Karan looked at the rain outside. There was a warning for a storm issued. He asked Dilbagh ji to make him some coffee. It was a good weather to curl up in bed with a book and some coffee. The training session had been cancelled and he had some free time. There was a knock at his door and he thought it was someone bringing him his coffee but he was disappointed to see that it was Sid, slightly wet. Karan rolled his eyes.
“Kya hai?” He asked.
“Bro, you have to stop Monu. Iss baarish mein bahar daure jaa rahi hai.” Sid said. “I asked her to stop but nahi ruki.”
“Kyu? Pagal ho gayi hai woh? Baarish mein bhaagne ka kya shauk hai tumhari best friend ko?” Karan asked.
“Use koi shauk nahi. She hates baarish. Aapne kal khud use punishment di thi bhaagne ki. Remember?”
Karan suddenly remembered their fight last night. It was a stupid fight. He didn’t even remember he had punished her to run for 15 kms in the morning. And who the hell cares about running when there was a storm coming? But of course, Monami tsunami had to push it. He pushed Sid aside and went outside. Monami was the only cadet running in heavy rain.
“Monami stop!” Karan shouted. “Andar aa jao.”
Monami didn’t hear him. She kept on running. Sighing, Karan went after her, getting drenched himself in the process. She saw him but didn’t stop. Catching up to her, he stopped her by grabbing her arm.
“I said stop. Andar chalo.” Karan said.
“No.” Monami said. “Abhi sirf 3 kms hue hai. 12 kms baaki hai.” Monami said.
“Rani sahiba pagal ho gayi hai aap? Bohot tez baarish ho rahi hai aur toofan aane wala hai.” Karan said.
“Tum kab se apne punishments ko leke itne lenient ho gaye? Waise bhi tum hi kehte ho ki ek commando ko har mausam mein, har situation mein ready rehna chahiye. So main bhi 15 kms running khatam karke hi andar jaungi.” Monami said.
She continued her lap. Karan was frustrated. She was definitely stubborn. He ran behind her and stopped her again. This time without arguing he picked her up in his arms and started walking back towards his own dorm room. Monami kept protesting and thrashing her arms about but Karan didn’t stop. He carried her to his own room and locked the door. Then he went to his cupboard and handed her a towel.
Monami took it and threw it. “Main tumhe bilkul nahi samajhti. Kal mujhe faltu mein punishment di aur aaj khud mujhe uthake le aaye?”
Karan picked up the towel and started wiping her hair. “Rani sahiba zid karne ka ek waqt hota hai. Aap bachho ki tarah behave kar rahi hai. Kisiko bhi dekh rahi ho bahar? Sab andar hai. Kabhi bhi toofan aa sakta hai. Par nahi, tumhe toh hero banna hai. Ek commando ko har condition mein survive karna aana chahiye par koi bhi commando bina koi kaaran ke apni life risk mein nahi daalta.”
“Tumhi ne kaha tha mujhe..” Monami fumbled with her words. “Pehle gussa karte ho phir… I don’t understand you at all.”
“Tum meri baat kaha maanti ho? The Monami I know, abhi mere paas aati aur argue karti about her punishment. Ya phir tumhara sara care, concern sirf dusro ke liye nikalta hai?” Karan said.
“Main tumhare punishment se nahi darti.” Monami said stubbornly.
Karan wiped her face and her arms. “Tumhe MBBS ki degree kine di hai? I feel sorry for your patients.”
Monami took offence at his statement but she knew he was right in this case so she let it go. Karan handed her the towel and she began drying her hair, but it was too late. She’d already started sneezing. Karan sighed. Count on Monami to create extra problems.
“Change kar lo.” He said.
He handed her his shirt and she went to his bathroom to change. Monami came in to find that even Karan had changed. She saw him checking out her legs but he immediately looked away. Watching her shiver, he switched off the fan and gave her a blanket. Someone knocked and Karan found his coffee. He told the attendant to get another cup, and gave the cup to Monami. She took a sip and relaxed. Karan gave her another blanket to kept her warm.
“Thank you!”
Karan wondered why he had brought her to his room instead of hers and he came to the conclusion that he hadn’t been thinking. Monami always impaired his logical reasoning. She started sneezing so like a gentleman he handed her his handkerchief, the same one she had returned to him.
“Tumhare best buddy ne bataya tumhe baarish pasand nahi.”
“Bilkul pasand nahi.” Monami said. “Keechad and water logging everywhere.”
“Phir gusse mein bhaagne jani ki kya zaroorat thi? Apni zid mein mujhe bhi bheega diya.”
“Tumhe kisne kaha tha mere peeche aane?” Monami asked.
“Aap meri responsibility hai Rani sahiba.” Karan said. Monami looked at him curiously. “I mean saare recruits mere responsibility hai. Agar tumhe kuch ho jata toh?”
Before Monami could answer, there was a loud thunderclap and she clutched Karan’s hand in fear. His eyebrows shot up in surprise, and he smiled. Monami quickly left his hand.
“Bijli se darti ho aur chali zid karne.” Karan said.
“Do baatein.” Monami said. “First, main bijli se nahi darti. Woh bas achanak se aa gayi thi isiliye I was surprised. Second,…” She forgot what her second point was. Or perhaps she didn’t even have a second point.
“Second?”
“Second pata nahi.” Monami said.
“Teen baatein.” Karan said, and lifted one of her finger. “Pehli, meri style copy mat karo. Tumhare bas ki baat nahi.” He lifted another finger. “Dusri, tum bewakoof ho.” Monami lifted the third one herself. “Aur teesri, 12 kms baaki hai Rani sahiba. Ek baar yeh baarish khatam ho jaye, I expect you to be on the field.” Karan smirked. “I never go lenient on my punishments.”
Monami glared at him.
Fan Fictions
Anupamaa
