FF: Ishq-e-Watan *Chapter 78 Posted* - Page 5

CHAPTER 4

SHAPAT

“File mili?” Faizi asked, plopping on his bed. “Mission Blue Bird waali?”

Karan nodded. He bent over to his table, rummaging through before producing the file. “Yeh le.”

He opened it, eyes flicking over the information. “Iss mission ke baare mein toh toh sirf unn special agents ho pata tha jo mission par gaye. Back up ko mission execution se sirf kuchh ghante pehle inform kara”, he said. “Aisa ho sakta hai ki yeh special agents kahin public place mein baat kar rahe the, aur kisi ne sun liya.”

He shrugged. “Makes sense.”

“Aisa ho sakta hai yeh sirf ek coincidence hai?”

“Doubtful hai. Har roz 12 log se zyaada nahi, aur jis din raid honi thi, almost 8 times zyaada log? And agar yeh assume bhi kar le ki unhe raid ke baare mein koi idea nahi tha, toh itne log sirf tabhi increase karte, agar koi important person ya phir koi important information hoti. Par report ke hisaab se aisa kuchh bhi nahi tha wahan”, Karan pointed out.

“Toh information toh leak hui hai”, Faizi said. “Ab sawaal yeh hai ki galti se ya koi gaddar hai?”

Karan tilted his head in thought. “Sun? Raghav ne kaha tha ki yeh log har roz uss adde par nazar rakh rahe the. Numbers wagere ka idea lagaane ke liye. Aisa ho sakta hai ki un mein se kisi ne yeh dekh liya ho aur security badha di?” He shook his head almost immediately himself. “Nahi. Security badhaane ka koi point nahi. Kuchh important toh tha nahi. Bhaag hi jaate wahan se.”

“Batra Sir ko inform karein?”

He nodded. “Karenge. Tu ek baar uss informer se mil. Kab jaa raha hai?”

“Kal. Morning drill ke baad.”

“Theek hai. Phir baat karte hain.” He sighed, rubbing his face tiredly. “Yeh naye recruits ka saara kaam ho gaya?”

Faizi nodded. “Aap relax kijiye, Janaab. Sab ho gaya hai.” He eyed him. “Tum theek ho? Thode… zyaada thake hue lag rahe ho?”

“Main? Nahi, main theek hoon.” He sighed when Faizi didn’t stop eyeing him. “Tujhe toh pata hi hai, yaar. Terrorist attacks kitne badhe hue hain. Missions ke beech chhuti lene ka mann nahi kara.”

Faizi sighed. “Dhyaan rakho apna. Abhi recruits ke saath bhi raat din ka kaam hai.”

An idea sprang in his mind. “Chal. Recruits ka kaam bhi karte hain.”

“Kya? Shapat?”

“Wo bhi.”

“Aur kya?” Faizi called out after him, sighing when he didn’t bother responding. He shook his head, springing to his feet and running out after him.

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

“Karan, naye recruits ke liye yeh bahut zyaada ho jayega”, Faizi warned .“Do ghante bhi nahi hue unhe aaye hue.”

“Faizi, humaare paas inhe bacchon ki tarah bhelaana ka time nahi hai”, Karan reminded. “Civilians ko 3 saal mein trained commandos banana hai. Pehle hi jaan lenge ki yeh koi mazaak nahi hai toh behtar hoga.”

His gaze snapped to the entry when Sanju and Ustaad ji filed out, the cadets out with them. His eyes narrowed when he saw them giggling and laughing with each other long after they had fell into lines. He crossed his arms, glaring at the ones that were talking. They shut up quickly. His eyes inspected the cadets.

He had to go from giggling idiots who couldn’t stand straight to trained commandos who could fight terrorists.

And all he had was three years.

“Medicine ka kaam mareezon ko theek karna hota hai, aur yeh medicine ki problem nahi ki mareez ko wo achhi nahi lagi. Waise hi, mera kaam aap sab ko train karna hai. Yeh meri problem nahi hai ki aap mujhe pasand karte hain ya nahi.”

He smirked slightly.

“Chaliye. Shuru se shuruwaat karte hain”, he said. “Aap sab apna naam aur ek ek karke apni ek favourite cheezen bataiye.”

