KarMi OS Collection: Kahaaniyan - Page 2

HIFAAZAT:

Karan adjusted the pillow behind her back. He tilted his head, before yanking the pillow from underneath Faizi's head, making him hit the doorframe.

"Janaab", Faizi protested, rubbing his head.

He put the pillow underneath her leg, before taking a step back and nodding in approval.

"Ab tum bilkul nahi hilogi", he ordered. He gave her a look when she opened her mouth to protest. "It's an order."

"Karan, main theek hoon", Monami said.

"Kya theek ho? Goli lagi thi tumhe! Ab chup chaap meri baat maanogi tum." He crossed his arms, giving him a stern look. "Main coffee lekar aaya."

Monami chuckled, as he went out of the room, shaking her head. His protectiveness and concern was endearing, if a touch overbearing, but it wasn't anything she couldn't handle.

Fear was almost a constant for him when she was on a mission, she knew. It was rare for the two of them to be together on a mission. Their relationship was fairly well known in the academy after a little over a year of them being together, and it usually hindered them being partners, which only fueled Karan's protectiveness and worry.

He never refused or protested to any mission she was sent on, assured by her capabilities, but if she got anything bigger than a teeny, tiny cut that needed to be seen with a microscope, he'd panic. Silently. Violently, at times with a punching bag. But it was panic, nonetheless. She preferred the few days of overbearingness over his almost self-harming panic.

Partners had been shuffled around in the academy. Of course, they were never a constant, depending on the missions they were sent on. But, some got paired up often enough. Koel and Sanju, Bala and Chitra. And surprisingly, Sid and Karan, and Faizi and her. They were really an incredible team, and on the rare missions the four, or even better, the six including Koel and Sanju went together, they demolished the enemies.

"Mahutarma", Faizi said, sitting up. "Aapke pair mein bhi chot hai?"

"Nahi", she said. "Sirf haath par hai. Par Karan kahan hi sunta hai?"

Faizi chuckled. "Use sirf tumhaari chinta hai."

Ek cheez hai jiske bina main bhi jee nahi sakta. Tum.

"Jaanti hoon", she said, smiling a little. They had been on tons of dates after that first one, but that one would always hold a special place in her heart.

"Coffee", Karan announced, entering the room, carrying a tray. The three cups were handed off, and Karan offered her a rose, making her smile.

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

"Faizi, please, na?" Monami begged.

"Nahi. Hum nahi jaane de sakte tumhe", Faizi said. "Tumhaara wound abhi tak poori tarah theek nahi hua hai. Aur agar Karan ko pata chala ki humne tumhe field mein dobara bhej diya hai... Monami, use toh shaheedi bhi nahi kahenge."

She clicked her tongue. "Aisa kuch nahi hoga. Un logon ko doctor ki zaroorat hai. Please, na, Faizi?" She widened her eyes a little, staring at him with hopeful eyes.

He tried to deny her again, before melting at her look. "Aise dekhkar tumne uss patthar dil zaalim ke patthar dil ko pighla diya. Phir, yeh naacheez kya hai?"

She squealed, hugging him. "Thanks, Faizi. Tum asli bhai ho mere."

"Karan ko mat bataana. Wo sau bahaane bana lega, aur tumhe yahin rok lega", he warned. "Aur hum Batra Sir se baat kar lete hain. Tum ready ho jao. Wo aadhe ghante mein jaa rahe hain."

She nodded happily, running off, and Faizi sighed a little.

"Bas, mahutarma, aapko kuch ho naa jaaye. Karan humaari bali chadha dega."

Exactly half an hour later, Faizi looked at the four agents, all in gear. He gave a look to the team leader, and he nodded back. Karan's protectiveness when it came to his cadets was well known, and when it came to his own girlfriend, it was almost a warning. 'This is Karan Shergill's girlfriend. If something happened to her, he'd throttle you, and use you as stuffing inside his punching bags.'

