FF: Ishq-e-Watan *Chapter 78 Posted* - Page 50

CHAPTER 38

THE FIRST DOMINO

"Karan Sir ji kitni buri tarah waat lagayenge?" Bala whispered, leaning over to Chitra. Monami's gaze dropped. She fidgeted with her hands nervously.

"Kya lagta hai? Yeh khaali corridor mein kyun bulaaya hai?" Suman ji asked nervously.

They all straightened up into a neater line, seeing Karan turn around the corner. Ustaad ji trailed after him, holding a box of something in their hands. Karan crossed his arms, pausing right in front of them.

"Iss box mein toothbrushes hain aur cleaning supplies hain", he started. "Shuru ho jaaiye. Yeh corridor saaf karna hai aapko. 7 din ki punishment, 7 corridors. Shayad phir itne busy hoge ki yeh sab stupid kaamon mein koi dilchaspi nahi rahegi."

"Toothbrush se?" Koel asked, her jaw dropping open slightly. He nodded. She closed her mouth, nodding slightly.

"Wait kya kar rahe ho? Chalo", he said.

Monami was the first to move, grabbing one and moving to one end of the corridor. The others followed, grabbing the supplies.

"Kitna boring hai", Sid said after half an hour of scrubbing silently. "Main thak gaya hoon."

Chitra sighed. "I am #bored too. Yeh kab #khatam hoga?"

Monami felt tears well up in her eyes. She pushed them back, scrubbing more diligently. "I am s-sorry", she choked out. "M-Meri w-wajah se s-sabko p-punishment mil g-gayi. I am-"

"Teri wajah se kuchh nahi", Suman ji interrupted. "Hum sabne uski coffee mein mirchi daalne ka plan banaaya tha. Sabne rules todhe."

"Sahi kaha", Prem ji said. "Tumne hume aane par majboor thodi na kara tha."

"Itna load mat liya karo, Doctor Madam", Bala said. "Dimaag jwaalamukhi ki tarah phat jaayega."

"Chill, Monami", Koel said.

"Yeah", Monami murmured quietly.

'Chill', she told herself. 'Chill kar. Mausum bhi chill, tu bhi chill. Sab chill.'

"Waise... next week Diwali Break hai", Koel said happily. "Main finally apne Mendhak se milungi."

"Monami", Prem ji said. "Uss din tum hume woh mithai ke baare mein bata rahi thi, na? Jo tumhe bahut pasand hai. Humaare lekar aana."

Her fingers paused. "P-Prem ji, m-main gh-ghar n-nahi jaa r-rahi. S-Sid le aa-aayega."

"#Why?" Chitra asked.

"Woh... Woh P-Papa gh-ghar par n-nahi honge. Toh j-jaane ka k-kya f-faida?" She lied. She offered them a smile. "Y-Yahin p-par b-better hai." She glanced at Sid. He was staring at her with narrowed eyes. She glanced back down at the floor quickly.

"Koi baat nahi, Doctor Madam", Bala said. "Maine suna hai academy mein bhi Diwali par achha khaana banta hai." She smiled at him, nodding. The others fell into an excited discussion, talking about their plans for the holiday week.

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

"We can't afford to alert the spy", Karan said. "Humaare paas zyaada clues nahi hain and agar woh dormant ho gaya, we hit a dead end. Yeh spy ek time bomb hai and we need to diffuse it."

Colonel Batra hummed, looking at the information that was spread on his table. "Yeh Virat, do you really think he's in the academy?"

"I don't think so", Karan said. "Main aaj subah hi spies ke baare mein padh raha tha. Since spies ka padke jaane ka risk kaafi hoti hai, woh kisi ko bhi contact nahi kar sakte. Sab kuchh usually ek handler ke through hota hai." He tapped the picture. "I think Virat is the handler. Woh bahar se sab kuchh dekh raha hai."

"Hume yeh dhaage ka chakkar bhi samajh aa raha hai", Faizi piped in. "Atif ne kaha 4-5 mahine pehle. Timeline banaaye, toh matlab, June ke aas paas. May-June mein kaafi saare personnel ko reassign kara tha aur police ke orders bhi strict kare the. Uss time par shayad spy ka nikalna academy se suspicious ho sakta tha, isliye tab spy nahi, Virat gaya."

