It was midnight. The only sound could be heard was running of clock. Maan was sitting next to centre table playing with the table lamp. The only thing that was making him awake was Colonel's words. Using her for greater good. It was really difficult to him using her. Its their duty to protect country from terrorism but isn't saving Geet from exploiting is also his duty? But why he is thinking it exploitation? If asking some simple question, can help them to gather some information he will do so.
Next afternoon Maan went to Geet's home keeping his job in his mind.
Geet was standing outside weeping water from her hair.
"Geet.."
"Ajaiye.." She smiled sweetly.
He entered the house following her. Before entering her room he stooped her by pulling her hand. "Geet.."
"boliye?"
"tum to mere vare me sab janti ho na? How I was in my training, how I was in my childhood everything.."
"hmm.. mujhe nahi to aur kise batayenge app?"
"ab mujhe bhi sab kuch janna hai.. tumhare vare me aur.." Maan gulped.. "tumhari family ke vareme.."
Geet nodded as they entered the room. Maan was standing leaning on a wall while Geet brought out a thick album with brown cover. She sat on the bed and Maan dragged a chair to sit in front of her. She turned over the 1st page.
Maan saw a few photos and easily spotted Geet in her childhood. She was about two years her brother was 6-7 years. With their parents.
"Geet you didn't tell me about your father. What happened to him?"
Geet got shocked for a moment. It was a long time none talked about her dad.
"mai to sayed do ya teen saal kit hi.." she took a deep breath. "ammi ne to kuch nahi kaha.. padosi ne kaha ke he was shot accidentally by a officer." She sobbed.. her voice broke.
"yeh toh school ki photo hai." Maan tried to change the conversation. "tum jab choti thi bahot pyari thi.." Maan looked at the pic of Geet when she was 4 or 5 wearing a blue skirt and a white shirt.
"hmm.. ammi to mere piche hi padi raheti thi school jane ke liye.."
"kyu school jana pasand nahi tha?"
"nahi.. wo mujhe na school ka dress achi nahi lagti thi.. who skirt.."
"kyu? Ye blue skirt to bahot cute hai.."
"actually mujhe to boys ka school dress zada pasand tha.. blue pant and white shirt." She curved her lips in a smile. "aur pata hai ekdin mai bahot royi mujhe bhai ka uniform pahenna hai.. bhai ko bhi school jane nahi diya.."
"bahot shaytan the tum.." Maan smiled and turned over the next page. "ye to Preeti hai na?"
"hmm.. meri hi umar kit hi.. baat karti thi jaise meri badi bahen.." Geet caressed the photo.. "bahot ziddi thi.."
Then Maan turned another page and saw 7 years old Geet and Preeti with a 9years old girl.
"ye kaun hai?"
"Nazneen di.." she stopped.
"Naazneen kaun?" Maan asked breaking the silence.
"bachpan mei to hum dono Nazneen di ke chele the..hum log to uski sab kuch copy karte the.. uski kapde, jute, dupatta sab kuch.."
"acha to wo tumhari diva thi.." Maan turned a few pages and saw so many pictures of the girl.
"hmm." Geet smiled. "sab usse bahot pyar karte the.. ammi bhi.. aur bhai ko to wo bilkul bhi pasand nahi thi.."
"kyu?"
"pata nahi.. jab wo 10 saal ke the Nazneen di 8 saal kit hi.. bhai to usse kali billi bulate the.."
"Kalli billi?"
"huh.. wo kali billi ki tarah bhai ka rasta katne chale ate the.." she gave a half smile.. "aur wo aur bhi zada gussa hote the kyuki mai din raat Naazneen di k peeche peeche ghumti thi aur ammi use bahot pyar karti thi." Geet stopped to breath.
"phir?"
"phir kya hum bade ho gaye.. kuch saal baad mai 5th grade mei thi aur mai half yearly exam mei bahot fail hoo gayi.. bhai 9th grade mei thi aur humesa ke tarah top kiya tha.. ammi mujhe to bahot daant padne vali thi.. mai to pahele se hi rone lagi.. phir pata hai kya hua?? bhai ko daant padi ammi se kyu wo meri studies mei help nahi karte hai.."
"arre wah.. sab ke saath aisa hi hota hai.. galti karte hai chote bhai ya bahen.. aur daant padti hai bade bhai-bahen ko.. kyu?" Maan asked sweetly..
"kyuki wo bade hote hai.." She answered knowingly then smiled.
"chalo ab age kya hua batao.."
"huh.. to roz saam ko wo meri studies mei help karte the.. lekin mai khudo help nahi karti thi.. wo maths samjhate the to mai apni serial ke vare me sochti thi' aur ek din bhai bahot gussa ho gaye .. aur chillane lage.. wo aur kuch kahe sake usse paheli mai bhai ammi ki pass aur rone lagi.. ye kaha mujhe bhai ka help nahi chahiye wo bilkul bhi acha teacher nahi hai.. wo to mujhe rote hue nahi dekh sakti thi.. usne bhai ko daanta acha teacher na hone ke liye.. aur uske baad.."
"aur uske baad.." Maan sounded like a kid who is listening an interesting bed time story.
"phir kya Naazneen di mujhe aur Preeti ko roz saam padhane aati thi.."
"aur tumhari bhai phirse gussa ho gaye.."
"nahi nahi.. sab badal gaye the.. bhai to Naazneen didi ke baat yu maan lete the kuch puche bina hi.." they both stoped to smile.. "aur pata hai hum jald se jald padh lete the.."
