Monami looked at the clock. There was still an hour left for training to start. This was one of those times when she wasn't looking forward to train. Ever since Karan had left, things had changed around here. The new trainer, Rawat ran things differently. While Karan started his training at 7 AM, Rawat started his at 8:30 AM. He was more lenient and some of the recruits loved him. It had only been two days, and Monami missed Karan already. Karan's training, of course. Not him.
Karan had a different way of doing things. He was harsher but Monami could see her progress with his way of training. She had climbed a rope for gods sake. Rawat didn't even get people started on the rope yet. He was making them do some lightweight training and some running. Who knew she would prefer Karan's method of training?
She could also see that Rawat, Faizi and Sanjana didn't get along. Sanjana didn't approve of his training method. It was clear. There was tension between them, and that really affected their training. Monami wanted to talk to Batra sir and get Karan reinstated but it wasn't in her hands anymore. She wished she hadn't complained like that. But he kind of deserved it too. Sid almost died because of Karan. But again, she wasn't sure if what she did was right.
"Kya hua Monami tsunami? Sad lag rahi ho." Faizi came upto her and sat beside her.
"No nothing."
"Come on! Batao mujhe. Ya phir wapas ped hugging karna hai?" Faizi laughed.
"Karan." Monami said. "I mean Rawat sir is nice... but Karan was better. Woh jitna bhi harsh tha, but when he spoke, dil mein motivation ki aag lag jati thi. Aur Rawat sir ki practice toh hardly 3-4 ghante chalti hai."
"I thought tum recruits khush the ki Karan chala gaya. Training regimen bhi relax ho gayi."
"Main yaha training karne aayi hu, relax karne nahi." Monami said. "Karan jaisa bhi tha, he was a good trainer."
Faizi wished Monami knew that Karan was a good person too, not just a good trainer. He would be facing an enquiry tomorrow and Monami and Sid could help save him. Suddenly an idea came to his mind. He could at least clear the misunderstandings between them.
"Mujhe laga tum mujhse naraaz hoge Karan ke liye." Monami said.
"Naraaz toh hu but I understand tumne jo kiya apne best friend ke liye kiya." Faizi said. "But you have to admit ki itna jhamela sirf Sid ki wajah se hua."
"I know. But Sid achha hai. Uske Sanjana ke liye feelings genuine the. Bas tareeka galat tha."
"Exactly! Karan bhi dil ka achha hai. Usne jo bhi kiya Sanju ke liye kiya. Bas tareeka galat tha." Faizi said. "Tumhe lag raha hoga main aisa keh raha hu because Karan mera friend hai. Tumhe lagta hai woh galat insaan hai because tum use nahi jaanti. Hume bhi Sid galat laga because hum use nahi jaante."
Monami was surprised to hear it. What Faizi said made sense, but she knew Karan was a cheat and a two-timer. On top of that, he let Sid starve and remain parched for three days. It was inhumane. Monami didn't want to think of him as a good person. But she was too confused!
"Karan bohot protective hai apno ko leke." Faizi said. "Sanju inn sab cheezo ko leke bohot inexperienced hai. Pehli baar shayad kisi date pe gayi aur aisa experience mila. Waise toh Sanju sab sambhal leti hai. Par iss situation se bohot upset ho gayi thi woh. Karan aa gaya apne protective mode mein. Kar baitha yeh galti."
"Par use yeh galti nahi lagti." Monami said. "Use abhi lagta hai usne jo kiya thik kiya."
"Sid ka zid zid, aur Karan ki zid galti?" Faizi asked. "Main Karan ke actions justify nahi kar raha. Main bas yeh kehna chahta hu ki dono ki galti hai. Tumne Sid ki galti ko justify kar diya because woh tumhara dost hai. And honestly, I feel agar Sid ko ek mauka mil raha hai toh Karan ko bhi ek mauka milna chahiye."
Monami thought for a while. Faizi was right in his own way. Did Karan deserve another chance? She was utterly confused. More so, when she first found out that she had to speak in front of a committee against Karan. She didn't know if she wanted to do that. He could be suspended and she really didn't want that. She just wanted make the right decision.
"Tum abhi tak confused ho?" Faizi asked. "Ek suggestion du?"
"Kya?"
"Ho sake toh ek baar Karan se mil lo." Faizi said. "I think ek baar usse baat karogi toh tumhe closure mil jayega. Woh apne ghar pe hai."
"Main usse nahi mil sakti... mujhe nahi lagta woh mujhse milna bhi chahta hai." Monami said.
"Tumhari marzi. Par agar milna ho toh I can give you special permission to leave. Koi emergency ka bahana bana dunga." Monami was in deep thought so he added. "Karan ke liye yeh academy bohot maine rakhta hai. For personal reasons too. Use yaha se nikal diya toh he'll lose his life purpose."
Monami was further conflicted after hearing Faizi. He took a piece of paper, wrote Karan's address on it and handed it to Monami. She didn't want to be unfair with Karan. But it would be unfair to Sid if she didn't complain about Karan. Monami thought she'd meet Sid before the training started so she made her way to the infirmary. He was all well again. In fact, he was having a gala time with Bala and the nurse.
"Monu bro! What's up?" He asked.
"Sid tu ab kaisa feel kar raha hai?" Monami asked.
"Main bilkul thik hu bro." Sid said.
"Aap dono sachhi Karan bhaiyya ke against complain karoge?" Bala asked sadly. "Matlab woh thode ulti khopdi hai par itne bhi bure nahi hai."
"Main koi complain nahi kar raha hu." Sid said. "I'll just tell the committee ko maine khud khana peena refuse kiya."
"What?" Monami was shocked. "But why?"
"I have nothing against dole shole. And I know how much Sanju likes him, respects him. Toh uske against toh main nahi jaane wala."
Bala smiled and high-fived Sid. Monami glared at him. So after fighting so much for him, he was going to back out for Sanjana's sake and make her look like the bad guy. Monami stormed off in anger. Yeah Faizi was right, if Sid deserved another chance so did Karan. She was going to talk to him and sort this out.
