Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

THE PREPARATION

"Idhar aa", Karan said, looking over his shoulder.

Faizi peeked over his shoulder, eyebrows furrowing. It was the footage of one of the cameras they had set up. Some sort of meeting was in progress, and there were at least, 25 men.

A middle aged man was sitting on a chair, feet up on the table. "Yeh leader hoga", Karan muttered. Faizi nodded. "Baaki saare rooms khaali hain, except the actual club. Wahan par 15 aur log hain. Sure nahi hoon ki kitne involved hain, par 40 log hain total yahan."

"Plan of action hai tumhaare paas?" Faizi asked.

Karan lifted his head, a smirk spreading tugging on his lips. He jerked his head down in a nod. "Sanju ko bhi bulaa."

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

Faizi kept the last piece of equipment down, nodding in satisfaction. They were all good. He stood up, locking the door to the armory and slipping the keys back on his chain.

'Kya haalat banaakar rakhi hai tune kamre ki?' Karan said. His jaw was dropped open in disbelief, his gaze looking around. 'Suar kahin ka! Mujhe ek suar ke saath kamra de diya hai.'

'Arey, apne taane thodi der ke liye apne paas rakho', Faizi said, frantically looking under the pillow. 'Hume chaabi nahi mil rahi hai.'

'Kaunsi chaabi?'

'Humaare bike ki chaabi.' Karan opened a drawer, pulling out a key. Faizi paused. 'Yeh tumhe kahan se mili?'

'Wahin thi jahan par maine tujhe bataakar rakhi thi. Maine tujhe paanch baar bataaya tha.'

Faizi grabbed it, sighing in relief. 'Yeh bike humne bahut mehnat se li thi. Aur yeh key chain hume humaari Ammi ne taufe mein diya tha.'

Karan held out his hand, and Faizi placed the keys back on his palm. He grabbed a locket, taking out the small piece and putting in the key. 'Important cheezen ya cheezen jo bahut pasand hain gale mein pehen le. Ghumne ke kam chances hain.' He pushed down the top of his own t-shirt, showing a chain with a key. 'Main bhi yeh hi karta hoon.'

'Tumhaari cheezen toh pataal lok se bhi tum dhoondkar nikaal loge', he commented, wearing it. 'Tumhe iski kya zaroorat? Shukriya.'

'Ab saaf kar ise.'

'Baad mein. Hume abhi jaana hai.'

'Faizi! Waapas aa aur saaf kar. Faizi!'

Faizi smiled at the memory, slipping the keys back underneath his jacket. His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out, opening Karan's message. Baat philaa de academy mein. Mission Euphoria ki raid aaj raat ko hogi.

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

"Aaj Wednesday hai", Karan muttered lowly. "Matlab, bheedh bhi zyaada nahi hogi. Agar aaj raid maarenge, toh civilians cross fire mein phasenge uska kam chance hai. Inki sabse pehli tendency civilians ko hostage banaakar blackmail karne ki hogi." It was mostly for himself than Faizi, but Faizi had come to listen quietly. He liked to mutter his logics out loud. Apparently, it was easier to notice if there was any glaring hole in it.

Faizi nodded, taking another bite of the Dal-chawal. "Masale kam nahi hai?"

"Teri aur Koel ki love life jaise. Phir nahi puchh paaya, na, kal raat?" Karan asked. "Kya chal raha hai, Special Agent Major Faizuddin Siddiqui? Aap toh badhe love guru banta phirte the. Apni baari aayi toh ek date ke liye bhi nahi puchh paa rahe?"

"Hum kya soch rahe the..."

"Haan, tu bas sochta reh", he said. "Kar mat kuchh."

He sighed. "Hume khaana hi nahi khaana. Tumhaare taane khaakar hi pet bhar gaya. Jis dun tum kisi ko itna pasand karoge, na, tab tumhe samajh aayega ki kitna mushkil hota hai bolna. Pehli baar kisi ko itna pasand kiya hai humne. Agar mana kar diya aur dosti todh di, toh?"

"Pyaar mere jaise logon ke liye nahi hai, Faizi", he said. "Mera pyaar sirf desh hai. Aur dramatic hona band kar, aur khaana kha le. Haan karegi. Par sirf tab hi jab tu puchhega." His gaze flickered to the door when two special agents walked in. His gaze paused. "Tere dost aa rahe hain."

