Chapter 51

CHAPTER 51

RIPPLE IN THE WATER

“Hi”, Sid said.

Sanju glanced up from her laptop. A small smile curled up her lips. It was a long day and he was a much welcome breath of fresh air. She nodded in acknowledgement. He bounced in happily. “Tu khush lag raho hai?”

“Main? Nahi”, he said, rubbing his neck. “Main kyun honga khush?” He glanced away from her, his gaze seemingly looking for something yet nothing in particular at the wall. She frowned slightly. “Mujhe aapse kuchh puchhna tha?”

“Puchh, phir. Mauhrat nikalwaano ki deri hogo kaa?”

Sid paused. “Woh main… puchh raha tha ki…”

“Ki?”

“Aapne mujhe ek bahut important baat nahi bataayi”, he said. She raised an eyebrow. “Aapki shaadi ho gayi hai?” Her eyebrows shot up. Sid shook his head. “I know personal question hai par… hum log sab baat kar rahe the aur mujhe suddenly realize hua ki mujhe yeh bhi nahi pata ki aap single ho ya nahi? Husband? Boyfriend?”

She eyed him for a few seconds. She shook her head. “Naa. Humaari shaadi nahi hui hogo.”

“Oh.” A small smile spread on his face. He nodded a little. He cleared his throat, stifling the grin that was threatening to break through. “Aap… Aap kya kar rahe ho?”

She tilted the screen of the laptop a little when he peeked in. He halted immediately, leaning back. “Kuchh kaam hogo”, she said. “Confidential.” He nodded. “Tu bata? Agle hafte se exam hogo. Taiyaari hai?”

He sighed. “Kind of?” He said. “Matlab, hai, par itna kuchh hai padhne ko ki bas revise karne mein band baj jaayegi.” He grinned. “I want to be first.”

She smiled. “Pehla? Tu pehle number par aana chahto hai?”

“I know Monu gives a hard competition par I think I can beat her”, he said. He paused. “Help karoge?”

“Madad?”

“Study together?” He asked. He glanced at her laptop. “Agar aap ko apna kaam karna hai, toh we can just sit together? Main distract nahi honga.”

She nodded. “Theek hogo”, she said. “Aa jaa tu cheezen lekar.”

He fist pumped as soon as he was out of the room. She is single and he can spend some quality time with her. That was a good conversation.

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

“Karan Sir”, a familiar voice halted him. Karan turned around. Mridul ran up to him. “Jai Hind, Sir.”

He tilted his up slightly in acknowledgement. “Kya hua?”

“Sir, woh…” He paused. Karan raised an eyebrow. “Aapne Sanjana ma’am ko kaha ki woh security ki detail banaaye. Aaj jab officers aayenge, uske liye.” Karan nodded. Mridul’s eyebrows dipped a little. “Kyun?”

“Excuse me?” He crossed his arms. “Kyun?” He repeated.

“Mera matlab hai, mera kaam hai, Sir. Toh Sanjana ma’am kyun? And unka toh expertise bhi strategy mein nahi hai. Toh unhe kyun?”

“I have my reasons”, he threw off vaguely. He turned to leave.

“Sir”, Mridul halted him again. He turned again, raising an eyebrow. “Maine kuchh galat kara hai kya?”

Karan suppressed a sigh. He really had to go. “Agar tumne kuchh galat kara hota, toh tumhe yeh sawaal puchhne ki zaroorat nahi hoti. Tumhe main already bata chuka hota.” He stared down into his eyes. “Mridul, I know tum head of security ho, and yeh sab kaam tumhaara hai and you do your job well, par I have my reasons jo confidential hain and main tumhe nahi bata sakta hoon. And that’s all the answers you are going to get from me. Is that clear?”

Mridul heaved a sigh. “Yes, Sir”, he murmured quietly.

“Good”, he said. Mridul turned around, walking off. Karan paused. What was that on his wrist? A bracelet? That color… “Yeh bracelet… kisi aur ke haath par bhi dekha tha maine?”

Abhi.

