Both of them sat on the bench, in a comfortable silence. Karan knew Sid was much easier to talk to than most people.
"So...sab..kaise chal raha hai..." he began
"Hmm?"
"I mean...kaise ho tum?" He asked staring at nothing on the ground.
"I'm good. And sab kuch...bas chal raha hai. But I'm happy."
"Aur kya kar rahe ho aaj kal?"
"Field officer, intelligence." He said pulling out an ID from his pocket. Karan took it from him and stared, a small smile appearing on his lips. This definitely wasn't the same Sid. And he had changed for good.
"Aur baaki cadets?" Karan asked returning the ID.
"Sumanji and Premji went home to their families, vo back up team me hai. Chitra and Bala are captains. Koel is working in tech. And you know about me and Monu, she's an army doctor"
Karan nodded...it felt like the kids he never had had grown up. He felt so proud, and yet a little sad, for he would never see them the way he did once. Thinking of cadets...
"I know abhi aap Monu ke baare me poochne waale ho, so hear it. Monu is doing a fab job. She's increasing in ranks, she's already one of Batra sir's favourites. Oh, and Batra sir is still in office. He has sworn he's going to die on that seat. One hell of a soldier! Back to where we were, Monu loves you. Very very much. While you were away, usne Baby aur Bhabhi ka dhyaan rakha. She was there, representing you everywhere. Usne kisiko aapko bhoolne nahi Diya."
Karan felt a strange bittersweet happiness flood in his chest. He fell in love with the right woman. He couldn't have asked for anything more.
"Aur Faizi aur Sanju...? Vo...abhi bhi academy me hai?" He said, biting his tongue at the end. He had left without them, were the angry? Was that even a question, of course they would be!
"Faizi sir has earned skill in sniping. And he's the best we've got. About where, he had applied for transfer. Vo...2 saal pehle Ammi was diagnosed with cancer. Chemo chal rahi hai, but Faizi sir and Koel wanted to be close to her. Abhi tak reply aaya nahi hai, but he's waiting." Sid said a little solemnly.
"Ek minute...Koel aur Faizi...?"
"They're together sir." Sid said, smiling ear to ear. Karan took smiled.
"Sachme?" He asked a little too enthusiastically.
"Mm-hmm. They're trying the knot this year" Sid answered equally enthusiastic. Karan grinned. So Faizi had settled, huh. His smile fell a little, knowing that he had not been there wth him through all this.
" Aur Sanju?"
"Special Agent Major Sanjana Dubey, title awarded by Col. Batra. " Sid suddenly beamed, pride reflecting in his voice. "Vo abhi bhi idhar hai. She's the head trainer of PSAF now. And that makes her very busy, especially since Faizi sir is a little occupied. Missions day in, and day out."
Karan sighed, smiling. He felt happy, as happy as a teacher felt, knowing that their student had surpassed them. He wanted to see her succeed. And he wished it were him, who added the stars to her rank. But the nation came before all of this.
"Hmm...what about you...have you settles with someone?"
"Sir, settle kiske saath hona hai ye to academy me aane se pehle se sochke rakha tha." Sid said, smirking. Karan understood and gave him a smile.
"So you and Sanju...tum dono ne bhi...?"
"No sir, and we have decided to keep it that way. Our job provides neither the time nor dedication to invest in a marriage, toh agar man kiya, to court is always an option. It doesn't matter what we name our relationship as long as we're together." Sid said smiling warmly at the sky.
"Aur koi hai jiske baare me mujhe nahi pata?"
"Yes! Chitra and Bala, they're dating. And of course, our kid." Sid smiled.
"Tumhaara aur Sanju...ka...bachha?" Karan asked, shocked.
"Yep. Wait, mai use bulaata hu." Sid said, giving a loud whistle. After a few seconds, a golden retriever came running out of nowhere and almost crashed into the bench. Sid ruffled its fur before making it sit on the bench, almost pushing both of them off. Karan couldn't help but laugh, as the dog stared at him goofily.
"Meet Muffin! He's 2 and he's the best boy ever. And he can play on his own." Sid said, hugging the dog. Karan watched, amused.
"Me and Sanju, we don't want...kids. Like..kids- kids. We couldn't give them enough time, or dedication due to our jobs. And both of us love our jobs. You can...call us selfish, its alright, we've heard all that, but...children were never in our wishlist. Our dreams were. Dogs require less time, less dedication and we love Muffin." Sid replied, a little lost.
"Sid, tumhe justify karne ki zaroorat nahi hai. I understand and mai khush hu tumhaare liya." Karan said, keeping a hand on his shoulder. Sid smiled at him, suddenly engulfing him in a hug.
"Thank you bro."
Karan smiled, finally hearing the old Sid.
"Chalo chalo, baaki sabse bhi to milna hai..." karan patted his back, and Sid smiled at him.
"Let's go. Academy se shuru kare?"
Karan nodded, it felt like a new mission. On one hand, he felt nervous, and happy on the other. But he knew, everything would be alright. It was his family, he was going to be with them again
