Chapter 1: While you were away
Summer 2013 Georgetown, Washington D.C.
The clinking of pots and pans marked the end of another weeknight in this suburban Georgetown household. A starry eyed toddler stared at his mother, waiting for her to take the heavy utensil off his hands. Humming to the tune of a 90's song, she lifted him off the floor and placed him on the countertop.
"I told you not to bother with the metal pans. You could hurt yourself", she cracked a bright smile and went back to rinsing the dishes.
"I want to help", he made the most innocent of faces hoping to put off his bedtime by another few minutes.
"It is way past nine. You should be fast asleep tiger". She gave him the look only a mother could give. The loving-but-demanding, gentle-but-authoritative, go-upstairs-now-or-else-I-will-unleash-the-tickle- monster look.
"Five more minutes", the child tried the last weapon in his arsenal: the doe eyes. She could just melt looking into his pair of chocolate brown eyes. They reminded her so much of his father.
"Catch me if you can".
The child sprinted up the stairs hoping for his mother to follow. This made the mother mildly agitated but mostly bemused by her little monster. "Ezra Jala..." She felt a strong grip on her mouth, shutting her airways. Another second in this position and she would be dead by the staircase.
She tried to move her hands, twitching to get out of the stranger's hold but, nothing. Her had a death grip on her wrists was now dragging her to the end of the hallway. Once out of the field of view of the child, the intruder let go.
As she turned around wanting to beat him senseless, a flood of memories washed over her. "Jalal?"
His darting eyes looked on unfazed by the familiarity of the woman in his arms. "Jodha", he displayed his signature grin. "I see I am not forgotten".
"Did Joan?" Forming coherent sentences be damned! At this point, Jodha was lucky she was still conscious.
"Joan did", he retorted back.
"One day late and she sends you to find me. When did patience disappeared from the world?"
"Says the woman who would toss and turn until the mission was over".
"Stay here", she left him in a corner to pick up the intel (intelligence) he came for.
Both Jodha and Jala knew this day would come when they would have to face each other again but, neither knew it would be this soon. He should have known why Joan finally let him go back in the field as a spy after denying him even the simplest brush passes for months. He should have retreated back as soon as he sensed the citrus scent in the air. But, once he heard the tiny voice stringing along with Jodha, he stayed just a little while. To observe, absorb and then leave. He had to see how she doing, who this other person was, if she was happy now. He would be content knowing she had made a new life. Then, he would send another operative to collect the intel.
Just as he was about leave, he heard his name. "Ezra Jala..." His name, his child.
"Mummy tuck me in please?"
"I'll be up in a minute. You stay with Nadya".
She rushed to find the documents before disaster ensued. There was no way Jodha would allow anyone from CIA near her kids.
"There's two of them?"
"Ezra and Nadya. Twins. We will discuss this later. For now, please leave".
"You mean they are my..."
"I can't believe you". She shoved a manila envelope in his hand and pointed him to the door. "Get. Out. Now".
"Manhandling the blindsided father, are we?" He had a smirk plastered to his face.
"I will call you with the details. Go now".
"A kiss goodbye?"
So he was still the cocky soldier she left. A door shut in face as Jodha travelled up the stairs to her twins.
xxx
"Why are you still up Nadezhda?" As Jodha tucked the twins in, the little girl raised her head.
" Katia said my name is Nadya but you always speak to me in Russian".
Ezra let out an all-knowing giggle bobbling his head from side to side. "She wants to teach us more talks, silly".
"Languages. They are called languages Ezzie boy. Now, I have something very important to tell you both when you wake up tomorrow. Sleep tight kiddos".
"Goodnight mum", they spoke in unison.
As she closed the door behind her, Jodha remembered each event of the past three years that had changed her life beyond repair. Even with Jalal back in the picture, there was no way they would even be the normal family she dreamed of. CIA had cost her everything she held dear and she would be dead before they got to her kids.
She stared at his picture for a minute before dialing his encrypted cell phone. "I've missed you". She allowed herself one moment of vulnerability as the sun set behind her. Tomorrow would be another day and she would not let Jalal see a clink in the armor.
"And I, you. I have a feeling Joan knew about this long before I did. I understand of course but, I didn't expect this from you Jodha".
"I didn't either Jalal. What you did, I don't think I can forget that night even if I have forgiven you. I've told them you were sick after Iraq. Tomorrow, I will tell them you are back in good health. But that is all you are going to get. I want boundaries. I don't want operatives hovering anywhere near my home ever again".
"You have my word. Hello? Jodha?"
The line went dead. All the questions would have to wait till dawn.
Indian Mythology
Sampoorna
CID
Current Affairs
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