Karan shook his head slightly. Abhi’s wrist. He turned around. ‘Koi aur childish hobbies hain aur iske paas? Mujhe laga tha Mridul mature hai. Lagta hai samajh aane laga hai ki yeh dono kaise dost hain. Dono ajeeb hain. Itna bright bracelet se kisi ki aankhein kharaab ho jaayengi.’

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

“You’re l-late”, Monami piped playfully. She handed him the coffee.

Karan smiled slightly. “Koi mil gaya tha beech mein”, he said. “Sorry.”

She nodded. She eyed him. “Aa-Aap th-theek hain?” His gaze lifted to hers. “Aa-Aap kal se th-thode s-stressed lag r-rahe ho.”

He sighed. “Tumhe pata hai, na, tum cadets ko evaluate karne ke liye kuchh officials aa rahe hain?” She nodded. “Let’s just say ki jo unka head hai, he’s not the nicest person. And I didn’t want him to be the one to evaluate you guys.” He shrugged. “Par koi option nahi hai.”

She hopped up on the slab, her legs swinging back and forth as she picked up the coffee mug again and began sipping the hot liquid. Karan smiled slightly. “Aa-Aapko woh p-pasand k-kyun n-nahi?”

He heaved a slight sigh. “You’ll see”, he said. He leaned on the slab next to where she was sitting. “Din kaisa tha tumhaara?”

Mrs. Batra hummed to herself as she entered the kitchen. She paused immediately, her eyes widening slightly. She took a quiet step back, head tilting as she stared at her adopted son and his cadet. She was talking excitedly, her eyes lit up and her legs swinging like a child, and he… he was looking at her quietly, listening intently, nodding interestedly.

“…Aur ph-phir K-Koel ne k-kaha…” Her volume increased slightly in excitement before dropping. Mrs. Batra’s eyebrows shot up. It wasn’t even related to training. Since when was Karan interested in such things?

She took another quiet step back before turning around and walking out of the mess.

A smile upturned her lips.

Had her Sher taken a liking to Monami?

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

Karan leaned on the railing, looking down at the porch of the academy. Rawat.

“Inn Janaab ko bhi jhelna padega do hafte”, Faizi said beside him. He heaved a sigh. “Cadets ki har baat par taang adhayenge yeh.”

Karan hummed. “Faizi, tere aur Koel ke relationship ko thoda quiet rakhna”, he said. “Agar inhe nahi pata chale, toh woh hi better hai.”

“Hume bhi yeh hi lagta hai”, Faizi said. “Foxtrot ko bhi bol denge. Unke alaawa zyaada kisi ko nahi pata.” He looked at the man who seemed to be interrogating the security at the entrance. “Inhe pata chala toh pata nahi Koel ko apne matlab ke liye kaise use karenge.” His hands curled into fists.

“Sir ji”, Sanju said, walking closer to the two. “Sab theek lag raho hai. Humne sab equipment check kar liyo hain.”

Karan acknowledged her words with a nod. Rawat’s gaze lifted suddenly to meet his. A small smirk spread over the older man’s mouth. The man lifted a hand up, pointing two fingers to his eyes and then up at him. Karan held his gaze, tilting his head a little.

Let him watch.

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

“Apparently, hume jo evaluate karenge, uss group ke head ka naam kuchh Raawat hai”, Koel said. “Faizi bata raha tha.”

“Maine suna hai ki Karan Sir ji aur unki banti nahi hai”, Bala said. Monami lifted her head, her pen pausing as she listened in interest. “Yeh bhi suna hai ki yeh Raawat jo hai, woh kuchh zyaada achha nahi hai.”

“Achha matlab?” Suman ji asked.

He shrugged. “Bas yeh hi suna hai ki woh zyaada achhe nahi hain.”

“Mujhe nahi lagta Faizi ko bhi bahut zyaada pasand hain woh”, Koel piped in. “Aur keh raha tha ki agar unhe humaare relationship ke baare mein nahi pata hoga toh hi better hai.”

A horn interrupted their conversation. Three beeps. They looked at each other, before they all scrambled to their feet, quickly moving to the main area.