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

"Mission Sher is a success", Faizi announced, plopping down on his bed. Sanju and Sid followed, both taking their usual chairs. Karan looked away, pride and victory flashing on his face.

"Any injured?" He asked, typing something- likely, a mission report- on his laptop.

"Sab", he said, and he glanced up in concern. Faizi shook his head. "Nothing serious. Minor injuries hain. Sprained ankle, fractured arm, par yeh sab toh thode time mein theek ho jayenge."

He nodded. "Chaar log gaye the, na? Kaun kaun gaya tha?"

The three paused, glancing at each other. "Uh, Vikas Bansal ne lead kiya tha", Sid said.

"Okay", he said, nodding. "Aur baaki?"

"Pranav Sethi, Parwinder Singh aur..." Faizi trailed off.

"Aur?" He prompted, glancing up. He frowned, eyeing them. "Ek baar mein batao, na? Kya atak atak ke bol rahe ho. Faizi, bol na?"

"Uh, Sanju, tum batao", Faizi said, and Sid nodded.

Sanju looked at the other two in disbelief, before looking back at Karan. He crossed his arms, glaring at the three. "Kya chhupa rahe ho tum log?"

"K-Kuch naa, Sir ji", she said.

"Toh bata kyun nahi rahe ho? Sanju, kaun gaya tha?" His eyes narrowed.

"Monami, Sir ji", she admitted.

His eyes widened. "Kya? Ky- Faizi! Yaar, tere approval ke bina kaise bhej diya? Tu toh-" He paused when he looked away guiltily. "Faizi, tune approve kara? Tu paagal hai kya? Wo abhi tak poori tarah theek nahi thi. Aur... aur tune mujhe bataaya bhi nahi? Ek second, tune kaha ki sab-" He was out of the door before they could even blink, running up to the infirmary.

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

"Tum sunti nahi ho meri baat kabhi bhi", Karan scolded, spraying the medicine on her ankle. He glanced up when she hissed in pain, eyebrows dipping in concern. "Zyaada dard ho raha hai?"

She bit her lip, nodding.

"Main pain killer lekar aaya. Bilkul bhi mat hilna", he said, getting up. She clutched his arm, halting him, and he glanced down at it, before up at her.

"Wo waali pain killer nahi chahiye mujhe", she said. She tilted her head, tapping her cheek.

He couldn't help the smile, leaning over and pressing a soft kiss to her cheek. He sighed, sitting down next to her. "Kya zaroorat thi Faizi se zabardasti approval leni ki? Tum jaanti ho wo tumhe mana nahi kar paata. Kyun gayi tum iss mission par? Aur... aur mujhe bataaya bhi nahi?"

"Bataati, toh tum mujhe jaane nahi dete", she said.

"Haan, kyunki tumhe das din pehle goli lagi thi. Ab tum toh dhyaan nahi rakhti apna, kisi ko toh rakhna hai, na?"

"I am fine, Karan. Do hafte mein theek ho jayega. Tumhe bhi toh kitni baar chot lagti hai. Humaara kaam hi aisa hai. Aur itni choti choti chot par tum panic karte ho."

"Haan, bilkul. Kyun nahi karoonga? Meri jaan ki baat hai. Tumhe kuch ho gaya toh mera kya hoga?" he said.

She smiled, sighing a little, before letting him fret over her. She tilted her head, staring at Karan as he checked over her medicines again, roaming around the room and adjusting things.

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

Faizi looked around, giving a questioning look to Sanju. "Yeh meeting kis liye?" He asked.

"Pata naa, Sir ji", Sanju said. "Batra Sir ji ne bulaayo ho."

Footsteps made them both turn around, finding Sid walking in with Monami. Faizi automatically moved in to her other side, helping her walk.

"Main theek hoon, guys", she said.

"Batra Sir ne bulaaya aur ab khud nahi aa rahe", Sid said, looking around. "Aur training room mein kyun?"

