KarMi OS Collection: Kahaaniyan

DARR LAGTA HAI:

Karan closed his red eyes, red from the tears he had shed over the past few hours. It felt like a lifetime, yet like mere seconds, but every second had felt like hell.

Fear. Pure fear. That was what had been coursing through his veins. It had made his insides numb, and his entire body shake. Tears had leaked from his eyes, an endless supply, and no matter how much he wiped his face, fresh ones were always quick to replace them.

"Kya... kya main mil sakta hoon?" He asked the doctor.

He nodded, pointing to her room and then saying something else, but he didn't care what he had to say. He dashed into the room, freezing at the threshold as her unconscious body lay lifelessly on the bed.

The monitors beeped in a steady tone, the hospital room smelling of sterility. Was this really her? The same girl with a bright enough smile that she could light up the academy with just that? Was this pale, fragile, breakable girl her? His Rani Sahiba? His Monami? Was this really her?

He walked closer. His heart pounded in his ears. She was his dhadkan, he had often said. You're unintentionally romantic, she always replied before rewarding him with a kiss on his cheek. She never realized how serious he was, and he hadn't paused to clarify. She was his dhadkan. He wouldn't live without her. Surviving wasn't living.

He took her hand, clutching it gently. It lacked the usual warmth, but her smaller hand fit into his like a glove. Sid and Sanju believed in connections. Was this one?

A drop hit his hand. He had started crying again. His eyes ached like they were scrubbed with a sandpaper, but he couldn't stop the tears. This was his Rani Sahiba, damn it! She wasn't supposed to fight for her life. Not with him there.

He sat down on the chair next to the bed. It had been a long day. It was a two-person mission. Monami and him. No back up, no outside communication. Just him and her, and a mission. It was going great. Excellent. Not flawlessly, but without blunders.

They were almost done. They just had to get out. A gunshot. Everything changed.

He watched her fall. Blood spurted out of her chest. Did the bullet hit her heart? Shock came first. Who had pulled the trigger? What was happening? Fear next. Was she okay? And then rage. How dare someone hurt Monami?

He couldn't remember what he did next. If he really had to, he could remember flashes. Fighting. Pulling the trigger. All while protecting her unconscious form. But it went by too fast. Rage and instincts had controlled his emotions.

He had slipped his hands under her, picking her up like he had done countless times. He liked picking her, but not then. Not when she could potentially bleed out. He liked it when she stared at him, when she watched with her adorable smile, entire attention where it's supposed to be. On him.

'It could have potentially hit her heart' the doctor had warned. 'It might be too late.'

His world had stopped. His heart had stopped. His life had stopped. But she was alive. She was fine. She was going to be fine.

A groan made him open his eyes. When had he closed them? She was looking at him with a groggy frown, blinking, before she relaxed completely, a small smile appearing on her face.

"Hi, mere Khadoos Shergill", she muttered.

He couldn't help but lean over, pressing a kiss to her forehead. He looked down at her face, into her eyes.

"Tum theek ho?" He whispered, and she nodded.

"Tum the, na? Aise thodi, na, mujhe kuch hone dete", she said.

"I am sorry."

Her eyebrows furrowed. "Bachaane ke liye sorry? Itna tang kar diya kya maine tumhe?"

"Mazaak nahi hai yeh, Monami", he snapped. "Tum... tum mar sakti thi."

She sighed a little. "Main theek hoon, Karan", she said. She lifted a hand, slightly shaky, keeping it on his cheek, and he leaned into her touch.

The door burst open, and they pulled away, finding Sid panting in the doorway.

"Monu!" He said, walking closer. "Tu theek hai? Idiot! Goli khaakar aa gayi. Itni hi bhook lagi thi toh bol deti. Main tere liye Sid G special noodles bana deta."

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

"Ruko", Monami said, taking a step forward and glaring at him. She was angry with him. He didn't blame her. He had been avoiding her ever since she had been discharged and back at the academy. That was a week ago.

It was almost a physical pain, staying away from her, being cold to her, denying her requests to go on a date or just hang out. He had almost melted several times and wandered back to her, before flashes hit him, and he found himself in the training room with his boxing gloves on.

"Monami, main late ho raha hoon", he said. "Baad mein baat karte hain."