A cadet raised her hand, and he nodded. “Suman ji ke joote. Suman ji ke husband, Mr. Rajesh Tiwari, ne birthday par gift kiye the.”

He tilted his head slightly. “Par main Suman ji ki nahi, aapki favourite cheez ki baat kara raha hoon.”

“Arey, main hi hoon, Suman ji.”

Of course. Because all the recruits had to be escaped patients from mental institutes. He resisted the urge to just sigh and give up.

‘Inki cheezen chodho, mere upar koi petrol chidhak do, main hi aag mein kood jaata hoon’, he thought, half listening to the cadets call it out. Prem ji’s award for his serial, Siddharth’s bracelet, Chitra’s signed autograph, Koel’s favourite lipstick.

His gaze searched the cadets. Where was Monami? Did she skip this? He narrowed his eyes. Did she think she was above all this? Movement caught his eye. Never mind. There she was. She was in the middle, mostly hidden by the tall guy in front of her.

“Monami”, he called. Her body twisted slightly, and she peeked out. She stood on her tiptoes, leaning out of the line slightly to acknowledge him.

“Y-Yes, S-Sir?”

“Tumhaari favourite cheez kya hai?”

“Iska doctor ka coat”, someone else called.

Karan’s gaze snapped to him. Siddharth, if he recalled his name correctly. “Jisse jo puchha jaaye, wo hi jawaab dega”, he warned. “Is that clear, cadet?”

“Yes, sir”, he answered. “Sorry, sir.”

“Ek kaam karte hain. Aap logon ke paas 1 minute hai. 60 seconds. Jo bhi aapki favourite cheezen hain, wo aap apne room mein jaaiye aur lekar aaiye. Go!”

“Janaab, aapne sirf apni waali-” Faizi halted when Karan glared at him. “Nahi, matlab, kuchh nahi.”

Karan shook his head in exasperation, waiting patiently as Ustaad ji collected it in a box, before keeping it aside. “Ab saari recruits iss academy ki shapat lenge. Do kadam aage bhadenge ab sab.”

The oath.

He kept a hand on his heart, taking a deep breath.

He had lived his oath every breathing second since the words had escaped his mouth. And now, so will they.

“Hum shapat lete hain”, he said, pausing at appropriate places to let them repeat. “Ki anushaasan ki neev par, nithishtha ki eenth se, desh seva ki imaarat ka nirmaan karenge. Aur hum shapat lete hain ki apne trainers ke diye har order ka paalan karenge. Aur khud ko iss kaabil banaayenge ke bina kisi hichkichahat ke, iss desh ke aur deshvaasiyon ke kaam aa sake.”

He let his hand fall down.

“Shapat toh ho gayi. Ab waqt hai ispar final seal lagaane ki”, he said. “Aapki saari favourite cheezen ko iss aag ke bhaint chadna hoga.”

“I am sorry, what?” A voice yelled out. Karan’s gaze snapped to him. Siddharth.

“Ustaad ji”, he called, ignoring him.

Shocked murmurs filled the cadets. Karan wordlessly turned to the fire, watching the box Ustaad ji had placed in the pit of the fire burn. It was filled with dry straw. But the cadets didn’t need to know that.

“Suman ji puchh rahi hain ki… ki aap yeh kyun kar rahe hain?” A voice said from behind him.

“Suman ji ko kahiye ki yeh military academy hai. Yahan par bina turn ke koi nahi bolta. Agar aapko kuchh kehna hai, toh haath khada kijiye aur apni baari ka intezaar kijiye. Jab tak aapko bola naa jaaye, koi muh nahi kholega”, he snapped without turning around.

Footsteps suddenly ran up and his head snapped to find the source. Siddharth dug his hands in the burning box, rummaging through the straw. His eyes widened, and he immediately moved forward.

Sanju grabbed his jacket before he could, yanking him back.

“Paagal ho gaya hai ke?” Sanju snapped, pouring cold water on his burnt hands. “Ek aur khareed leta. Aisa ke hai iss mein?” Siddharth glared at her, ripping his hands away from her grasp.

Monami immediately took her place, opening a tube of medicine she hastaken from the medical kit Ustaad ji had on him, inspecting the palms.