The door closed behind them, and they all turned around, eyes widening. Karan was leaning against the door, arms crossed.

"Mar gaye", Faizi muttered. The three had been avoiding Karan for the past three days, and Karan's annoyance had resulted in several people- mostly new cadets- scared and even crying or so they have heard.

"Karan! Bro", Sid said. "Uh... tum yahan kaise? Actually, never mind. Mujhe abhi yaad aaya ki mujhe aur Sanju ko ek bahut zaroori kaam karna hai."

"Achha?" Karan said, crossing his arms as he walked closer. "Kya kaam karna hai?"

"Baby", he blurted out the first thing that came into this mind. He froze. Shit! 'Baby se bhi abhi hi baat karni thi. Karan se pitne ke bachne ke chakkar mein, Sanju se pit jaoonga.'

"Sid!" Monami said, staring at him in shock, the other three not too far from this reaction.

"Siddharth", Sanju gritted out, and he winced.

"Wo, matlab, uh... Baby se milna tha mujhe aur Sanju ko, toh... hum... hum chalte hain."

Karan kept a hand on his shoulder before he could leave. "Koi baat nahi. Baby wait kar legi." He tightened his grip, and he swallowed, looking at Monami for help. She shrugged helplessly.

"Sir ji, aapne... aapne k-kyun bulaayo hai?" Sanju asked nervously.

His gaze lifted to her, and he cracked his knuckles, offering them an almost sadistic smile. "Thank you gift dene ke liye. Tumne mujhe har cheez bataayi, aur Monami ka bhi kitna achhe se dhyaan rakha."

"No problem", Faizi said. "G-Gift ki kya zaroorat hai? Ho gaya decide, toh hum chalte hain."

"Aise kaise? I insist", he said, slinging an arm over his shoulders.

Two hours later, Monami winced as even Sanju dropped to the ground, groaning in pain after the brutal workout-cum-punishment the three had.

"Agli baar, agar aisi stupid permissions leni hai, toh jisse logi, use aisi state mein imagine kar lena", her boyfriend said. "Phir bhi zidd karni hai, toh... tumhaari marzi. Uski kismat." He turned back to the three groaning special agents, and barking, "Up! And repeat!"

BUNDELKAND:

Monami sighed, as she kept her bags in Karan's jeep, and he looked down at her, flicking his eyebrows up in question.

"Kya hua?" He asked, adjusting the bags. The two were alone in the jeep, courtesy to Karan and Faizi, of course.

"Sanju apni marzi se shaadi nahi kar rahi hai, Karan", she said. "Aur Sid..."

He sighed. "Monami, Sanju beshak shaadi ke liye poori tarah ready naa ho, par yeh uska choice hai. Hume use respect karna chahiye."

"Waise, jaise humne Koel ki choice respect kari thi, jab wo Abhay ke saath waapas ghar gayi thi?"

"Monami, Koel ki baat alag thi. Aur tumhaari bhi. Abhay use Nikhil ke naam par blackmail kar raha tha, aur tumhaare Dad tumhe. Use Sanju ke saath compare karna sahi nahi hai. Sanju hamesha se jaanti thi." He kept a hand on her shoulder, turning her to face him. His hands trailed up to her face, leaning down and kissing her forehead. "I know tum upset ho, but I promise agar Sanju sach mein shaadi nahi karna chahti, toh main use bahar nikaaloonga. Okay?"

She nodded, resting her head on his chest, as she hugged him. He moved his hand along her spine comfortingly, kissing her head.

"Chalein?" He asked, and she nodded, getting into the passenger seat.

"Waise, tumhe pata tha?" She asked, as Karan started driving down the road. "Ki Sanju engaged hai?"

He nodded. "Haan. Mission se pehle sagai thi uski. Par usne mujhe kaha tha ki wo ek saal ke baad shaadi karegi. I am pretty sure uske to-be in-laws ne force kiya hai pehle shaadi karne ko."

