Chapter 8 : Unwinding The Hearts
Sid was in the balcony straining his neck to see what is happening in his adjacent room as team Titliya were their neighbors. At the same moment Sanju comes to balcony to have fresh air. As she was still feeling dizzy with all the head massage she has received. She was massaging back of her head when she saw Sid standing in balcony.
Sid just stood there taking support of wall watching her with a cute smile on his face. Sanju too steps ahead and takes support of wall and looks at him even more lovingly.
Sid gestures her “Can I come there?”
Sanju replies with hand gesture “Kaise?”
Sid looks down and up calculates the distance and again gestures “I will jump from here and land there!”
Sanju laughs , a very rare scene to see. Chitra and Sumanjee , who were sitting on bed, looks at Sanju.
“Sumanjee, Sanju ma’am ko to aise haste hue kitna kum dekha hai. #cute lag rei hai”
“Arey Chitra, pyaar ka jaduuu hai ye! Pyaaar me dubi hui Sanjana Dubey to Sumanjee ko bohot pasand hai. Kitni sundar lagti hai”
Sanju gestures Sid to stop “Tuna ana, gir jaega. Me hi aa jaungi!”
Sid gestures “Tum? Yaha aaoi? To aa jao!”
Faizi and Bala in their room was watching this mute and cute conversation.
“Faizi sir jee, dekhiye yaha bina baat kiye bus ankhose kitni sari baatein ho rahi hai! Aur yaha mujhe dekho, me to shabdo ka sagar bahana chahata hoo but koi milti nei hai”
Faizi laughs “Arey Bala tension na le mil jaegi! Abhi teri umar bhi kya hai? Aur waise teri umar hi hai sochneki ke koi chahie, jab milegi tab bolega hayee akela thik tha!”
“Kya Faizi Sirjee, kuch bhi ho mujhe bhi chahie apni own personal miss. Todphod!”
Faizi raised one eyebrow at word “Todphod” , Bala nervously replies “ Matlab ke aise strong ladki jo koi mujhse panga le uski todphod karde, matlab Waise”
Faizi smiles as Bala goes back to watching TV. Somehow, don’t know why he was missing Koel. Before coming to mission, he had talked to her but on mission he can’t call her.
--------------------------------------------------
Monu's room :
Karan was going over the mission details and writing the plans in the book. He had quick call with Batra sir regarding the progress. Meanwhile Monu sat there watching Karan.
He had his permanent frown and determined look on. When Karan Shergil was on mission nobody can disturb him, no thought can divert his mind. This ability of him to be as strong as rock and as soft as cotton was something Monu totally adored. She was not his girlfriend now but still this quality draws her towards him. Karan, unaware of Monu’s staring session, was talking to himself going over plan. Monu smiles, he looked so cute talking to himself, mumbling something Monu couldn’t hear. Scratching his head in between and playing with pen in his hand.
Suddenly he felt her gaze on him and he looked up. There she was smiling looking at him. She suddenly stopped smiling as he creases his eyebrows.
“Kya hua? Aise kyu dekh rei ho?”
“Nei me dekh nei rahi thi, matlab soch rei thi ke we should change. Eat something and sleep. It’s late and we have a big day tomorrow. Maybe we can get up early and do some rounds of resort early morning? Waise yaha ke log dekhake lagta nei hai koi early morning uthata hoga, it would be good chance to scout. What say?”
“hmmm .. actually, good idea. Ek kaam karte hai, you go to changing room and change. Me yahi bahar change kar leta hoo”
“Ok, tumhara change karke ho jae to mujhe awaj de dena”
Monu grabbed her cloths and went into changing room adjacent to washroom. After changing her cloths, she was having hard time folding her saree.
“uffff kitni lambi hai ye! Kaise fold karu?” She tried different way but ended up having blob of cloth in her hand rather than neatly folded saree. She felt embarrassed, she was in military academy. She should be folding her clothes neatly! But in her defense, she was just the cadet not commando!
“But Karan to commando hai! I should take his help, ye Sumanjee ke Rajeshjee ne di hui saree hai. Kahi kharab ho gayi, phat gayi to unko kitna bura lagega!”
Without even thinking that Karan was supposed to call her once he is done changing, she stormed into room.