“Aapke liye wo sirf ek bracelet tha”, Siddharth snarled, not even wincing as Monami applied the medicine on his palms. “Mere liye mere Mummy ji ki nishaani thi wo. Unke saath mere last birthday par diya tha unhone. Aapne bracelet nahi, unki yaadien li hai mujhse.”

He ripped his hands away from Monami’s grasp, storming into the building. Monami looked between the trainers and Siddharth, before running after him. Karan’s jaw clenched angrily.

“Welcome to Parakaram SAF. All the best. Dismissed!”

He turned away, wordlessly entering the building. He paused a little, turning in the direction of the infirmary. It was empty. He roamed to the boys’ dorm, glancing around. With each second the two cadets didn’t greet his eyes, his ire rose till his knuckles itched to meet with someone’s face.

They were in Monami’s room.

She was wrapping a bandage on his hands, silence filling the space between them. Siddharth was sitting on the floor, leaned against a bed, thick tears rolling down his cheek as he cried silently.

“Cadets”, he said, and the two looked up. Siddharth wiped his face quickly. “Up!” The two glanced at each other before standing up. He walked closer. “Agar aaj ke baad bina permission ke, tum log koi bhi drill adhuri chodh ke gaye, toh aap dono ko yeh academy chodhni padh jaayegi.”

His gaze met Monami’s, whose mouth dropped open in affront. His nails dug into his palm.

“Kya aap dono ko yeh lagta hai ki aap rules ke upar hain?” He shouted. “Yeh ek military academy hai. Aap dono ka ghar nahi ki jahan aapki marzi chalegi. Jab tak aapko dismiss nahi kara jaata, aap nahi jaa sakte. Is that clear?”

“Yes sir”, they said.

He stepped closer. “Pehla din aur pehli mistake, isliye bina sazaa ke jaane de raha hoon. Agli baar se aisa hua, toh aisi punishment dunga ki hafton tak chal nahi paoge.”

He turned around, finding several cadets peeking in. The cadets immediately looked away, practically running away. Monami stared at the trainer as he stormed out, jaw clenched.

Points to be remembered number 1- Special Agent Major Karan Shergill was an emotionless, robotic alien and no human trait except anger and hatred should be expected from him.

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

Karan sat down on the table across Faizi and Sanju, picking a spoon up.

“Saare cadets aadha adhura khaana khaa rahe hain”, Faizi said before he could even open his mouth.

He glanced at the cadets. Suman ji was sniffling, putting in food half-heartedly in her mouth between sniffles. “Suman ji ke pati, Rajesh ji, ne gift diya tha unhe.” She glanced at him, immediately looking away when she saw him looking.

“Aur Monami aur Siddharth toh aaye bhi nahi khaane”, he continued.

“Nahi khaana unhe toh mat khaaye”, he snapped. “Kal behosh honge toh khud hi khaane ki akal aa jaayegi. Ameerzaadon ko toh kabhi khaane ki kami nahi hui hogi. Soch rahe honge ki raat ko kitne bhi baje khaana mil jaayega.”

“Karan… Siddharth hurt hai. Tumne uski mari hui maa ka diya taufa jalaa diya. Aur upar se tum un dono par hi bhadak gaye. ”

“Desh ke liye kurbaan kaise honge, agar apni favourite cheez bhi kurbaan nahi kar sakte. Aur hurt hai, theek hain. Par yeh military academy hai. Rules hote hain, regulations hoti hain. Jab tak dismiss nahi hote, nahi jaa sakte toh matlab nahi jaa sakte. Pehla din ho, chaahe aakhri. Aur jahan galti kari hai, wahan daant padegi.”

Faizi sighed in frustration. “Yeh civilians hain. Hum inse wo expect nahi kar sakte jo hum soldiers se kar sakte hain. Abhi bhi civilians ki tarah hi sochte hain yeh, military ke mindset ko nahi samajhte. Trained nahi hai. Tumne jo kara, wo kyun kara, wo hum samjhte hain, Sanju samajhti hai, par yeh cadets nahi. Kam se kam muh kholkar bataa toh sakte the kyun kara. Yeh karne ka faida hi kya, jab inhe samajh hi nahi aaya jo tum samjhaana chahte ho.”