Koel looked at Faizi as they assembled into lines, but the trainer stared ahead quietly, his hands behind his back. She sneaked a glance at Karan and Sanju as well, who were in similar, attentive positions. The other three trainers were a step behind the three and stood almost identically still. Colonel Batra walked in a moment later, followed closely by a group of around 5 people.

“Cadets”, Colonel Batra started. “Jaisa aap sabko pata hi hai, next week se aapki evaluation honge. Aapki evaluation karne ke liye ministry ne kuchh officers bheje hain.” He gestured to one of them.

A guy with a moustache and glasses stepped ahead. “Cadets, I am Special Agent Lieutenant Colonel Amber Rawat.” Koel’s eyes narrowed. Rawat? She sneaked a glance at Faizi, but the trainer still hadn’t even twitched. “I’m the head of the officers jo aapko evaluate karega. As you must know, next week aapke theory exams honge, and the week after, practical exams honge. Jo pass nahi hoga, woh academy ke saath continue nahi kar sakta. The rest of the week aapko off milta hai, for preparation.”

Koel’s eyebrows shot up. Off? Her eyes darted to her trainers, just in time to see Faizi look at Karan, who in turn looked at the Colonel, both in disbelief. Colonel Batra’s eyebrows were furrowed as well, and he looked at Rawat quizzically. Karan stepped forward, saying something to the colonel quietly.

“Shergill, kuchh kehna hai tumhe?” Rawat asked, turning halfway to him. Karan paused mid word, looking at the lieutenant colonel. He looked at his adoptive father, who shook his head.

He turned back to him, shaking his head. “No, Sir”, he said. He stepped back, falling back to where they were standing. Rawat’s gaze followed him, a smirk on his face, before he turned back to them. Koel looked at Monami, who stood directly next to her, finding her just as confused and concerned. Her eyes were darting around in confusion, trying to comprehend what was happening.

“That’s all”, Rawat said. “Good luck, cadets.”

The colonel fell in step with the officer and they talked, moving out of the area, with the other officers following. Koel looked at their trainers again. They relaxed from their positions, and Karan stormed out of the area, his hands clenched into tight fists. Faizi followed, a displeased frown on his face. Sanju seemed to sigh, moving out of the two male trainers.

“Dismissed, cadets”, another trainer called, before they dispersed too.

“Yeh kya tha?” Sid asked.

Koel looked at the door the trainers had stormed out of, before looking at the other cadets. She had a feeling the next couple of weeks were going to be tense in the academy.

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

“F-Faizi S-Sir”, Monami greeted, a small smile on her face.

“Tumhe madad chahiye?” He asked, his tone a hint louder than normal. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly. “Haan, bolo?” He sat down in front of her. She met his eyes, understanding dawning on her when he gave her a pleading look.

She stifled a smile. She pushed her notebook to him, pointing to an empty page. He gave her a thankful nod. He scribbled a note quickly, and she turned the page, whispering a random topic to him. He sat with her, explaining it to her briefly. It would be enough for anyone who would overhear a word or two.

“Th-thank you”, she said.

“Thank you”, he whispered quietly, nodding to her. She turned the page, reading over the words.

Koel ko meri taraf se sorry kehna. Humaare rishte ko hum bahar nahi aane dena chahte. Kyun, hum use baad mein explain karenge. Abhi ke liye use bas sorry kehna aur hum par bharosa karne ko kehna. Aur haan, yeh bhi kehna ki hum use miss karte hain. Tell her to meet me at the terrace after dinner.

Monami smiled. Faizi was so sweet. She turned to a blank page, and began to study. She was going to ace the exams.

‘I want you to be the best. Meri best cadet ho tum. I want first.’

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

Koel hummed to herself slightly, looking around the terrace. It was cold now, and she slightly rubbed her arms, trying to warm up. Where was he? She heaved a sigh, looking at the city in the distance.

Arms wrapped around her waist, and she jumped, tilting her head up. Faizi smiled, and she relaxed into them, leaning back. “Hi”, she murmured.

“Hi”, he said. He released her after a kiss to the cheek, leaning next to her on the railing.