"And tumhe sach mein lagta hai ki use yeh shaadi karni hai?" Monami asked.

He sighed. "Monami... Inn baaton ka koi faida nahi hai."

She turned her head, watching the trees pass by in silence. He glanced between her and the road, sighing a little again. He reached over, clutching her hand, and she looked up.

"Monami, I know tum iss shaadi se khush nahi ho. Main bhi nahi hoon. Par yeh Sanju ka decision hai."

She sighed, nodding. He lifted their hands, kissing the back of hers.

"Maine humaare liye kuch plan kara hai", he said.

She looked at him, surprised. "Kya? Aaj?"

"Haan, 19 ghante ka rasta hai. Toh, obviously raat ko beech mein rukenge. Toh... Monami Mahajan, mere saath date par chalogi?"

"Aur baaki sab?" She asked.

"Faizi hai, na? Wo sambhaal lega. Kahega ki jeep kharaab ho gayi toh hum kahin aur ruke hain. Haan samjhoon phir?"

"Yes, mere Khadoos Shergill", she said, giving him a flying kiss. "Waise, kya plan kara hai?"

"Wo aapko wahin jaakar pata chalega, Rani Sahiba", he said.

She gave him a surprised look. "Rani Sahiba? Kaafi time ho gaya yeh sune." She eyed him playfully. "Waapas mujhe 'rich, spoiled brat' waali category mein toh nahi daal rahe the tum?"

"Bilkul bhi nahi. Pehle, sarcastically bulaata tha, ab aapko sach mein Rani ki tarah treat karoonga main."

Monami looked him up and down playfully.

"Kya hua?"

"Nahi, soch rahi hoon ki tum mere Khadoos Shergill toh nahi ho sakte. Kaun ho tum aur tumne mere Karan ke saath kya kara hai?"

He rolled his eyes, but a small smile pulled through. "Ho gaya? Aise kehti ho ki main khadoos hoon aur phir, jab main nahi hota, toh aise behave karti ho."

"Tum mujhe khadoos bhi pasand ho, aur aise bhi", she said. She leaned forward, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek.

"Aise mat karo. Tum itni paas hoti toh dil out of control chala jaata hai. Accident ho jayega", he warned, a smile on his face.

She bit her lip shyly. "Phir date ke liye bacha kar rakhein sab kuch, Agent Karan Shergill?"

"It's a deal, Cadet Monami Mahajan."

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

Karan pulled over to a small coffee van, getting out of the jeep. Monami got out as well, and he handed a cup of coffee to her.

"Zyaada kuch plan nahi kara hai", he admitted. "Toh kuch expect mat karna. Road par hain, toh isliye kabhi bhi kuch bhi change ho sakta hai, toh isliye..."

She clutched his arm, smiling up at him. "Haan, toh maine kab kaha ki chand taare todh kar lekar aao. Tum ho, na? Toh bas!" She leaned up, pressing a kiss to his cheek, and he smiled down at her.

"Waise, sone ka plan hai tumhaara?" He asked. "Mera nahi hai."

She raised her eyebrows. "Haww, kya soch rahe ho tum?"

He narrowed his eyes playfully. "Tum kya soch rahi ho?" She looked down, inspecting her coffee. "Monami... kaisa ladka samajh rahi ho tum mujhe?"

"Maine kuch nahi kaha", she defended, chuckling. "Maine toh bas poochh rahi hoon."

"Main bhi toh wahi poochh raha hoon."

"Kya poochh rahe ho?"

"Jo tum poochh rahi ho."

"Main kya poochh rahi hoon?"

"Wahi, toh main poochh raha hoon. Tum kya poochh rahi ho?"

"Main..." She paused, and Karan laughed, seeing the lost look as she tried to get back to what she was trying to ask.

