Karan couldn't help but notice how Monami was acting. She was constantly shifting her weight from one leg to another, completely restless. Her shoulders were drooping and she kept wincing. Karan knew at once there was something wrong with her. He ordered the recruits to got for 50 laps. Monami was trying very hard to run, but she kept stopping and wincing. When she looked like she was about to cry, Karan had to intervene. He pulled her aside from the group.
"Problem kya hai?" He asked.
"Kuch nahi." Monami said.
"Kuch toh problem hai. Tum thik tarah se khadi bhi nahi nahi ho pa rahi ho." Karan said. "Kahi kuch pain?"
Monami blushed. "Woh... cramps. Periods." She usually didn't have painful periods, but goodness knew what was happening to her. She couldn't even stand properly since the morning. The pain was making her nauseous.
"Mujhe laga tha aap doctor hai Raani Sahiba." Karan said.
"Main doctor hi hu." Monami said.
"Toh iss haal mein aap yaha aayi kyu? Doctor hoke yeh nahi pata ki itna pain ho toh rest karna chahiye?" Karan asked. "Tum naye environment mein ho, itni hard training regimen follow kar rahi ho, hormonal imbalance hona normal hai."
"I know. But training..?"
Karan sighed. "Sanjana!" He called out. Sanjana came running.
"Ji Sirji?"
"Monami ko kamre tak chod aa. Aur saari ladkiyon ko bata dena, agar unse periods mein training na kiya jaye toh 2-3 din ka break le sakte hai. Uske liye koi justification deni ki zaroorat nahi paregi."
"Thik hai Sirji." Sanjana said. "Chalo Monami."
Monami was surprised. She never would've thought Khadoos Shergill would ever give her a day off. He seemed like the kind of person who would make someone train till they died. Why did he have to be such a sweetheart sometimes? It confused her to no end. Sanjana took her to her room and helped her lay down on the bed.
"Koi dawai chahiye? Mangwa du?" She asked.
"No. Main aise hi thik ho jaungi." Monami said.
Sanjana went out and came with a hot water bag. "Isse aaram milego."
"Thanks Sanjana." Monami said. "Waise maine kabhi nahi socha tha ki Khadoos khud kabhi mujhe chutti lene kahega."
"Sirji itne bhi patthar dil na hogo." Sanjana said. "Tu aaram se so jaa aur kuch khane ka jee kare toh Dilbaghji se mangwa liyo. Main chalti hu."
***
"Raani sahiba?" Karan knocked on her door.
Monami sat up as she saw him. Her pain was almost gone by the evening, but she was feeling incredibly lazy so she was still lying on the bed. She had never thought Khadoos Shergill would come up to check on her. He came inside and sat beside her on the bed.
"Tum thik ho?" He asked.
Monami nodded.
"Dilbaghji bata rahe the tumne unse Ferrero Rocher ki maang ki."
Monami blushed. "Woh.... Mujhe cravings hote hai iss time pe. Meri favourite chocolate hai."
Karan smiled. "Aap bade log aur aapki badi maange. Yeh army camp hai. Aise hi kuch bhi maangne se nahi milti."
Monami rolled her eyes. "Tum mujhe lecture dene aaye ho?"
"Nahi." Karan handed her a box of Ferrero Rochers. "Bas yeh kehne aaya hu ki kaunsi maang kisse ki jati hai woh samajh lo."
Monami was surprised. This wasn't khadoos Shergill in front of her. This was Sweet Shergill. Not only did he bring her her favourite box of chocolates, he brought her the biggest box of chocolates. She unwrapped one chocolate and ate it. It was pure ecstasy. There was nothing better than a Ferrero Rocher. She found Karan looking at her in amusement.
"Waise main apne chocolates kisi ke saath share nahi karti, but tumhe ek de rahi hu." Monami handed him one piece, even it was killing her to give him that.
"Thank you Raani Sahiba. Main toh dhanya ho gaya!"
"Thank you!" Monami finally said. "Chocolates ke liye aur mujhe rest karne dene ke liye."
"Next time se ziddi trainer ki tarah nahi, ek doctor ki tarah sochna. Your health comes first." Karan said. "Ab rest kar lo. Maine Sanju ko bol diya hai, woh tumhara dinner upar le aayegi. And if you want toh kal bhi day off le sakti ho."
Karan left and Monami's heart melted with his sweetness. She ate two chocolates and kept the box on her bedside table. Perhaps it were her overactive hormones, but she couldn't stop thinking about Karan Shergill.