"Kahan jaa rahe ho?" She asked. If her right hand wasn't in a sling, he didn't doubt she would cross them. She thought it made her look intimidating, but it had always just looked adorable to him.

"Faizi se milna hai."

"Achha?" She asked, taking another step forward. "Par wo toh nahi milna chahta tumse. Wo Koel ke saath busy hai."

"Batra Sir se milna hai", he corrected.

"Wo academy mein nahi hain", she said. "Aur koi bahaana? Mujhse door bhaagne ka?"

"Main door nahi bhaag raha hoon tumse", he said.

"Kya ho gaya hai tumhe? Achaanak se aise kyun behave karne lage ho? Kuch kara hai maine toh batao, na? Bhaag kyun rahe ho?"

"Monami, in sab baaton ka time nahi hai mere paas", he said, trying to move past her. Her words were like a stab to his heart. He knew he had hurt her. He knew it. But he couldn't look at her and not think about almost losing her. He couldn't take the pain.

"Mere liye time nahi hai tumhaare paas ab?" She whispered, her voice cracking a little. Her eyes had welled up with tears, a single drop sliding down her cheek. "Aisa kya ho gaya hai, Karan? Mujhse baat karo, na? Please. Tell me what's wrong. Hum... hum milkar sort karenge. Tum batao toh sahi."

He looked away from her. "Jab kuch nahi hua hai, toh kya bataoon?"

"Nahi hua? Toh phir bhaag kyun rahe ho? Mujhe ignore kyun kar rahe ho? Karan... iss ek hafte mein mujhe pehli baar laga hai ki tum... tum khush nahi ho mere saath? Ek saal mein pehli baar aisa lag raha hai ki tum... tum mujhse pyaar nahi karte ho."

His head snapped down to face her, eyes wide. Her face was wet with unacknowledged tears, and she stared up with glassy eyes. "Monami, I love you. Main bahut pyaar karta hoon tumse."

"Toh phir mujhe ignore kyun kar rahe ho? Hua kya hai?"

"Hua yeh hai ki tum mar sakti thi", he burst out. "Hua yeh hai ki agar tumhe kuch ho jaata toh sirf tum nahi, main bhi mar jaata tumhaare saath. Soch soch kar darr lag raha hai, bure sapne aa rahe hain ki tum mar gayi, mujhe chodhkar chali gayi, aur main kuch nahi kar paaya. Yeh hua hai!"

She stared at him with wide eyes, and he wiped the tears that had fallen from his eyes angrily. He was so done with these tears!

He took a shaky breath in. "Bhaiya ke baad, pehli baar kisi ko apna sab kuch bana liya hai. Aur jab unki tarah, tumhe almost kho diya maine, toh realize ho raha hai main nahi kar sakta yeh. I can't! Kisi ko apne itne paas aane de, aur phir uss insaan ka mujhse door chale jaane, main yeh nahi kar sakta!"

"Karan..." She said, keeping a hand on his chest.

He shook his head, taking a step back, and she stared at her hand which hovered in the air for a few seconds, before letting it back down. Her gaze lifted, hurt and tears shining in her eyes.

"I love you, Monami. I really, really do. Par... par shayad main pehle hi sahi tha. Pyaar ki shayad sach mein meri zindagi mein koi jagah nahi hai." Every word stabbed him over and over again right in his heart, twisting and torturing him.

Her face slackened in disbelief. "Tum... Karan, tum... tum mere saath b-break up kar rahe ho?"

"Monami..." He took a step forward instinctively, longing to pull her into his arms and hold her close.

She held up a hand. "Jawaab?"

He closed his eyes. "Shayad yahi best hai humaare liye."

"Nahi", she said. "Yeh best nahi hai humaare liye. Yeh worst hai. Tum itne badhe coward nikloge, maine yeh socha bhi nahi tha, Karan Shergill. Iss relationship mein rehkar, saath mein hokar problems face karne se better tumhe isse bhaagna lag raha hai? Mere saath rehna shayad tumhe pasand nahi tha, isliye hi toh itni easily yeh sab keh diya tumne.Theek hai! Main nahi aaongi iss baar tumhaare peechhe."

She ran off, wiping her tears and Karan closed his eyes, stumbling back as he leaned against the wall. Sobs racked his body, and he slid to the ground, crying silently.