“Karan please ek choti si help……………..” and froze in her place.
Karan was halfway done with his changing but was standing there shirtless holding his T-shirt in hand. Awkward! He couldn’t even quickly cover himself, that would have been much more awkward! He couldn’t just stand there shirt less! He had no idea what to do.
Monu quickly turns with her back towards him, “Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!” She continues muttering for like 100 times closing her eyes tightly.
Karan quickly puts on his T-shirt,” Tum mud sakti ho abhi, mene T-shirt pehen liye hai!”
Monu slowly turns, her cheek and ear still red, trying to form sentences “Wo jagah choti thi…… Saree lambi thi…. “
“WHAT???” Karan tried to understand what she was muttering.
“Nei wo saree fold karani thi wo andar jagah nei thi. Mujhse ho nei raha tha I wanted to take your help but me bhul gayi tum change kar rahe ho to me aishi hi aa gayi”, Monu blurted without even pausing to take breath.
Karan smiled at the sight of fumbling Monu, it reminded him of the time when she was head over heels in love with him and he had zero idea. How she used to mumble in front of him!
“Tum bahane de rei ho Monami? Sach bolo tum yeh check karana chahati thi na ke kya ab jake sahi mere 6 packs bane ya nei?”
Monu slowly looks up at him and a cute smile appeared on her face. He knew she was remembering the same moment as he is , the moment they have spent together few months back!
-------------- Few Months back at Academy:
Monu watering and tending to all the plants in the terrace which Karan gifted her. A very visibly irritated Sid with all the gardening tools in his hand, was standing next to her.
Sid :Monu broooooooooooo! Tu ye bina hilne dulne wale plants pe kitna time waste kar rei hai. Chal na cafeteria chalte hai masti karte hai.
Monu : Sid! These plants also need us! Wo thodi apna khayal khud rakh sakte hai. Ho jaega to chale jaenge na.
Sid : Pagal , tab tak off time chala jaega. Phir wapas se drill time.
Monu : Sid stop complaining!
Sid : Tere Khadoos ne diye hai na yeh plants to usi se helple na! Ye Karan sir bhi, pehle hi thik the. Pata nahi kaha se ye soft side aagayi. Terrace ka hanging garden kar diya yaar!
With rolling her eyes Monu turn back to tending the plants.
----------------------------------------------------
Karan checking his phone. “Yaar ye Monami ko massage kiye 10min ho gaye. Abhi to off period hai phone to hona chahie uske pass. Reply kyunei kar rei! Bus adha ghanta hai then next drill starts”.
Faizi enters the room. “Janab jee, kyu jal bin machali nritya bin bijali ki tarah tadap rahe ho”
Karan looks at Faizi, startled “ Faizi, sach me yaar ek din fursat me batana, lata kaha se hai ye lines”.
Faizi laughs and collapse on bed “ Janab ji, yeh to hamari khasiyat hai. Apko bata diya to aap na try maroge ye apni doctor pe”
“Faizi, dekh already hume sath time nei milta. Aur aise bate karunga na to bhaaag jaegi ! palat ke dehegi bhi nei”
“Arey wo chodiye, pehle ye farmaye ke free time pe aap yaha kaise? Adhe ghanta me drill hai usse pehle mil aao Monami se”
“Arey wahi lekin Monami na phone uthe rei na sms ko reply.” Thinks hard… “ Me watch tracker se pata lagata hoo”
Faizi sighs…. “Academy ke resource ka galat fayda uthaya jaraha hai”
With very deadly glare Karan throws his jacket at Faizi and goes to track Monu.
-------------------
Monu cleaning the pots and Sid sitting there with zero expressions.
“Monu me aur 5 min yaha raha na to mujhe bhi plant kar dena kisi pot me. Phir mere mese chote chote Sid nikalenge. Tab jake shayad tujhe mere pe taras aye”.
“Shut up Sid! Don’t be over dramatic. Ho hi gaya hai!”
Karan comes on terrace and finds a very distressed Sid and very serious Monu.
Monu : Bus plant lagane se nei kuch hota. You must tent to them see to them so that they can grow.
Sid : Arey mujhe bhi to tend karo so that I can also grow. Grow chodo Crow ki tarah baitha hoo yaha. Ye kya idea nikala Karan sir ne tujhe manane ka, isse accha jhagadte dono to chal jata.