"Tumhaara kuch nahi ho sakta hai", he said, pressing an affectionate kiss to her head. She smiled up at him, and Karan titled his head, smiling back at her cute antics.

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

Karan pressed down on the breaks, sighing slightly in relief. He looked over to the passenger seat, smiling slightly. His girlfriend was sleeping peacefully, curled up in the seat like a baby.

His eyes traced over her sleeping features, smiling slightly. 'Kitni cute hai yeh', he thought, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"Monami", he said, shaking her a little. She moaned a little, batting his hands away sleepily.

They had barely slept the night before, Karan catching just a little over an hour when the two had finally returned to the hotel rooms at around 4, just wandering around the town. Monami had dozed off a little while back after struggling for quite some time to stay up. But it was worth it.

"Monami, Sanju ki shaadi bhi sote sote bitaane ka iraada hai kya?" He muttered.

"Bura sapna samajh loongi main", she muttered back, but straightened up, rubbing her eyes sleepily. They both got down, greeted by some grumpy cadets and an equally fed up Faizi.

"Hume yeh Sanju ki saas bilkul pasand nahi aa rahi hai", Faizi said, as soon as they halted.

"Kya hua?" Monami asked.

"Karan Sir, aap hi bataiye, mere kapde kya #theek nahi hain?" Chitra asked. He titled his head. She was wearing a suit, of all things, and he vaguely remembered her being excited about wearing a ton of traditional clothes during the wedding.

"Mujhse kya poochh rahe ho? Aur theek hi hain", he said.

"Shehar ki hawa kya hota hai?" Bala said grumpily. "Wahan sirf pollution zyaada hota hai. Itni achhi lag rahi hai yeh aur yeh sab kaha unhone ne."

"Monami, agar Chitra ko yeh kaha toh tujhe kya kahenge?" Suman ji asked.

Everyone looked at her clothes. An off shoulder top that showed her collarbone off, a half-zipped jacket and a pair of jeans. She really hadn't thought this would be an issue. She zipped up her jacket to her throat.

"Hum nahi kuch kehne denge", Bala said, frowning. "Doctor madam itne dhaansu lag rahe hain."

"Tum bas unse door rehne ki koshish karna", Faizi said.

Karan grabbed his bags, handing Monami hers, and he leaned down as the others led the way.

"Bahut achhi lag rahi ho", he muttered. "Aur koi kuch toh rukna mat, seedha jawaab de dena. Zyaada koi kuch kahe, toh mujhe bataana, sab ko ek minute mein set kar doonga."

"I know", she said, smiling at him. "Par main apne aap ko handle kar loongi."

"I know", he said back.

"Haaye o rabba", a voice said, and they all looked up.

"Ya Allah, ek ghante mein hum tang aa gaye hain inse", Faizi said, sighing as a middle aged woman lathered in jewels came closer to them. A man followed, which Karan vaguely remembered as Kundan, Sanju's fiancé, and behind them, a few other people following that he didn't recognize.

"Yeh ke kapde pehen rakho hain tune, mori?" She asked, looking Monami up and down.

Monami pointed to a man, who was walking by, shirtless. "Usne shirt nahi pehni hai. Usse toh aapko problem nahi hai. Maine sab kuch pehna hai. Mujhse kyun ho rahi hai?"

"Maura hai wo", she scolded.

She held her hands up in a t shape. "Time out, please", she said, before looking at Karan and Faizi. "Yeh mau- whatever kya hota hai?"

"Maura matlab ladka", Karan said.

"#Sexism", Chitra said, scowling.

"Sharam naa aati tujhe? Aise khule aam chote chote kapde pehenkar ghoom raho hai."

Monami let her hands fall back, and she smiled at her sweetly. "Sharam toh bilkul nahi aati mujhe. Aur yeh chote nahi hain. Aapko chote kapde dekhne hai?" She asked, unzipping her jacket.

Karan's eyes widened, and he stifled a laugh at the look on her face, as Monami whipped her jacket off, revealing her bare arms and shoulders.