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

"Mujhe toh laga tha tune use kaha tha ki tu uske peechhe nahi jayegi?" Sid asked, as Monami finished explaining her plan.

"Bro, pyaar mein give up nahi hota", she said, rolling her eyes. "Wo toh gusse mein bol diya tha. Ab tum dono help karoge ya nahi?"

"Monami, tum kya humse pehli baar mili hai jo yeh poochh rahi hai?" Faizi asked.

"Par bro, main use tang karoonga aur tu kuch nahi kahegi", Sid said. "Use bhi rone de thoda. Kitna rulaaya hai usne tujhe." Faizi nodded in agreement.

She rolled her eyes, before nodding in agreement. Everyone had been worried when she had locked herself in her room, crying and Sid had to climb through the window to get in when she had started throwing things around. But two days later, and she was ready to get Karan back in her life.

Faizi had tried his best, trying to talk sense in his best friend but he was too stubborn to listen, adamantly sticking to his stand. If he'd stay away, Faizi had explained his thoughts to her, he won't be as hurt if he lost her. It was bullshit, she had said and he had agreed, shrugging helplessly.

"Pehle, aapka aur Janaab ji ka patch up karayegne, mahutarma", Faizi said. "Aur phir, sab milkar badla lenge."

Sid slung an arm over Monami's shoulder, pulling her close as the two men started to throw ideas back and forth.

Monami sighed a little, pain flaring up in her wound, which hadn't entirely been healed yet. She hopped off the table, saying her bye, as she turned to leave the mess, coming face-to-face with Karan.

'Pyaar ki shayad sach mein meri zindagi mein koi jagah nahi hai.'

Pain flared up in her chest, a physical one, and she moved past him, jaw clenching as she tried to control her tears.

She closed the door behind her, falling on the bed. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes.

'Khadoos Shergill, tumse door rehkar naa main khush hoon aur naa tum rahoge. Aaj tak mere fears se fight karne ki strength tumne mujhe di hai, toh ab tumhaare fears se fight karne ki strength main tumhe doongi.'

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

Karan looked around at the hustle and bustle, people running around. He frowned. What was happening? He grabbed Faizi's arm as he walked briskly by him, stopping him.

"Kya chal raha hai?"

He paused for a few seconds, clearly not very willing to tell him. "Monami kahin mil nahi rahi hai. Room mein kapde nahi hai uske, joote nahi hai. Gappu bhi nahi hai."

He stared at him in shock. "Kya? Kahan gayi wo? Aur tune mujhe bataaya kyun nahi?"

He shrugged. "Tumhe kya farak padta hai?"

Karan stared at him. "Kya farak padta hai? Faizi, pyaar karta hoon main usse. Girlfriend hai meri wo."

"Hai nahi, thi", he said. "Ex hai ab. Tumne hi break up kara tha, na? Aur tum... pyaar karte ho? Nahi, karte the. Kyunki jab tum karte the, na, pyaar, toh uske saath rehne ke liye duniya se ladhne ki himmat rakhte the."

"Fazi, tu toh kam se kam mujhe samajh."

"Abhi sunne, samajhne ka time nahi hai", Faizi said. "Monami pata nahi kahan hai. Last time, itni upset hokar academy chodhkar gayi thi toh accident ho gaya tha uska. Last time se bhi zyaada upset hai iss baar wo."

He ignored the pain twisting in his chest. "CCTV?"

"Usse kaise bachna hai, wo use aa gaya hai ab tak", he said, shaking his head. "Poori academy dekh li, kahin nahi hai. Sanju aur cadets bahar dhoond rahe hain. Bas ek Sid hai yahan. Wo Monami ke friends ko call kar raha hai. Ab dil ka toota hai, shayad un mein se kisi ke paas gayi ho."

Footsteps made them look up, finding Sid running up to them. His eyes were wet with tears, reddened from crying.

"Siddharth? Kuch pata chala?" Karan asked. "Monami kahan hai?"

"Wo... wo h-hospital", he stammered out, breaking into sobs. "Accident. She's... she's... she's dead!"

His world stopped. His heart stopped. His life stopped. "Kya?"

Sid slid to the ground, crying and Karan looked at him numbly. She was... dead. Gone.

"Karan", Faizi said, and he shook his head, stumbling to his room. He sat down on his bed, Sid's words echoing in his mind.