“Aaj nahi aaya, par aage samajh jaayenge.” His jaw clenched. “Mujhe mera kaam karna mat sikha tu.”

The other agent glared at him. “Ab hum tumhe kuchh bol bhi nahi sakte hain? Theek hai. Tum karo apna kaam. Ek tumhe hi toh aata hai. Hum toh bas naam ke special agent hain.” He stood up, pushing the plate back.

“Faizi. Faizi!” Karan sighed when he stormed out of the mess angrily. He kept the spoon down, rubbing his face. He looked at Sanju. She just shrugged.

‘Siddharth ka bracelet… kisi ki nishaani lena? Bahut zyaada ho gaya kya?’

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

“Sid Bhai ji?”

Sid glanced up from the photo he was staring at, humming.

“Kuchh kha lijiye. Kal se training shuru ho jaayegi. Bhook ke maare behosh ho gaye toh? Maine suna hai yahan ki training bahut sakt hoti hai.”

He stared at the young boy, eyes wide with concern. He sighed. “Bhook nahi hai.”

“Aap abhi bhi itne udaas hain. Mujhe laga jab aapne doctor madam ko bola ki aap theek hain, toh aap sach mein theek hain, par yahan toh aapka shakal par 12 baje hue hain.”

He frowned. He felt his face. It seemed normal. “Bala G bro, I’m assuming shakal means face. Par mera face clock thodi naa hai, jispar 12 bajenge?”

“Sid Bhai ji, shakal par 12 bajna matlab chehra utra hua hai.”

He looked at the floor. “Utar kar kahan gaya? Yahin toh hai.”

Bala facepalmed. “Arey, Bhai ji, matlab aapki shakal par udaasi hai.”

“Wo toh hogi hi, na?” He said, staring at the photo of his mother again. “Main bahut chhota tha, bro, jab Mummy ji…” He ran his fingers over the frame, rubbing it gently. He sighed. “Mujhe theek se yaad nahi wo. Par kuchh yaadien hain, aur… aur unhe main kabhi bhoolna nahi chahta. Jab chhota tha, toh zyaada yaad tha. Badha hua, toh bhool gaya. But you know what? Wo memory jab unhone mujhe wo bracelet diya tha… wo mujhe bahut achhe se yaad hai. Bahut zyaada. And you know why? Kyunki main uss bracelet ko har roz dekhta tha, aur har roz wo moment yaad aata tha.” He chuckled a little. “Tab itna badha tha mujhpar ki main chaar baar wrap karke pehnta tha.” He felt tears sting his eyes. “Ab wo bracelet nahi, toh shayad Mummy ji ki wo yaad bhi nahi rahegi.”

“Bhai ji, mere paas ek todh idea hai. Chalo, na, aapka mood theek ho jayega.”

He shook his head. “Nahi. Tu jaa.” He sighed, standing up and moving to his cupboard. “Monu ne kaha tha ki cupboard set kar loon warna training starthone ke baad, time nahi milega.” He brushed a tear that had fallen from his eye away. “Agar nahi karunga, toh maaregi.” He snatched a shirt up, hanging it on the hanger.

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

“Sir ji, aap ka sach mein Siddharth ko wo bracelet de denge?” Sanju asked.

“Sanju, inhe ek lesson sikhaana tha”, Karan said, sifting through the things. “Kisi ki yaadein nahi leni thi.” He paused, looking at her. “Kabhi kabhi yeh yaadein jaan se bhi pyaari hoti hain. Kisi ke jeene ka zariya hota hai. Zyaada ho jaayega.”

“Sir ji, aapne bulaaya?” Ustaad ji said, and he glanced up.

“Ustaad ji, Cadet Siddharth Ganju ko yahan bhejiye, please”, he said.

“Ji, Sir ji.”

Karan pulled out a bracelet. “Yeh hi hai, na?” Sanju nodded. He inspected it. A black beaded bracelet with small, barely visible scratches on the beads that told its age.

“Hume lago tha Chirkut ka bracelet toh batero mehnega hoga”, she commented. “Yeh toh aam sa hi lag raho hai.”

“Chirkut? Nickname bhi de diye hain tune?” He raised an eyebrow. “Chaar ghante pehle hi toh aaye hain. Aisi kitni baat ho gayi teri usse?”