"Sir ji... agar Atif ko woh ek hi insaan lago", Sanju said. "Toh matlab woh bahut zyaada alag naa dikhto the. Shareer thoda bahut toh aas paas hoga. Usse kuchh kam kar sakto hain?"

Karan shook his head. "Nahi, Sanju. Academy mein zyaadatar ladkon ka physique khule kapdon mein thoda bahut toh aas paas hi lagega. Aur Atif ne 4-5 mahine pehle dekha tha. Mask pehna hua tha. Zyaada kuchh narrow down nahi kar paayenge hum."

"Facial recognition abhi chodh do", Colonel Batra said after a minute. "Abhi ke liye, hume inn leaders se kuchh lead mil sakti hai. Apne informers ko alert rakho. Aur warn karke rakhna." They nodded. "Dismissed. Karan, tum ruko."

Karan paused, waiting as the other two left. "Sir?"

"Baitho."

He relaxed slightly, pulling back a chair and sitting down. "Kya hua?"

"Main soch raha tha tumhaare upar kaam bahut hai", he said. "I wanted to bring another agent in."

His eyebrows furrowed. "Ek aur agent? Sir, par academy mein kisko trust kar sakte hain hum? And sab bahut kaam kar rahe hain."

"Academy mein nahi trust kar sakte. Par yeh academy mein nahi hai. I want to bring a consultant in. Param ko."

Karan's eyebrows raised. "Bhaiya?' He hesitated. "Sir... aapko pata hai main bahut khush honga agar Bhaiya aayenge, par I am not sure woh agree karenge. Pehle bhi toh mana kara tha."

"Pehle jab offer kara tha, uska trauma kaafi fresh tha. Baat bahut alag thi. Param sahi mental state mein nahi tha. But it's been a long time now. He's happier now. Woh accept kar chuka hai."

"Aapko yeh lagta hai, toh main baat kar leta hoon. If he agrees, mujhse zyaada khush koi nahi hoga, Sir."

"Main kar leta hoon baat", he said. "Ghar jaakar baat kar leta hoon. Phir saare procedures aur formalities mein bhi time lagega. Ek aur baat. Karan... tum kaise ho? Tum theek ho? Are you sleeping well?"

"Haan", he said instinctively. "I am fine."

"Karan..."

He paused. "I am fine", he repeated. "Do teen pehle thode nightmares aaye the, but... main theek hoon ab. Main... Main theek se so raha hoon."

Colonel Batra sighed. "Okay. If you say so. Par tumhe baat karni hogi, toh tum kabhi bhi aa sakte ho."

He nodded, standing up. "I know", he said. "Thank you."

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

"Bro... yeh kya chakkar hai?" Sid asked, bursting into her room.

"Kya chakkar hai?" Monami asked, turning away quickly from him. She grabbed a t-shirt. "Main... Main cupboard set kar rahi thi."

Sid gave her an unimpressed look. "Tu ghar kyun nahi jaa rahi?"

She sighed. "You know, na, bro?" She asked. "Papa ne kya kaha tha? Maine kal call kara tha unhe. He didn't pick up. Mujhse baat bhi nahi kar rahe hain. Toh theek hai, na? Main yahin reh leti hoon."

"Akele? Bro... mere ghar aa jaa. Daddy ji, main aur tu, we'll have a lot of fun. Daddy ji mujhe kal hi keh rahe the ki unhone next week apne schedule ko kaafi hadd tak clear kar diya so he can spend time with me."

"Spend time with you", she said. "Tera aur Uncle ka relationship abhi abhi toh theek hona shuru hua hai. You guys are getting close again. Main beech mein nahi aaungi."

"Tu paagal hai kya? Tu beech mein nahi aa aayegi. You're family", Sid said. "Tu aa jaa, na, bro. Daddy ji bhi tujhe bahut pasand karte hain."