"Faizi!" Mridul said.

Faizi turned his head, a smile spreading on his face. "Abhi! Mridul!" He said. "Aao. Humaare saath khaana khao."

"Karan Sir", Abhi said, sitting next to him. "I am Abhi. Special Agent. Aapne chaar mahine pehle woh strike lead kari thi, na?" He jerked his head down in a nod. Abhi gathered his hand in both of his. Karan leaned back a little, eyeing him. "Main aapko bahut admire karta hoon. I wish kisi din aapki team mein hone ka chance mile."

Karan wriggled his hand out of his grasp. He looked at Faizi, his eyebrows furrowed. What was happening? What should he do now? Faizi stifled a laugh, coughing a little behind his hand. Karan glared at him. He was laughing at him?

"Karan Sir", Mridul said, holding a hand out for handshake. "Nice to meet you. Special Agent Captain Mridul Tagore."

He nodded. "Same", he said, shaking his hand.

"Special Agent Captain Abhishek Sawant", Abhi introduced. "Main hamesha formal introduction dena bhool jaata hoon. Kya hai, na, main..."

'Kahan phas gaya hoon main?' He thought, tuning his words out. He looked down at his food. 'Bhook nahi lagi hoti toh khaana chodkar hi chala jaata. Kitni chabar chabar karta hai yeh.'

"Koel Madam!" Bala's protesting voice made him lift his head again. The Foxtrot cadets entered the mess, and Karan's gaze sifted through them. Monami. It paused. She was trailing them, her attention down at her sleeve. She inspected it interestedly.

'Kabhi kabhi Monu ko dekhoge toh aisa lagta hai ki woh kisi random cheez ko kuchh zyaada hi interest se dekh rahi hai. 8 out of 10 times, woh kisi deep thought mein hoti hai.'

'Is that a good thing or a bad thing?'

Siddharth shrugged. 'It's just a thing. Monu kabhi kabhi nightmares ke baad aise thoughts mein rehti hai where she's playing the nightmare over and over in her head. Yaa phir agar kisi ne use kuchh kaha toh uske baare mein soch rahi hai. Achhi cheez, buri cheez, woh sab kuchh bahut inspect karti hai. Point yeh hai ki aise zones mein Monu se baat karna is not a good idea. Woh bilkul bhi receptive nahi hoti hai. On the other hand, use yeh lagne lagega ki aap use space nahi de rahe ho. Yaa toh saath mat raho uske yaa agar rehna hai, toh chup chaap baith jao. Use jo sochna hai, use sochne do.'

'Matlab abhi toh koi baat nahi karni chahiye', he thought. 'Yeh iske deep thinking zones kuchh zyaada hi nahi hai? Main baat kab karoon isse? Yeh toh hamesha hi apne vichaaron mein khoyi rehti hai.'

"Kitni pretty hai, na?" Abhishek's voice said. He blinked, turning his head to look at him. What? What were they talking about again? What did he miss?

"Kaun?" Mridul asked. "Kaun pretty hai?"

"Monami", he said, sighing.

Karan choked in surprise on his food, coughing. He grabbed the water, gulping it down. He swallowed the bite, coughing a little. He finally looked up at Abhi, who looked at him in surprise and concern. "Monami?" Karan forced out. "As in... meri cadet?"

He nodded. He turned his head to look at her. He sighed a little dreamily, resting his head on his hand. "Kitni sundar hai, na, woh? I think I'm in love."

"Love? Aaj tak baat bhi kari hai tumne usse?" Faizi asked.

He nodded. "Do baar", he said. "Party hall ke andar aur party hall ke bahar."

'Matlab, ek baar', Karan thought. 'Do location hone se do baar nahi ho jaati hai baat. Aur yeh kya speed hai? Ek baar baat kari, pyaar ho gaya? Iss logic ke hisaab se toh Faizi ko das janam pehle aur das janam baad tak ke hisse ka pyaar bhi ho gaya ek mahine mein.'

"Tum love ko galat pronounce kar rahe ho", Karan said. "Use infatuation pronounce karte hain."