"Waise, yeh bhi zyaada #chote nahi hain", Chitra said, resting her elbow on Monami's shoulders. "#Legs toh covered hain. Hum dono change karke aaye? #Shorts?"

"Haaye, Ram!" She said, looking at them wide-eyed, particularly at all the skin Monami was exposing. "Besharmi ki bhi hadd hoti hai."

Kundan held out a hand to Karan.

"Hum academy mein mile the aapse", Kundan said.

"Yaad hai mujhe", he said. "Congratulations."

"Thanks bol raho hain", he said. "Aaiye."

"MONU!" A voice called out, footsteps running up and a mass hit her, as Sid engulfed her in a hug.

She squealed, as they both tumbled to the ground, Sid atop her, and the academy people chuckled.

"Haaye Ram", Sanju's mother-in-law said. "Yeh mori toh ladkon ke saath aise khullam khula... Humaari toh bardasht se bahar ho raha hai yeh."

"Aapko itni jalan kyun ho rahi hai? Aapke bete ya pati ke saath toh nahi kar rahi", Suman ji said.

"Saari moriyan aisi hi hain yahan par", she said.

"Aunty ji bro!" Sid said, getting off Monami. Karan pulled her up, and she dusted her clothes off, a big smile on her face. "Monu, not my girlfriend. Best friend. Behen types? Ab behen milegi, toh ek hug toh banta hai. And Monu? Wo best hai, Aunty ji! Bahut respect karti hai. Wo kya hai Sanjana ji iski roommate thi, toh thoda sad hai ki ab nahi rahegi. Trauma."

Karan leaned over to Faizi, shaking his head in exasperation. "Yeh apne sautan ki maa ko bro banaakar baitha hai", he muttered. "Kya banda hai yeh?"

"Waise Kundan bro", Sid said, and Karan's eyebrows raised. "Abhi bata nahi rahe the tum ki tumhe bahut kaam hai."

Faizi chuckled. "Janaab, yeh apne sautan ko bhi bro hi banaakar baitha hai. Bas ek Sanju iske liye bro nahi hai."

"Iss mori ke kapdon ke chakkar mein hum toh bhool hi gaye", she said. "Chal, Kundan. Shaadi ka ghar hai, batere kaam hogo."

Sid rolled his eyes as they walked off, before engulfing Monami into a hug again. "Bro!" He said. "Tujhe bahut kuch bataana hai mujhe. Aur tujhe bhi bataana hai, na?" His eyes flicked to Karan, and that was all the confirmation he needed that Monami hadn't hid about their relationship.

"Correct, bro", she said. "Tu theek hai, na?" She looked past him.

He glanced around, his face falling into a serious one. "Yeh... yeh Kundan, he's not a good guy. Iski already shaadi ho chuki hai. He's married!"

"Kya?" Karan asked, the words like cold water over to him.

"Clinic mein yeh ek ladki ko lekar aaya tha saath mein, jise yeh apni wife bataa raha tha. Maine doctor se bhi confirm kara tha. Kundan ne uss ladki ko uski wife hi bola! Par Sanju ko lag raha hai ki main jhooth bol raha hai because main chahta hoon ki uski shaadi ho."

"Siddharth... tumhe pata hai, na, yeh bahut badhi baat hai?" Faizi asked.

"I know! Aap sab ko pata hai Monu mere liye kitni important hai." He kept a hand over Monami's head. "Monu ki kasam khaata hoon ki this Kundan guy, he's not a good man. He's not clean!"

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

"Bro, tujhe sach mein lag raha hai ki Kundan married hai?" Monami asked. Night had fallen, and they were both sitting on the terrace, eating an ice cream.

"Bro, uss doctor ne khud kaha tha. Apni wife ka khayaal rakhna. And Kundan ne bhi nod kara, aur phir chala gaya."