She's dead.

The door opened, and he vaguely registered Faizi sitting down next to him. "Karan", he said. "Tumhe itna dukh kyun ho raha hai?"

The words were like cold water hitting him straight in the face. He stared at him in disbelief. "Matlab?"

"Matlab... tumne toh usse break up kar liya tha. Door ho gaye the. Tumhaare logic ke hisaab se agar tum uske saath nahi rahoge toh agar use kuch ho bhi gaya toh tumhe dard thodi na hoga?"

"Alag hue the hum, Faizi", he said. His words were soft, breathy. The pain in his chest didn't let him speak. "Pyaar karna thodi na chodha hai maine."

"Toh break up ka point kya tha?"

"Kya farak padta hai ab?" He took a shaky breath, the lump in his throat uncomfortable and painful. "M-Mujhe laga tha... Faizi, mujhe laga tha ki use apne aap se door karke, itna dard nahi hoga agar... agar wo mujhe chodh kar chali gayi. Par... Par ho raha hai!" He closed his eyes.

'Iss relationship mein rehkar, saath mein hokar problems face karne se better tumhe isse bhaagna lag raha hai? Mere saath rehna shayad tumhe pasand nahi tha, isliye hi toh itni easily yeh sab keh diya tumne.'

'I am sorry, Monami. I am so, so sorry. Sab meri galti hai.'

'Ek saal mein pehli baar aisa lag raha hai ki tum... tum mujhse pyaar nahi karte ho.'

She didn't know he loved her. She doubted it. She wasn't sure of it. Loving her wasn't something he could just stop doing. It came to him as easy as breathing, as effortlessly as his heart beat. He couldn't stop it. He'd love her to the last breath of his life, the last beat of his heart. And she didn't know that. And now, he couldn't tell her.

"Jab aapka pyaar adhura reh jaata hai, toh hamesha dard hota. Chaahe wo insaan kitna bhi door kyun naa chala jaaye, agar pyaar karte ho, toh use khone ka dard toh hoga hi", a voice said. Monami?

His head snapped up, finding her standing a few feet from the door. It was closed behind her, just the two of them in the room now. He stared at her.

Was this his imagination? It has to be, right? She couldn't be there. She couldn't! She was... dead.

He stared at her, blinking as his vision blurred with tears. She tilted her head, offering him a small smile.

The next instant, he had crossed the room, pulling her into his arms, hugging her tightly. She felt... real. He didn't care if it was his imagination. She felt real. He wanted to believe she was real.

"Karan", she whispered, hugging him back just as tightly.

"Tum... tum sach mein... ho?" He whispered fearfully, pulling back after a few seconds. "Tum... tum theek ho?"

She nodded. "Main theek hoon."

"Sid... wo..."

"Sid aur Faizi ne tumse jhooth bola", she said.

His eyebrows furrowed together. "K-Kyun?"

"Kyunki aur koi tareeka samajh nahi aaya", she said, shrugging. She sighed. "Karan... apne pyaar ko khone se toh sab darte hain. Agar tumhe missions par chot lag jaati hai, toh jaan nikal jaati hai meri. Par har ek moment jo main tumhaare saath bitaati hoon, wo sab worth it hota hai, because... because you make me happy, Khadoos Shergill."

She took a step away from him, and he immediately took one forward. She held up a hand, and he paused, wiping his tears.

"Karan, tumhe choose karna hai", she said. "Tum mere saath happy reh sakte ho. Shayad bahut kam time hoga. Shayad poori life hogi. Pata nahi. Par mujhe lagta hai ki hum saath mein khush rahenge. Ya phir tum aise reh sakte ho jaise pichle do hafte se reh rahe hain. Door. Unhappy." She took a deep breath, tears dripping from her eyes. "Jo bhi tum choose karoge, I will accept it."

He didn't even pause. He pulled her into a hug, and she melted, hugging him back tightly. "Ab kabhi bhi tumhe door nahi hone doonga", he said. "Khud ko bhi humaare beech nahi aane doonga, Monami. I love you."

"I love you too", she whispered. "Aur agar aage se aisa kuch kiya, toh main yeh life lesson nahi doongi. Main chali jaoongi tumhe chodh kar."