As Geet's ammi came to give them snacks they stopped. After she left they started again.
"aur pata hai.. padhai khatam hone ke baad bhai aur Naazneen di chup chup ke kuch baate bhi karte the.. lekin mujhe ya Preeti ko dekhte hi chup ho jate the.."
Maan turned a few many pages and continued listening to her story. After finishing the album Geet opened another album.
After a few photos Maan saw a loose photo. Maan bring it closure to see it.
It was a photo of Naazneen and Geet's brother together.. Nazneen was undoubtedly beautiful, she is a full grown woman now and Asim Khan he also looked so innocent, handsome guy. None can imagine this man can turn into a ruthless terrorist ever. He was standing behind like body guard of Nazneen, stiff like a wood while Nazneen was quite cool. The picture was showing nothing but speaking a lot, it is clear that they are in love now.
"Geet.. yeh photo.." Maan was going to ask her but his phone buzzed.. A call from colonel..
"yes sir.."
"Maan meet us at the tea shop.. as soon as possible.." he cut the phone.
"Geet wo mujhe.." Maan stood up.
"apko ab jana hoga.." a tear silently roll down on her white cheek.
"Geet.. tum ro kyu rahi ho.." Maan sat next to her cupping her face..
"kuch nahi.. bas purani yaade taza ho gayi.. aur kuch nahi." She said cleaning her tears away.. "ap jaiye.. apko late ho raha hai.." She companied him to the main door.
*****************************************
Colonel and Apurva met maan at chacha's tea shop.. It was afternoon and a few people were sitting crowding around chacha enjoying his talks.. Even colonel seemed to enjoy chacha's weird answers.
"Maan join us.." Colonel greeted him with a smile. Maan smiled back seeing colonel has became close to local people within a few hours. He had a charm which helps him to be friendly with any one. And he had a charisma which made people to obey him without any question. Though he's shorter than most of the people in the camp but still none can talk looking directly into his eyes.
"what are you thinking?" Colonel asked giving him a cup of tea. His pale skin has become paler in the cold atmosphere.
"no nothing.. just missing my home town, Delhi.." Maan lied though there was no reason behind the lie.. he just don't wanna say here he went to Geet.
"chacha.." Colonel spoke looking at chacha.. "aj bahot thand hai na?" he rubbed his palms.
"Ha ha mujhe bhi aam bahot pasand hai.." At the moment chacha replied a laughter wave hit the crowed. Suddenly Maan's eyes fell on chacha's 8years old daughter who was standing a few feet away with curious eyes. Maan indicated her to come but she hid herself behind a wall but still was peeping them with curious eyes. Maan noticed what she was noticing and it was clear why she was behaving like this. Maan was wearing shirt and pant but colonel and Apurva were in their uniforms. Maan smiled thinking he used to scare from the uniformed man when he was a kid.. now he's one of them..
"you know when I was a kid I used to scare from police and militaries.." Maan was shocked to hear colonel thinking the same thing.. colonel smiled to the kid sweetly and indicated her to come.. she came out from her semi hiding position but didn't come. May be still has doubt to believe them.. again colonel smiled and indicated to come near. This time she smiled and came to them..
Colonel gave a bigger smile making her sit on his lap and offering her a biscuit which she accepted happily. Within a few minutes she opened her every secret to colonel like she got punishment from teacher to fight with fellow students. She broke mom's favorite vase etc etc.
"Aisha.." colonel again gave her a biscuit.. "kuch mahine pahele yeh bazaar mei kuch bada sa hua than na? sayed sab jal gaye the.. tumhe kuch yaad hai?"
Maan heart started to beat faster.. he was asking question about the day when he got last call from Dev.. He looked at colonel but he showed his hand to indicate don't say anything now..
"ha yaad hai na.. lekin zada kuch nahi.." the kid said taking a bite.
"acha?" the colonel raised his eyebrow. "tum toh bahot smart ho.. mujhe to kaal ki baat tak yaad nahi raheta aur tumhe to mahino pahele ki baat yaad hai.."
"smart to mai hoon.."
"acha to tumhe kya yaad hai.."
"ekdin achanak baba kaha ke hum log ghumne ja rahe hai.. hum to bahot khush the.. hum log to chale bhi gaye.. lekin woha janeke do din baad pata chala bazaar mei koi attack kiya aur sab jal gaye yeh dukan bhi.." she stopped.
"aur phir?"
"phir kya?? Baba to jald se jald chale aye yaha.."
Colonel ordered another cup of tea and got busy into talking.. after taking the first sip he said "cheeni kam.." chacha passed him the can of sugar while talking with the local men.
After a few minutes of talking they bid good bye to the crowed and took the way of the camp. Maan looked at the colonel thinking so easily he use people and they don't even understand, the kid today was a prove. He's not saying he is wrong he is just loyal to his job.. From the bottom of his heart he can't fully support him, but is there any other way? At the moment they heard sound of a gun and a bullet passed away just a few inches of Maan. The crowd of the bazaar started creating chaos and started running here and there without a single direction. Again a round of fire comes up which makes colonel to call for back up. It didn't long last. Merely 15minutes. The back up arrived within 10 minutes and soon after the firing stopped. Two of the people were found dead. One of them was unknown attacker and another was one of them an uniformed men. Apurva.

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So how was it??? and the story is going towards its destiny.. plzzz do comment...
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