"Arey, nahi, nahi, Sir. Mujhe difference pata hai." He turned his head, staring at her. "Mujhe pyaar hi hua hai."

Karan looked at Faizi, giving him a look. 'Kaise dost banaa liye hain isne?' Faizi stifled a smile.

"Abhi", Mridul said. He nodded to the two majors. "Seniors hain, yaar. Kuchh bhi mat bakna shuru ho jaaya kar. Kya baat lekar baith gaya hai?"

Abhi looked at Faizi and then, at Karan. "Sorry", he said. "Jab main special agent waale mode mein nahi hota, toh mera guard kuchh zyaada hi down ho jaata hai. Aur main kuchh bhi bolne lagta hoon."

Karan heaved a sigh. 'Namoonon ke saath ise bhi class mein daalo phir. Kisne train kara hai ise? Trainer mein problem hai ya iske dimaag mein?'

"Abhi!" Mridul said. "Nihaarna band kar use."

"Par itni sundar hai", he hissed back.

Karan shook his head in disbelief. He stood up, keeping the plate on the counter and walking away. He paused at the doorway, looking back at Monami. She was quietly eating. Most of her attention was still on her sleeve, shoving food absentmindedly in her mouth.

'Kya soch rahi hai yeh?' He glanced at Abhi, rolling his eyes when he saw his star-struck gaze. 'Agar isne Monami ko uncomfortable kiya, muh todh dunga, aankhein nikaal lunga, janwaaron ko khila dunga. Main yahan use comfortable karne ke liye itni mehnat kar raha hoon, aur yeh buddhu saari mehnat par tsunami le aayega.'

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

"Maine suna hai Karan Sir, Faizi Sir aur Sanju ma'am kahin chhapa maarne jaa rahe hain", Bala said.

Monami's gaze lifted in interest. Sid opened his mouth. "Raid", Koel said, before he could get a sound out. He closed his mouth, nodding.

"Suna hai ki badhi jagah par raid hai. Koi club ya kuchh. Bahut badi raid hai."

"I hope they #stay safe. Bala, tujhe har jagah ki #information kaise hoti hai? Tujhe kaise pata #trainers raid maarne jaa rahe hain?" Chitra asked.

Bala grinned. "Arey, mere kaan aur aankhein har jagah hoti hain. Sab kuchh pata hota hai mujhe. Kuchh marzi puchh lo."

"Aaj Dilbagh ji dinner mein kya banaayenge?" Koel asked. Bala's smile dropped, and the cadets burst out laughing. Monami smiled slightly, leaning her head back on the wall. She closed her eyes, tuning the conversation out again. "Sab kuchh pata hota hai, na?" Koel mocked.

He huffed, crossing his arms. "Woh mujhe pata hai, par... par main isliye nahi bata raha kyunki thoda suspense bhi hona chahiye zindagi mein."

"Dinner mein kya banega woh suspense hai, na?" Sid said. "Excuses toh dhang ke dhoond le, Bala G bro."

"Sid Bhai ji! Aap toh mat peeta karo mujhe. Mandir ka ghanta banaakar rakha hua hai sabne mujhe."

"#Aww, it's okay, Bala", Chitra said, chuckling. "Hum sab #joke kar rahe hain."

"Koel", Ustaad ji said, and the cadets looked up. "Tumhaare ghar se phone aaya hai. Jaakar baat kar lo."

Her eyes lit up. "Ghar se?" She said, a smile spreading on her face.

"Kya baat hai, Koel? Itna khush?" Suman ji asked.

"Kyun? Khush nahi ho sakti main? See you guys later. Bye." She hopped off the bench, rushing off. Koel picked up the receiver from the PCO next to the reception, sitting down on the chair. There were two PCOs in the lobby area, precisely for the purpose of letting cadets talk. "Hello?"

"Koel!"

"Mendhak? Tune hafte ke beech mein kyun call kara? Tu theek hai, na? Abhi teen din pehle hi toh baat kari thi. Bimaar toh nahi hai? Aur-"

"Uffo, Koel. Tu kitni dramatic hai. Mujhe kya tujhse bina reason ke baat karne ka mann bhi nahi kar sakta? Maine tujhe kuchh bataane ke liye call kara hai."

"Kya?"