He tightened his grip, shaking his head. "Kabhi nahi", he muttered, pressing a kiss to her hair. "Kabhi nahi, Monami. Bas mujhe kabhi chodh kar mat jaana."

He pulled back a little, prepping kisses all over her face, and she laughed a little. She reached up, wiping his tears away.

"Tum Khadoos Shergill hi theek ho. Sad Shergill mat bano."

He held her face in his hands, wiping his tears away with her thumbs. "Mujhe laga maine tumhe kho diya, Monami. Aur mera sabse badha regret yeh tha ki jaane se pehle, tumhe yeh nahi bata paaya ki main tumse kitna zyaada pyaar karta hoon. I love you. I love you, Monami. I love you."

He didn't want to stop saying it. He wanted her to know. He needed her to know.

"I love you. I really, really love you."

EK MULAKAAT:

Monami chewed on her lip, sighing for the umpteenth time. Karan glanced at her, finding her fidgeting nervously with her ring. He clutched her hand, squeezing comfortingly.

She smiled a little at him, sighing again. "Karan, agar Papa ne kuch keh diya, toh unki baat ka bura mat maanna, please?"

"Monami, yeh baat tum academy se abhi tak das baar bol chuki ho", he said. "Itni tension mat lo."

"Kaise na loon? Tum Papa ko jaante ho, na?" She said. "And unhe itna badha shock de rahi hoon main."

"Waise, tumne apne Papa ko kya bataaya hai mere baare mein?" He asked.

She turned her head slowly, and Karan glanced at the road before staring at her in surprise.

"Tumne kuch nahi bataaya unhe? Yeh toh pata hai ki tum apne boyfriend ko saath mein laa rahi ho?" She shook her head. He stared at her in shock. "Yeh pata hai ki tum kisi ko date kar rahi ho?" She shook her head again. He sighed, shaking her head. "Kis khushi mein tumne yeh nahi bataaya hai unhe?"

She stuck her lower lip out a little, and Karan turned his attention back to the road. She was getting pretty good at making him melt with her cute looks, and she took full advantage of it.

"Ab bologi, ya guess karna padega mujhe?"

"Papa bahut over-protective ho jaate hain, toh mujhe laga ki milkar bataana better hai."

"Tumhe lagta hai ki unke saamne jaakar agar tum yeh kahogi ki main tumhaara boyfriend hoon, toh yeh better hoga? Main? Wo insaan jisne tumhe goli maari thi, aur phir unhe openly challenge karke tumhe tumhaare ghar se le aaya tha?"

Monami paused, and Karan glanced between her and the road, waiting for her to get it. "I think mujhe pehle bata dena chahiye tha", she said.

He sighed, shaking his head. "Tum karne se pehle cheezen sochti nahi ho, na?" He glanced at her, finding with her with a cute pout. He felt a smile tug on his face, and he chuckled a little. "Koi baat nahi. Sab theek hoga. Tum tension mat lo."

He pushed down on the breaks, stopping outside her huge house. He hadn't taken the time to pause and stare the last and only time he had been here, but it was really a beautiful house, if a tad bit too big for his tastes.

Monami peeked into the house, holding him back and Karan watched in amusement, as her eyes danced around, pausing and inspecting her father. He followed her gaze, finding him sipping a cup of something, as he typed something on his phone.

"Hum andar kyun nahi jaa rahe hain?" He asked.

She kept a finger on his lips, narrowing her eyes at him. "Main mood check rahi hoon Papa ka", she said. "Agar zyaada bura hai, toh tum gaadhi mein wait karoge."

"Monami, unka mood duniya ka best mood ho sakta hai", he said. "Par mujhe dekhte hi kharaab ho jayega."

She shot him an irritated look. "Tum kabhi optimistic nahi ho sakte ho?"

"Tum zyaada hi ho rahi ho", he said. "Chalo, warna tum raat tak bhi aise hi rahogi, aur mujhe bhi ghar ke bahar hi rakhogi."

She scowled at him, hitting him slightly. He watched amusedly, as she took a deep breath, before nodding. "Koi baat nahi, Monami", she said to herself. "Sab theek hoga."

He chuckled, and she clutched his arm, leading him in.

Dr. Mahajan looked up, a smile spreading on his face as he looked at Monami, before it dropped when his eyes fell on him. Anger flashed on his face, and he stood up.