Frustrating he looks at door and finds Karan frowning at him.
Sid : I am dead Bro!!!!!
Monu : what????
Karan gestures him to shhh and not to tell Monu.
Sid : Nothing… I was saying ke good you are tending to plants or else they would have been dead.
Monu : Sid idiot kya bol raha hai.
Sid : Idiot? Me Idiot? Actually yes! Me hi idiot, pichle 20min se yaha Ramu kaka banker khada hoo tere liye Moti billi!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sid stands up and pleads Karan to come and rescue him. Karan flaunts his famous smirk and nods.
Takes the bucket and tools from Sid and nods him to go. With nose touching to floor bow, Sid happily obliges and runs.
Monu too much engrossed in watering plant doesn’t even realize now it’s only she and Karan on terrace.
Monu : Dekh Sid tu ye mujhe Moti billi bolta hai thikke mujhe koi problem nei hai, pyaar se hi bolta hai! But sun Karan ke samne may bolna mujhe kabhi Moti billi! Tune dekha hai usko? Kitna fit hai , biceps dekhe hai uske?
Karan trying very hard not to laugh out loud, continues to smirk.
Monu : Kitni hot body hai uski.
Now the smirk turns into blush. He looks right and left to make sure nobody is listening, and Sid is actually gone.
Monu : Aur mein???? Motu jaise Potato! Uski hot body and me hot potato. Wo bhi mashed potato! Mashed potato to wo khata bhi nei hoga. Too many carbs less protein! And what if he realizes this? He will then drop me like hot potato!
Monu stops gardening, looks very concerned and sad.
Karan sighs and roll his eyes. And looks affectionately towards his cute Manu. Not sure whether to hug her tight to console or shake her hard to make her understand how stupid she is sounding.
Monu stands up and was about to say”…Tu kuch bol kyu nei raha Sid…….” When she sees Karan. With all gardening tools in his hand.
Monu just wished she could vanish or make Karan vanished. Baffled and embarrassed Monu asks “Tum kab aye? Kab se aye? Kya suna tumne? Sab suna kya?”
Karan keeps all the things on floor, with his trademark hands in his red hoodie pocket , answers “Well , ha mostly sab! Especially wo jab tumne kaha I have hot body”
Taking a very long breath Monu slides behind a creeper in the pot. Karan pulls her out and close to him.
“Monami, tum kya soch rei thi? Tumne aise kyu laga ke kabhibhi life me mein tumhe chhod dunga”.
Monu having no answer to that keeps playing with Karan’s hoodie strings.
“Dekho Monami, tumhe pata hai mene tumse pyaar kyu kiya? Because tum alag ho, khas ho. Tum jitni soft and masoom ho utni hai tough and strong bhi ho. Jitni jhalli ho, pagal pan karti hoo utni hi serious bhi ho. Mere pure berang and khali life me tumne wo rang bhare hai jo me kabhi soch bhi nei sakta tha. Koi bhi kabhi bhi mujhe pyar kya pasand bhi kare aise bilkul insan nei hoo me”
Monu tries to resist but Karan stops her.
“It’s true. Na mene kabhi is baat pe dhyan diya ke koi mere bare me kya sochta hai na is baat pe ke mere life me kisiki jaroorat hai. But mere sare khamiyonkse sath tumnse mujhse pyaar kiya. “
Karan cups her face and make her look into his eyes, ”Monami, you have no idea tumne mere sath kya kiya hai. Jo dil mere bus body ko blood supply ke liye pump hota tha ab wo dhadakta hai tumhare liye. Ab accha lagta hai apne dil ki baat kisise karna, kisiki baat sunna! Kisika hath apne hatho me lena, kisi ko kaaassss ke jorrrrrrrr se gale lagana.”
Karan can feel the sadness leaving Monu’s eyes, replacing it with so much of love.
“Aur mujhe batao kya tumne mujhse is liye to pyar nei kiya because I have hot body?”
Monu thinks for a while, looks here and there and says, “Well not initially”.