"Maine tujhe bataaya tha, na, ki maine drawing competition mein part liya tha? Mujhe third prize mila!"

She smiled. "Kya baat hai, Mendhak? Sunday ko mujhe picture bhejna apni drawing ki. Aur Nani ko kehna ki sambhaal kar upar waali drawer mein rakh dein. Okay?"

"Haan, haan, pata hai mujhe."

"Nikhil... mujhe actually, tujhse kuchh puchhna tha. Permission leni thi."

"Permission? Mujhse? Kyun?"

She paused. How should she explain it? "Tujhe... tujhe pata hai, na, ki Papa nahi hai ab iss duniya mein? Tere Papa sirf tere Papa nahi, mere life partner bhi the. Aisa insaan jo mere happiness ko share kare, jo dukh mein mere saath ho. Tu samajh raha hai, na?"

"Haan. Jaise Nanu aur Nani hamesha jhagadte rehte hain, par jab bhi Nani ke pairon mein dard hota hai, Nanu unke pair ki massage karte hain, aur jab bhi Nani khush hoti hain, toh sabse pehle Nanu ke paas jaati hain bataane."

She smiled. "Haan, waise hi. Teri Nanu aur Nani ek doosre ke life partner hain. Tere Papa mere the. Par ab woh duniya mein nahi hai. Kabhi kabhi jab aap kisi ko apna life partner choose karte hain, aur aapka life partner aapko chodkar chala jaata hai yaa aapse door ho jaata hai, toh aap koi aur life partner choose karte hain. Zaroori nahi hai, par kar sakte hain."

"Koel... tu yeh sab kyun keh rahi hai? Tu seedha seedha bol, na? Mujhe khelne bhi jaana hai."

Koel sighed. "Mendhak, important hai. Sun, na, dhyaan se? Phir khel lena."

Nikhil huffed. "Achha, theek hai. Bol."

"Toh jab aap life partner dhoondte hain, toh zaroori nahi hai ki har insaan jo aapka achha lage, woh aapke liye sahi ho. Kabhi kabhi koi achha lagta hai, par aap usse itne alag hote ho ki aap uske saath reh nahi paate. Toh kabhi kabhi aapko bahut saare logon se milna padta hai, saath rehna padta hai, jo potentially aapke life partner ban sakte hain. Tu samajh raha hai, na?"

"Haan, sab samajh aa raha hai mujhe. Buddhu nahi hoon main. Par tu yeh bol kyun rahi hai?"

"Mujhe teri permission chahiye. Main bhi kisi ke saath rehna chahti hoon jo shayad aage jaakar mera life partner ban sakta hai", she said. "Par agar tu mana karega, toh main nahi rahungi saath mein. Aur agar-"

"Uffo, Koel. Itna time lagaa diya. Seedha seedha bol, na, tujhe boyfriend banaane ki permission chahiye."

She closed her mouth. She opened it again, before closing it back up. "Tujhe yeh sab kaise pata hai?"

"Mujhe sab pata hota hai. Aur yeh toh sabko hi pata hota, is mein itna kya surprise hona? Ab jaldi answer sun, aur mujhe khelne jaane de. Answer hai, haan. Tujhe boyfriend banana, tu bana. Par haan, agar tu mujhe bhool gayi, na, toh dekh lena."

"Mendhak, tere liye duniya bhool jaungi. Tujhe kaise bhool sakti hoon main."

"Bas, bas, yeh meethi meethi baatein unn Uncle ke liye rakho. Ab mil gayi permission tujhe? Ab main jaaon khelne? Sab wait kar rahe hain mera."

She chuckled. She smiled, nodding. "Haan, jaa."

"Achha, Koel, sun. Jab hum Sunday ko baat karenge, na, toh tu mujhe Uncle ke baare mein sab kuchh bataana. Agar woh achhe nahi hue, toh koi hona chahiye, na, jo tujhe protect karega? Okay? Bye!"

She opened her mouth, sighing a little when he cut it. She chuckled, shaking her head. "Aaj kal ke bacche."

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

"Maine suna hai aap mission par jaa rahi hain", Siddharth said.

Sanju paused, holding the swinging punching bag. She turned her head, nodding as he walked closer. "Haan."