"Tum yahan kya kar rahe ho?" He snapped. "Tumhaari himmat kaise hui yahan aane ki? Nikal jaao mere ghar se."

"Papa", Monami said nervously, clutching his arm. "E-Ek baar baat sun lo pehle."

"Kya baat suno, Monami?" He asked. "Tum bhool gayi hogi, par main nahi bhoola hoon. Isne tumhe goli maari thi." He looked at Karan. "Aur tum? Ab kya karne aaye ho yahan? Monami chali gayi thi, na, tumhaare saath waapas academy? Ab kya chahiye?"

It was about as bad of a reaction as Karan had expected on seeing him, and it was only going to get worse when he finds out that Monami was dating and her boyfriend happened to be him.

"Papa, main Karan se pyaar karti hoon", Monami blurted out. "And... And yeh mera b-boyfriend hai."

Karan stared at him, half in anticipation of his reaction and half in concern. His face had been wiped entirely blank, just staring at the two. He hadn't ever grown up watching soap operas or stupid stuff like that, but isn't this the part where the person either gets a heart attack or gives a stupid ultimatum?

The older man turned to his daughter, the blank expression still on his face. "Iske alaawa koi nahi mila tumhe? Ya tumhe wahin karna hota hai jo tum jaanti ho mujhe pasand nahi?"

"Papa, aapko toh p-pata tha ki main Karan ko pasand karti hoon, toh itne surprised k-kyun?" She fumbled, and he immediately clutched her hand, squeezing assuredly.

"Mujhe laga tha ki tum itni stupid nahi hogi ki ek army waale ko date karogi", he snapped.

Karan frowned. "Mere army mein hone se aapko problem hai?" Of all the things, this was the one he was most concerned about?

"Haan", he said. "Nafrat hai mujhe army waalon se."

"Aapki wife, matlab Monami ki mumma, wo bhi toh army mein thi."

He glared at him. "Army waale aage peechhe kuch nahi dekhte. Ek baar uniform pehen li, toh bas, marna aur maarna hi jaante hain. Phir aur kuch nahi yaad rehta. Emotionless machines ho tum log."

His jaw clenched, and he barely restrained himself from punching him. His hands clenched into fists. Monami's father, he reminded himself. You can't punch him.

"Aap use maarna aur marna keh rahe hain, Sir, hum use desh ki suraksha aur uske liye shaheed hona kehte hain", he snapped.

He scoffed, shaking his head. "Naa mujhe tumhaari uss stupid academy mein koi interest hai, aur naa tumhaare yeh self-righteous army ke lecture par." He took a step closer, and Karan narrowed his eyes, staring right back into this eyes. "Meri beti se door raho."

"Wo toh main nahi rahoonga. Ab?" He said.

"E-Ek minute", Monami tried to interject, pausing when her father glared at her.

"Monami, isse door raho", he said. "Tumne soch bhi kaise liya ki isko tumhaare saath main rehne doonga."

"Papa, main K-Karan se pyaar karti hoon", she said. "I love him."

He sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Tum itni stupid kaise ho sakti ho, Monami? Aaj pyaar keh rahi ho, kal jab yeh apne missions ko tumse zyaada importance dega, toh phir isi pyaar ko regret karogi." He glared at Karan. "Break up karne mein tumhaari bhalaai hai."

"Nahi", she said, and Karan was almost surprised at the firmness in her tone. She rarely was able to be firm with her father. "Main Karan se break up nahi karoongi, Papa." She slipped her hand into his, and he looked down at it, and then up at her, and finally at her father.

He stared at the two of them. "Tumhe jo karna hai, tum wahi karti ho ab", he said. "Par jab yeh tumse zyaada apne missions ko importance dega, toh mere paas rote hue mat aana. Waise toh tumhe meri approval ya disapproval ka kuch farak nahi padta, par phir bhi, main iss rishte ko approve nahi karta. Aur naa kabhi karoonga."

"Par Papa", Monami said. He held a hand, shaking his head.

"Nahi, Monami. Ise main tumhaare saath kabhi accept nahi karoonga. Yeh kuch bhi kar le, main kabhi bhi ise nahi accept karoonga."

Her forehead creased into a frustrated scowl, and she turned around, storming out of the house. Karan turned around, but a hand to his shoulder made him stop, looking back up at her father.

