Karan knocked on Monami's door in the evening. He didn't want to talk to her after what happened in the afternoon but he had promised Colonel Batra to be her escort for the evening. Karan had no idea Dr. Monami could be so crazy. If it were upto him, he warn all her patients against her. They deserved better.
"Come in." Monami shouted from inside.
Karan walked into her room and was stunned to see Monami. She was wearing a red A-line dress, and she was breathtaking. But then he noticed her struggling her zipper. She looked at him and forgot about her dress. He was looking dashing in his black suit. Monami soon realised she was staring at him with an open mouth.
"It's stuck. Help kar do please." Monami pointed to her zipper.
Karan walked upto her and pulled up her zip in one motion. Monami put on her lipstick and applied mascara. Then she put on her bracelet, and her earrings while Karan kept staring. Monami smiled feeling her eyes on him. It was sweet how much he liked her. He could barely keep his eyes off of her. If only he would confess instead of being khadoos about it.
"Chale ya aur makeup karna hai tumhe? Hum already 10 minutes late hai!" Karan said.
Monami rolled her eyes. Khadoos Shergill was back! "I'm ready."
He led her outside to his car and they drove to Brigadier Shah's home. Monami thought he'd made the party up but the nameplate on the bungalow said it was the Brigadier's home. He parked the car outside the house and they got down. He offered Monami his arm and she was impressed that he knew his manners. She took his arms and they walked inside.
There was a proper party going on. So Karan hadn't been lying about that. There was a dance floor, alcohol and a huge buffet. She was feeling a bit self conscious because she didn't know anyone at the party. She saw a few people acknowledge Karan.
"Tum jaante ho Brigadier Shah ko?" Monami asked.
"Personally nahi jaanta. But woh mere dad ke friend the. Aur Param bhaiyya se bhi kaafi close the." Karan said. "But Mrs. Shah kaafi baar aayi hai humare ghar dinner ke liye. Unko jaanta hu achhe se."
Monami nodded. So that was how he got Brigadier Shah to invite her. It all made sense now. Karan ignored her smirk and led her to where Mr. and Mrs. Shah were standing. It was time to clear her misunderstanding. He himself had no idea how they knew her.
"Good evening Sir!" He wished Brigadier Shah.
"Arrey Karan! Waah, tum toh bilkul apne dad ki tarah dikhne lage ho." He said.
"Karan beta, you're looking very handsome!" Mrs. Shah said.
"Thank you! And I wish you both a very Happy Anniversary!"
Monami suddenly felt very uncomfortable. Karan hadn't told her it was their anniversary. "Happy Anniversary!" She wished them.
Brigadier Shah and his wife looked at her curiously.
"Oh I'm sorry. Main introduce karna bhul gaya. Yeh hai Dr. Monami Mahajan." Karan introduced them.
"Monami!" Mrs. Shah hugged her. "Wow bachha, you're so beautiful! Bilkul tumhari mummy ki tarah."
"Mummy?" Monami asked. "Aap jaanti thi unhe?"
"Of course." Brigadier Shah said. "Maine khud tumhari mom ko train kiya tha. When I came to know ki tumne Parakram SAF join kiya hai, I called up Colonel Batra and invited you to the party. Tumhe last time jab dekha tha tum paanch saal ki thi I think."
"Tumhari mom army mein thi?" Karan asked.
"Woh army doctor thi." Monami said.
"And one of the very best Karan! In fact, I think tumhare dad ka bhi treatment ki thi usne ek baar..." Colonel Shah said. "You're her trainer right, Karan?"
Karan felt a little bit confused and hazy after hearing about her mom. "Yes Sir."
"And how is she? I'm sure apne mom pe gayi hogi. She was one of my best recruits. Jazba, lagan dono tha usme. Sabse pehle training field wahi pohochti thi aur sabse last tak rehti thi."
Monami got emotional just hearing about it. Brigadier Shah trained her mom and he called her the best recruit he had. Pride swelled her heart. She looked at Karan and looked at him earnestly. Would he call her a bad trainer in front of Brigadier Shah? She really wished he wouldn't. Being her mom's daughter, she didn't want him to think the worst of her.
"Monami bhi apne mom ki tarah hai, hardworking." Karan said, and Monami smiled.
"Tumhari mom meri achhi friend thi." Mrs. Shah said. "I'm sure tum bhi unki tarah kaabil banogi."
Monami was close to tears at this point so she merely nodded.
"Karan I'm sorry main tumse mil nahi paya. Param ke jaane ke baad I always thought tumse ek baar milunga but tum humesha kisi na kisi mission pe chale jate the." Brigadier said. "He was very brave. Apne desh ke liye shaheed hua woh. We're all very proud of him."
"Thank you Sir."
Monami looked at Karan. She had no idea he lost his brother. He never spoke about it. She had seen him standing and admiring his brother's medal but she didn't know he died in the line of duty. She knew how that felt. Losing a family member that way. She held his hand instinctively. Karan looked at her but didn't free his hand from her grasp.
"Karan beta, tum Deolali mein hi ho. Let's have lunch one weekend. Hum aa jayenge tumhare ghar. What say?" Mrs. Shah asked.
"Of course ma'am. Kabhi bhi." Karan smiled.
"Good. Ab tum dono party enjoy karo. Hum apni guest duty continue karte hai." Mrs. Shah said and walked away with her husband.
Monami and Karan started at each other. Something has changed between them. Their mutual respect for each other had increased. Monami looked at their joined hands and blushed. Karan left her hand and reached for two glasses of champagne. He handed one to Monami.
"To bravery, to honour and to sacrifice." He said. "For your mom."
"And for Param bhaiyya." Monami said.
Both of them took a sip.
"And cheers ki tumhari misunderstanding clear ho gayi."
Monami was confused for a second then she remembered how she had confronted him for liking her. Damn Sid, damn Sumanji and damn Chitra for filling her head with such nonsense. Brigadier Shah knew her mom. How could she forget that her mother was an army doctor and had friends in the army? How could she be so stupid? She blushed red in embarrassment.
"Rani sahiba, aap sachhi ek number ki bewakoof hai." Karan smirked.
"I know."