He pulled out a locket from his pocket, holding it up. He smiled at it a little, stroking it gently. "Yeh lo", he said, holding it out.

She frowned, taking it. It was a leather locket, a small green four-leaf clover hanging from the end of the chain. It seemed expensive. "Yeh kaa hai?"

"Log believe karte hain ki four-leaf clover se achha luck aata hai. Aap logon ko zaroorat toh nahi hai luck ki, but it doesn't hurt to have a bit of a luck, does it?" He smiled, sighing a little. "Yeh mujhe Juhi Aunty ne diya tha. Monu ki Mom? Mummy ji ke jaane ke baad, unhone mujhe apne bete ki tarah treat kara tha. Main har exam mein pehenkar jaata tha. Har badhe din par maine yeh pehna hai."

She held it back. "Hum yeh naa le sakto hain."

"I want it back after the raid. Par mission jab tak khatam nahi hota, yeh aap rakho. Please?"

She nodded. "Hum ise sambhaal kar rakhenge." She slipped it on, patting it gently. "Waise, yeh hume kaahe ke laane diyo hai tune?"

"We're friends, right?" He grinned. "Aur waise bhi, ab aapne mera itna dhyaan rakha hai. Mere liye blanket lekar aayi, pillows lekar aaye, itna dhyaan rakhna toh mera bhi banta hai. Nahi?"

Sanju crossed her arms. "Tu hume chidha raho hai?"

His grin widened. "Main? Nahi toh. I wouldn't dare."

"Chirkut... tu hume chidha hi raho hai. Ruk tu!"

Sid dashed from there, laughing as he ran away. Sanju shook her head, before running out of the room after him.

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

"Ab toh permission bhi mil gayi hai. Jaakar puchh hi leti hoon", Koel muttered. "Warna, kabhi main busy, aur kabhi woh." She turned the corner, faltering when she saw both Karan and Faizi out in the hallway, talking to someone.

Karan had his arms crossed, leaning against the wall and Faizi was staring at a distance, nodding thoughtfully as they listened. It seemed serious. What should she do now? Should she leave or wait?

'Nahi, nahi, yeh log shaam ko mission par bhi jaayenge, toh abhi theek nahi hai. Kal puchh lungi.'

Karan's gaze lifted suddenly, meeting hers. His eyebrows furrowed. He held up two fingers to her, and she nodded. The other two special agents turned, looking at her. Faizi nodded in acknowledgement to her, before resuming their discussion.

'Abhi puchhna theek hai kya?' She thought. 'Yeh log aaj shaam ko mission par jaa rahe hain. Busy honge. Preoccupied hain. Nahi. Nahi, abhi theek nahi hai. Oh God, main yahan aayi hi kyun? Ab kya kahungi main? Kyun aayi thi?' She sighed a little. 'Monami ne kaha tha, na, woh achhi hai jhooth bolne mein? Usse thodi tips lungi aage ke liye.'

"Koel", Karan called and she looked up. The special agent was leaving, and Karan gestured her closer. "Kya hua? Kuchh chahiye tumhe?"

"Woh... mujhe bas Faizi Sir se kuchh baat karni thi."

"Haan, haan, mahutarma, boliye", Faizi said.

"Tum dono baat karo, mujhe thoda kaam hai", Karan said. "Excuse me." He slipped away and Koel fidgeted with her hands nervously.

'Ab kya boloon?'

"Kya hua, Koel?" Faizi asked.

"Woh... kuchh nahi. Maine bas... maine bas suna tha ki aap mission par jaa rahe hain? Main... main bas good luck wish karne aayi thi."

He smiled. "Shukriya. Hume tumse kuchh baat karni thi. Kuchh... kuchh puchhna tha."

"Haan, haan, puchho."

He paused, opening and closing his mouth a few times. "Hum... hum soch rahe the... matlab, hume yeh puchhna tha..." He took a deep breath. "Kya aap humaare saath date par chalengi?"

Her eyes widened. "Kya? Date?"

He sighed a little. "Tumhe nahi chalna toh koi baat nahi, I get it. Hum phir bhi-"

"Yes."

"Kya?" He blinked, eyebrows furrowing.

"Yes, I'll go on a date with you." She smiled a little.

