi. Tune toh zidd pakad li”, she said, chuckling. “Phir kahan hi kisi ki baat sunta hai.” He smiled slightly.

“Aur jab tak hum dono tere saath nahi baithe, tune kuchh nahi khaaya”, Colonel Batra said, smiling fondly at the memory.

“Aur ab dekho. Milne bhi nahi aata”, Mrs. Batra said. “Mann hi nahi karta iska.”

“Aisi baat nahi hai, ma’am”, Karan said. “Aapse milkar sach mein bahut achha lagta hai mujhe. Par kaam khatam ho, tab hi toh aaunga, na? Par… par ab toh yahin hoon main kaafi time tak. Waise bhi, academy toh ghar hai mera. Yahin toh badha hua hoon. Idhar aane ka kaise nahi mann karega?”

There was a knock on the door, and Colonel Batra called them to come in. A helper served the food on the table. Mrs. Batra help up a finger when Karan went to take a plate.

“Mujhe daalne de tera khaana”, she said. “Bahut patla ho gaya hai tu.”

Karan shot an alarmed look to Colonel Batra, who smiled in amusement. He shrugged helplessly, shaking his head. Karan cringed a little, seeing her pile the plate up. He should just live in the gym after this.

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

“Maine nahi jaana party mein”, Monami denied, closing the cupboard.

“Aise kaise nahi jaayegi?” Sid said, opening it again. “Academy ki party hai. Welcome party hai.”

“Party ke naam par uss Khadoos ne happy birthday kar toh diya tha humaara. Cake woh box, aur humaari cheezen candle ki tarah jaala di. Bahut ho gaya welcome. Aur ek mahine baad kaun welcome party rakhta hai? Aur kyun rakhni hai? Band toh already bajaa di. Ab kya welcome kar rahe hain?”

“Khud Batra ma’am organize kar rahe hain. Unhe bura lagega, na? Woh chahte hain sab aaye.”

“Aur main kya chahti hoon, uska kya? Tu kehta hai, cadets ke saath reh. Main rehti hoon, na? Aaj bhi toh sabke saath kamre mein thi. Yeh party and all? Too much, bro.”

“Monu, chal, na?” He whined.

“Nahi, na”, she whined back, shaking her head.

“Bro…” He kept his hands on her shoulders, making her sit down. “Wahan par achha achha khaana hoga.”

“Really?” She muttered.

He hummed. “Of course, bro. Party hai. Achha khaana hoga. Junk food hoga. Soch, bro, soch! Khaana hoga.”

“Par itne log bhi toh honge”, she muttered.

“Bro, ice cream hogi.”

Her eyes lit up, a slow smile spreading on her face. “Really?”

“Of course. Ice cream ke bina kaunsi party hoti hai? Ice cream toh hogi hi. Tu aana, khaana khaakar chali jaana.”

She nodded. “Haan, correct. Ice cream hogi.”

“Aur cake bhi hoga. Shayad chocolate.”

Her smile widened. “Chocolate cake ke saath ice cream”, she muttered dreamily.

“Aayegi?”

She nodded. “Haan. Okay. Ice cream ke liye aa jaungi. But sirf khaane ke liye. Tu mujhe dance wagere karne ko nahi bolega.”

“Deal!” Sid jumped up to his feet happily. “Love you, bro. Ruk jaa, main tere liye ek dress bhi dhoondta hoon. Black color ka theme hai. Let’s see.”

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

“Janaab ji…” Faizi said.

“Jaa, nikal. Main sambhaal lunga”, Karan said. “Nikal le Koel ke paas.”

“Kuchh kaam toh nahi hai, na? Hum Koel ko mana kar denge agar hai toh.”

Karan rolled his eyes. “Tu niklega toh mera kaam jaldi hoga. Warna, har do minute mein chabar chabar karne lagta hai. Nikal le.”

“Thanks, yaar.” He paused at the doorway. “Waise… humne jab footage dekhi, humne ek aur cheez dekhi.”

He looked at him, flicking his eyebrows up. “Kya hua? Kuchh pata chala kya tujhe?”

“Pata chala, na? Spy ke baare mein nahi par.” He grinned. “Yeh pata chala ki tumne aur Monami Tsunami ne ek saath coffee pee? Tumne hume yeh kyun nahi bataaya?”

“Tujhe har cheez ki update deni padegi?” He said.

He grinned. “Har cheez ki nahi, par Monami ke saath jo bhi kara, uski toh zaroor deni padegi.”

“Kyun? Main kyun doon?”

“Kyunki humne kaha. Humaara mann rakhne ke liye tum itna nahi kar sakte?”

“Nahi kar sakta”, he denied. “Kya laga rakha hai? Aur isliye hi nahi bataana chahta main tujhe. Coffee hi toh pee hai. Uske baare mein sunke hi tera dimaag kharaab ho jaata hai. Ek woh paagal, ek tu paagal.”

“Humaara koi dimaag kharaab nahi hua.” He sat down next to him. “Ab dekho, humne tumhe kaha tha ki tum apna opinion Monami ke baare mein badloge. Sahi kaha tha, na?”

Karan sighed. “Ek baat bata? Tu itni bakwaas kaise kar leta hai? Uss baat ka aur iss baat ka kya connection hai? Tu kahin ki baat kahin mat lekar jaa.”

“Humaara bachpan se hi yeh talent hai.”

“Toh iss talent ko le, aur dafaa ho. Jaa. Koel ke paas chala jaa. Woh thodi der jheli ki tujhe.”

Faizi’s eyes widened. “Oh haan, humne use kaha tha hum use 8 baje milenge. Hum late ho gaye. Bye.” He darted out of the room.

“Gadha”, Karan muttered, shaking his head. “Bhagwaan hi jaane hum dost kaise ban gaye.” He sighed.