She paused. "Bro... mujhe sach mein mann nahi hai. Papa bhi honge, na? Har saal ki tarah Diwali ki party hogi. Uncle aur Papa saath mein celebrate karenge. Mujhe... Mujhe mann nahi hai."

He sighed. "Fine. Phir main ruk jaata hoon tere saath."

She picked up a pillow, holding it up threateningly. "Sochna bhi mat, Ganju", she warned. "Uncle ke saath thoda time spend karke aa. I'll be fine, bro. Waise bhi, Karan Sir mujhe bata rahe the ki woh aur Faizi Sir yahin rahenge academy mein. Some work and all. Karan Sir ke saath hang out kar lungi."

"Achha, theek hai", Sid said, rolling his eyes. "Nahi rukta. Khush?"

She kept it down. "Bro... main tujhe ek baat toh bataana hi bhool gayi."

"Kya?"

She grinned. "Tujhe pata hai? Kal Karan Sir ne kaha ki hum dono dost hain."

Sid smiled. "Ek baat bata, bro", he said. She nodded. "Karan Sir ko janwar pasand hain kya?" She frowned, tilting her head in confusion. "Waise tujhse dosti kar li, toh pasand hi honge."

Her mouth dropped open in affront. She scowled. "Kamine Ganju! Tune mujhe jaanwar bola?"

"Oh sorry. Moti Billi", he corrected.

"Ruk tu." She jumped on him, wrapping her arms and legs around him. He stumbled, falling forward and face planting, mercifully, on Sanju's bed.

"Arey, billi bola, bandar nahi, kamini!"

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

"Aur dhyaan rakhna", Faizi said sternly. "Kuchh bhi dikkat lage, turant phone karna. Police ke paas chale jaana. Academy aa jaana. Ignore mat karna."

"Arey haan, na, Sir ji", Sanjay said. "Kitni baar kahoge? Samajh aa gaya. Padhe likhe nahi hain, par samajh poori hai."

He sighed. "Padhe likhe aur samajh ki baat nahi hai", he said. "Yeh EFR... log kam hai inke paas, par kisi bhi hadd tak jaa ksate hain yeh log." He looked at him. "Dhyaan-"

"Dhyaan rakhna. Kuchh bhi dikkat lage, turant phone karna", Sanjay said. "Samajh aaya. Baar baar bolne se khatra kam nahi ho jaayega, Sir ji. Aap befikar ho. Hum khabar bhi denge, aur zinda bhi rahenge."

Faizi nodded. "Ab woh pub owner ke baare mein batao jo tum keh rahe the."

Sanjay kept a hand on his face. "Arey haan. Aapke iss 'dhyaan rakhna' waale jaap mein toh bhool hi gaya. Haan, toh khabar pakki nahi hai, par sunne mein aaya hai. Pakki karne mein thoda khatra hai aur aapki daant sunne ka shauk nahi hai isliye aise kacchi hi bata raha hoon."

"Pakki hum khud kar lenge. Tum khabar bolo."

"Ek badhe pub ka chhota sa maalik hai. Sunne mein aaya hai ki yeh jo club tha, na. Jispar aapne chhappa maari."

"Euphoria."

"Haan, yeh angrez log. Khud chale gaye, mushkil mushkil naam chod gaye peechhe. Samajh nahi aata, jaate hain toh poora kaiko nahi jaate? Bhaasha chod gaye peechhe. Aur apne ajeeb ajeeb paitre bhi. Kal aapko pata hai-"

"Kaam ki baat par aa jao", Faizi said. "Hume academy aaj hi waapas jaana hai."

"Haan, haan. Jaldi mein bahut rehte ho aap, Sir ji. Kahan tha? Haan, woh jo chaape waala club hai, wahan se badhe tagde rishte the iss badhe pub ke chhote malik ke." He held up a slip. "Yeh lo pata pub ka. Pakki khabar nahi hai par ho sakta hai ki kuchh maal ka kaam bhi ho." He shrugged. "Samay hai toh chhan been kar lo." He pointed at him. "Pehli hi bata raha hoon, khabar kacchi hai."