“Monami ne bataaya mujhe”, she said. “Kya reason hai?”

His smile faded and he heaved a sigh. “Raawat”, he said. “Power aur influence se aap bahut kuchh kar sakte ho, and unhe woh hi chahiye, and uske liye woh kisi bhi hadd tak jaa sakte hain.”

“Toh usse humaare rishte ka kya lena dena?”

He shook his head. “Tumhe woh humaare against use karenge phir. Karan aur humaari credibility kam nahi hai and hume lagta hai woh iss baat se jealous hain. Hume nahi pata woh kitni taang adhayenge agar unhe pata chala ki hum dono date kar rahe hain.”

“But it’s allowed, right? Humaara date karna?”

He hummed. “Haan, agar humaare supervising officer ko yeh nahi lagta ki personal relationship professional relationship ke beech mein aa raha hai toh. If he gives out a report ki hum ya Karan ya Sanju tumhaari taraf biased hain, tumhaare liye problem hogi. Hum sab bas thoda time tum cadets se thoda distance maintain karke rakhenge.”

She hummed. She scooted closer, resting her head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer. He pressed a kiss to her head.

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

Sanju stared at the laptop. Why wasn’t there any movement? She heaved a sigh, shaking her head. This was a bad idea. She wasn’t good at strategies. She was impatient, raging on like a bull and destroying everything in her path. She wasn’t a predator, patient and being able to bide her time.

“Ma’am?” She glanced up, smiling slightly in greeting. Siddharth. He didn’t smile back, his eyebrows dipped in a concerned frown. “Aap theek hain?”

“Haan, haan, hume kaa hona hogo?” She said.

He eyed her. He sat down in front of her. “You… You know you can talk to me, right?” He said. “Agar koi problem hai toh? Personal, professional, just venting. I don’t mind.”

“Hum theek hogo, Siddharth.”

He nodded. “Okay, if you say so.” He paused. “Training room mein jaakar kuchh todhna hai?”

She looked at her laptop. It wasn’t necessary to keep watch. There was a reason they had enabled the alarms. She could work to blow off some steam.

Almost an hour later, Sid stared up at her, panting. “You know”, he said, “jab maine puchha tha ki kuchh todhna hai, tab main apni baat nahi kar raha tha.” He let his head fall back, closing his eyes.

Sanju smiled a little. She held out a hand. He accepted it, and she yanked him up to his feet.

“Feel better?” He asked.

She released his hand, stepping back. She nodded. “Thank you keh raho hain.”

He smiled. “Welcome keh raho hain.”

Her smile dropped. “Tu humaara mazaak udha raho hai?”

“Arey, nahi, nahi.” She raised a fist playfully. “Arey, kitna maaroge? Already itna maar chuke ho.” She paused, chuckling slightly. He sighed in relief. “Aapke saath rehna koi khatron se khelne se kam nahi hai.”

“Yaad rakhiyo yeh baat”, she warned.

“As if I can forget”, he joked, moving out of the training room with her. It was a great session, even if his body would ache like anything in the morning.

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

“I have heard ki Raawat hai tumhaara suprevising officer”, Param said.

Karan rolled his eyes slightly. “Aapne kya academy ke andar khabri bithaa rakhe hain?”

“Ab tu toh kuchh bataata nahi hai. I have to keep an eye on you. Chhota bhai hai tu."

“Kyun? Mujhpar nazar kyun rakhni hai?”

There was a pause. “Kya pata? Kab kiske saath ho tu?” Karan’s eyebrows furrowed. “Kisi ladki ke saath bhi ho sakta hai?”

“Ladki?” He said. He scoffed. “Bhaiya, kahan jaa rahi hai aapki soch?”

“Tu bata? Koi hai teri life mein? Girlfriend hai?”

He shook his head in disbelief. “Nahi. Koi nahi hai, Bhaiya. Hogi, toh aapko zaroor bataunga.”

“Dekh le? Are you sure?”

“Of course I am sure. Aap kahan pahunch gaye ho? Kya puchh rahe ho?”

There was another pause. “Kisi ko pasand karta hai tu? Crush?”