"Ho sakta hai doctor ko koi galatfehmi ho", she proposed.

"No, bro. Maine confirm kara tha. Usne kaha ki 100% wo uski wife hai", he said. "Aur doctor ke paas thodi na koi wajah hogi mujhse jhooth bolne ki. Par... Par agle din usne Sanju ko bola ki Kundan akela aaya tha. Why would he do that?"

She bit her lip. "Aisa ho sakta hai ki usne jhooth bola ho? Doctor ko? As for Sanjana, shayad agle din tak yaad naa ho."

Sid paused. "Par wo jhooth kyun bolega? Bro, tu bhi mujhpar vishwaas nahi kar rahi?"

"Nahi, Sid! Aisa nahi hai!" She said. "Main bas har ek possibility explore kar rahi hoon. Yeh chota sa village hai, yahan toh pata hoga ki Kundan ki shaadi ho gayi hai ya nahi."

Sid sighed a little. "Bro... yeh Kundan sahi nahi hai. Bas... prove nahi kar paa raha hoon."

"Hum sab sochte hain kuch. Karan ne bhi promise kara hai, na, ki wo iss sab mein dekhega. Tu jaanta hai, na, ki Karan Sanju, Faizi, hum sab ko lekar kitna protective hai? There's no way ki wo bina confirm kare aisa insaan se Sanju ki shaadi hone dega. I trust him."

Sid leaned back a little, staring at her with a smile. "Sirf trust nahi, ab toh train aage chali gayi hai. Pyaar par." She blushed a little, and Sid's smile widened. "Blushing and all, Monu. Not bad. Waise, tera yeh Khadoos achha kisser hai kya?"

"Sid!" She said, her cheeks turning redder. She hit him on his arm, and he laughed. "Mujhe nahi pata."

"Matlab, tune use abhi tak kiss nahi kara? Bro! Jump up aur muaah. Ab toh waise kiss dega tujhe", he teased.

"Bro!" She said, and he laughed, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her closer.

"Achha chal, sab kuch bata. Kaise bola, kya bola, kya hua? Everything, bro!"

CAVE KI BAAT:

This is after Kaizi scene where Karan tells Faizi that she didn't remember anything:

Karan sighed for the millionth time, as he threw the ball to the wall, catching it as it bounced back.

Faizi turned to him, fed up with the constant sighs. "Janaab, nahi yaad ab use, toh theek hai. Dobara bol do, na? Yahan baithkar dewaar mein ched karne ki koshish karne se kya use yaad aa jaayega."

Karan scowled, turning to him. "Wo itni important baat kaise bhool sakti hai, yaar? Wo behosh bhi kaise ho sakti hai?"

"Thand ke kaaran behosh ho gayi, Karan. Ab us mein uski kya galti hai?" Faizi said.

Karan threw the ball at him harshly. "Tu kya uski side liye jaa raha hai?"

"Janaab, hum toh apni Bhabhi jaan ki side par hi hain. Aur aapki bhalayi isi mein hai, ki aap bhi unhi ki side par aa jaaiye, warna bhukatna aapko hi padega", he said.

"Jaan mat bol", Karan said, throwing a pillow over to him.

"Karan, tum humse jal rahe ho?" Faizi asked, throwing the pillow back over to him. "Bhabhi bol rahe hain hum use."

"Toh jaan kyun add kar raha hai?"

He sighed, frustrated. "Theek hai, nahi bolte. Monami. Okay?"

"Better", he said, sighing again. "Yaar, use kuch yaad hi nahi."

"Karan, toh ek aur baar bol do", Faizi said. "Pyaar ka izhaar hi toh karna hai."

"Baat ek aur baar bolne ki nahi hai", he said. "Use yeh kyun nahi yaad?"

Faizi just sighed again, tossing him the ball and Karan returned to his game in silence, scowling.

A knock sounded on the door and the two men looked up, finding Monami standing in the doorway.