"Koi baat nahi", Faizi said. "Hum ise dekh lenge. Humne tumhe kuchh photos aur naam bheje the. Unke baare mein aankhein aur kaan dono zaroor khule rakhna." He stood up, pulling out his phone as he walked back to the jeep.

"Bol", Karan's voice said.

"Khabri ne khabar di hai. Raw hai par shayad koi lead ban jaaye", Faizi said. "Hum check karke aaye."

"Akele nahi. Main aa raha hoon."

Faizi sighed. "Karan... hum chale jaayenge. Sirf jagah check out karni hai. Baat bhi nahi karenge."

There was a pause. "Okay", he agreed reluctantly. "but mujhe har aadhe ghante mein call karna."

"Haan, theek hai", he said, shaking his head. He rolled his eyes, cutting the call and keeping it inside.

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

Barkha opened the door, her eyebrows raising in surprise. Colonel Batra? "Sir!" She said. "Aap? Aaiye. Aap aise achaanak?" She glanced behind him. "Ma'am nahi aaye? Ma'am ko bhi lekar aate."

He smiled at her. "Next time", he assured, walking in. "Abhi official kaam se aaya tha."

"Official?" She repeated. "Of course. Main Param ko bulaakar laayi. Chai, coffee, paani, kuchh lenge?"

"Nahi, it's okay."

"Sir!" Baby said, running up to him.

The colonel smiled, patting her head affectionately. "Kaise ho aap, Baby?"

"Fit and fine", she said, grinning. She came closer to him, and he chuckled when she compared her shoulder to him. "Dekho, dekho, last time se lambi hui, na, main?"

He chuckled. "Bilkul. Agli baar aaunga, toh aap mujhse bhi lambe ho jaoge."

She crossed her arms. "Kyun? Itne time baad aaoge?" She kept a hand on her face. "Aap log bhi, na? Naa Chachu aate, naa aap aate milne."

"Sir", Param said. Barkha was behind him, pushing his wheelchair out. "Aap yahan?" He smiled. "Main kal ki keh raha tha Barkha ko, ki bahut time ho gaya aapse aur Ma'am se mile."

"Haan, toh aa jaaya karo", he said.

Param nodded. "Barkha keh rahi thi... kuchh official kaam? Kya baat hai, Sir? Aur baithiye, na?"

Colonel Batra sat down on the couch. He leaned forward a little. "I have a proposal for you, Param", he said. The younger male's eyebrows furrowed. "Tumhe situation ka andaaza toh hoga hi. Main chahta hoon tum, as a strategy consultant, academy mein join karo."

His eyebrows shot up. He glanced up at Barkha and Baby. "Barkha... please Baby ko andar lekar jaana."

She nodded. "Aa jao, Baby", she said, guiding her in. "Aapka homework bhi bacha hai, na?"

Param looked back at him. He leaned forward. "Is it... because of Laxman and jo bhi ho raha hai?"

"Part of it", he admitted. "Kaafi reasons hain, but I think we can use someone like you." The colonel stared at his quiet form. "Kya soch rahe ho, Param?"

"Is mein exactly kya entail karega?"

"I want to bring you as a strategy consultant. Second opinion ke liye strategies, getting a fresh perspective in things. Tum aur Karan jaise situations ko dekhte ho, waise kam log dekh paate hain." He kept a hand on his knee. "Param... achhe se soch lo. Meri taraf se koi pressure nahi hai. Agar tum haan karte ho, toh I'll start the paperwork."

He hummed. "I... I am not sure main kar paunga", he admitted softly. "Being in the academy, woh sab kuchh dekhna jo meri zindagi thi par ab main woh kar nahi sakta. I don't know if I can handle it."

Colonel Batra patted his cheek. "You're stronger than you think, Param. Take your time. Soch lo. Jab decision bana loge, mujhe call kar dena. Meri taraf se academy is always open for you."

Param nodded. "Thank you, Sir."

He stood up. "I'll leave you to it."

