Karan Monami OS- Fever

1.

It had never happened in the history of Parakram SAF that Karan Shergill was late. The recruits were all looking at each other, wondering what the matter was. Even Faizi and Sanjana were confused. Karan was always the first one to reach the training ground. Yet today he wasn't here. The recruits were all starting to feel happy thinking that they were saved from one day of torture. The only one among them who wasn't happy was Monami. She was worried like Faizi and Sanjana.

"Ustaad ji, yeh Karan kyu nahi aaya abhi tak?" Faizi asked. "Kaha hai woh?"

"Woh toh apne kamre se hi bahar nahi aaye." Ustad ji spoke. "Kal raat ko keh rahe the tabiyat kuch thik nahi lag rahi, isiliye maine uthaya bhi nahi."

Monami's feeling of uneasiness increased. As far as she knew, Karan had no roommate to check on him. Did he go to the infirmary? Perhaps he needed a doctor. As a doctor, it was her responsibility to check up on him.

"Phir toh aaj ka practice cancel." Prem smiled.

"Chalo guys, wapas so jaate hai." Sid made a u-turn to leave, but Sanjana caught his arm and pushed him back in line.

"Karan Sir nahi aaye toh tum logo ko chutti milegi? Humou karayenge tumar training. Chalo, sab jogging start karo." Sanjana shouted.

Everyone fell back in line and started running. Monami was trapped. She wanted to go to Karan and check if he was fine. For the first time ever, she couldn't concentrate on her training. She needed a distraction to get out of here, and the one person who could distract everyone was Sid, her best friend.

"Sid, mujhe Karan se milna hai ek baar." She whispered while jogging next to him.

"Monu, teri problem kya hai? Tu khud uss problem ko invite karne jaa rahi hai!" Sid whispered.

"Sid main doctor hu, aur yeh mera kaam hai. Tu please sab ko distract kar jisse main yaha se nikal pau. Please."

"Fine, but you owe me one." Sid said and he fell to the ground, crying out loud.

Monami screamed for help and just as everyone gathered around Sid, Monami sneaked away and made her way to Karan's dorm. She had never gone there so it took her a moment to figure out the way. She only hoped Sid would save her and no one would notice her missing. Finally, she stood before Karan's room. It was locked from the inside. Would khadoos Shergill shout at her for coming here? Monami hadn't thought of that.

Recalling her Hippocratic oath, Monami knocked on the door. No one opened it. Her heart was gripped in fear. Monami took out a pin from her hair and unlocked the door. Karan was lying in bed. She went closer to him and checked his pulse. He was fine, but he had a temperature. Karan changed his sleeping position and Monami who was holding his hand, fell on top of him. He woke up at that impact and saw Monami on top of him. Monami blushed and got up immediately.

"Yeh sapna hai ya tum sachhi mere bed pe ho?" Karan asked.

"Woh... woh main... tum aaye nahi toh main check karne aayi. Aapko bohot tez bukhar hai."

Karan slowly got up and looked at the clock. He was late! This had never happened to him before. He tried to get up but Monami held him by the shoulders and stopped him.

"Tumhe bukhar hai. Kahi jaane ki zaroorat nahi. Rest karo." Monami said.

"Tumhe meri fikr karne ki zaroorat nahi." Karan said. He tried to get up again, but realised that he was feeling really weak and his head was hammering in pain.

"Main ek doctor hu aur aapko meri baat maanni paregi." Monami said in a firm voice.

Karan decided to listen to her. He needed a medicine and he would be fine. Then he could go out and train the recruits.

"Aapke room mein thermometer hai?" Monami asked.

Karan pointed out a drawer where his medical kit was kept. Monami took it out and got a thermometer. She checked his fever. He had a 102 degree fever, which worried her slightly. She gave him a paracetamol. Karan took it and tried to get up again.

"Kaha ja rahe ho?" Monami asked.