His face broke into a grin. He sighed in relief. "Tumhe idea bhi nahi hai ki hum kitne waqt se tumse yeh puchhna chahte the. Hum-"

"Faizi Sir." The two looked up. The special agent the two men had been talking to lingered hesitantly. "Kuchh baat karni thi. Is this not a good time?"

"Nahi, nahi", Faizi said. "Bas hume ek minute do." He looked at Koel. "Hum baad mein milte hain tumse."

She smiled, nodding. "Of course."

Koel sighed happily as she walked back to her room. She opened the door, running straight to her bed and grabbing the pillow. She hugged it tightly, sighing again in happiness.

He liked her too.

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

"Monami... mess mein nahi thi", Karan muttered to himself. "Kamre mein hogi. Ya terrace par. Jaakar dekhoon kya ki usse baat kari jaa sakti hai kya?" He glanced at his watch. "Abhi meeting mein bhi thoda time hai." He nodded, shoving his hands in his hoodie pockets and making his way through.

She was in her room. She was sitting on the bed, legs crossed underneath her. Her chin rested on her hand, her eyes closed. He tilted his head. Was it a good time?

'Kar hi leta hoon baat. Ab kabhi toh karni hi hai.'

He raised his hand, intending to knock. She suddenly straightened up, interlacing her fingers. He paused. She seemed to be in deep thought, almost meditative. Was she trying to meditate?

'Meditation toh achhi hoti hai. Uss article mein likha tha ki meditation se calmness milti hai, aur jin logon ko PTSD hota hai, unke liye bhi help karti hai. Agar Monami meditate kar rahi hai, toh mujhe disturb nahi karna chahiye.'

"Bhagwaan ji", she said aloud. His eyes darted to her. "I know main aapse bahut kuchh maangti hoon. Par kya karoon? Ek aap hi toh hain, jisse main kuchh bhi maang sakti hoon. Toh main thoda greedy ho jaati hoon. Par please, thoda bear kar lo, na, mujhe? Aapki hi bacchi hoon."

He crossed his arms. He leaned on the doorframe, watching her. What did she want? Was it something he could get her?

"Aaj trainers mission par jaa rahe hain. Aapko toh pata hi hoga. Aapko toh sab pata hota hai. I know sirf ek raid hai, and I know special agents bahut saari aisi raids karte hain and unhe kuchh nahi hota. Par hone ko toh kabhi bhi ho sakta hai, na? Please, Bhagwaan ji, Karan Sir, Faizi Sir aur Sanju ma'am ko safe rakhna. Sab commandos ko safe rakhna jo jaa rahe hain. And please, unka mission bhi successful kar dena."

His lips parted in surprise, and he straightened up. She was praying for them?

"I know sab kuchh balance par chalta hai, par aapko unn terrorists ki life mil rahi hai, na? Woh logon ko hurt karte, unhe maarte, pata nahi kya kya karte. Commandos toh logon ko protect karte hain. Please, unhe safe rakhna. Usually, toh meri saari wishes aap mann se hi padh leta hain, par yeh thodi short notice par hai, aur extra, extra important hai, toh isliye bolkar, speed post se bhej rahi hoon. Okay?"

She opened her eyes. Karan immediately darted back out, ducking behind the wall. He peeked in hesitantly, seeing her get up from the bed. She grabbed a book, sitting on her bed again and opening it.

His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out. Faizi. Karan, meeting ka time ho gaya hai. Tum aa rahe ho, na? He typed out a quick 'yes'. He peeked into the room again, sighing a little.

'Baat nahi kar paaya', he thought. He shook his head, walking back to the debrief.

'Please, Bhagwaan ji, Karan Sir, Faizi Sir aur Sanju ma'am ko safe rakhna. Sab commandos ko safe rakhna jo jaa rahe hain.'

'Baat nahi kar paaya, par kuchh aisa sun zaroor liya jisse tum thodi se zyaada samajh aane lagi ho mujhe.' He shoved his hands into his pockets. 'Tumhaare saath jo bhi hua, usne bahut kuchh chheena hoga tumse. Par ek cheez hai jo tumse yeh chheen nahi paaya- tumhaari achhai. Main kisi ko tumhaari achhai tumse chheene nahi dunga.'