His eyebrows furrowed. "Khaana toh khaakar jao. Itne time baad aaye ho. Pehle aate nahi ho. Ab aaye ho, toh bhi kaam se aate ho. Aur phir bhi bina khaana khaaye chale jaoge. Aise kaise?"

Colonel Batra opened his mouth. Param scowled at him, narrowing his eyes in a dare to deny him. He closed his mouth. He chuckled slightly. "Achha, theek hai."

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

"Hume lag raha hai kuchh toh chakkar hai", Faizi said.

"Kyun?"

Faizi paused. "Kuchh time pehle humaare ek informer ne hume aise logon ke baare mein bataaya tha. Kuchh zyaaada nahi pata chala tha use, no names, but keh raha tha ki EFR itne saal tak dormant nahi tha. Bas... apne roots spread kar raha tha. Hume yeh owner se baat karni hai."

"Kal chalte hain phir?" Karan asked, crossing his arms. "Thoda ghoomte hain, dekhte hain. Phir baat karte hain."

"Sir ji, dekhne ki kaa zaroorat hogo? Utha leto hain, na?" Sanju proposed. "Kal jaato hain, ghaseet kar le aato hain."

Karan shook his head. "Sanju, hume nahi pata EFR ke kaan kahan kahan tak hain. We are blind to what they are doing. Information is invaluable. Jitna hum obvious honge, utna hi unke liye humaare actions ko predict karke counter karna easy hoga. We need to be discrete."

Faizi tilted his head. "Spy ke saath yeh karna mushkil hoga. We don't know uske paas kitna access hai."

He hummed. "All we know is that he's a special agent and that he knows where the cameras are. That's what we know for sure. And that he's a guy." He sighed, shaking his head. He glanced at them. "Kisi ko koi idea hai ki yeh log kya plan kar rahe hain?" They shrugged. He clicked his tongue lightly, tapping his fingers on the desk.

"Kya soch rahe ho?"

"Laxman ne jab mujhe call kara tha, toh usne kaha tha ki academy ki kuchh baat hai. I am mostly sure use spy ke baare mein pata chala. Ab Virat ya spy khud toh use bataayenge nahi. Matlab... kuchh network toh hai, jise yeh baat pata hai ki academy mein spy hai and they are not as secure." Faizi frowned, nodding.

Sanju nodded slowly. "Haan. Toh kaa?"

"Dekh, Sanju, do type ke log hote hain jinhe yeh baat pata hoti hai. Ek, jo unki side par hain. Doosre, jo kisi ki side par nahi hain. Jo pehli category mein hote hain, usne hume aise informers ke through kuchh nahi pata chalega. Unhe thoda dara dhamka kar, thoda deal wagera karke hi pata chalta hai. But the second category, unse humaare informers ko cheezen pata chalti hain. Iska yeh matlab hai ki inka yeh information network, one sided nahi hai. Second category ke logon ko bhi pata hai cheezen. We can access the information on them, but... hume pata nahi hai kaise. Ek baar, we are in, hum logon ko kuchh na kuchh toh pata chalega, and it'll be the first domino."

Faizi looked at the picture of the owner- a middle aged man with a devious smirk. "Hume lag raha hai hume woh pehla domino mil gaya hai."

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

"Karan Sir... punishment thodi change nahi ho sakti?" Koel asked. "Matlab, ek din tak theek tha, but aaj bhi woh bhi karna?"

"Sorry, ma'am", he said sarcastically. "Aapke liye do log employee kara dete hain jo aapke haath pair dabaaye." He glared at her. "Punishment hai, chhuti nahi, jo choose kar lo."

Koel deflated dramatically. "Aap seedha seedha na bol dete. Taane daalne zaroori hain?"

"Says the one jiska khaana bina sarcasm ke digest nahi hota", he retorted.

She tilted her head. "True." She glanced over to Faizi's bed. "Bechaara Faizi. Hum dono ke taanon mein phas gaya", she joked.

Karan rolled his eyes. "Koi bechaara nahi hai woh", he said. She chuckled. She sat down on the table. He glared at her. "Neeche."

She hopped back down, sighing a little. She sat down on the chair instead, glancing at the door. "Yeh kab aayega? Hamesha wait karaata rehta hai."