An impromptu smile comes on Karan’s face. “Well glad to hear that! But socho agar kal jake aise nei raha me, socho agar mere 6 packs abs nei rahe to kya tum mujhse pyaar karna chod dogi”
Monu frowns “Of course not! Aur waise bhi tumhare 6 pack abs abhibhi nei hai phir bhi me pyaar karti to hoo tumse”
Karan wasn’t expecting this, dumbstruck he is silent for 2 min. Then gathering his thoughts, he asks
” Tumne kab dekhe? Mere kitna packs hai? Tumhe kaise pata”
Now Monu knows she has touched a very wrong chord. With slowly slowly withdrawing herself away from Karan she says “ Wo dekhe nei hai…but pata chal jata hai”
Karan refuses to let her go, with so much mischief in his eyes he ask “Kaise? Kaise pata chal jata hai”
Monu, more of staring at Karan's chest, rather than looking at him answers “Wo jab tum jorrr se kasssss ke gale lagate ho to pata chal jata hai matlab feel hote hai”
Karan pulling Monu is a tight hug “Accha aise hai. To iska matlab ye hua ke me tumhe thik se gale nei lagata nahi to you could have feel rest of packs”
“Karan………. Jane do mujhe”
“Nei nei…ab baat mere packs ki hai” He pulls her even more close with tighter hug “Ab feel hue 6 packs??”
-----------------------------------------
Back to Resort room:
The smile on their faces vanished suddenly, replacing with sad truth. Karan takes his hand forward, “Do me fold kar deta hoo”
Monu silently hands him the saree. In few quick steps he folds it precisely and keeps it near Monu’s things.
Next half an hour totally went silently. They ordered some soup and rice, ate silently without even looking at each other. Not sure what to speak.
Finally, Karan breaks the silence,” Me yaha sofa pe so jata hoo tum bed pe so jana”.
Nodding in silence Monu sleeps on bed.
It was after 2 hours, when she heard heavy breathing and sound of a bag falling. She got up from bed searching for source of noise when she saw him. Panting and breathing heavily in sleep. He was shaking sleeping on sofa, sweating. He was mumbling something, but she could not make out what he was saying.
“Karan ko kya ho raha hai? Uske nightmares to band ho gaye the na, phir se yeh kyu?”
She grabs her phone and dials Faizi’s number.
“Hello”, Faizi mumbles in sleep.
“Faizi, Monami bol rei hoo”
“Monami? Kya hua?” Faizi shot up from his bed. “Kuch problem hai?”
“Nei matlab kuch hua nei, but Karan. Thodi der pehle tak to thik se so raha tha but ab bohot restless hai , kuch bol raha hai but samajh nei aa raha hai. Kya Karan ko wapas se nightmares ate hai?”
Faizi thoughts for a while. He knew Karan was again having nightmares from quite few days now and he had asked Faizi not to tell anyone about it.
“Monami wo…. “
Monu knew it “Kab se?”
“Wo jab se tum dono….”
Monu glanced at Karan, he was still restless. “Faizi ,tumhare dost ko jab pata hai ke uske decision se bus mujhe nei usko bhi itni takleef hone wali hai to aise bure decision leta kyu hai wo?” Monu was angry now. She could not see Karan like this, she have seen him coming out of his fears and darkness. Now again to see him drawing back was painful for her.
“Monami, tum to sabse acchi tarah janati ho usse, kabhi sunata hai kya wo kisiki? Aivayi nei ulti khopdi bulate usse. But Monami tum to suljhi hui ho na? Tum to shant dimag se and dil se sochti ho. Usse please sambhal lo”
There was helplessness in his voice. He knew nobody can help Karan, not even himself, only Monami could.
“hhhmmmmm… “ Monu responded absently and cut the phone.
She stood up and sat on floor near his head. She combed her hand through his hairs resting her palm on his forehead.
“Shhhhh.. Karan. Koi nei. Me hoon na….me hamesha hoon tumhare sath. Koi bhi pareshani, koi bhi problem tumhare aas pass bhi nei ane dungi. Tum bus mera hath pakade rehna hum dono deal kar lenge har problem se,sath me”
She raised her second hand to hold to his trembling hand. In sleep he grabbed her hand tightly. With each passing minutes he started to calm down, and at the end slept peacefully. She stood up, planted a light kiss on his forehead and went back the bed. With her gaze still lingering on him she also falls asleep.
Cricket
Current Affairs