"Tumhe toh main apni beti se alag karke rahoonga", he said.

"Nahi hoga aapse, Sir", Karan said. He took a step forward, narrowing his eyes dangerously as he stared into his eyes. "Jab wo sirf meri cadet thi, tab toh aap mujhe use door rakh nahi paaye. Use aapke ghar se academy waapas lekar gaya tha main. Ab girlfriend hai meri. Ab toh aap kya, koi bhi use mujhse door nahi rakh sakta."

He turned around, stalking out of the house.

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

Karan leaned back on his arms, staring out at the setting sun, as it slowly dipped down into the ocean. Monami sat between his open legs, her head leaning back to rest on his chest.

She sighed, and he tore his eyes away from the sun to look down at her. "Yeh isse bura nahi jaa sakta tha", she said.

He wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder. "Jaa sakta tha", he said. "Tumhaare papa kehte ki break up kar lo, ya wo is rishte ko kabhi accept nahi karenge. Oh wait, wo toh kaha tha."

She elbowed him lightly, and he chuckled.

"Itni tension mat lo. Relax", he muttered, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "Inke saath kaise deal karna hai, soch lenge. Abhi ke liye, sunset enjoy karo, na?"

A small smile spread on her face, as she watched the dipping sun, and he tilted his head, staring at her. She glanced at him, her smile widening.

Karan leaned forward a little, closing his eyes.

"Itni easily nahi, Khadoos Shergill. Thodi mehnat karo", she whispered.

It took him a few seconds to register what she had said, and his eyes snapped open. She wriggled out of his hold, before he could tighten it, running away, and Karan stood up, chasing her around the beach.

Warm water washed up their feet, as they playfully ran around, the light from the setting sun making their faces glow.

ISHQ AUR MUSHQ CHHUPAIYE NAHI CHHIPTA:

Note: Yahan par Koel and Faizi like each other, Sanju and Sid are together and everyone knows, and Karan and Monami are together but no one knows.

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

Monami felt a hand on her knee under the table, and she glanced up, finding Karan glance at her with a mischievous look. She shook her head, as a smile tugged on her face, taking a bite of the apple. She kept her left hand atop his, lightly rubbing the back of his hand with her thumb.

"Monami", Suman ji said, and she looked up, finding her standing next to her. "Udhar ho jao, na?"

She suppressed her sigh, and Karan's hand fell away from her knee. She scooted in, too far away from Karan for him to touch her in any shape now.

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

Karan glanced around, at the cadets doing drills, trainers barking at certain, the smell of sweat lingering in the air. He paused in between to help some, eventually making his way to his girlfriend.

He crossed his arms, pretending to examine her stance, which he knew was perfect. He leaned in, closer to her, as he glanced around to see if anyone was watching.

"9 baje", he whispered. "Chhat par."

She looked up, before nodding and offering him a smile.

Monami sighed a little, as she looked at the dark sky, the stars shining brightly. Footsteps made her look up, a smile spreading on her face.

She turned around, face almost falling at the sight of Sanjana, holding a box of beer.

"Monami, tu yahan kya kar rahi hai?" Sanjana asked.

"Uh, woh, main..." Monami trailed off awkwardly, looking at the door. While Sanju and Sid hadn't hid their relationship, Karan had wanted to keep it between themselves for some time. "Main... bas khuli hawa khaane aa gayi thi. Tum?"

She held up the box of beer. "Siddharth aur main beer peeto hain yahan", she said.

"Oh, toh main... uh, tum continue karo. Main jaa rahi hoon." She ran out of the door before she could grill her further, pausing and then sighing in disappointment.

She walked around the academy, trying to find her boyfriend, before eventually, deciding to return to her room. A hand wrapped around her hand, yanking her in a room, and the door closed. She was pushed against a wall before she could even breathe, and she looked wide-eyed, blinking as she came face to face with her boyfriend.

Her heart pounded in her chest with the sudden pull, but his closeness didn't make it go any slower.

"Hi", he muttered.

"Hi", she said, a smile spreading on her face. Vaguely, she registered the room to be the dispensary, empty at this time of the hour. "Chhat par Sanju aur Sid hain."

"I know", he said, sighing. "Par koi baat nahi. Yahin sahi."