"Monami", Faizi said. "Tum yahan kaise?"

"Wo... wo mujhe Karan se kuch baat karni thi", she said, playing with her ring as she walked in.

"Haan, haan, karo, karo. Use bhi tumhe kuch kehna tha", Faizi said.

Karan's eyes darted to Faizi, wide eyed, and Faizi jerked his head to her, giving him a meaningful look. He shook his head, scowling at him.

'Bol do', he mouthed furiously.

Monami looked between the two confusedly, and the two men stopped before Faizi dashed out of the room.

Karan stood up, grabbing a chair and gesturing for her to sit.

'Maine iss forehead par kiss bhi kiya tha. Kya soch rahi hogi?' He thought, as he sat down on the bed again, staring at her. 'Sunane aayi hai kya yahan? Kitna ajeeb laga hoga ise.'

"Tumhe kuch kehna tha", she said.

"Uh, tum pehle", he said.

Monami shook her head. "Shayad jo mujhe poochna hai, uska jawab hi hai jo tumhe kehna hai."

"Matlab? Tumhe... tumhe pata hai mujhe kya kehna hai?" Karan asked, his eyebrows furrowing.

"Nahi. Bolo. Kya baat hai?" She asked. "Is it about the cave?"

"Tumhe yaad hai cave mein kya hua?" He asked hopefully.

"Nahi. Wahi poochne aayi thi ki kya hua tha", she said.

He sighed again, shaking his head.

"Par tum batao. Kya kehna tha tumhe? Yeh cave waali baat important nahi hai."

"Wahi toh important hai", he muttered.

"Kuch kaha tumne?" She asked.

"Kuch suna tumne?" He asked.

"Nahi", she said. "Kya bolna tha tumhe?"

"Haan, wo... wo actually, mujhe... mujhe tumse kehna tha ki..." He rubbed his forehead, before looking at her face. She was listening intently, and he froze, staring at her beautiful features.

"Karan", she said, snapping her fingers in front of his eyes, and he shook his head slightly, getting out of his daze. "Bolo, na?"

"Haan, wo mujhe kehna tha ki I..." He trailed off. He took a deep breath. "Main... tumse..."

A knock sounded on the door, and Karan almost pulled his gun, wanting to pull the trigger and catching the person who had interrupted them straight in the forehead. Ustaad ji stood in the doorway, huffing out slightly.

"Kya hua, Ustaad ji?" Monami asked.

"Wo... Wo Karan Sir ji se kuch kaam tha", Ustaad ji said, clearly remembering the order of not involving the cadets. He stood up, moving after him, as he told him, Faizi meeting halfway.

It was about an hour later that Karan and Faizi walked back to their room.

"Bata diya, Janaab?" Faizi asked.

He deflated, sighing sourly. "Ustaad ji aa gaye."

Faizi kept a hand on his face, laughing. "Janaab, Allah aapki madad karna chahte hi nahi."

"Yaar, Faizi. Yahan use kuch yaad aa nahi raha, pyaar karta hoon wo dikh nahi raha use, aur ab tu aur aa jaa jale par namak chidakne ke liye", Karan said.

"Karan, tum se pehle use pyaar dikh gaya tha. Galti uski nahi, tumhaari hai. Khud izhaar hota nahi hai tumse, aur jab usne kiya tha, toh itna bhi nahi samjhe ki tum usse pyaar karte ho."

He scowled, ducking his head a little. He glanced at Faizi. "Har baar ek hi cheez kyun bolta rehta hai tu?"

"Achha, Janaab. Nahi bolenge. Aap muh mat banaiye. Kya chahiye aapko humse?"

"Help kar de, na?"

"Wo toh nahi hoga humse", Faizi said, laughing. "Ab Allah mia hi nahi chahte ki aap izhaar-e-ishq kare, toh iss naacheez se umeed kyun rakh rahe hain?"

"Faizi", he said, as he walked off. "Faizi!"