He sighed in disbelief, shaking his head. “Nahi. No crush. I don’t like anyone. Yeh kya interrogation kar rahe ho? Bas karo.”

“Monami ko bhi nahi karta pasand?”

He paused. He pulled away the phone, staring at the caller ID. It was his brother, wasn’t he? It wasn’t Faizi with his brother’s voice, was it? “Aapne Faizi se baat kari hai ya kuchh? Dost hai woh meri, Bhaiya.”

“Tu har dost ko aise bahar lekar jaata hai jaise parso use lekar gaya tha?”

His eyebrows furrowed. How the hell did he know that? “Aap… Aap parso academy mein the?”

“Tha, toh. And guess what I saw, Karan? Tu, Monami, dono bahar jaa rahe the? Akele, ek saath?” He could practically hear the grin in his voice. “Date thi?”

He heaved a sigh. “Nahi. I was just taking her out for coffee, kyunki use coffee pasand hai.”

“Ooh, coffee date?”

“Date nahi thi. Hum dost hain. Bas. I just thought it would be a nice change to take her out kyunki woh academy se bahut kam nikalti hai.”

“Theek hai. Maan leta hoon main. But you should have seen the way you looked at her, Karan. Maine tujhe aaj tak aise kisi ladki ko dekhte hue nahi dekha.”

“Ladki?” A voice said from behind him. Barkha. Karan heaved a sigh. There was a slight change in the background noise and he knew he was on speaker. “Karan, teri koi girlfriend hai?”

“Arey, nahi hai, Bhabhi. Dost hai woh meri. Moreover, cadet hai. Pata nahi kyun sabko lagta rehta hai ki main use pasand karta hoon.”

She clicked her tongue. “Arey, girlfriend nahi hai, toh bana lo, na? Tumhe toh mil bhi koi bhi jaayegi. Achha, meri ek friend hai, woh apni chhoti behen ke liye puchh rahi thi. Tum-”

“Main interested nahi hoon, Bhabhi”, he cut her off.

She sighed. “Tu mujhe yeh bata, Karan. Tujhe kaisi type ki ladki chahiye? Tu jaisi kahega, main tere liye waise dhoond dungi.”

He sighed. “Bhabhi… kyun aap dono mere peechhe padhe ho? Khush dekhna achha nahi lagta mereko? Ladkiyon ke chakkar mein nahi padhna chahta main. Unke nakhre, unki demands, unka gussa, main inn sab cheezon mein interested nahi hoon.”

“Haww, tujhe lagta hai main nakhre karti hoon? Demanding hoon? Gusse waali hoon?”

He bit his lip. Why did he feel he had dug himself in a hole? “Bhabhi, aap nahi ho, par baaki hoti hai, na? Ab koi aap jaisa toh milega nahi.”

“Oye, tu meri biwi ke saath flirt kar raha hai?” Param interjected.

He rolled his eyes. “Bhaiya, mujhse toh mat jealous ho. Aapka bhai hoon.”

“Koi baat nahi, Karan.”, his Bhabhi said. “Tujhe main apne se bhi achhi ladki dhoond kar dungi. Aur sab kuchh Bhabhi par mat chodh dena. Jab tak aisi ladki nahi milti, thodi aankhein khuli rakh aur dhoond.” He rolled his eyes. “Aur jo yeh flirting skills hain, jisse tu sirf apne Bhaiya ko jalaata hai, na, woh kisi aur par bhi try kar le.”

“Haan, haan, theek hai”, he grumbled. He can never win this, can he? “Dekh lunga. Ab jaaon main?”

“Waise, Monami buri nahi hai”, his brother said. “Kaafi pyaari hai.”

He rolled his eyes. “Bye, Bhaiya. Bye, Bhabhi. Good night.” He cut the call, shaking his head.

What was everyone’s obsession with him having a crush on Monami? Was it that unbelievable that they could just be friends?

He shook his head, pushing off the railing off the terrace and walking out. He hoped none of the teasing ever reached Monami. She would be uncomfortable at the implication. It was a task to even get her to talk to him. How would she react if she thought he liked her?