Her eyes widened slightly. “Uh… Sir ji, hume kuchh kaam yaad aa gayo”, she said. “Hum chalto hai.”

He frowned. “Ise kya hua? Chaar hi ghante mein namoonon ke saath yeh bhi paagal ho gayi kya?” He shook his head, keeping the box aside. He sat down in his chair, inspecting the bracelet.

A knock on the door made him quickly hid it behind himself. He stood up. “Come in.”

“Sir”, Siddharth said, entering.

Karan leaned against the table, crossing his arms. “Cadet Siddharth Ganju, ek cheez bataaiye jo aapko bahut pasand hai, par kisi ki yaadein nahi judi hui usse.”

He glanced away, clenching his jaw. He looked back at him after a couple of seconds. “Mere headphones.”

“Jao, lekar aao”, he said.

“Sir.” He turned around, leaving. Karan turned the bracelet over in hishand, inspecting it idly. He hid it behind his back when the door opened again, subtly placing it back on the table. “Sir.” He handed him the headphones.

Karan inspected them before keeping them aside on the table. He crossed his arms. “Siddharth, pehle yeh batao… why do you think I burned them?”

“Desh ke liye apna sab kuchh line par lagaana hota hai. Agar apni favourite cheez hi nahi de sakte, toh jaan kaise denge?”

His eyebrows raised in surprise, and he nodded. “Good. I didn’t think tumhe itni jaldi samajh aayegi yeh baat.” He picked up the headphones, snapping them from the middle and Siddharth flinched. He threw them into the trash.

He took out the bracelet from behind his back and Siddharth’s eyes widened. He inspected it, before looking up at him, a smile spreading on his face. “Aapne toh ise burn kar diya tha, na?”

“Maine tumhaari cheezon ko aag nahi lagaayi thi. Yeh bracelet tum rakh sakte ho. Par kisi ko yeh baat nahi bataoge ki kyun kara maine yeh. Let them figure it out on their own. Agar mujhe pata chala ki tumne kisi ko bhi yeh baat bataayi hai toh tum aur jis cadet ko tumne bataaya, dono academy se bahar hoge. Take it as a lesson, cadet. Kabhi kabhi missions ke liye, apne kareebi se bhi jhooth bolna padta hai. Treat it as such.”

“Sir”, he said, nodding.

“Kisi ne puchha tumhe yeh bracelet kahan se mila, yeh keh do ki tumne ek aur aisa banwaa liya. Convince karna aapka kaam hai, Cadet. No one should know yeh maine aapko waapas kara hai. Pata chala, toh sabki cheezon par sach mein aag laga dunga.”

He hesitated. “Main… Monami ko bata sakta hoon? She’s… she’s my best friend.”

“Nahi”, he said. “Koi nahi, matlab koi nahi. Aapki best friend ya enemy, usse koi farak nahi padta mujhe.”

“Sir”, he said.

“You can leave.”

He paused, and Karan looked at him expectantly. “Thank you”, he said. “Yeh meri Mummy ji ne mujhe meri aakhri birthday diya tha jo maine unke saath manaaya tha. It’s been almost 20 years par… yeh bracelet mujhe unse close feel karaata hai. Yeh hota hai, toh… toh lagta hai ki wo bhi hain. So… thank you.” Karan nodded. “Good night.”

Karan glanced at the other empty bed, sighing a little.

Faizi was still angry.

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

Monami snuggled up to the tree, screwing her eyes close. The low lying leaves caressed her back gently as the wind blew, almost as if someone was stroking her back in comfort.

“Aap dono kaafi achhe dost lag rahe hain”, a voice said.

Her eyes snapped open. She tilted her head, peeking out at him. Faizi, if she remembered correctly, one of her trainers. Sid had already gotten to know some of the people in the academy, and he had pointed the names out when they were strolling around. He had seemed nice. A small smile spread on her face. “B-Best b-buddies. Aap bh-bhi t-try k-karo, S-Sir.”

“Hum?”

She hummed. “T-Tress s-sirf c-carbon dioxide n-nahi, s-stress aur s-sadness bhi ab-absorb k-karte hain.”

Faizi looked around. No one. He hesitantly hugged the tree, forcing himself to relax. He closed his eyes. Well, what would you know? It was actually kind of nice.