"Aa jaayega. Tab tak you'll have to bear with me", he said. "Juniors ke saath koi meeting hai. Message bhi nahi dekha hai usne abhi. Thoda time lag sakta hai, so if you wanna go, you know where the door is."

Koel looked at him. "Is that a polite way of saying, get out?"

"Nahi. That's a straightforward way of saying, tumhe rukna hai, ruko. Nahi rukna, toh tum jaa sakti ho. Your choice. But you might have to wait."

She smiled, resting her chin on the back on the chair. "Well, you can't be that bad of a company. And... aap mere boyfriend ke best friend ho. Thoda time spend karna chahiye, na, saath mein?"

He heaved a sigh. "Okay, but tum mujhe annoy karogi, toh 'Your choice' se 'Get out' hone mein zyaada time nahi lagega."

"Noted. So... how did you and Faizi meet?"

"Roommates", he said. "10 years pehle, jab humne apni basic training kari thi, yahan par basic aur special dono training hoti thi. About 1 year after we were done, inhone ise purely special training academy mein transform kar diya."

Koel tilted her head. "So, you have lived here all your life? I mean, jabse aap 2 saal ke the?" He nodded. "Don't you get sick of it? Ek hi jagah, all the time. You grew up here, you work here, you live here."

He shrugged. "I move", he said. "Main abhi aaya hoon waapas. Warna, I was in Delhi for some time. Usse pehle, North East mein. Usse pehle, Kashmir. Punjab once. South mein bhi tha. Main kaafi time baad aaya tha Deolali, for the training."

"Aap normally train nahi karte?"

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Main paagal ho jaata abhi tak", he said. "Ya kisi cadet ko goli maarkar jail mein hota." Koel laughed. "Woh toh Batra Sir ne bulaaya tha, isliye aaya. I prefer being on the field."

She hummed, resting her chin on the back of the chair. "Do you hate training?"

He tilted his head. "I won't say 'hate' but... as I said, I prefer the field." He shrugged. "But meri duty jahan, main wahan."

She nodded. She paused. "Aapko free time mein kya karna pasand hai?" She asked randomly.

His eyebrows raised. "Uh... free time?" He repeated.

"Don't tell me aapko free time ka concept nahi pata. You know, time when you're not working. Kabhi hota hai yeh?"

"Nahi. Main robot hoon. Military experiment", he said sarcastically. "Faizi mujhe raat ko charging par lagaata hai and I work diligently all day. Yeh free time and all..." He clicked his tongue. "No idea. I am not programmed that way."

She nodded seriously, pursing her lips to hide her smile. "I called it."

"Of course you did", he muttered.

The door opened and Faizi walked in quickly. "Karan, hum..." He paused, seeing his girlfriend. "Koel... sorry. Thoda sa important hai. Karan." He nodded him closer.

"Kya hua?" He muttered to him, moving out of the room. They paused just outside the door, a safe distance away from her.

"Informer ka call aaya tha. Woh pub owner hai, na, Raichand? Woh parso shehar chodkar jaa raha hai."

He frowned. "Kyun?"

Faizi shrugged. "Pata nahi. Par aaj raat ko chalte hain?"

"Aaj?"

"Koi problem hai?"

Karan shook his head. "Nahi. Tu, main aur Sanju?" Faizi nodded. He pursed his lips. "Theek hai. Par... I need to make a plan."

"Baat karne jaana hai, Karan. Raid nahi."

"Precautions", he said. He glanced inside. "Mujhe ek ghanta de. I'll work out the details. Tu Koel ko kahin aur le jaa. I need the room."

"Hum Koel se baad mein mil lenge."

"Mujhe koi help nahi chahiye. Bas thoda homework karna hai. Phone on rakhna. Okay? Kuchh chahiye hoga, toh call karunga. And... ek aur baat. Arms ka in charge kaun hai?"

"Kajal. Mayank deputy hai."

He hummed. "Theek hai." He patted his back. "Kisi ko mat bataana. Yeh bhi nahi ki hum kahin jaa rahe hain."