"Ab medicine le li hai na? Namuno ko training karwani hai." Karan said.

"Namune?"

"Recruits." Karan said, rolling his eyes.

"Main tumhari doctor hu aur main tumhe order deti hu rest karne ki." Monami said.

Karan glared at her and Monami got nervous. How do you order a man who was used to ordering everyone around? Karan got up and went to the washroom. Monami quickly called Dilbaghji and asked him to send a special cup of herbal tea for Karan. She then proceeded to adjust the AC temperature and take out a comfortable blanket for Karan, and spread it on the bed.

"Tum kar kya rahi ho?" Karan asked aa he came out of the washroom looking absolutely horrified.

Dilbaghji sent the tea right on time and Monami served it to Karan. He couldn't believe that Monami was treating him like a child.

"Karan Shergill, agar tumhe jaldi thik hona hai toh aaj rest lo. I'm sure kal tak tumhara bukhaar utar jayega. Phir karna apna torture, I mean, training."

"Yaha kya ho raha hai?" Monami and Karan were interrupted by Faizi who had come upto check on Karan. He was looking at Monami in surprise. "Monami tum yaha?"

"Woh Karan sir ko bohot tez bukhaar hai toh main as a doctor check karne aayi if he's fine." Monami said.

"Karan sir ko bukhaar?" Faizi chuckled. "Main toh dekhne aaya tha tu thik hai ki nahi. Par jab itni pretty doctor tere saath ho toh humari kya zaroorat. Kabab mein haddi banne ka shauk nahi hai humko."

"Faizi bakwaas mat kar. Unn namuno ko line mein laga, main abhi ready hoke aata hu." Karan said.

"Doctor Monami aapke liye ek advice hai. Aapke Karan sir ko bimaar padne ki aadat nahi. Toh ek kaam karo, kisi rassi se iske haath pao baandh ke rakh do taki yeh kahi ja na paye." He turned to Karan. "Sanjana aaj ka session already start kar chuki hai aur bilkul tumhari tarah sab kar rahi hai. Jhinguro ko koi rehem nahi dikha rahi. Khush?" Faizi turned to leave but looked at Monami. "Agar kisi ne tumhare baare mein kuch pucha toh main sambhal lunga. Tum bas iska khyaal rakho."

"Thank you Faizi." Monami smiled.

Faizi left. Monami looked at Karan and smiled. Now that there was no hope for him to go to the training ground, Karan frowned and sat down on the bed. Monami got his tea for him. He took a sip and glared at her. How The tables had turned! Monami was ordering him around.

"Aankhein dikhane se kuch nahi hoga. Ab toh mere senior ne mujhe order diya hai tumhara khyaal rakhne ka. Toh Karan Shergill, main yahi rahungi jab tak aapka bukhar nahi utarta aur main jo bolungi woh tumhe sunna parega."

Karan had no option but to give in. He secretly made plans to make her regret this next day on the field. But he slowly fell asleep, because of the medicine. When he woke up again, it was evening time. He was covered in a blanket. Monami had fallen asleep on the chair next to him. His headache was gone and so was his crankiness. He got up but accidentally knocked over the glass which was kept next to him, walking Monami up.

"Tum thik toh?" She went over and checked his temperature. The fever was gone. She sighed in relief.

"Haa, tum subah se yahi ho?" Karan asked. "Lunch kiya tumne?"

"Nahi. But I'm fine. Aur tumhara bhi bukhaar utar gaya. Kaha tha na rest karoge toh bukhar utar jayega."

"Tum kya apne saare patients ke saath aise lunch kiya bina baithi rehti ho ya main kuch special hu?" Karan asked.

"Nahi woh..." Monami fumbled. "Tum flirt kar rahe ho?"

Karan smirked. "Agar aapki ijazat ho raani sahiba toh kya hum canteen jaake kuch khaa sakte hai? Bohot bhook lag rahi hai."

Monami nodded. "Mujhe bhi!"