“Ab b-bataaiye. K-Kuchh b-bataana hai aa-aapko a-apne iss b-buddy ko?Yeh b-b-bahut achha l-listener hai.”

He sighed. “Kisi ki sunta hi nahi hai. Ulti Khopdi sahi hi kehte hain use. Allah ne muh diya hai, na? Toh muh kholkar yeh bole ki kya kar raha hai, kyun kar raha hai, kab kar raha hai. Do kaan bhi diye hain. Par kisi ki baat hi nahi sunni hai use. Bas jo mann mein aata hai, wo karta hai.”

Monami chuckled in surprise, pulling away from the tree. Faizi pulled away a little, tilting his head.

“Arey, has kyun rahi ho? Aur ab tumhaari baari? Tum bhi toh batao”, hesaid. “Kya problem hai tumhaari? Sirf hum kyun?”

She sat down on the ground, crossing her legs. He sat down next to her. “S-Sid ko s-sad n-nahi d-dekhna chahti m-main. J-Jab uska wo b-bracelet j-jala, toh use b-bahut p-pain hua. Usko p-pain mein d-dekhkar m-mujhe p-pain hota hai.”

“Tumhe pata hai Karan ne aisa kyun kara?”

She hummed. “K-Kyunki wo yeh b-bataana ch-chahte the ki d-desh ke liye b-bahut kuchh k-kurbaan k-karna hota hai. Agar a-apni f-favorite ch-cheez bh-bhi n-nahi k-kar sakte, toh apni j-jaan k-kaise d-denge d-desh ke liye, d-desh ke l-logon ke liye aur a-apne s-saathiyon ke l-liye.”

Faizi laughed in surprise. “Jitna humne socha tha, tumne toh usse bahut pehle yeh baat samajh li.” He leaned back on his arms. “Upset hona okay hai. Bas ek incident par usko judge mat karna. Wo bura nahi hai. Nariyal hai wo, nariyal. Upar se sakt, aur andar se soft.”

She tilted her head. “Aa-aap f-friends hain?”

“Bhai jaisa hai wo mera. 10 saal se dost hain. Wo 19 ka tha, aur hum 20 ke. Army training ke liye aaye the, roommates the. Phir dosti ho gayi, aur bas samay ke saath gehri hoti gayi.” A bell rang in a distance. “Iss bell ke baad koi bhi academy ki building ke bahar nahi jaa sakta. Toh andar chali jao, warna daant padegi.”

She nodded. “G-Good n-night.”

“Good night.” He smiled at her, and she smiled back, before running into the building. She slowed down when she was in it. No one would scold her now.

‘Pata nahi dono kaise dost hain. Ek itne sweet aur achhe hain, aur doosra, bilkul opposite. Jaise khud shaitaan ka avatar ho. Kaahe ka judge naa karoon? Theek hai. Cheezen jalaani thi, jalaa di. Par muh par ittu si bhi sympathy nahi? No explanation? Upar se hume aise dekh raha tha jaise humne unki uniform ko sketch book samajh liya ho. Aur phir hume hi daant rahe hain. Khadoos kahin ka. Karan Shergill nahi, Khadoos Shergill naam hona chahiye tha.’ She resisted the urge to huff. ‘Wo toh trainer hai isliye control kar liya, warna jitna gussa aa raha tha mujhe, aaj toh uski kismat mein meri paanchon ungliyan uske gaal par chhapni likhi hi thi.’

She took a deep breath, shaking her head.

‘Nahi, Monu. Nahi. Yeh sab mat soch. Khadoos hai toh kya hua? Trainer hai, na, tera? Aur seniors ke saath baat karne ki ek tameez hoti hai. Muh par bilkul nahi aane dena ki tujhe kitna irritate karta hai yeh. Okay? Okay.’ She nodded, turning the corner.

She rammed into someone, stumbling back. She looked up. Karan.

‘Shaitaan ka naam lene se shaitaan haazir hota hai, na? Aaj tak toh sirf yeh kahaawat suni thi. Aaj practically dekh bhi li. Khadoos ke baare mein socha, khadoos haazir.’

“Sir”, she said.