She chuckled a little. "Hum kitna time yahan spend karte hain, nahi?"

He shrugged. "Ab ek doctor hai, aur ek commando toh dispensary toh important part hoga hi", he said. He stared into her eyes, leaning in a little.

The door suddenly burst open, and the two jumped apart. Monami turned away immediately, pretending that she is fiddling with some medicines.

"Monami", Chitra said, clutching her arm. "Mera haath bahut dukh raha hai. #Help."

She frowned in concern, shoving aside her disappointment. "Kya hua, Chitra?"

"Wo drills ki wajah se", she said. "Kuch hai kya?"

"Uh, main painkiller de deti hoon", Monami answered. "Fridge se ice pack lekar laga lena."

"Karan Sir", Chitra said, as Monami searched through the medicines for a painkiller. "Aap yahan kaise?"

Monami froze a little, and she turned to face Karan, who was just as blank as to what to answer.

"Wo, uh... mujhe... mujhe Monami se kuch baat karni thi", Karan said. "Toh... isliye... yeh closest kamra tha."

"Ho... gayi #baat?" Chitra asked.

"Kahan? Jo karni hai, uske beech mein jab tak tum log apni taang nahi phasaoge, toh kahan hi tumhaara khaana hajam hoga", Karan muttered.

"Kya?"

"Kuch nahi", Karan said. "Tum medicine lo. Monami, agar dimaag theek karne ki hai, toh wo bhi de dena."

Monami stifled a laugh, as he walked out in annoyance, Chitra looking between the two.

"#Maine kya kiya?"

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

Karan closed the door behind him, sighing.

"Ab yahan koi beech mein nahi aayega", Karan said. "Aur main finally thodi der tumhaare saath bina interruption ke time spend kar sakta hoon."

Monami smiled. "Yeh Faizi ka room bhi toh hai."

"Usko maine Koel ke peeche bhej diya hai. Thodi der, wo uske peeche ghoomega, phir uska charm kaam nahi karega, aur phir wo thak haar kar waapas aa jaayega."

She laughed, crossing her legs underneath her as Karan sat down on the bed across her. "Poori planning kari hai, na, tumne?"

"Karni padhi", he said. "In logon ki koi sixth sense hai ki tum aur main saath hote hain, toh aa jaate hain. But ab-"

A knock sounded on the door before he could complete, and Monami burst out laughing. Karan stared at the door in disbelief, before shaking his head.

The person knocked again, and he moved to the door, opening it. Bala stood on the other side, and Karan resisted the urge to hit him.

"Bolo, Bala", he said. "Kya chahiye tumhe?"

"Sir ji, Ustaad ji ne kaha ki aapko bata doon ki Batra Sir ji aapko bula rahe the", he answered.

He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath before nodding. "Main aa raha hoon."

He looked behind himself at his girlfriend, and she sighed, although an amused smile was on her face at his frustration.

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

The cadets burst out laughing, as Sid returned to the mess, laughing, interrupting the couple again.

"Iss point par Monu bhi confused hai ki wo dukhi ho ya Karan ke gusse par amused ho", Sid reported, laughing.

"Sir ji ko zyaada hi tang nahi kar raho hain hum?" Sanju asked.

"Badla bhi toh lena hai, Sanju Madam", Bala said.

"Unhone itna tang kar raha hai hume", Suman ji agreed.

"#Sweet Revenge", Chitra added.

"Sanju, isne Monu ko reject karke use pata hai kitna hurt kara tha", Sid said. "Ab jab accept kara hai, toh thoda toh badla loonga main."

"Ab hum kaise dost agar apne dost ko uski bandi ke liye naa chidhaye", Faizi said, laughing.

Monami kept a hand on her mouth, stifling her laugh, as she stared at the cadets and the two trainers laugh.

'Kis par zyaada suprised hoon? Inhe mere aur Karan ke baare mein pata hai is par ya yeh log intentionally humaare beech aa rahe hain, iss par.'

She looked in the direction of Karan's room, eyes narrowing playfully as a smile played on her lips.

'Khadoos Shergill, tang toh tumne mujhe bhi bahut kara hai. Ab thoda revenge toh banta hai. Main nahi bataati tumhe iss sab ke baare mein. Revenge is sweet, meri jaan.'