Ishq-e-Watan

Chapter 7- The First Theory Class

CHAPTER 7

THE FIRST THEORY CLASS

"Dismissed", Karan said. He sighed, rubbing his forehead in an attempt to reduce the headache.

"Sir ji, jawaab naa aata hogo, samajh aato hai hume", Sanju said and he opened his eyes. "Par yeh jhingoor? Kisi ki hasi naa ruk rahi, kisi ki baatein nahi. Koi apne atrangi khayaalon mein khoya hua hogo, aur koi idhar udhar cheezen dekhno mein. Aisa banege commandos?"

The two boys sighed. It was their first day of theory classes. While these classes would be split between all the six trainers, Karan wanted the first day of classes to be taken by him, Faizi and Sanju. Only one subject-strategy- to assess what level they were on. He reached one conclusion.

They were awful.

Even Faizi had lost his temper on several cadets when he was teaching and that was saying something. If he wasn't so annoyed, he would pity the cadets who were in his and Sanju's class.

"Pata nahi kahan phas gaye hain", Karan muttered. "Batra Sir ki izzat dao par naa lagi hoti toh..."

Faizi glanced at his watch. "Khaane ka time ho gaya hai. Hume toh bahut bhook lagi hai."

"Kuchh toh achha mile", Karan muttered. "Chal."

---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---

"Agli class se pehla kitna time hai?" Karan muttered, burying his face in his bed. He was exhausted. He had slept late last night, reading the mission file- Mission Mustang for anything that indicated a spy, woke up at 4:45 for morning drills, conducted the physical drills and then spent an hour teaching a set of idiots, and then listened to the report-cum-rant of the other two about the level of their classes. And the day was still not over. There was still one class each left. Teach idiots and then hear the report and then read the files and then, repeat the next day. He buried his face deeper into the pillow.

"Aadha ghanta hai", Faizi said, sighing. "So jao, Karan. Hum utha denge."

"Please", he muttered, relaxing slightly. His phone rang and he groaned. "Abhi hi bajna tha ise bhi." He reached for it, turning the screen to him. Colonel Batra. He sat up. "Jai Hind, Sir."

"Shergill, tumhaari classes khatam ho gayi?"

"Ek bachi hai, Sir. Half an hour mein start hogi."

"1700 hours par I want you and Faizi in my cabin."

He glanced at the clock. 1532 hours. Right after the class. "Yes sir."

"See you then."

"Jai Hind, Sir." He brought the phone down, falling back on the bed. He turned his head slightly towards Faizi, sighing. "Batra Sir ne bulaaya hai. 1700 hours par meeting hai."

Faizi heaved a sigh. "Kaam kam hai jo yeh meetings par meetings karte rehte hain. Jab bhi andar jaate hain, kaam zyaada hi hokar bahar aata hai. Kam toh kabhi nahi hota. Tumhe kuchh mila Mission Mustang ki file mein?"

"Ghanta", he said. "Waste tha."

"Coffee peeni hai?"

He shook his head. "Ab toh wo bhi asar nahi karti, yaar. Farak hi nahi pata chalta."

"Toh tum roz kyun peete ho?"

"Taste achha lagta hai mujhe." He shrugged. He closed his eyes. "Ab sone de mujhe. Class ke time se pehle uthaa dena." The glare of the lights dimmed behind his closed eyelids and he relaxed slightly, easily falling into sleep.