Ishq-e-Watan

Chapter 6- Climbing The Rope

CHAPTER 6

CLIMBING THE ROPE

Karan frowned, pausing and taking a few steps back to look at the figure clearly. Average heighted, clearly feminine. He tilted his head slightly, face falling to one of annoyance when he recognized the built.

"Monami", Karan called, sighing.

"S-Sir?"

"Tumhe maine kaha tha, na, training room mein 0555 hours se pehle toh bilkul bhi report nahi karna. Abhi 0533 hours huye hain. You're early."

"S-sir, aa-aapne kaha tha k-ki training r-room ke andar 0555 hours s-se p-pehle nahi aa s-sakti, p-par m-main toh b-bahar hoon", she said. "T-technically, r-report nahi k-kara abhi."

He turned his gaze skywards. What could he even say to that? He sighed. "Chalo andar. Bahar rehne ki zaroorat nahi hai."

She followed him quietly, sitting down on the ground and watching him set the equipment.

"Waise, Rani Sahiba, agar aap Sanju ke alarm se uth bhi jaati hain, toh dobara so jaaya kariye", he said. "0500 hours par sabhi cadets ke liye alarm bajta hai. Ya aapko apne aap ko zyaada hi thakaana achha lagta hai?"

"Ek b-baar u-uthne k-ke baad m-mujhe n-neend nahi aa-aati",she said. "S-Sir? Aap m-mujhe R-Rani Sahiba k-kyun bulate hain?"

He looked over his shoulder, before returning to his work. "Kyun?Tum nahi ho Rani Sahiba? Rich, sab logon ko order karti hogi, ghar mein apne servants ka ek poora mehel lekar ghoomti hogi." He turned around, crossing his arms, and staring down at her. "Nahi?"

She tilted her head, merely staring back in confusion. "P-paison se th-thodi na k-koi r-rani banta hai, d-dil se b-banta hai."

He rolled his eyes, turning back around and checking the weights. "Monami, tumhari yeh philosophical baaton ke liye bahut jaldi hai. Subah ke 5:30 baj rahe hain. Jo bolna hai seedha seedha bolo. Ho sake, toh bina atke."

"R-Rani woh n-nahi j-jiske paas b-bahut paison ho. R-Rani woh j-jo apne l-logon, apni m-mitti k-ke liye apni jaan bh-bhi de sakti hai", she said. He paused, eyebrows furrowing slightly. "R-Rani w-woh nahi j-jo s-sirf h-hukum deti ho. R-Rani woh j-jiska h-har hukum a-apne desh aur apne l-logon ki bh-bhalai mein ho. P-paison mein p-palne se k-koi rani n-nahi banta. Raniyan a-apni s-s-strength se banti hain. Rani w-woh jo apne d-desh ke liye j-jeeti ho, a-aur d-desh ke liye m-m-mar jaati ho."

He turned around, staring at her in surprise, only to find her gazing thoughtfully in a distance. He had a feeling the words meant something more to her that he couldn't understand yet, but... what?

He turned around, kneeling down and checking the other equipment, but half his attention stayed at her lost words, which hung in the silence between them.

'Mujhe toh laga yeh doctor hai', he thought silently. 'Yeh toh philosophy class ki teacher ki tarah lecture de rahi thi. Kuch samajh hi nahi aata iska toh. Kab kya kar de, bol de, kise pata? Poori tarah se paagal hai.'

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"Inki fitness par bahut kaam karna hai", Faizi commented, sitting on the bed. Karan sighed.

"Yeh basic cheezen bhi sikhaani padh rahi hain- rope climbing, wire obstacle. 3 saal mein inhe itna achha banana hai ki terrorist ke base ke andar ghuskar unko maar paaye." He shook his head, rubbing his face. "Terrorists ke dimaag mein kaise ghusna hai, kaise unhe manipulate karna, kaise aadhi information se conclusions nikaalne hai, kaise kisi bhi situation mein survive karna hai, yeh sab kab sikhayenge, jab inhe yeh sab bhi sikhaana padega ki bandook kaise pakadni hai."