“Aap abhi tak yahan kya kar rahi hain, Rani Sahiba? Jaaiye aur so jaaiye. Kal subah 6 baje se training hai. Agar koi bhi late hua, toh punishment milegi. Aur yeh aap ke liye bhi applicable hai.”

‘Of course mere liye bhi applicable hai. Main kya chaand se aayi hoon jo nahi hoga? Yeh Khadoos aise kyun bol raha hai? Nikal le, Monu. Yeh paagal hai aur tujhe bhi paagal kar dega.’

“Sir”, she said, nodding. “G-Good n-night, Sir.” She moved past him, almost running to her room. She paused when she was outside her room, sighing.

‘Bas chup chaap jaa aur so jaa. Yahan sabko hi baat karni hoti hai. Aur kahin se bhi bhooton ki tarah, bina warning ke, appear ho jaate hain. Kitne log hain. Kamre mein rehna hi safe hai. Warna, panic attack aur heart attack dono aa jaayenge.’ She opened the door.

Sanjana was tidying her bed. She looked up when she entered the room. “So jaa. Kal subah jaldi uthno hai. Late hogo, toh Karan Sir ji ulta latka denge.”

‘Of course. Wo toh dekh ho liya. Aane se pehle hi ulta taang diya recruits ko uss Khadoos ne. Wo toh gut feeling ne bacha liya, warna main bhi duniya ulti dekh hi leti.’

She sat down on her bed. “Ma’am… y-yahan… yahan l-lights out k-kitne b-baje hoti hai?”

“2130 hours yaani 9:30 par ek ghanti bajti hogo. Iska matlab koi bhi cadet academy ki building se bahar naa jaa sakto hai. Par academy ke chhatt ke neeche reh kar apne doston se baat kar sakto hai ya rules ke daiyre mein reh kar kuchh bhi kar sakto hai. Jisko sona hai, wo so bhi sakto hai. Phir, 2230 hours yaani 10:30 par ek aur ghanti bajti hai. Iss time par sab cadets ko apne apne room mein hono chahiye. Jo room se bahar, use sazaa. Sab chup chaap apne apne bistar mein so jaano chahiye.”

She nodded. “Ek aur q-question p-please?”

Sanju sighed. “Bol.”

“Agar k-koi s-sokar s-subah h-hone se p-pehle ph-phir u-uth jaaye aur n-neend naa aaye, t-toh?”

“Toh kamre se bahar naa jaa sakto hai. Raat ko sirf washroom ke laane kamre mein se bahar jaa sakto hai. Pyaas lagto hai raat ko, toh ek bottle bharke rakh le. Par subah 4:30 baje se pehle koi uth gayo, toh apne kamre mein rehkar, bina zyaada halle ke, kuchh bhi kar sakto hai.” She pointed to the table. “Wo lamp jalaa sakti hai. Par tube light jalaano mana hogo.”

She nodded. “Okay.”

“Kal training ka pehla din hogo. Abhi so jaa. Subah jaldi uthne mein kam dikkat hogi.”

“Th-thank you. G-Good n-night.” She slid down in her bed.

‘Achha hai’, she thought, closing her eyes. ‘Brush wagera pehle hi kar liya. Ab, aaram se so jaungi.’ She relaxed slightly, snuggling into her bed. ‘Poora din idhar udhar bhaagne mein thak gayi. I hope Sid theek hai aur time se so jaaye. Phone bhi nahi hai, warna call karke uss kamine ko keh deti ki apne roommate se baat karte karte poori raat naa bitaa de. Nahi. Wo abhi bhi Aunty ke bracelet ke baare mein upset hoga, na? I hope kal tak uska mood theek ho jaaye.’

The glare of the light behind her closed eyelids suddenly disappeared with a click. She opened her eyes, darkness greeting her. Her gaze searched around the room, hopping to the desk when the lamp was turned on. Sanjana sat down on the desk, scribbling something quietly.

She smiled a little.

‘Yeh itni uncaring nahi hai jitni yeh dikhaati hai. Lights band nahi bhi karti toh main kuchh keh thodi naa sakti thi. Aur rules ke against bhi nahi hota. Phir bhi kari aur khud lamp mein baithkar likh rahi hai.’ She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath and sighing happily. Sleep came easy and she welcomed it wholeheartedly.